Chapter 106: Bewildered and Distraught

Tang Long said there was no need for help, and Yaohandong didn’t press the matter further. She also felt that the incident of the beating in Fish Head Village didn’t require her intervention.

Before the law, all are equal.

Although what is just doesn’t always equate to what is legal, those who are clearly in the wrong rarely earn sympathy.

Yaohandong changed the subject with a smile. “I heard your Fish Head Village is venturing into real industry now?”

If this young lady adopted a queenly air, none could rival her—since birth, she had truly been a princess.

Tang Long smiled. With Gao Peng’s girlfriend, Wang Lu, in Fish Head Village, how could such developments be hidden from the young lady?

“We’re planning to open a ‘mineral water factory’!”

No doubt, this was the very thing Yaohandong was inquiring about.

As expected, Yaohandong nonchalantly said, “I heard it’s with a very pretty, young woman?”

“Her name is Shan Xiu,” Tang Long paused slightly, then smiled, “She likes it here, wants to stay in Fish Head Village, and has some money.”

Between the lines, it was clear that Yaohandong understood much without needing explicit explanation.

Few knew about the “Jing Ke Order” in Tang Long’s possession; Yaohandong was one of those few.

She must have known someone had used the “Jing Ke Order,” yet her patience in not pressing the matter until now was remarkable.

“Then if I go to Fish Head Village, will you marry me?” Yaohandong asked calmly.

Tang Long scratched his nose, chuckled nervously twice, and said, “We already agreed not to talk about that for now.”

“Not for now?” Yaohandong snorted, her tone tinged with jealousy, “First there was Secretary Xiu’e, then little childhood sweetheart Xiaoyue, and now out of nowhere a ‘killer beauty’ wants to settle in Fish Head Village. If you don’t say something soon, you’ll be torn apart!”

The imagery was frightening.

Tang Long defended, “It’s nothing like you say!”

Yaohandong said, “I know the truth well enough. Tang Long, I can tell you clearly—you won’t shake me off!”

Tang Long smiled, “Who said I want to shake you off? A national beauty like you, Miss Yao, I’d be lucky to have more like you around.”

Yaohandong’s voice turned cold. “You want more?”

“Heh, slip of the tongue… So, how have you been in the capital these days?” Tang Long laughed and deftly changed the subject.

“Not great,” Yaohandong murmured softly, “Maybe I can’t come to Fish Head Village to see you for a while.”

“Hmm?”

Hearing the change in her voice, Tang Long sensed something was wrong and asked after some thought, “Do you need me to come to the capital?”

Yaohandong was silent for a moment, then shook her head, “No, if you come, it’ll only complicate things. I might be going abroad for a year or so.”

“Forced?”

“No, I chose this myself. It’s a good chance for a vacation, some study, some schooling.”

She soon smiled, “It’s tough to ask you to come to the capital, but going abroad is definitely easier than coming back here. So I won’t go to Fish Head Village for now. When I settle abroad, you must come see me!”

“Really nothing wrong?” Tang Long said, “If you need, I really can come to the capital!”

Yaohandong smiled, “Sure, come on over. You can just kidnap me back to Fish Head Village as your wife.”

Kidnap?

In a place like the capital, filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, Tang Long dared not act rashly. Besides… everyone was reasonable now; in this civilized society, it’s better to use words than fists whenever possible.

Yaohandong didn’t make it difficult for Tang Long and went on, “I’m going to Tokyo. It’s close, no problem, right?”

Tang Long knew this wasn’t a question. If he didn’t give a positive answer, she’d be annoyed.

“All right, once you arrive, I’ll come see you!” Tang Long agreed with a smile.

“Hmph, that’s more like it!” Yaohandong seemed relieved. Previously, she wanted Tang Long to come to the capital, but now it was better if he stayed away. Too many wanted to keep him in the capital—even if just as a corpse.

Tang Long only learned all this after a deep conversation with his grandfather. Once he stepped into the power center of the country again, he wouldn’t simply be Tang Long. He would be that invincible World Soldier King—able to traverse heaven and earth with unmatched prowess.

“Earn a lot of money, okay? Maybe one day you’ll need it as a bride price!” Yaohandong said before hanging up.

Tang Long was momentarily stunned. More money? Yaohandong had never cared much about money before.

Clearly, someone was trying to trouble Yaohandong over money matters.

“I just want to live peacefully and honestly, guarding a small mountain village. I hope none of you disturb me,” Tang Long mumbled to himself, staring at the fading sunset while holding his phone.

Though Yaohandong’s call seemed casual, it conveyed much to Tang Long.

Tokyo?

Not a bad choice, certainly better than going to Western countries, which pleased Tang Long.

In the West, mercenaries and assassins were rampant, and with their reckless nature, a visit there would be a nightmare. The homeland was better—stable, with at worst a broken leg, not dozens dropping dead every other day.

Make money!

Exactly. Tang Long needed to earn.

…

“Useless! You can’t even bring the man back. Use your connections to keep pressuring the Taoyuan County leaders!”

In the imperial capital, inside a luxurious club, a young man about Tang Long’s age angrily smashed a glass.

Before anyone could speak, the private room door was pushed open, and a group of burly men in black suits entered.

A middle-aged man switched on the lights, shutting down all music and lighting equipment, waving for others to leave.

“Young master, the old master requests your immediate return—urgent matter!”

He bowed respectfully to the young man.

The young man frowned. The patriarch sending for him at this hour? It couldn’t be good.

“Also, tell your men to cease all contact with Taoyuan County. The old master’s exact words: ‘Don’t obey, and break their legs.’” The middle-aged man said firmly before the young man could rise.

Damn!

It was just a small Fish Head Village, yet with a retired veteran big shot like Tang Long, they couldn’t move against him openly but now they dared to strike openly?

The young man looked up, about to stand, then sat back down, frowning. “No open schemes either?”

The middle-aged man shook his head. “Whether covert or overt, the old master’s order is to stop all. Miss Yaohandong will be going abroad to study soon, not returning for seven years.”

“Seven years?”

The young man’s eyes widened. “What about the wedding arrangement?”

The middle-aged man lowered his voice. “Yaohandong cannot marry before forty, cannot return within seven years. If she marries in the future, it must be… Tang Long, or she will remain single forever.”

The young man slumped back onto the sofa, speechless for a long time. Everyone knew what this meant: to reject that ‘non-contractual’ engagement, Yaohandong was determined, sacrificing her own lifelong happiness.

“That bastard Tang Long… he should have died back then…”

The middle-aged man hurriedly interrupted, “Young master, it’s late. Let’s go.”

The young man sighed. Since the old master sent the steward to summon him, it meant the Yaohandong family and theirs had reached an agreement.

“When is Yaohandong leaving?” the young man asked.

The steward hesitated, “Within three days—counting today as one.”

It was nearly midnight, meaning Yaohandong would leave within two days. This was no choice, but expulsion. She would not be allowed back for seven years.

“Do you know where she’s going?” the young man asked, somewhat dazed.

The middle-aged man shook his head. “No. The Yaohandong family has not disclosed this outside. Only a few know, including you because of the engagement… Many in the Yaohandong family still don’t know.”

The Yaohandong family was renowned as a military clan. Yaohandong had seven older brothers; the third and seventh were major figures in the military. The others doted on her deeply. If a conflict arose, no one would come out unscathed, only inviting more ridicule.

Exile for seven years, no marriage before forty, and the lifelong promise to marry only Tang Long—these conditions sufficed to settle everything.

The young man drained the whiskey on the table, then stood from the sofa. “Help me contact the Yaohandong family. I want to see her before she leaves!”

“The Yaohandong family is closed off. Yaohandong won’t see anyone before she leaves!” the steward shook his head.

The young man left, disheartened.

Kyoto was always a place of shifting clouds and storms, home to conglomerates, power, and noble officials of all stripes.

Perhaps Yaohandong’s matter was trivial. Or perhaps it was a sensational topic in Kyoto. But what did it matter?

Those who must leave will leave. Some will grieve, some resent, others only watch the spectacle.

Yaohandong didn’t tell Tang Long everything over the phone. Even if she had, Tang Long probably wouldn’t oppose.

Seven years was seven years. If Tang Long kept his word, Yaohandong thought living abroad would be fine—free to do as she pleased, stress-free.

As for not marrying before forty? She never intended to marry that early anyway.

And as for marrying only Tang Long—did she even consider marrying anyone else?

Would Tang Long dare refuse to marry her? Not a chance.

So to Yaohandong, these conditions weren’t so “sad.” As long as he didn’t lose his temper, didn’t turn the two families into mortal enemies, and didn’t trouble her brothers and uncles, she thought it was all quite acceptable.

…

“Brother Tang Long, we’re going firefly catching. Are you coming?” Zhao Xiaoyue waved at Tang Long nearby.

Jiang Xue was by her side, along with many university students, both boys and girls. There were plenty of fun things to do in the mountains!

Tang Long waved them off, declining. “Be safe and don’t wander too far.”

“Got it!”

Zhao Xiaoyue led Jiang Xue and the others deeper into the mountains. Besides Zhao Xiaoyue, two villagers from Fish Head Village tagged along.

Shan Xiu approached from behind. Looking at Tang Long, she asked, “You didn’t come back last night?”

“Hm?”

Tang Long turned around, half amused, half exasperated. “Do I have to report that to you?”

It was one thing if Zhang Xiu’e asked, but why was she prying?

Shan Xiu said calmly, “Maybe others can’t tell, but I can. You smell like a woman—a faint but distinct scent. That means you probably spent the night in a woman’s bed.”

Tang Long was momentarily stunned, then scratched his nose. For a second-rate assassin, such a skill wasn’t too surprising.

“Heh, um, last night... just don’t tell Sister Xiu’e!”

Shan Xiu laughed and sat on a nearby rock, looking at Tang Long with surprise. “I can’t figure it out. Sister Xiu’e is so beautiful, why do you look for other women? Is it because she… won’t give it to you?”

“Don’t be nosy!” Tang Long laughed helplessly.

Shan Xiu blinked. “Then tell me what’s going on, or I might talk in my sleep tonight and spill everything I’m curious about!”

She slept in the same room as Zhang Xiu’e last night!