"L-Ling Yun… which Ling Yun?"
Long Tianjiao's buttock was rooted to the ground. The half of his face that wasn't hit by Ling Yun turned pale, and his lips parted, totally dumbfounded.
Does my name invoke such terror now? Ling Yun did a double-take.
Long Tianjiao must have heard my name from someone. Only one person appeared in his mind — Long Tianyu!
Li Youmin from the Li Family, Long Tianyu from the Long Family, and Hu Shaobai, the young valley master of Miracle Physician Valley, were stunned by Ling Yun's performance during Xue Meining's birthday party. It was impossible for Long Tianyu not to report this matter to his elders.
That's probably it… Ling Yun thought to himself.
Ling Yun was actually mistaken!
The Long Family was a huge family with many secrets. It probably had more secrets than any of the secluded sects!
There were many branches of the family, and while the descendants could be of a generation, their positions in the family varied. Children of the legitimate wife of the household and those of concubines had different ranks.
There also existed many factions amongst the branches of the families. In-fighting for interest and resources was always rampant.
Long Tianyu and Long Tianjiao were both of the Tian generation and were cousins by right. However, Long Tianyu was the child of a concubine, while Long Tianjiao was the child of the legitimate wife. Therefore, they were of different ranks and factions!
Their difference in treatment was stark. Long Tianyu asked for Xue Meining's hand in marriage himself, while Long Tianjiao involved his family and elders for the proposed marriage to Lin Menghan.
Miracle Doctor Xue might be the top doctor in Huaxia and a Xiantian Realm Level One master, but he had settled down in Qingshui City privately. His only son, Xue Chengye, had taken over his business but was relying on Miracle Doctor Xue's network to maintain it.
Xue Chengye had only one daughter, Xue Meining. Once Xue Meining married, the whole family business would land in her husband's hands.
What about Lin Menghan? They weren't cultivators, but they had three generals. Lin Menghan's grandfather was once the commander of the military, a famous general.
Lin Menghan's father was still the commander of a certain group in the Huaxia army, and her uncle had an even higher ranking than her father!
A family like the Lin Family was rare even by Huaxia's standards. Lin Menghan was really the third generation of military background!
If Long Tianjiao could marry Lin Menghan, the Long Family would definitely have strong backing from the Lin Family, which would further strengthen the Long Family's hold on Huaxia!
The Long Family was good at both schemes and balance. That was how they managed the major families of Huaxia!
Miracle Doctor Xue could cure hundreds, even thousands of people, but the army commanded countless people!
The influence of the Xue Family was inferior to that of the Lin Family. Similarly, Long Tianyu's position was inferior to that of Long Tianjiao!
Long Tianyu and Long Tianjiao were on bad terms.
Long Tianyu did report to his elders about Ling Yun when he returned to Beijing, but only to the elders of his faction. He wasn't important enough to reach the core elders of the Long Family.
Long Tianjiao's orders came from the core elders of the Long Family, and it had nothing to do with Long Tianyu!
"Try your best to befriend Ling Yun if you meet him! He must not be offended!"
There was, of course, a much deeper reason for this, one which Long Tianjiao wasn't qualified to question. He only needed to carry out the order.
Ling Yun didn't understand the Long Family nor its complicated relationships. He just found Long Tianjiao's awestruck face really funny. "I'm just me. There may be several Ling Yuns in Huaxia, but the only Ling Yun that could hurt you to this extent is probably me."
Long Tianjiao was defeated by Ling Yun in both love and war. Ling Yun naturally wouldn't preserve any face for him.
No other Ling Yun would dare to hit Long Tianjiao once they knew his identity.
Long Tianjiao looked at Ling Yun for the longest time before his head drooped down suddenly.
Ling Yun was definitely not an ordinary person if the Long Family gave such an order. Moreover, only a handful of people would be able to hurt a Xiantian Realm Level One master.
So who else could this Ling Yun be but the one that was mentioned in the family's order?
Long Tianjiao hung his head in defeat, but his mind had never been more active.
He hated Ling Yun for snatching his wife and for humiliating him. He wanted nothing more than to smash his teeth, strip his skin and nerves, and kick his head around like a football!
However, he had to swallow his anger since he couldn't defeat Ling Yun!
He wanted to know Ling Yun's name because he wanted to seek help from his brothers, friends, and even people from the Dragon Team and the Heavenly Team to kill him!
Long Tianjiao was a prideful man. He would definitely not marry Lin Menghan anymore since she was no longer a virgin. He wasn't short of women.
He could discard this slut, but he had to exact his revenge!
However, he could no longer do that now.
It was the first time Long Tianjiao had received such an order from the Long Family!
The Long Family could coerce the Lin Family into the marriage, but Ling Yun was different!
Befriend and must not offend!
Long Tianjiao was different from that stupid Sun Xing from the Sun Family. He was a truly outstanding member of the Long Family.
He wouldn't be able to become the Deputy Leader of the Condor Team if that wasn't the case!
On the one hand, there was the Lin Family, on the other was Ling Yun. Long Tianjiao knew his priorities!
What was the Lin Family compared to someone he couldn't lay a hand on? What was Lin Menghan compared to his future position in the Long Family?
Long Tianjiao had taken the virginity from how many women? How many had he played with?
Long Tianjiao made a swift and easy decision — to cut Lin Menghan loose and be on Ling Yun's good side!
Why should he antagonize Ling Yun since Lin Menghan and Ling Yun were in love? Why not help them along?
Long Tianjiao suddenly felt that the injuries sustained from Ling Yun were worth it!
That was the education of the Long Family! The family's interests were supreme and above everything else!
Long Tianjiao got up from the ground suddenly. He patted the dust from his body as though nothing happened and tidied his clothes in an elegant manner.
Then he looked up at Ling Yun with a flattering smile on his face, as though he was looking upon his own brother!
Ling Yun was genuinely shocked by Long Tianjiao's sudden change in temperament. Could he have gone mad?
Long Tianjiao wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth with his hand and gave Ling Yun a respectful cupped fist salute. He smiled while enduring the stinging pain on his face. "Long Tianjiao from the Long Family in Beijing. I've long admired you, Ling Yun. I didn't think we would meet here today. It's really an honor!"
Long Tianjiao's demeanor was sincere, as though they had known each other since the start of time. Everything that just happened seemed to have nothing to do with them now!
Long Tianjiao was extremely skilled in changing his face instantly. He was one of the best amongst the nouveau riche.
To put it nicely, he was flexible. In fact, he would do anything to achieve his purpose. He was ruthless to his enemies and even more so to himself!
Ling Yun felt very odd, but he had seen stranger things. He, therefore, stayed composed without any reaction. "Oh? So you're from the Long Family in Beijing. There's no need to be honored. Spit out whatever you have on your mind."
Ling Yun wanted to know what Long Tianjiao had up his sleeve!
Long Tianjiao glanced at Lin Menghan for the briefest of moments before giving Ling Yun his full attention. "I won't beat around the bush since Brother Ling has heard of the Long Family. It seems like we just had a beautiful misunderstanding today!"
Ling Yun kept silent, his heart filled with laughter.
"I, Long Tianjiao, am the legitimate son of the Long Family. I'm twenty-five this year and have reached a suitable age for marriage. My family arranged this marriage for me. I have no choice in this matter. Brother Ling, I'm sure you will be able to understand," Long Tianjiao continued.
Ling Yun gave a faint smile.
"However, I know now that the precious daughter of the Lin Family has someone in her heart and will not marry anyone else! I might not be smart, but I know that I can lead a horse to water, but I can't make it drink."
Long Tianjiao finally gave Ling Yun and Lin Menghan a huge smile.
"Therefore, I hereby announce that my engagement to Miss Lin is annulled with immediate effect! I wish both of you a lifetime of happiness!"