Long Xiao returned to the living room to get his short sword and ancient painting, and Pei Yuxuan drove him back to Long Yue Grand Hotel.
As Long Xiao got out of the car, he saw Xue Ling also getting out. She was worried about Long Xiao and had driven over personally to check if he had returned.
Upon seeing Long Xiao, Yue Linglong rushed over excitedly and couldn't help but jump up and hug him.
"Linglong, not like this, people are watching," Long Xiao said in a low voice.
Yue Linglong stepped down from Long Xiao, her face flushed. She glanced at Xue Ling, and seeing that Xue Ling said nothing, she quickly stood aside.
"Manager Xue, this is Mr. Ouyang Tuo," Yue Linglong said, pointing to Long Xiao.
Xue Ling extended her hand and shook Long Xiao's. "Hello, Mr. Ouyang. I'm very sorry I didn't take good care of you."
Long Xiao smiled politely. "It's alright, your service here is excellent."
Pei Yuxuan, seeing Xue Ling arrive, also got out of the car and walked over.
"Sister Ling, I've brought him back," Pei Yuxuan said, leaning towards Xue Ling.
Xue Ling noticed the red finger marks on Pei Yuxuan's face and said, "You brought him back? Really? Your face isn't red, is it?"
Pei Yuxuan touched his burning cheek. "There was a slight conflict with Mr. Ouyang, but it's fine now."
Long Xiao returned to his room, and soon Yue Linglong delivered the items he had bought.
After chatting with Yue Linglong for a while, she reluctantly left.
Long Xiao closed the door, opened the ancient painting to look at it, then set it aside and picked up the short sword.
The short sword, when unsheathed, was covered in rust. It felt heavy and metallic in his hand. Long Xiao attempted to channel the metallic energy within him into his right hand. The short sword in his right hand emitted a white light, accompanied by a faint dragon's cry.
Long Xiao placed 'Dragon's Cry' on the coffee table, raised his right hand, and beckoned. 'Dragon's Cry' levitated in the air.
He was so happy to be able to communicate with the metallic energy within 'Dragon's Cry' so easily that he jumped up.
"Excellent, truly excellent. With this short sword, it's like having an extra helper," Long Xiao said to himself as he walked around the coffee table, observing 'Dragon's Cry'.
The next day was sunny. As Long Xiao hid 'Dragon's Cry' and picked up the Autumn Mountain Night Rain painting, he went downstairs and saw Sun Sizhu entering the lobby.
"Let's go, quickly. Today is the big day, don't be late," Sun Sizhu said, grabbing Long Xiao's arm and urging him along.
Following Sun Sizhu out of the Long Yue Grand Hotel and into the car, Long Xiao looked at the driver and said, "King of Medicine Sun is quite generous today, hiring a driver."
Sun Sizhu glanced at Long Xiao. "Behave yourself when we get there. Don't cause trouble or say anything out of line."
"I understand, King of Medicine Sun. I'll listen to all your arrangements, elder."
Sun Sizhu nodded. "That's finally a human thing to say."
The Long family's estate, located at the foot of North Mountain, covered over a thousand mu. Preparations had begun the day before, and the entire estate was decorated with lanterns and filled with festive cheer.
The entrance to the estate was lined with luxury cars, and various elegantly dressed guests were continuously passing through security and entering the estate.
As Long Xiao went through security, he held the painting and short sword in his hands above his head.
"What are those in your hands?" the security guard asked.
Long Xiao showed him the ancient painting and short sword. "Two antiques, birthday gifts."
The guard drew the short sword to examine it. Seeing its antique appearance and the rust on the blade, he believed Long Xiao's words.
Having successfully entered the Long family estate, Long Xiao followed Sun Sizhu, looking around.
Sun Sizhu had told Long Xiao that he was born in this estate twenty years ago. His father, Long Xuequn, was the eldest son of the Long family, and he was the eldest grandson.
Long Xiao's birth had been a major event. As the eldest grandson, if there were no unexpected circumstances, he would have been the heir to the Long family.
Many people came to offer their birthday wishes, including the heads of various prominent families and elites from all sectors of Beijing. Everyone considered it an honor to be able to enter the Long family and offer their birthday wishes to the elderly Mr. Long.
Sun Sizhu, known as the King of Medicine and an old acquaintance of the Long family, was recognized by many in Beijing. As he walked, he greeted people. The Long family butler, upon seeing him, hurried over and personally escorted him and Long Xiao to the front, finding them seats.
The Long family butler was a kind and venerable elder. He led Long Xiao and Sun Sizhu to their seats. After they sat down, the butler carefully examined Long Xiao and said, "This young brother looks unfamiliar."
Sun Sizhu smiled. "His name is Ouyang Tuo, and he's here specifically to offer birthday wishes to the elder."
The butler smiled at Long Xiao. "King of Medicine Sun, the elder mentioned this morning that you would be bringing someone. Is this the young brother? The elder said if you arrived early, I should take you to see him."
Originally, King of Medicine Sun and Long Xiao's grandfather, Long Tiankui, had arranged for Long Xiao to see him after the banquet.
Now that Long Tiankui had decided to see Long Xiao before the banquet, Sun Sizhu had no choice but to take Long Xiao with him to see him, following the butler.
They walked past several buildings, and the crowd grew sparser. After walking a few hundred meters, they arrived in front of a small building.
The butler stood at the entrance. "King of Medicine Sun, the elder is waiting for you inside. Please go in."
Sun Sizhu nodded and led Long Xiao inside.
As they entered the living room, Long Xiao saw a burly old man sitting on the sofa.
The old man was in his early eighties, sitting upright, with a slightly pale complexion.
Upon seeing the old man, Sun Sizhu quickly walked forward and said, "Greetings, Elder Long."
The old man nodded and looked at Long Xiao. "Sizu, he must be forty years old. How can he be Long Xiao?"
Sun Sizhu chuckled. "Long Xiao, aren't you going to greet your grandfather?"
Long Xiao removed the human skin mask from his face and knelt with a thud before Long Tiankui, his eyes moist.
"Grandfather, I am Long Xiao."
Seeing Long Xiao's face, Long Tiankui was no longer calm. He stood up and walked two steps towards Long Xiao, cupping Long Xiao's face and examining it closely.
"You look so much like him, just like Xuequn," Long Tiankui said emotionally.
Sun Sizhu said proudly, "As soon as I saw Long Xiao, I felt he was Xuequn's child."
Long Tiankui pulled Long Xiao to sit on the sofa, his eyes never leaving Long Xiao's face.
After asking about Long Xiao's situation for a while, Long Tiankui sighed. "Long Xiao, your parents disappeared, and you went missing. I sent people to search everywhere, but there was no news for twenty years."
Seeing Long Tiankui's tears, Sun Sizhu quickly said, "Elder, seeing your grandson is a good thing. You're not well, don't get so agitated."
"It's alright, my grandson is back, and I'm feeling better, completely better."
Long Xiao grabbed Long Tiankui's wrist. "Grandfather, I heard from the King of Medicine Sun that you were injured many years ago and haven't recovered?"
Long Tiankui nodded. "Alas, I was injured by someone who was more skilled. King of Medicine Sun and Li Yizhen both tried to treat me, but the residual energy left inside was too strong, and the internal injuries never healed."
"Grandfather, sit properly, let me take a look," Long Xiao said.
Long Tiankui sat up straight. Long Xiao held his wrist, and a surge of life energy entered his body.
Soon, Long Xiao found that Long Tiankui's internal organs were being troubled by a very powerful force. His dantian was constantly outputting spiritual energy to counteract this force, protecting his internal organs.
The life energy alone was not enough. Long Xiao directly brought out the five-elemental energy from his own dantian and channeled it into Long Tiankui's body.
Upon detecting the influx of Long Xiao's five-elemental energy, the force troubling Long Tiankui's internal organs rapidly condensed and attacked Long Xiao's five-elemental energy.
Long Xiao quickly circulated his five-elemental energy, and the two forces quickly intertwined.
"Return," Long Xiao said softly.
The force troubling Long Tiankui's internal organs was enveloped by Long Xiao's five-elemental energy and brought back into his own body.
Long Xiao released Long Tiankui's hand, sat cross-legged on the sofa, and began to circulate his five-elemental energy to combat the retrieved force.
The two forces used Long Xiao's body as a battlefield, engaging in a fierce struggle.
After a few minutes, with a bang, the force that had entered Long Xiao's body was detonated by Long Xiao's five-elemental energy. With a grunt, Long Xiao spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Long Xiao, are you alright?" Long Tiankui hurriedly stood up and grabbed Long Xiao, asking.
Long Xiao shook his head. "It's fine, Grandfather. I'll recover with some rest."