Today is June 9th.
The massacre of the Yao family and the disappearance of Yao Zixuan occurred on June 2nd.
By June 6th, the logistics team of the Dragon Country Martial Ranking had become hesitant, wanting to speak but holding back.
It seemed the information, suppressed domestically, had leaked here. The Dragon Country Martial Ranking team had imposed a gag order.
However, no one had anticipated that Yao Deyun would appear here and find Yao Zixuan's best friend, Yun Jingbai.
...
A sense of boundless darkness, suffocation, drowning, betrayal, and pain made Chen Jiuyang wish for death, leaving him struggling to breathe.
...
"Jiuyang, son, you're all I have left..."
With hundreds of his family members massacred, Yao Deyun was the sole survivor of the Yao family. His plight was tragic. Upon seeing Chen Jiuyang, he wept uncontrollably.
"They wouldn't let me see you, blocking me outside, saying they were worried you'd be distracted and affect your performance in the Martial Ranking World Championship."
"Jiuyang, Dad is useless, I can't do anything. I can only find you to give my Yao family an explanation!"
"Give my unborn grandchild an explanation..."
Yao Qianhe was also dead.
According to Yun Jingbai and En Fuben, Yao Qianhe died right at the entrance of the Qian King's mansion!
On June 7th, Yao Deyun found Yun Jingbai and En Fuben. Only then did the two women learn the truth. They immediately used their connections to inquire about the Qian King's mansion, but were met with a gag order from above, forbidding any leaks.
Yet, they managed to bring Yao Deyun to Chen Jiuyang.
"The unborn child..."
Chen Jiuyang's heart ached.
Through the channels of Yun Jingbai and En Fuben, he learned that only the Yao family members at the Qian King's mansion had been affected.
The rest of his family and relatives were unharmed.
But it was precisely Yao Zixuan, carrying his child, who was seven months pregnant and due to give birth soon.
The Qian King's consort's entire family massacred, the Qian King's whereabouts unknown, possibly resulting in the death of both mother and child!
Longjing was enraged.
Feng Province was suffocated under the pressure.
This was the first time the relatives of a Dragon Country Heavenly Realm King had been targeted, and the attack was aimed at the most prominent and meritorious Qian King!
How terrifying was this case.
The elite of the Six Doors across Dragon Country were mobilized.
After five days and nights of investigation, there was no clue. The news could no longer be suppressed, which allowed Yun Jingbai and the others to find out.
This is how the logistics team of the Dragon Country Martial Ranking came to know.
Chen Jiuyang's blood ran cold.
...
"Daddy, Daddy, look, Mom and I picked flowers by the river today. Look at my hair, isn't it pretty?"
In a daze, Chen Jiuyang seemed to see Yao Zixuan and his daughter before him.
"Pfft!!!"
Chen Jiuyang's face turned ashen, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood as the illusion shattered.
In reality, all he saw was Yao Deyun, an elder mourning his younger kin.
Chen Jiuyang didn't know how to comfort the heartbroken elder whose family had been annihilated. He felt lost and helpless.
Only after Yao Deyun vented his grief and fainted did Yun Jingbai, her face pale and eyes dim, lead Yao Deyun away.
She could only wait for Chen Jiuyang to process his emotions and make his choice.
...
"Tap!"
After an unknown period,
Chen Jiuyang's steps moved as he walked through the clean corridor.
Despite the light shining,
He felt a chill all over his body, his legs heavy as lead, and a crushing weight like Mount Tai.
"Tap! Tap! Tap-tap!"
Every step back to the hotel was arduous.
In the hotel lobby, everyone from the Dragon Country Martial Ranking team was present.
Seeing Chen Jiuyang return to the hotel, his clothes stained with blood and his face pale,
"Clatter!"
Someone immediately asked anxiously, "Doctor! Quickly! Jiuyang is injured! Jiuyang, what happened? Who injured you like this!!!"
Chen Jiuyang was severely wounded. The entire Dragon Country Martial Ranking team was in disarray. Even the other eight severely injured Dragon Country Martial Ranking contestants arrived in wheelchairs.
An old Chinese physician with silver hair, sweating profusely, examined Chen Jiuyang under everyone's gaze.
No matter who asked him questions, Chen Jiuyang's pupils were dilated, his eyes vacant and lifeless, showing no reaction.
This truly frightened everyone.
Chen Jiuyang was the pride of the Dragon Country Martial Ranking team. He hadn't been injured to this extent in so many fierce battles, yet now he was like this, with the semifinals approaching. Who wasn't anxious?
After an unknown amount of time,
Chen Jiuyang, with vacant eyes, looked at the old physician and asked, "Are you a doctor?"
The old physician nodded repeatedly and said, "I am a doctor from the Jixia Academy in the Forbidden City."
Chen Jiuyang asked again, "Can you tell what kind of injury I have?"
The old physician stammered, afraid to speak or meet Chen Jiuyang's gaze.
Chen Jiuyang murmured to himself, "Wounds from blades, swords, poisons, or souls – all can be treated. How can a wounded heart be healed?"
"Boom!"
A heart-stopping, terrifying aura emanated from him. Countless people changed color, trembling, almost unable to withstand the pressure.
"Please answer me."
The old physician trembled and replied, "A wounded heart has no cure."
"Heh heh."
Chen Jiuyang gave a bitter smile, stood up, and walked over to Ye Tiannan, saying softly, "Congratulations, you are the champion of this Martial Ranking World Championship."
"I'm not participating in the competition anymore."
Everyone's expression suddenly changed.
Yan Hongming said sternly, "Jiuyang, what exactly happened!!!"
Chen Jiuyang's eyes shifted, scanning over the Longjing Sword Holder, King Yan, Yan Hongming, He Wuji, Ye Tiannan, Han Lixuan, Jiang Lihuo, Zhao Liyu, Xing Hongzhuo, Zai Hanzao, Wu Xiuyuan, as well as Chen Fengge and hundreds of other Dragon Country Martial Ranking logistics team members whose names he didn't know. His voice was filled with despair and sorrow:
"I only have one question for all of you: why did you betray me?"
"!!!"
Everyone had different expressions. Some showed confusion in their eyes.
Chen Fengge looked bewildered, then his expression turned solemn and he said, "Jiuyang, tell me what happened, and Old Ancestor will uphold justice for you!!!"
"Uphold justice?"
Chen Jiuyang's voice was calm for this sentence, but the next was a heart-wrenching roar as he pounded his chest:
"My wife and child are dead! Hundreds of my wife's family members were massacred!!!"
"Longjing cannot provide an explanation and wants to conceal the news from me, not letting me know!!"
"All of you! Kept it from me!!!"
"Old Ancestor, tell me, how will you give me an explanation!"
"How can I fight this competition!!!"
"What!"
"This!!!"
Countless people were shocked and their expressions changed drastically.
"Old Ancestor, my heart is chilled here," Chen Jiuyang said, his voice hoarse as he beat his chest, "I can't fight the competition anymore."
The Longjing Sword Holder trembled and said, "Jiuyang, don't get agitated. Yao Zixuan and your child's bodies were not found. It is highly likely they are still alive."
King Yan closed his eyes with a look of unbearable pain and remained silent.