She tilted her head slightly—an unintentional gesture of cuteness, like an arrow piercing through all iron hearts. Li Daoqiang's heart stirred, and his arms tightened imperceptibly. Little Dragon Girl's delicate body began to struggle, the meaning clear: *Put me down.* Her calm, desireless eyes, like a clear spring, made it hard to refuse.
To this, Li Daoqiang smiled gently and said warmly, "Don't move. Your injuries are serious; I'm suppressing them for you." As he spoke, his power flowed into Little Dragon Girl's body, suppressing the sword energy from Nian Lian Dan. Little Dragon Girl furrowed her brows slightly, resisting a little yet unsure how to fight back. After a moment of silence, she said earnestly, "Thank you. Please put me down."
"Brothers and sisters of the jianghu shouldn't fuss over such things. Healing is what matters," Li Daoqiang said with hearty seriousness. With that, he stopped looking at Little Dragon Girl's momentarily dazed, adorable expression. Holding her light, fragrant, soft body, he turned to face Nian Lian Dan, who stared back in confusion and fear. His expression instantly turned stern, and he said coldly, "Who gave you the nerve to treat Miss Long like this?"
Nian Lian Dan's face froze. *Wasn't it you?* The thought surfaced instinctively, then he realized something. He nearly spat blood. *Li Daoqiang did this on purpose! Just to play the hero saving the beauty!* As these thoughts emerged, his already injured body coughed up another mouthful of blood. But quickly, without rising, he lay on the ground and said with difficulty, "Nian Lian Dan greets the Great Chief. I beg the Great Chief's forgiveness. I didn't know Miss Long had ties with you. Please spare me this once."
Li Daoqiang's expression remained unchanged, as if he had nothing to do with it. He said indifferently, "Not knowing makes it irrelevant?" With that, his eyes sharpened, and an invisible force like a whip struck Nian Lian Dan, sending him flying again. "Pfft!" Another spray of blood, and Nian Lian Dan crashed into a mountainside, seething with rage. *You bastard, you're burning the bridge after crossing it!* But the anger vanished in an instant, replaced by fear. The gaze from above, looking down like a god, regarded him as if he were already dead. Li Daoqiang wouldn't hesitate to kill him. Realizing this, Nian Lian Dan cast everything aside, struggled to his knees, and said in terror, "Great Chief, forgive me. I truly didn't know. If I'd known Miss Long was your wife, I wouldn't have dared, even with ten guts."
Li Daoqiang snorted lightly but didn't strike again. Little Dragon Girl in his arms, however, couldn't hold back anymore. Rarely flustered, she struggled and looked earnestly at Nian Lian Dan. "That's not true." "Miss Long needn't rush. Such petty words from an ignorant man mean nothing. You and I are pure and clear; there's no need to be anxious," Li Daoqiang said calmly, looking at Little Dragon Girl, who struggled weakly in his arms.
Little Dragon Girl found the words reasonable, yet something felt off. Nian Lian Dan, still kneeling, and the others around were stunned. Watching Li Daoqiang hold Little Dragon Girl without letting go, recalling his reputation for womanizing, even Zhou Botong's expression turned odd. Some unspoken complaints arose in their minds, but none dared voice them. Except for Zhou Botong, everyone quickly lowered their eyes to hide their silent mockery. But Nian Lian Dan's eyes lit up as he found the trick. He immediately said fearfully, "Great Chief, I've offended your wife. Please punish me. I submit to whatever you and Lady Long decide."
"Hmph, nonsense," Li Daoqiang snorted, his tone displeased. Little Dragon Girl nodded, her brows furrowing deeper with a hint of shyness. She struggled more firmly and persistently. Li Daoqiang had no choice but to set her down with one hand while keeping the other around her willow-like waist, letting her lean on him. He said softly, "Miss Long, don't mind this petty man's words. Your injuries come first."
Nian Lian Dan, head bowed, felt relieved. *It's working.* Then a pang of resentment hit him. *Damn Li Daoqiang. Hypocritical and shameless, using me to win over his lady! I...* Little Dragon Girl, freed from the embarrassing embrace, sighed slightly in relief and nodded, trying to stand alone. But she found herself powerless, only able to stand in the void supported by Li Daoqiang's strength. The more she thought about it, the worse it felt. Her clear eyes looked at Li Daoqiang, soft yet firm. "Great Chief, let me down." "Alright," Li Daoqiang agreed, descending from the air. Once on solid ground, he let go of her slender waist, instead placing his hand on her fragrant shoulder to help suppress the sword energy. Little Dragon Girl inwardly relaxed, though still uncomfortable being so close to a stranger, she understood he was helping her and could bear it.
"Little Dragon Girl, are you alright?" Zhou Botong ran over, asking anxiously, his eyes curious and somewhat awed as he looked at Li Daoqiang, clearly wanting to approach but not daring. Little Dragon Girl shook her head, indicating she was fine. Wan Wan and the others also came over. The rest dared not show anything, but Wan Wan secretly shot Li Daoqiang a glare, laced with a hint of disdain and deeper defiance. Li Daoqiang ignored it, perfectly calm and composed. *I'm a lecher, known to all. So what? Who dares say a word?*
"Miss Long, these people sought to harm you. How do you think they should be dealt with?" Li Daoqiang asked gently, looking at Little Dragon Girl. Beside him, Wan Wan's brow twitched, her defiance growing stronger. *This bastard has never been this gentle with me. Why?* Nian Lian Dan, along with Golden Wheel Dharma King and the others whom Li Daoqiang hadn't even glanced at, grew more terrified. Except for Golden Wheel Dharma King, the rest knelt too. "Great Chief, spare us! We didn't mean it!" "Yes, Great Chief, we never intended to harm Miss Long!" Amid the pleas, Nian Lian Dan suddenly realized something and immediately begged Little Dragon Girl, "Lady Long, please! Ask the Great Chief to show mercy. I truly meant no offense." "Yes, Lady Long, please have mercy!" "Lady Long, we really didn't mean to offend!" The others caught on and joined the pleas.
"Stop your nonsense," Little Dragon Girl said, her picturesque brows furrowing—not in anger, but with a hint of displeasure and stubbornness, as if she, a being of pure spirit, didn't understand rage. Wan Wan snorted inwardly, glancing at Li Daoqiang's impassive face. *Fool. Can't you see this bastard's doing it on purpose?* But knowing the gravity of the situation, she dared not interfere. She understood that some things Li Daoqiang would tolerate from her, others he wouldn't—like this. Yet the thought only made her angrier. *What's so special about this Little Dragon Girl?* She glanced at Little Dragon Girl's pitifully beautiful face and unconsciously suppressed her discontent.
"Enough." Li Daoqiang spoke, his authoritative tone and indifferent, overlooking gaze pressing down like a mountain. Completely different from how he addressed Little Dragon Girl. Nian Lian Dan and the others fell silent. Even Golden Wheel Dharma King, who had maintained his pride in silence, bowed his head. "If you can't speak, say less." He cast a cold glance at them, then looked at Little Dragon Girl, his tone level. "Miss Long, since you don't know how to deal with them, let me handle it." In the silence, Wan Wan, Ding Chunqiu, and the others couldn't help but glance between Li Daoqiang and Little Dragon Girl. (*Sigh, time to sleep.*)