Chapter 145 Do You Know Who I Am

"Is something the matter?" Zhang Xiue walked over, looking at Tang Long's somewhat grim expression, and asked instinctively.

Tang Long hesitated for a moment, looked at her, and said softly, "Wife, I might have to go away for a while."

"Huh?"

Zhang Xiue's face flushed red at first, because Tang Long had never used intimate terms like 'darling' or 'wife' with her before. Then, she couldn't help but frown slightly, asking in surprise, "Where are you going? For how long?"

With Fishhead Village bustling with activity inside and out, the fact that he was thinking of running off somewhere left Zhang Xiue feeling a bit upset. After all, she was a woman, and what woman didn't have a little temper and a few quirks of her own?

Tang Long thought for a moment, shook his head with a bitter smile, and said, "I don't know how long. Maybe I'll be back in a few days, or maybe... a month or two!"

"A month or two?" Zhang Xiue was stunned and instinctively asked, "Where on earth are you going?"

Tang Long looked at her, truly at a loss for how to explain. The whole business with General Yang was just too ridiculously absurd.

Yet, he couldn't simply ignore it!

"Sigh, don't ask about it for now!" Tang Long raised a hand to stroke Zhang Xiue's face, kissed her forehead, and said softly, "There are some things I simply have to do."

Zhang Xiue hesitated for a moment, hugged Tang Long, and asked, "What on earth has happened? Can't you tell me? If you act like this, I'll be very worried."

Kissing her forehead, Tang Long gave a wry smile and asked, "Remember that General Yang we were just discussing yesterday?"

"General Yang?"

Zhang Xiue quickly reacted, frowning as she asked, "You mean the guy who bought up all the mountains on the west side of our Fishhead Village?"

General Yang's reputation in Fishhead Village was not good; in the eyes of many, he was not a friend at all, but a troublemaker. That was why Zhang Xiue found it hard to understand why Tang Long would leave for so long just because of such a person!

Tang Long smiled bitterly and nodded. "Yes, him!"

Zhang Xiue asked uncomprehendingly, "What's wrong with him?"

Tang Long did not offer Zhang Xiue a detailed explanation. Some things, even if told to her, wouldn't necessarily be believed. Of course, this wasn't due to a lack of trust in Tang Long, but rather because it exceeded the bounds of what she could accept—just like when she first heard about the 'Black-scaled Flood Dragon,' she hadn't believed it either, because she simply couldn't imagine that such a colossal and ancient creature existed in this world.

"An accident happened!"

Zhang Xiue frowned and said, "General Yang had an accident, so why do you have to go help? We don't owe them anything!"

Tang Long smiled wryly. "We certainly don't owe them anything, but who told them to be so overbearing? There's nothing to be done about it; I have to go."

Just as Zhang Xiue opened her mouth to speak, Zhao Xiaoyue popped out from nowhere, pouting her small lips with unmistakable displeasure, and complained, "Sister Xiue, could you please not be like this? You're a leader in the village after all, clinging to my Big Brother Tang Long like this—what kind of propriety is that?"

She wore a lecturing expression, her eyes darting around—doubtless cooking up some mischievous scheme!

"So what if I'm a village leader? Isn't it normal to hug him? What does a little brat like you know? Shoo, go away and don't stir up trouble here!"

Watching Zhang Xiue step out of his embrace, Tang Long couldn't help but roll his eyes at Zhao Xiaoyue, waving his hand to signal this little troublemaker to get lost immediately. She always managed to cause trouble for him out of nowhere!

Zhao Xiaoyue snorted and said loudly, "When you were in the provincial capital, you hugged Sister Yao Hanzhong like that. Now that you're back in the village, you do the same to Sister Xiue, and now you want to glare at me fiercely. You're the village chief of Fishhead Village, Big Boss Tang, you should set a good example. Am I wrong?"

"..."

Tang Long rubbed his nose and glanced at Zhang Xiue. This little brat really was like a little dog; when she threw a tantrum, she'd bite whoever crossed her path, blurting out whatever came into her head.

Zhang Xiue pulled a straight face. Without saying anything else, she turned to Zhang Yong and said, "How about you come with me to the village committee, and we can discuss this together?"

Tang Long shook his head, his smile fading as he said, "Some things simply must be handled."

Even if not for himself, he had to consider Fishhead Village and the friends around him. The current Tang Long was no longer a lone wolf who ate alone and left the whole family hungry.

He wasn't afraid of the Yang family, but that didn't mean he had to deliberately make enemies of them. In this society, many things left one helpless against the currents of fate.

Why had that invisible hand behind the scenes targeted Tang Long, cut out General Yang's heart, and lured Tang Long into the trap? Wasn't it because they had calculated that he had nowhere to run?

Zhang Xiue bit her lower lip, momentarily unsure of what to say.

...

After briefly arranging matters for Fishhead Village—though there wasn't really much to arrange; with Zhang Xiue and the others there, Tang Long could leave with complete peace of mind. Fishhead Village was currently in its closed-village period, and aside from issues concerning village redevelopment construction, there were no other major matters.

On the way to Taoyuan County, Tang Long first called Gou Yuniang to tell her that he might be going on a long journey soon, and that it would take quite a while.

If he were indeed heading to the Qinling Mountains, communication might not be very convenient, and losing contact entirely wasn't out of the question. To prevent her from worrying, Tang Long wanted to give her a heads-up first!

After hanging up with Gou Yuniang, he dialed the Yang family phone number provided by the bigwig Zhen Nantian.

"Who is it?"

The call connected, and an ice-cold voice emerged from the earpiece.

Even across thousands of kilometers, Tang Long felt as though he could hear the chill in the other person's voice. This person was terrifyingly formidable.

Tang Long said indifferently, "Is General Yang dead yet?"

The woman on the other end of the line was silent for a moment before speaking in a gloomy, cold tone, "Who are you?"

"Taoyuan County, Fishhead Village!"

Tang Long did not state his name, mentioning only two place names. He believed the other party would be able to figure out who he was. If they couldn't, it meant... the other party's rank was simply too low.

"You'd better pray my brother Wujiang is safe and sound, otherwise, I'll have everyone in your entire Fishhead Village buried with him!" the woman's eerie and terrifying voice rang out once more.

Tang Long frowned. What an overbearing murderous aura! At the same time, these words provoked his displeasure. Out of a sense of righteousness, he had intervened in General Yang's affairs, but that didn't mean he owed the Yang family anything.

"Would you mind stopping your bragging? I simply don't believe in superstitions. If that bastard General Yang is dead, just try touching a single hair on the heads of my villagers and see what happens. Seriously, damn it, are you all so utterly spoiled that you've forgotten your own names just because you have a bit of stinking wealth? Do you know who I am? ...Go out and ask around if you don't. I am Tang Long. You're threatening me? Heh!"

With that, Tang Long hung up the phone. Not losing one's temper did not mean one had no temper at all. Unarmored, he was a mortal in the secular world; armored, his murderous aura shook the heavens and his martial soul rattled the skies.

There was never a time when Tang Long was the one on the receiving end of threats—he was always the one saying 'no.' Those who had once threatened him were either kneeling at his feet or lying in coffins, bidding farewell to this world.

It wasn't that Tang Long wanted to don his armor again, but rather that he had no choice!

Whether it was that hand behind the scenes or the Yang family, Tang Long would face them without a shred of fear, armor donned for battle. The Yang family? If you want a war, then a war it shall be!

For some reason, the voice coming through the phone sent a shiver down Yang Wuchan's spine, as if a torrent of boiling blood had enveloped her, leaving her utterly motionless for a long time!

She had to admit that what she said just now had been a bit extreme, spoken largely in a fit of anger. But if something truly happened to General Yang, the Yang family would go completely insane.

Taoyuan County, Fishhead Village?

Tang Long?

Yang Wuchan had heard this name before. Rumor had it that this man once represented an entire era; he had roamed the military realm, utterly invincible. Across the battlefield, he struck terror into the hearts of all who heard his name, suffering not a single defeat in ten whole years.

A few months ago, he had vanished from the face of the earth, leaving behind only legends and no trace whatsoever.

Since Zhen Nantian had called Tang Long, it meant someone had already communicated with the Yang family beforehand.

"Tang Long?"

Yang Wuchan took a deep breath, her eyes blazing with fury. Very few people dared to speak to her in that tone. Moreover, she never made idle threats: if General Yang died, Fishhead Village would be wiped out. No one could stop that—not even Tang Long!

Hesitating for a moment, she called Tang Long back.

Hang up!

Tang Long didn't pick up.

She called again. Still hung up.

Tang Long knew what the Yang family wanted to say to him, but he didn't want to listen. Damn it, did they really think he had no temper?

Annoyed, he casually added the Yang family's phone number to his blacklist. He refused to believe that General Yang's death had to be pinned on him.

Helping out was a matter of principle.

Refusing to help—what could they possibly do to him?

...

Tang Long had Fishhead Village behind him, but didn't the Yang family have families and dependents of their own? Everyone was matched evenly; if you dare touch my people, I'll wipe you out first!

Yang Wuchan was nearly driven insane with rage. Not only did he hang up on her, but he also blacklisted her phone number? Was this guy really going to fall out with the Yang family?

Standing outside the intensive care unit, Kongque stared at the young man lying on the hospital bed, covered in tubes, her face deathly pale.

Though she wasn't the one who had told General Yang to go to Taoyuan County, his presence within the borders of Taoyuan County was closely tied to her—something that required no explanation.

"How old was Wujiang when he first met you?"

Standing beside Kongque was a stunning woman who appeared to be in her early forties, exuding an air of deep wealth. Although no longer young, the charm she carried was far beyond the reach of any young girl, proving that in her youth she must have been a peerless beauty.

This was General Yang's eldest sister, Yang Zetian, arguably the helmsman of the Yang family. Among the Yangs, she commanded absolute respect.

"Thirteen!"

Kongque frowned and said softly.

Yang Zetian's expression was calm, betraying little visible grief, though a closer look revealed that the corners of her eyes were slightly red and swollen.

"Today, Wujiang is twenty-one years old," Yang Zetian said quietly.

Kongque opened her mouth to explain, but the words died on her lips. What had happened had happened; any explanation now was pale and feeble.

It would also be difficult for the Yang family to listen to any explanations from anyone. Only General Yang's safe and sound return would be the best explanation possible!

"I know. Wujiang ending up like this is not your fault," Yang Zetian said.

Kongque took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and said, "I will go find the killer, retrieve Wujiang's heart, and protect him... If he dies, I will be buried with him. Just don't implicate others!"

She had wanted to say she would ensure his survival, but the words were pulled back because she simply couldn't guarantee it!

Yang Zetian stood there in silence, her face expressionless, lost in her own thoughts.

At that moment, *tap-tap-tap*, the rapid sound of high heels striking the floor echoed down the corridor as a tall, exceptionally slender woman hurried over.

Her figure surpassed that of international models, and rather than being thin, she possessed a full, voluptuous build—magnificently curvaceous, with everything in all the right places, yet tapering down like a willow branch at her waist.

There is a daughter in the Yang family named 'Wuchan,' whose enchanting beauty could topple cities.

Yang Wuchan was the ninth child in her family, affectionately called Ninth Sister or Ninth Niece by her kin. Ninth Sister Wuchan was also one of the top three powerhouses among the thirteen golden flowers of the Yang family.

"Eldest Sister, that brat Tang Long just called!" Yang Wuchan's face was as cold as ice, her teeth clenched in hatred as she spoke.

Yang Zetian frowned, turned her head to look at her, and asked, "What did he say?"

Yang Wuchan gritted her teeth and said, "He hung up on me, and then... blacklisted me!"

"Oh?"

That single syllable carried the unmistakable hallmark of the entire Yang family.

Blacklisted her phone number? At a juncture like this, Tang Long actually dared to pull such a stunt? Did he really not care about the Yang family's wrath?

"What did you two talk about?" Yang Zetian frowned and asked.

Knowing that this was not the time to argue right from wrong, Yang Wuchan said bluntly, "I told Tang Long that if my younger brother Wujiang suffered the slightest harm, I would have everyone in Fishhead Village buried with him. He said I was bragging and told me to give it a try!"

Yang Zetian said calmly, "What a fine 'give it a try.' What a fine God of War, Tang Long!"

Beside them, Kongque bit her lower lip, her complexion turning even paler.