Medical and Martial God

Chapter 163: Chapter 163 Long Family

In a room devoid of light, a mysterious figure in a black cloak, their face hidden by an oversized felt hat, stared intently at a massive screen on the wall.

Suddenly, the screen lit up. One by one, figures appeared on it. There were a total of nine people, participating in a multi-person video call. Including the mysterious person in the room, there were ten in total.

Their attire was nearly identical; all wore black cloaks with felt hats obscuring their faces. The only difference was the words embroidered on their chests.

The figure in the room had ’Dragon Master’ embroidered on their chest.

The nine people on the screen had ’Long Yi,’ ’Long Er,’ ’Long Shan,’ and so on through ’Long Jiu’ embroidered on their chests.

”Dragon Master, why the sudden emergency meeting? Has something happened?” Long Yi asked. His voice was as crisp as a child’s, clearly altered to mask its true sound.

”A Dragon Master Meeting is only convened for major events. The last time we gathered was when Huang Quan slaughtered those on the Ranking, and I fear something equally momentous has occurred.”

”Apart from the recent reshuffling of the War God Ranking, I haven’t heard of any other significant events.”

”Dragon Master, don’t beat around the bush. Just tell us,” the others chimed in, each voice specially altered.

As one of the most mysterious entities in the world, the Long Family was not a family in the traditional sense. It was an alliance of interests initiated by the Dragon Master. The leader of each member faction was granted the surname Long, but none of the members knew each other. This alliance had existed for a millennium, yet it remained unknown to the outside world.

”Dragon Hollyhock and Long Bo are dead!” the Dragon Master said grimly.

”What?”

All nine individuals on the screen were taken aback.

”We spent vast resources cultivating Dragon Hollyhock and Long Bo to be the Long Family’s public representatives. Their strength reached the level of a War God. Who could have killed them?” Long Ba exclaimed in shock.

”Could it have been Huang Quan?” Long Shan speculated.

”Dragon Hollyhock and Long Bo were both in Jin Ye City, and so was Huang Quan. It seems likely they died at Huang Quan’s hands,” Long Yi said.

”That can’t be right. Huang Quan is a man of his word. Since he publicly announced his retirement and sheathed his Butcher’s Knife, he would never take it up again.”

”If not Huang Quan, who else in this world can kill a War God?”

”If four or five War Gods joined forces, it would be possible to kill Dragon Hollyhock and Long Bo.”

”That’s impossible. Every person on the planet with the power of a War God has gone to Sang Jing. It’s unthinkable that four or five War Gods would suddenly appear in Jin Ye City and kill Dragon Hollyhock and Long Bo for no reason.”

It was common knowledge that Huang Quan was the only person in the world with the God Slaying ability. However, if multiple War Gods worked together, they could also kill a War God. During the War God Ranking conference, the world’s War Gods had conspired to kill Xuanse’s Eight Great National Protector War Gods.

”Before Dragon Hollyhock died, he called me and said he’d fallen into a filthy gutter,” the Dragon Master said.

Long Yi: ”...”

Long Er: ”...”

Long Shan: ”...”

...

Long Jiu: ”...”

What a ridiculous joke! A mighty War God dying by falling into a filthy gutter?

”Dragon Master, I believe we must send someone to Jin Ye City to investigate the cause of Dragon Hollyhock and Long Bo’s deaths. We should also determine if Ye Xiu is the person we’ve been looking for,” Long Yi said.

”If this were only about discussing their cause of death, you wouldn’t have called an emergency meeting. I presume you have other matters to inform us of?” Long Jiu asked.

”Correct!” the Dragon Master nodded. ”I called this emergency meeting to tell you that the circumstances of their deaths are extremely strange. Until the cause is determined, neither I nor any of you are permitted to send anyone to Jin Ye City.”

”Then who will investigate their deaths? Who will investigate if Ye Xiu is the person we’re seeking?” Long Yi asked.

”I have already dispatched someone to find the world’s number one detective and requested he travel to Jin Ye City to uncover the cause of Dragon Hollyhock and Long Bo’s deaths. As for investigating Ye Xiu, let the Tiansha Association handle it,” the Dragon Master stated.

”Engaging the world’s number one detective is an excellent choice. It’s said there is no case he cannot solve,” Long Yi remarked.

”Ever since the chairman of the Tiansha Association was slain by Huang Quan five years ago, the association has been desperate to re-enter the Long Family’s core. Let’s make them a promise: if the Tiansha Association can identify the person we’re looking for, they will be allowed back into the core of the Long Family,” Long Er suggested.

In the past, the core members of the Long Family Alliance did not just include the Dragon Master and Long Yi through Long Jiu, but also Long Shi, who was the chairman of the Tiansha Association. But five years ago, the chairman tried to show off in front of Huang Quan and was cut down with a single strike, leading to the Tiansha Association’s exclusion from the Long Family’s core. To this day, the Tiansha Association hasn’t dared to elect a new chairman, fearing that Huang Quan would cut down the new one as well.

***

The 108 generals fought to the death all afternoon. Not a single one died. It wasn’t for a lack of effort or lethal intent; their strengths were simply too evenly matched, making it nearly impossible to kill one another. However, they were all covered in wounds.

An Dongye, however, was unharmed.

”Assemble!” Ye Xiu shouted, seeing it was almost time to pick Qin Qing up from work.

Instantly, the 108 generals gathered into a square formation. Despite their wounds and exhaustion, their presence was still imposing.

”From today on, you’ll live at Qiancheng Farm. The Ghost Doctor will be here later to treat your injuries,” Ye Xiu announced, ”Remember, you are only to engage in life-and-death combat training when I am present. When I’m not here...”

”When you’re not here, let me train them. I’ll teach them my leg techniques,” An Dongye interrupted.

Ye Xiu’s eyes lit up. To him, An Dongye’s leg techniques had one primary advantage: speed! The Red Flame Army undertook dangerous missions, and learning these techniques would be an invaluable unique skill for escaping.

”Alright, the 108 generals are in your hands. I have to go,” Ye Xiu said, turning to leave.

Seeing Ye Xiu agree, An Dongye was ecstatic. I’ve taken Divine Doctor Ye as my junior brother, and now I have 108 disciples from the Red Flame Army. Tsk, tsk, who in Jin Ye City will dare to provoke me now?

Once Ye Xiu was a good distance away, An Dongye struck a boss-like pose, looked at the 108 generals, and commanded, ”Come on, call me ’Boss’ and let me hear it.”

The 108 generals: ”...”

***

On his way to the Zhulu Group to pick up Qin Qing, Ye Xiu received a call from Zhu Xiaowen.

”Big Brother Ye, did you beat up Gu Xuesheng and a dozen of Flowing Cloud’s rich kids?”

Ye Xiu was taken aback. ”How did you know?”

Zhu Xiaowen replied, ”Niu Tianci, the Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Benlei Sect and founder of the Thunderous Fist, just called me. He said that Gu Xuesheng and the dozen rich kids you beat up are all his disciples. He also said that as a martial artist from Jin Ye City, your attack on martial artists from Flowing Cloud is a slap in the face to the entire Flowing Cloud Ancient Martial Circle. He claims you’re trying to provoke a fight between our two circles. Niu Tianci wants me to hand you over, otherwise he’s bringing his men to Jin Ye City tomorrow.”