Throughout the entire period, Liu Ruyan stood quietly beside Xiao Yunlong without speaking, as it was not appropriate for her to interject in such a situation.
As for Jun Bufan and Liang Bendao, they stood not far away, acting as bodyguards and subordinates. However, there were several occasions when Liang Bendao almost couldn't help but speak up.
One must know that Mr. Xiao is the Zhenbei King of Dragon Country, a feudal lord of immense power. Not to mention a mere district boss like Master Shu, even the Jiangdong Pavilion, or the City Lord of Jiangdong City, would have to kneel before Mr. Xiao.
Therefore, Liang Bendao found it almost unbelievable that Tang Tianbao dared to speak to Mr. Xiao in such a manner.
However, since Mr. Xiao had not erupted and had not given them any orders to act, Liang Bendao ultimately suppressed his urge.
Xiao Yunlong, however, paid no mind to what Liang Bendao and the others were thinking. He slowly calmed himself and took his maternal grandfather's pulse, his brow soon furrowing.
It turned out that Tang Zengshou was not suffering from dementia, but rather an old internal injury had blocked his spine. The spine is the central nervous system's transmission pathway. Because part of the nerves was blocked, it caused paralysis and an inability to speak.
Xiao Yunlong knew that his grandfather was an old soldier who had fought on the battlefield in his youth. It was said that he had been shot three or four times. Although the shrapnel had been removed, the repeated injuries had left internal ailments that only manifested in his old age.
"Bufan, Bendao, help me push Grandpa into the bedroom!" Xiao Yunlong instructed.
Jun Bufan and the two immediately stepped forward and pushed the wheelchair into the villa.
Inside the villa, Sixth Uncle was busy in the kitchen with two chefs preparing for the lunch banquet, while several servants bustled about.
Eldest Aunt Ni Hongyan sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, cracking melon seeds and occasionally berating the servants. Eldest Cousin sat in a wheelchair by the corner, basking in the sun.
"What are you doing, you troublemaker? Why are you pushing the old man in here?" Ni Hongyan stood up and demanded.
"It's too noisy outside, and Grandpa's hearing isn't good. I'm pushing him into the bedroom so we can talk better," Xiao Yunlong said with a smile.
"What can the old man hear in this state?" Ni Hongyan grumbled but then sat back down, appearing too lazy to bother further.
Xiao Yunlong was too lazy to explain. After entering the bedroom, he directly instructed, "You two wait outside. No one is allowed in without permission!"
"Yes!" Jun Bufan and Liang Bendao replied, then stood guard by the door like sentinels.
"Yunlong, should I leave too?" Liu Ruyan asked.
"It would be best to step out. It might be a bit inconvenient for you to be here," Xiao Yunlong smiled.
Liu Ruyan nodded with a smile of understanding and turned to leave, not forgetting to close the door behind her.
Xiao Yunlong carefully examined his grandfather's condition again. Once he was sure, he began the treatment.
The treatment was not complicated. He didn't even need to use acupuncture needles. Since cultivating the Art of the Three Thousand Divine Kingdoms, not only had his cultivation greatly improved, but his medical skills had also made significant progress.
Of course, the primary reason for the significant improvement in his medical skills was his increasingly adept and even masterful control over his own internal energy.
After removing his grandfather's shirt and having him lie on his stomach, Xiao Yunlong took a deep breath and placed his right palm on his grandfather's back.
As his brow moved, the internal energy in his dantian flowed like fine silver threads through his palm into his grandfather's body.
Since it involved the nerves, Xiao Yunlong controlled his internal energy to the absolute minimum, even finer than a strand of hair.
As Xiao Yunlong continuously channeled his energy, the hair-like internal energy, upon entering Tang Zengshou's body, immediately acted as a cleaner, clearing away the internal injuries accumulated within his grandfather's body.
This process was extremely slow, so slow that it could be measured in hundredths of a second. It was a testament to Xiao Yunlong's profound control and application of his internal energy that he dared to treat him directly in this manner.
Time trickled by. After half an hour, Xiao Yunlong's forehead was covered in glistening sweat, his face slightly pale, and his breathing growing heavier. It seemed that such high-intensity and precise use of internal energy was rapidly consuming his vital essence.
Outside the bedroom, Jun Bufan and Liang Bendao remained motionless by the door. Liu Ruyan also stood aside idly. Fortunately, his eldest aunt and the others seemed too lazy to pay attention and did not come to inquire further.
About forty minutes later, Xiao Yunlong suddenly withdrew his palm and let out a long sigh, saying, "Finally, all the internal injuries have been cleared and unblocked!"
At that moment, Tang Zengshou slowly opened his eyes.
"Grandpa, you're awake. I'm Yunlong. Do you still remember me?" Xiao Yunlong said with great joy.
Tang Zengshou tried to speak, but he couldn't. He only made muffled sounds.
"Grandpa, don't rush. Let me help you up and have some water!" Xiao Yunlong helped him up and poured him a cup of warm water.
After drinking the warm water, Tang Zengshou's breathing finally became smoother. He sighed softly and said in a weak voice, "Grandpa knows. Grandpa could always hear what you were saying, but I couldn't move or speak."
As he spoke, he slowly raised his hand and clasped Xiao Yunlong's, looking at him with great affection. "Thank heavens, Yun'er, you're not dead. It's truly heaven's mercy that your Xiao family is not extinct!"
As he spoke, pearl-like tears fell from Tang Zengshou's eyes.
"Grandpa, you've just recovered. Don't get too excited," Xiao Yunlong quickly waved his hands.
"It's alright, I won't die. Grandpa is happy. You've finally grown up, and you look a bit like your mother, just as beautiful. They say you're a rapist, but I absolutely don't believe it. Your mother told me everything back then. You're not a troublemaker; you're my good grandson!"
Tang Zengshou said, extending his withered hand tremblingly to caress Xiao Yunlong's face.
At this moment, Xiao Yunlong's eyes also turned red, but he held back his tears. He had grown up, as his grandfather said.
Moreover, his tears had all been shed five years ago, on the night of their escape. After that night, he only bled, never cried again!
"You must have suffered a lot all these years. Tell me how you've been through it all," Tang Zengshou asked.
"To Grandpa, Yun'er hasn't suffered. Compared to you and the suffering of the Tang family all these years, I'm nothing," Xiao Yunlong said with a forced smile.
As he spoke, Xiao Yunlong pulled up a chair and sat down. Then, he recounted everything from encountering the mysterious old man after fleeing Chuan City, including everything in the Northern Territory and the ambush he encountered in the capital four months ago.
After listening, Tang Zengshou was stunned. His tear-filled eyes stared unblinkingly at his grandson. After a long while, he asked, "So, you are now..."
Xiao Yunlong nodded and took out the token of the King of the Northern Territory from his embrace.
Upon seeing it, Tang Zengshou suddenly got out of bed and stood up.
"This subordinate, Tang Zengshou, former deputy commander of the Southern Border's Second Commander, and squad leader of the Ding character battalion, pays his respects to the Zhenbei King..."
As he spoke, Tang Zengshou was about to kneel on one knee!
In Dragon Country, there were nominally four Kings!
At the forefront was the King of Kaoshan in the capital. He was the first King after the founding of the country, with unparalleled respect. Even though Xiao Yunlong, the King of the Northern Territory, had made numerous military achievements and was honored as the Zhenbei King, his prestige did not match that of the King of Kaoshan.
Besides the King of Kaoshan and the Zhenbei King, there were also the King of the Southern Border and the King of the Eastern Domain!
As for the Western Region, due to certain historical factors, Dragon Country had not established a King there.
Tang Zengshou's sudden action startled Xiao Yunlong, who had not expected his grandfather to do such a thing.
Upon realizing what was happening, he quickly reached out and supported the elder. What a joke! This was his grandfather! How could this be?
"Grandpa, you mustn't. Please get up quickly!" Xiao Yunlong said, forcibly helping the elder up.
Tang Zengshou looked at Xiao Yunlong and then nodded repeatedly, laughing heartily, "Good, good, truly good! I never dreamed that my grandson would be the current King of the Northern Territory. This is something I could never have imagined even in my dreams!"
However, as he said this, Tang Zengshou suddenly covered his mouth, looked around, and then lowered his voice, "Yun'er, Grandpa now realizes that the ambush in the capital was clearly because the transcendent powers in the capital did not want you to take over the Tian Ce Mansion. Your current identity is still very sensitive, and you absolutely cannot expose it at this time."
"Remember, never mention this to outsiders again, including your uncles and aunts. In fact, you shouldn't have told me, but don't worry, even if they tear this old bone of mine apart, I won't reveal a single word!"
As he spoke, Tang Zengshou repeatedly patted Xiao Yunlong's hand, earnestly admonishing him.
Xiao Yunlong had not told his grandfather about the matter of the Three Thousand Divine Kingdoms. It wasn't a lack of trust, but rather that the matter was too peculiar.
Furthermore, after the ambush in the capital, Xiao Yunlong realized that it was sometimes better to keep some things to oneself, such as his trump cards. Therefore, he had not yet told Liu Ruyan about this matter.
"Don't worry, Grandpa. After that lesson, I know what I'm doing and how to act!" Xiao Yunlong nodded.
"Good. You are now the King of the Northern Territory. Even if Grandpa has the intention, I can't help you much anymore. You'll have to rely on yourself from now on. Be careful in everything."
Tang Zengshou said earnestly, then suddenly added, "Originally, I didn't plan to mention this again, but now that you are the Zhenbei King, you must avenge your mother and your eldest uncle, as well as the annihilation of your Xiao family. You cannot let the perpetrators get away with it!"
Xiao Yunlong nodded heavily and said sternly, "I will, Grandpa. When the time is right, I will definitely return to Chuan City to exact revenge!"
Just as Xiao Yunlong and Tang Zengshou were having a long talk in the bedroom, a man and a woman, both dressed expensively, walked in.
"Auntie, Sixth Uncle said that troublemaker Xiao Yunlong is coming today. Is he here?" asked the young man in designer sportswear.
"He's here. He's over there," Ni Hongyan, who was sitting on the sofa, gestured towards the bedroom.
"These two at the door? Who are they?" the young man asked.
"No, these two are his entourage and bodyguards. That troublemaker is inside chatting with the old man!" Ni Hongyan sneered.
"Oh, he even brought two bodyguards? Quite the show," the woman in the pink dress said with a smirk.
These two young people were Tang Tianbao's children, and thus Xiao Yunlong's cousins.
Cousin Tang Wenya looked at Liu Ruyan, crossed her arms, and examined her carefully. "Sixth Uncle said that troublemaker Xiao Yunlong is now a live-in son-in-law in a wealthy family in Sucheng. I suppose this must be that troublemaker's fiancée?"
"She's quite pretty. No wonder that arrogant troublemaker, who was always so proud since childhood, is willing to be a live-in son-in-law. If it were me, I'd be tempted too," the cousin Tang Zijun said, grinning at Liu Ruyan.
Liu Ruyan's face darkened, and she said coldly, "You are, after all, Yunlong's relatives. Do you think it's appropriate to slander him like this?"
"What's inappropriate about it? That troublemaker almost caused our family to be destroyed. Slandering him is already mild. If it weren't for his deceased mother, we would have made him kneel and apologize..."
At this moment, the bedroom door opened, and Tang Zengshou, supported by Xiao Yunlong, walked out furiously.
"Who did you say should kneel and apologize? Say that again?" Tang Zengshou pointed directly at Tang Zijun's nose and shouted coldly.