NOVEL NEXT Chapter 78: Chapter 78
Chapter 78: Imprisoned in the Dungeon for Ten Years
The heir of the Ye Family's Nine-Heart Begonia martial soul frowned deeply. "How long ago was your injury?" he asked Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang, still writhing from the pain in his waist, thought for a moment. "About a week. Someone treated it back in Soto City, but it wasn't completely healed. The pain comes and goes."
The healer's expression turned grim. "A week is a long time. Let me examine you."
He placed his hands near Yu Xiaogang's lower back and summoned the luminous power of his martial soul. After a few minutes of treatment, the sharp agony in Yu Xiaogang's waist dulled into a faint ache.
Yu Xiaogang exhaled in relief, though his expression remained worried. "The pain isn't gone completely. Could there be lasting damage?"
The healer sighed. "It's hard to say. Since the injury has lingered untreated for so long, there's a chance it could leave a hidden ailment. However, your right side appears unscathed, which means the impact may not be as severe as you fear. With time and care, you might fully recover."
Though meant to reassure, the healer's words offered little comfort to Yu Xiaogang, who muttered bitterly to himself. 'It's easy for you to say. It's not your waist that got shattered.'
Desperate to shift the focus from himself, Yu Xiaogang quickly asked, "Master Ye, how is my elder brother? Is he… is he okay?"
The healer paused, his heavy sigh filling the room with foreboding. "Your elder brother…" he began, shaking his head. "You should see for yourself."
Yu Xiaogang's heart sank. His dizziness temporarily forgotten, he rose shakily to his feet and made his way toward Yu Xiaolong's room, leaning against the walls for support.
The sight that greeted him froze him in place. His father, Yu Yuanzhen, sat slumped against the wall, his face ashen. His sister-in-law sobbed uncontrollably, clutching her husband's limp hand.
On the bed lay Yu Xiaolong, his face contorted in a perpetual grin, his eyes dull and unfocused. He giggled uncontrollably, his laughter childlike and devoid of reason.
Yu Xiaogang stumbled forward and dropped to his knees.
"Brother! I killed you! I—I didn't know that Zhao Ling was so powerful. I didn't mean for this to happen! I…"
Yu Yuanzhen's composure snapped. Rising with a roar, he grabbed Yu Xiaogang by the collar and struck him with a slap so fierce that it echoed throughout the room.
"Shut up! Your brother isn't dead!" Yu Yuanzhen shouted, his voice trembling with fury.
Yu Xiaogang froze, his face stinging from the blow. "N-not dead?" he stammered.
"Look at him!" Yu Yuanzhen bellowed, dragging Yu Xiaogang to his feet and forcing him to face Yu Xiaolong. "Your brother, my son—the family's pride! He's alive, but as what? A fool who can't even recognize his own father!"
Yu Xiaogang turned back toward the bed. Yu Xiaolong's endless laughter rang in his ears, and despair engulfed him. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the floor.
Moments later, Yu Luomian and several family elders entered the room, alerted by the healer's departure. When they saw Yu Xiaolong's state, shock and fury gripped them.
"Xiaolong… a fool?" one elder whispered, his voice trembling.
Yu Luomian clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with anger. His gaze shifted to Yu Xiaogang, kneeling near the bed. Without hesitation, he lunged forward, grabbing Yu Xiaogang by the collar and shaking him violently.
"This is your fault! You caused this! If it weren't for you, Xiaolong would still be the family's shining star!"
"Enough!" Yu Yuanzhen barked, stepping between them. "Second Brother, if you beat him any further, you'll kill him—and we'll have no one left to blame."
Yu Luomian released Yu Xiaogang with a growl, his glare filled with loathing.
Yu Yuanzhen looked around the room, his expression as cold as steel. "I am the head of this family," he said. "And as its head, I declare this: Yu Xiaogang will pay for his crimes."
Yu Xiaogang's blood ran cold. He tried to speak but was silenced by a sharp glare from his father.
"Drag him to the dungeon!" Yu Yuanzhen commanded. "He will spend ten years there, reflecting on his actions. Let him see what his arrogance has wrought!"
Yu Xiaogang's knees gave out completely. "Father, no! Please!" he cried. "I'll make it right! I'll find a way to cure Brother! I—"
His pleas fell on deaf ears as two guards seized him and began dragging him from the room.
"Father! Father, please! I'm your son!"
"You stopped being my son the moment you dragged your brother into your mess," Yu Yuanzhen replied, his voice devoid of emotion.
Yu Xiaogang's screams echoed through the halls as he was hauled away to the family dungeon.
After the commotion settled, Yu Yuanzhen turned his attention to Yu Luomian and the elders.
"The fault for this tragedy does not rest solely on Xiaogang," he said, his voice heavy with authority. "The man named Zhao Ling dared to humiliate our family. He made a mockery of our Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex bloodline."
He met their eyes, his gaze sharp and commanding. "How do you propose we handle him?"
The room fell silent, the weight of Yu Yuanzhen's words pressing on everyone present. For the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family, this was not just a personal vendetta—it was a matter of pride.
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(End of Chapter)