Xiao Yunlong never expected to encounter his sixth uncle here, nor that his maternal grandfather's family had all moved to Jiangdong.
He had originally planned to wait until his martial arts cultivation improved further before heading to Nanjiang to visit his maternal grandfather and family, and to avenge his family in Chuan City.
Although Xiao Yunlong didn't feel a strong sense of belonging to his clan, he couldn't let his mother's revenge go unavenged.
However, Xiao Yunlong also knew that the Xiao family in Chuan City held considerable influence in Nanjiang. The fact that they were wiped out overnight indicated that multiple powerful forces were involved, possibly even the highly influential Ling Lords of Nanjiang.
If he wanted to seek revenge, even with his current martial arts cultivation, it might not be enough, especially since he was practically a lone wolf at the moment.
Liu Ruyan suddenly asked, "By the way, Yunlong, when do you plan to go to Jiangdong Provincial City?"
Xiao Yunlong frowned and said, "In a few more days. Let's see when you're free, and we can go together to visit Grandpa."
"Okay, the film crew won't be finished anytime soon. I can take leave if necessary," Liu Ruyan nodded.
After his sixth uncle left, Xiao Yunlong lost his appetite. The earlier pleasant mood had vanished. Liu Ruyan also seemed to have lost her mood to eat, so after paying the bill, they drove back to the Liu family manor.
The rain was still heavy. Just as they reached the manor gate, Xiao Yunlong noticed two people kneeling before the Liu family's main gate. As he got closer, he realized they were Liang Minghui and his son, Liang Bendao.
"Yunlong, should we stop?" Liu Ruyan asked. Since Xiao Yunlong had been drinking, she was driving.
"No need. Drive straight in. Ignore them!" Xiao Yunlong said calmly.
How could Xiao Yunlong not know the intentions of these father and son? However, he really didn't have a good impression of Liang Bendao.
Liu Ruyan probably disliked people like Liang Bendao as well. She stepped on the accelerator, and the car drove directly into the manor.
As they passed Liang Minghui and his son, the car's tires splashed water all over them.
Clang...
After the car entered, the Liu family's main gate closed again, leaving Liang Minghui and Liang Bendao kneeling by the gate like drowned rats. The rain poured down on them, creating an indescribable scene of helplessness and disarray.
"Dad, Mr. Xiao is back, but it seems he has no intention of stopping. Should we keep kneeling?" Liang Bendao asked through gritted teeth.
"If you don't kneel, what else can you do? Isn't it all because of your foolish actions? I had already arranged with Mr. Xiao that you would visit him together after returning to Sucheng, but you, upon returning, immediately attended some ridiculous party and offended Mr. Xiao. What have you learned from your years of training outside?"
Liang Minghui said with frustration, as if he wished Liang Bendao could be forged into steel.
"I was indeed wrong about this. I couldn't let go of my pride, nor this superficial reputation. A few words of praise from that little slut Shang Yuanyuan made me so elated that I lost my way."
Liang Bendao shook his head and said, "But Dad, kneeling like this isn't a solution. I can endure it, but you are the City Security Director..."
"What's the point of being the City Security Director? You know Mr. Xiao's status. Besides, you've already resigned from your position in the capital. If you hadn't come back, it would be one thing. Now that the path in the capital is cut off, the only way forward is for you to follow Mr. Xiao. Only by doing so can our Liang family have hope for further advancement!"
Liang Minghui sighed helplessly. He continued, "You didn't see it. That Jun Bufan from the Jun family, before he met Mr. Xiao, he only had some minor abilities. But after Mr. Xiao's guidance, his strength has now surpassed yours. If this continues, the Jun family will surely overshadow our Liang family in the future."
"No wonder that kid Jun Bufan's martial arts talent was never as good as mine. It turns out he received guidance from Mr. Xiao!"
Liang Bendao gritted his teeth and snorted, his face full of unwillingness. "Since childhood, Jun Bufan has never been better than me. I will never let him be superior to me. One day, I will surpass him, far surpass him, and even one day, I will surpass Mr. Xiao..."
"You're still thinking of surpassing Mr. Xiao? I say, son, ambition is a good thing, but we need to be grounded!" Liang Minghui said helplessly.
Liang Bendao didn't respond to his father's words. Instead, he asked, "Dad, how long do we have to keep kneeling? We are people of some status after all. If not, let's think of other ways."
"Don't worry, it won't be long. Before coming, I already contacted your Grandpa Zhuge Nie. He will speak for us."
"If Grandpa Nie intervenes and speaks for us, then the problem should not be too big." Liang Bendao finally felt relieved.
The rain continued to pour. Liu Ruyan walked into the main hall. Feeling a pang of sympathy, she asked, "Yunlong, Liang Minghui and his son are still kneeling outside. Should we call them in?"
"No need. Let them kneel outside. It's getting late, so let's wash up and go to sleep!" Xiao Yunlong smiled.
Seeing this, Liu Ruyan didn't say much more and returned to her room.
The rain lasted all night, and Liang Minghui and Liang Bendao knelt outside the gate all night.
The next morning, the news spread throughout Sucheng, shocking and causing a sensation.
After all, Liang Minghui was the City Security Director of Sucheng, considered the most influential person in Sucheng. Yet, he and his eldest son had knelt overnight in front of the Liu family manor. This made the people of Sucheng feel incredulous.
While shocked, almost everyone in Sucheng also realized that the live-in son-in-law of the Liu family was extraordinary and not to be trifled with!
Instantly, the heads of all the major and minor prominent families in Sucheng issued a decree: from now on, never provoke that live-in son-in-law of the Liu family!
Liu Jianmin stood in the top-floor pavilion, holding a cup of morning tea, gazing in the direction of the gate with a wry smile. "With this, I'm afraid no one in Sucheng will dare to provoke that fellow named Xiao. I regret it now, regretting not listening to Grandpa's words earlier. Otherwise, we wouldn't have ended up in such a conflict with him."
Huang Tingting, standing beside him, rolled her eyes. "What's the use of saying this now? I heard about what happened last night. Fortunately, Feiyan didn't directly confront him again. Otherwise, who knows what the situation would be!"
"By the way, how is Shang Yuanyuan from the Shang family now?"
As Liu Jianmin asked this, he glanced back at the listless Liu Feiyan. At this moment, Liu Feiyan sat there blankly, appearing to have lost half her spirit, clearly thoroughly frightened by last night's events.
Huang Tingting sighed and said, "I heard that Shang Yuanyuan's legs were broken by her Shang family elders, and she was also expelled from the family."
"In that case, our Feiyan is still fortunate," Liu Jianmin said with a bitter smile, shaking his head as he turned and walked back into the house.
The rain had long stopped, but Liang Minghui and his son were still kneeling outside. After kneeling in the rain all night, their faces had turned as pale as paper, and they looked very weak.
Xiao Yunlong woke up as usual and even went for a swim in the pool.
However, during breakfast, a car slowly drove into the Liu family manor and stopped directly in front of the main villa.
It was Zhuge Nie, the guardian of Sucheng!
"Elder Zhuge, why have you come? You should have informed me in advance so I could come out to welcome you!" Xiao Yunlong quickly got up to greet him.
In fact, he already knew the elder was coming because he had calculated that Liang Minghui would definitely ask Zhuge Nie to intervene.
However, Xiao Yunlong hadn't expected Zhuge Nie to delay his visit until the next morning, which directly resulted in Liang Minghui and his son kneeling all night.
"No business, no visit. You don't visit the Hall of Three Treasures. You've come so early in the morning, I hope I haven't disturbed you, Mr. Xiao." Zhuge Nie cupped his hands.
"Not at all. Elder, please come inside!" Xiao Yunlong personally welcomed him in and asked, "Elder, have you had breakfast? Shall we eat together?"
"No, no. Mr. Xiao is a straightforward person, and I don't like beating around the bush. I've come to visit today at the request of Liang Minghui, and I'd like to ask..." Zhuge Nie began.
Xiao Yunlong waved his hand, first inviting him into the living room and asking him to sit down. He then poured the elder a cup of tea.
After all, Zhuge Nie was a man who had weathered many storms. At this moment, he calmed down, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and changed the subject. "By the way, Mr. Xiao, you met that kid Liang Bendao last night. What impression do you have of him?"
"What do you think?" Xiao Yunlong asked with a smile.
Zhuge Nie sighed and said, "As I told you yesterday, Mr. Xiao, Liang Bendao is a bit too eager for quick success. However, after all, I watched him grow up. Liang Minghui personally called me yesterday to ask for my intervention, and I really couldn't refuse, so..."
Xiao Yunlong waved his hand. "Since Elder has intervened, I naturally cannot refuse this favor. In fact, I didn't intend to do anything to Liang Bendao originally."
"Mr. Xiao has a broad and magnanimous heart and would not stoop to the same level as Liang Bendao. However, Liang Minghui's intention is for his eldest son to follow you from now on. I wonder what your thoughts are, Mr. Xiao?" Zhuge Nie asked.
Xiao Yunlong frowned slightly, not replying immediately.
Zhuge Nie said with a wry smile, "Mr. Xiao, you don't need to be troubled, nor should you be conflicted because of me. To be honest, if it were me, I wouldn't choose someone like Liang Bendao to be by my side. If Liang Bendao is useful to Mr. Xiao, then let him follow you, even if it's just for errands. If not, then refuse him directly."
Xiao Yunlong thought for a moment and said, "Elder, please ask them to go back first. Liang Minghui is, after all, the City Security Director. It's not appropriate for him to keep kneeling like this. As for Liang Bendao, tell him that I need to assess him before making a decision."
"Alright, I understand. Thank you, Mr. Xiao. I apologize for troubling you today, as this old bone feels very guilty. I will go out and convey your message now."
Zhuge Nie cupped his hands as he spoke, then stood up and left.
Looking at the elder's thin figure walking away, Xiao Yunlong couldn't help but call out, "Elder, if I agree to Liang Bendao following me today out of respect for you, what should happen if he betrays me in the future?"
Zhuge Nie, who had already reached the courtyard, stopped abruptly. Without turning around, he remained silent for a moment before saying, "If that day truly comes, and he truly wrongs Mr. Xiao, wrongs the Dragon Country, then do whatever needs to be done. If he needs to be killed... then kill him!"
"Good. With your words, Elder, I know what to do!" Xiao Yunlong nodded.