For a moment, the room was filled with the sound of their regretful and guilty sobbing.
Li Daoqiang let out a few soft sighs, as if deeply troubled and hesitant.
Seeing this, Lin Sanlong and his wife berated themselves even more.
After a long pause, Li Daoqiang heaved a heavy sigh and shook his head. "Enough, Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law. For the sake of our brotherly bond, I won't kill you. But from now on, you must leave Black Dragon Stronghold and never return. Our brotherhood ends here."
"Thank you, Second Brother. We're too ashamed to face you again. Rest assured, we'll never come back," Lin Sanlong said, nodding quickly through his pain.
Liu Si nodded in agreement as well, inwardly breathing a huge sigh of relief, even feeling overjoyed.
After a brief pause, she hurriedly moved to help Lin Sanlong up.
"Wait," Li Daoqiang suddenly spoke.
"Second Brother, is there something else?" Liu Si stopped and turned to ask.
Li Daoqiang frowned slightly and said solemnly, "Our Black Dragon Stronghold has always had backing, which is why things have gone smoothly. Shouldn't Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law tell me who that backer is? So we can continue as before."
At these words, Lin Sanlong and Liu Si couldn't help but exchange uneasy glances.
"Second Brother, you're joking. What backer?" Lin Sanlong forced a smile.
Liu Si nodded along but avoided meeting his eyes.
Li Daoqiang's frown deepened. "Big Brother, I'm not stupid, and I don't want to kill you. Don't force me."
Lin Sanlong and Liu Si's hearts trembled. They exchanged a look, the will to live burning strong.
They realized that this naive Second Brother had indeed changed somewhat, at least in this moment.
But that only made them more convinced he would spare them.
Their eyes met, flickering with caution, awe, and fear.
Finally, Lin Sanlong's eyes darted, and he gritted his teeth. "Second Brother, it's my fault. I shouldn't have lied to you. Our Black Dragon Stronghold does have a backer—Jingzhou Prefect Ling Tuisi. With Lord Ling's support, we've been able to establish ourselves in Fuyun Mountain."
Seeing no change in Li Daoqiang's expression, he continued, "Second Brother, I'm willing to introduce you to Lord Ling. Now that I'm a cripple, with your skills, Lord Ling will surely think highly of you. And to be honest, given our current state, we need to ask you for one more favor—to send us to Lord Ling so we can survive."
His tone was resigned, as if he had accepted his fate.
Liu Si snapped back to reality and nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, Second Brother. Your sister-in-law begs you one last time—help us get to Lord Ling, and we'll definitely put in a good word for you."
In her constant fear, she had forgotten that Lin Sanlong was crippled and her own dantian was nearly destroyed. In their current state, even if Li Daoqiang spared them, they couldn't make it out of Fuyun Mountain alive. Only Li Daoqiang could get them to the Jingzhou Prefect.
Li Daoqiang ignored them, his face as calm as still water, as if lost in thought.
Lin Sanlong and his wife dared not disturb him, waiting anxiously.
After a few breaths, Li Daoqiang asked sternly, "Do you know how much power this Lord Ling holds?"
Lin Sanlong didn't hesitate. "Lord Ling is the Jingzhou Prefect, a dominant force in this vast region. His strength is unfathomable, and he has good relations with many factions in Jingzhou."
He spoke while watching Li Daoqiang, his tone laced with respect, admiration, and trust for Ling Tuisi.
Liu Si nodded along again.
Li Daoqiang's expression remained unchanged, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation and probing. "And what about Fuyun Mountain? Who else does he support?"
"We don't know much about Lord Ling's affairs, but we do know that Fushan Stronghold is also backed by him," Lin Sanlong said, gritting through his pain, his voice trembling.
Li Daoqiang nodded, his brow relaxing. "I understand. Tell me where your treasures, martial arts manuals, and trusted subordinates are."
Lin Sanlong and Liu Si felt a pang of bitterness—those were things they had painstakingly accumulated.
But life was paramount. They began to confess, not daring to hide anything, since they still needed Li Daoqiang to get them to the Jingzhou Prefect.
After noting it all down, Li Daoqiang finally cracked a faint smile, seemingly pleased. "Good, Big Brother, Big Sister-in-law. You haven't let me down again."
Both shook their heads, saying they wouldn't dare.
Li Daoqiang's smile widened. He took a few steps and, under Lin Sanlong and Liu Si's panicked gaze, picked up the dagger that had fallen from Lin Sanlong.
"S-Second Brother, what are you doing?" Liu Si's voice trembled, and Lin Sanlong's breathing grew heavier.
"Heh." Li Daoqiang chuckled softly. "No need to be nervous, Big Sister-in-law, or you, Big Brother. I said I wouldn't kill you."
Lin Sanlong and Liu Si breathed a little easier, only to see Li Daoqiang walk up to them, crouch down, and stare directly into Liu Si's eyes.
His gaze was piercing, and Liu Si, pale-faced, couldn't meet it, lowering her head.
"Big Sister-in-law," Li Daoqiang called softly.
"Yes," Liu Si responded immediately.
"Look up." His tone was gentle, but Liu Si felt an undeniable command and raised her head.
He studied her pale but still pretty face for a moment, then smiled slowly. "Big Sister-in-law, earlier I heard how much you wanted Second Brother. Should Second Brother refuse?"
A stunned Lin Sanlong and Liu Si froze, the implication dawning on them...
Then Liu Si relaxed, a hint of pride surfacing. A genuine smile spread across her face, less forced now. "Sister-in-law... will do whatever Second Brother wishes."
Lin Sanlong's face darkened for a moment, rage boiling inside him.
*Little bastard, slut.*
He cursed inwardly but quickly steadied his expression. "Second Brother, I'm a cripple now, barely clinging to life. But there's one last thing I can't let go of, so I'll shamelessly ask for your help."
"Oh?" Li Daoqiang turned to look at him, feigning curiosity. "Big Brother, just say the word."
Under that gaze, Lin Sanlong suddenly felt a strange unease.
He sensed that the Li Daoqiang before him was different, somehow unfamiliar.
But consumed by his injuries and the desperate need to survive, the thought passed in a flash. "Second Brother, your sister-in-law is still young and has her uses. I want to entrust her to you, so she can make up for the wrongs we've done you."
A smile spread across Li Daoqiang's face. Liu Si showed no surprise, her eyes fixed on him as if he were her everything.
Li Daoqiang smiled, staring deeply at Lin Sanlong until the latter felt a sinking dread—the look in his eyes seemed mocking, teasing.
"Alright, as your younger brother, I'll grant your final request," Li Daoqiang said cheerfully.
Liu Si smiled, and Lin Sanlong felt a bit relieved.
Li Daoqiang turned back to Liu Si. "Did you hear that, Big Sister-in-law?"
"Yes." Liu Si lowered her head, her voice soft. "I'll do whatever Second Brother says."
"Good." Li Daoqiang nodded in satisfaction. He reached out, took Liu Si's right hand, placed the dagger in her palm, and then wrapped his hand around hers. With a pull, Liu Si stumbled forward.
Now, Li Daoqiang stood behind Liu Si, his right hand still gripping hers, which held the dagger.
In an instant, Lin Sanlong and Liu Si's faces twisted in terror, because the dagger in their joined hands was pointed directly at Lin Sanlong.
"Big Sister-in-law, since you're to be under my care from now on, shouldn't you listen to me?"
Li Daoqiang's calm voice whispered in Liu Si's ear, his face expressionless, the sharp lines of his jaw adding a chill.
Liu Si's eyes were filled with panic, but she dared not resist, only nodding.
"Second Brother, what are you doing?" Lin Sanlong cried out in fear.
Li Daoqiang ignored him, speaking only to Liu Si. "Good, then I'll teach you your first task."
As he spoke, the large hand guiding the small one slowly but steadily moved the dagger toward Lin Sanlong's heart.
"Ah!"
Liu Si gasped but still didn't dare resist, trembling with her eyes squeezed shut.
Lin Sanlong, however, went wild. His broken body summoned a last burst of strength as he screamed.
"Second Brother, what are you doing?"
"No, Second Brother, I'm your big brother!"
"Second Brother, you said you wouldn't kill me! Don't kill me, don't!"
"Second Brother, let me go! Li Daoqiang, you bastard, you broke your word, you tricked me!"
"Li Daoqiang, you'll pay! I'll haunt you even as a ghost! Lord Ling will avenge me!"
"Second Brother, it's my fault! Don't kill me, please!"
...
Tears mixed with blood made Lin Sanlong's face horrifying. His terror forced his broken body to inch backward.
But it was useless. Whether he cursed or begged, Li Daoqiang's calm face never wavered.
The dagger inched forward, slow and steady, toward his heart.
Finally, it touched his skin, piercing it. Blood seeped out.
The pace slowed even more, like a snail's crawl, but Lin Sanlong's fear only grew as he continued to shout.
Suddenly, the dagger stopped. Li Daoqiang spoke, his voice calm and slow: "Big Brother, I'm not killing you. It's Big Sister-in-law doing it. See? I'm just... lending her a little strength."
"No, Second Brother, let me go! Don't kill me! You said you saw me as a real brother!" Lin Sanlong forced his head up, glaring at Li Daoqiang.
(No updates for the past two days due to contract signing; I sent the contract twice. The signing should be finalized tomorrow or the day after. Starting tomorrow, I'll officially post two chapters a day. Thanks for your support.)
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