Chapter 18: That Rainy Night!
“This is... outerwear, and... lingerie! Victoria’s Secret!!”
Xiao Mengxue’s cheeks flushed instantly, her small ears tinged pink.
“Oh my gosh, how did Brother Lingxiao buy these? And... how does he know my size? Not too big, not too small, just perfect!”
“Could it be that Brother Lingxiao secretly saw my lingerie before? Pfft, no way! Brother Lingxiao isn’t that kind of person! But even if he did, it’s okay...”
“After all, he is Brother Lingxiao—the one and only Brother Lingxiao in the world...”
Besides her biological brother Xiao Longhu, Brother Lingxiao was the kindest, most caring person to her.
Xiao Mengxue’s heart fluttered wildly, like a young deer startled in the woods.
The sweetness was like first love, though she’d never actually been in love.
But the blush on her face said it all.
Suddenly—
A Hummer roared in from afar.
The vehicle came to a stop.
A burly man jumped out—it was Li Dongming.
He strode quickly to Duan Lingxiao, dropped to one knee, and respectfully said, “Subordinate Li Dongming, commander of the Jiangnan City Police Investigation Department, one of the seven hall leaders of the Heavenly Sin Hall, which is one of the thirty-six sub-halls under the Dragon Palace! I pay homage to Lord Dragon Emperor!”
If anyone else had seen this scene, their jaws would have dropped.
Li Dongming was the formidable director of the Jiangnan City Police Investigation Department, a deputy bureau-level official. Yet he showed no airs, humbly and reverently kneeling before Duan Lingxiao.
It was like a devoted believer worshipping the founder of a religion.
Most people would find this hard to understand, but Li Dongming was genuinely moved to his core.
He had wanted to pay his respects to Duan Lingxiao earlier at Shennong Square, but the crowd made it impossible.
“Brother Lingxiao, why do you seem even more powerful now that you’re out of prison?” Xiao Mengxue asked incredulously.
Someone like Li Dongming was a major power in Jiangnan City, yet he showed such humility and reverence—it was truly perplexing!
What she did not know was that Duan Lingxiao, bearing the Dragon Emperor Ring, was the Dragon Emperor himself.
He was the ruler of the Dragon Palace!
Beneath the Dragon Palace were thirty-six sub-halls spread across major cities in the Dragon Kingdom.
Their roots intertwined, their influence vast.
Every member of the Dragon Palace regarded the Dragon Emperor like a god.
“Rise,” Duan Lingxiao said calmly, his expression serene.
“Yes!” Li Dongming hastily stood, eyes full of awe and excitement.
Since the catastrophe twenty years ago, the Dragon Palace had gone into hiding, no longer appearing in public.
The Dragon Emperor Ring had vanished from the martial world.
Rumors circulated that the previous Dragon Emperor had been chased and killed by enemies, buried in some mysterious place.
Yet many still believed the Dragon Emperor was merely preparing for a great task, destined to return one day.
Today was that day, and Li Dongming witnessed it firsthand.
The Dragon Palace was ready to reveal itself to the world once more.
“Li Dongming, as director of the Police Investigation Department, I want a list of all factions that have targeted the Xiao family over the past five years,” Duan Lingxiao said, his gaze deep and cold.
“Yes, Dragon Emperor. In fact, I have some information about the Xiao family’s situation.”
“After Xiao Longhu’s death, the military compiled his files and discovered his corruption, bribery, selling of ranks, and falsification of military achievements. The reason the Champion Marquis killed him was due to disputes over spoils and internal conflicts!”
“Since then, the Xiao family has been targeted at every turn, to the point that even the Lu family dared to break their marriage contract and insult Miss Xiao!”
Li Dongming spoke unaware that before him stood the former Champion Marquis himself—the current Dragon Emperor.
“Who has taken advantage of the Xiao family’s downfall, stabbing them in the back and slandering them? Give me a detailed list!”
Duan Lingxiao’s eyes were icy and murderous.
His good brother had died unjustly, and even in death was smeared with dirt.
He could not swallow this bitterness.
Nor did he want to.
He wanted bloodshed.
Blood was the purest cleanser of injustice and evil.
“I will prepare it immediately!” Li Dongming shuddered.
His heart was gripped with terror.
Though he was a seasoned veteran, he still felt the bone-chilling cold radiating from Duan Lingxiao.
The pressure was like the weight of Mount Tai, like the legendary Kunlun hanging high above.
He found it hard to fathom how someone so young could emanate such overwhelming and profound killing intent.
No wonder he was the new Dragon Emperor—he truly possessed that strength.
“Hurry up,” Duan Lingxiao said calmly.
“As you command!”
Li Dongming nodded quickly and turned to leave.
...
“Brother Lingxiao, why does Director Li call you Dragon Emperor? That name sounds so powerful!” Xiao Mengxue asked curiously after Li Dongming had gone.
“Because my master was the previous Dragon Emperor, and I am his successor by right.”
Duan Lingxiao did not hide it.
“Wow, then your master must have been really amazing!”
Xiao Mengxue admired.
“You’ve never even met my master, how do you know he’s amazing?”
Duan Lingxiao smiled.
“Because you’re so amazing, so your master must be even more incredible!” Xiao Mengxue giggled.
“Ha, clever girl,” Duan Lingxiao ruffled her hair.
“Come, time’s up. Let me remove the silver needles.”
His fingers moved swiftly.
In moments, all the silver needles lifted off.
Crackling sounds filled the air as black, wrinkled, ugly dead flesh peeled away from her face.
Beneath lay smooth, white, radiant skin, like fine mutton fat jade—exquisitely delicate.
Combined with her sparkling, starry eyes, she was breathtakingly beautiful, as if stepped out from a work of art.
“Young lady, you’re even more beautiful than five years ago!” Duan Lingxiao couldn’t help but pinch her rosy, soft cheeks—so tender and pleasant.
“Really?” Xiao Mengxue still doubted.
That disfigurement had been caused by sulfuric acid five years ago!
It had tormented her for so long.
She had longed day and night to restore her appearance.
But hopes were fragile; reality was harsh.
She had given up on expectations.
“Look in the mirror; you’ll know,” Duan Lingxiao said, smiling as he took out his phone and activated the camera.
Xiao Mengxue nervously leaned in toward the screen.
In an instant, her body stiffened.
Staring at the near-perfect face on the screen, her mouth dropped wide open.
She gently touched her cheeks, disbelief etched across her face.
“This...”
It felt like a dream.
She could not believe the smooth, moist, tender, flawless girl on the screen was herself.
Over five years, more than eighteen hundred days and nights, countless times she had awakened from nightmares, covering her face in tears.
Her tears soaked the sheets and drenched her heart in unbearable sorrow.
But now, all the past pain vanished like smoke.
All suffering was over.
She wept with joy, throwing herself into Duan Lingxiao’s arms.
“Brother Lingxiao, thank you, thank you so much!”
Her tears fell like pearls.
“I told you, didn’t I? From now on, I’ll protect you. I’ll make you the most beautiful woman in the world, the happiest woman, the one who feels safest!”
Duan Lingxiao wiped her tears and solemnly promised.
“Mm,” Xiao Mengxue nodded firmly.
Soothed by his breath and the solid warmth of his chest muscles, her cheeks flushed crimson with shyness.
“Stop crying. Such a beautiful girl, if you cry more, you’ll turn into a little flower cat. Go take a bath, put on your new clothes, I’ll take you out for a big feast!”
Duan Lingxiao smiled, pinching her small face.
“Okay, okay!” Xiao Mengxue hugged her clothes and turned into the room.
Though the villa was emptied, the basic facilities worked, and the water heater still functioned.
Otherwise, they’d have had to book a hotel tonight.
Duan Lingxiao sat in the living room, listening to the water flow from Xiao Mengxue’s room.
His mind was clear; a sense of peace settled over him.
“Five years ago, returning to the capital from the southwestern border, I planned to investigate my parents’ disappearance, but instead I fell into the Murong family’s conspiracy and was imprisoned for five years.”
On his eighteenth birthday, a rainy night, several mysterious powerful figures broke into his home and took away his parents, never to be seen again.
He reported to the police, but no progress followed.
Posters were plastered on every street corner, information spread online.
All to no avail.
It was as if they had vanished from the face of the earth.
To find his parents, Duan Lingxiao resolutely enlisted in the military.
For someone with no background, power, or strength, the army was the best way to improve himself.
He made a name for himself, mastering martial arts, winning honors, becoming the youngest Champion Marquis.
Just as he was about to use his position to uncover the truth, he was thrown into prison.
Five years wasted.
“This time back, I have three things to handle.”
“First, settle accounts with all those who have bullied the Xiao family these past years!”
“Second, send the entire Murong family to their doom!”
“Third, find who took my parents and reunite my family!”
A man holding a three-foot sword vowed to make the heavens weep blood.
His enemies’ heads would serve as wine vessels, their screams drowned by his wild songs.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, the water in Xiao Mengxue’s room gradually quieted.
Suddenly, a voice shouted at the door: “Cao Mengchen from Shennong Square brings Lin Zhennan to apologize!”