Dragon City, Prince's Palace.
Just as Long Zongheng received news of Liu's old master's fainting again, his mood was very pleasant: "It seems that the Liu family is really in trouble. Otherwise, Liu Tianming wouldn't be trying so hard. It's a pity that Liu Tianming is also considered a hero of his generation, but it's unfortunate that he ended his life in such desolation."
With crocodile tears streaming down his face, Long Zongheng went to the Palace of Heart Care to pay his respects to Zhao Bingbing. Long Qingyun had been busy both domestically and internationally during this time, consolidating the Long family's rule. Zhao Bingbing's health had improved a lot since the beginning, but she was still somewhat weak. In order to take care of her sister, Zhao Qingqing specially came from Manchuria to look after her.
Zhao Qingqing was Zhao Bingbing's younger sister, two years younger than Zhao Bingbing. The two sisters looked alike, but Zhao Qingqing was slightly taller than her sister. The two sisters had been very close since childhood. Later, Zhao Bingbing married Long Qingyun and became the mother of a nation, while Zhao Qingqing married the head of the Nalan family in Manchuria, Nalan Meng, and had a son.
The two sisters could be said to have been very happy since childhood. Coming from the prestigious Zhao family in the Central Plains, they found suitable husbands and gave birth to heirs for their in-laws. Their status became even more respected. For women to live to such an age, the Zhao sisters could be said to be heaven's favored ones.
"Mother, Aunt, Zongheng pays his respects to you both." Inside the Palace of Heart Care, Long Zongheng performed a full courtesy.
"No need for such formality." Zhao Bingbing smiled slightly. "Zongheng, did you sleep well last night?"
"Thank you for your concern, Mother. I slept well." Long Zongheng smiled faintly, then turned to look at Zhao Qingqing. Although she was already over fifty, Zhao Qingqing maintained herself like a mature woman in her mid-thirties, beautiful and stunning. However, her complexion was a bit pale and her complexion not very good at the moment.
"Auntie doesn't look too good. Did you catch a cold?" Although Long Zongheng didn't understand medicine, he was clear about simple colds and flu from practicing the family's martial arts since childhood.
Zhao Qingqing nodded with a smile, her voice slightly nasal, "Maybe I caught a slight cold from bathing last night, but it's nothing."
"Auntie, take care of yourself. If you get sick from taking care of Mother, it will be our fault." Long Zongheng expressed his concern.
Zhao Qingqing smiled faintly. "It's okay. Auntie has already taken medicine. It's just a common cold, and I'll be fine in a few days."
"As long as Auntie is okay." Long Zongheng breathed a sigh of relief.
With a smile, Zhao Qingqing said softly, "If Nianlong comes to Dragon City soon, you will have to take care of him, Zongheng."
"Rest assured, Auntie. I will definitely take good care of him."
"With your words, Auntie can rest assured."
Two days later, in the Prince's Palace.
"Hahaha, Young Master Long, I'm here!" A tall figure, like a tower, laughed heartily, opening his arms for a bear hug with Long Zongheng.
Long Zongheng patted his back with a smile. "Gangzi, you've grown stronger in just a month."
"There's no other way. My dad has a bad temper. I went back and was trained hard by him for a month. I even shed a layer of skin." This man was the executioner who killed Guan Shu, Nalan Meng, the only son of Nalan Meng and Zhao Qingqing, referred to as Gangzi by Long Zongheng.
"It's really hard work." Long Zongheng smiled. "It's also my fault for not expecting Liu Lao Taifu to hold on to his position. I had to change my plans. Otherwise, you could have stayed to help me."
"It's all in the past." Nalan Meng shook his head and laughed. "Besides, the hard work of this month was not in vain. I learned a few tricks from my dad, and now I'm much stronger than I was a month ago. Shall we spar later?"
"Forget it, save your energy. Next month, accompany me to Tianfu." Long Zongheng shook his head and said so.
"Action next month?" Nalan Meng's eyes lit up with excitement. "But hasn't Liu Lao Taifu died yet?"
"It's about time." Long Zongheng smiled faintly. "Liu Tianming is neither dead nor alive, which is just right. At least it allows me to implement my plan openly and aboveboard."
"Oh?" Nalan Meng scratched his head. "Young Master Long, I remember that woman is older than you by a year. Will she..."
"Do you think she's not worthy of me?" Long Zongheng smiled.
"A little bit." Nalan Meng nodded. "And that woman isn't surnamed Liu. Marrying her may not be of any use to you."
"You're speaking the truth." Long Zongheng smiled and said, "Although she's not surnamed Liu, this woman's tactics are stronger than any woman I've ever seen. When the Liu family was in its most difficult times, she was the one who supported them. I admire her."
"It's the first time I've seen you admire a woman." Nalan Meng grinned. "It doesn't matter. Anyway, there's only her left among the female members of the Liu family. Whether you marry her or a woman surnamed Liu, it doesn't make a difference. I just wonder if Liu Lao Taifu will agree?"
"He'll agree even if he doesn't." Long Zongheng was full of confidence. "Because only the Long family is the best support for the Liu family. Even if he knows that I have ulterior motives, what can he do? It's a hundred times better than the Liu family perishing in his hands."
Nalan Meng scratched his head. "Forget it, I'm not good at scheming. If you think it's feasible, then it is. I just need a fight to keep me occupied."
"You..." Long Zongheng shook his head with a wry smile. "I'm really worried about the future of the Nalan family because of you."
"What's there to worry about? Anyway, I have a son now. My dad can hold on for another thirty or forty years. By then, my son will be grown up, and I can pass on the family business to him."
Long Zongheng: "..."
Encountering such a simple-minded fellow, Long Zongheng felt a bit overwhelmed and shook his head with a wry smile. "It's rare that you're here. Tonight, I'll treat you to a grand feast."
"Hey hey, I've been waiting for that! Tonight, I'm up for taking on ten of you!"
"Be careful not to exhaust yourself."
"Even under the peony flower, one can die a romantic death."
"Are you using your literary skills even in this context?"
"Everyone has their own aspirations."
"..."
In the square of Anguo Gate, numerous tourists from both domestic and international locales gathered, especially drawn to the giant portrait of the founder of the Dragon Family hanging above the gate, which became the favorite spot for taking photos.
At this moment, a figure appeared in the square that surprised and excited everyone. A 'Saint Warrior' clad in golden armor, wielding a golden sword, stood amidst the crowd, attracting the curiosity of many young visitors who eagerly approached to take photos with him.
The Saint Warrior didn't mind and smiled as he posed for photos with the crowd, also asking them to take a picture for him with their phones.
"Hey dude, where did you buy this armor? It's so cool!" exclaimed a young man in his twenties from Longcheng, his envy evident as he gazed at the golden armor. To him, compared to Batman or Iron Man, this armor was like a swan among ducks.
The Saint Warrior chuckled, "Sorry, I crafted it myself over three years, piece by piece. You won't find it for sale anywhere."
"Whoa! You made it yourself?" The young man was astonished. "Are you a blacksmith?"
"Not really, these are all metals pressed out by a lathe, but I polished them one by one," the Saint Warrior explained, raising his golden sword in a badass pose. "Come on, help me take a cool photo."
"Whoa! You're so cool."
There were many patrol guards at Anguo Gate, and upon seeing the excitement, some came over to inquire. When they saw the Saint Warrior, excitement flashed in their eyes. Patrol guards were humans too, a group of young people who also appreciated this cool and flashy armor. After changing shifts, a squad of patrol guards even ran over to take a photo with the Saint Warrior.
This surprised tourists from both home and abroad. The dignified patrol guards of Anguo Gate, when did they become so down-to-earth? Weren't they supposed to be emotionless machines?
The crowd surged forward, capturing this precious moment with their phones and cameras. At the same time, some media reporters received the news and rushed over to interview the Saint Warrior.
The Saint Warrior was a young man in his thirties, not particularly handsome but very cool. Facing the camera, he seemed a bit nervous. "Uh, this is my first time on TV. Could you make me look good?"
Hearing such a simple request, the crowd burst into laughter, and the reporter laughed until tears filled her eyes. "No problem, no problem. Cameraman, make sure to capture this handsome guy nicely."
"No problem," the cameraman replied with a smile, giving a thumbs-up.
The reporter, a young woman who had recently graduated, was young and not particularly beautiful, with an average figure, but she was very approachable. Holding the microphone, she said, "To all the viewers in front of the TV, today in front of Anguo Gate Square, there appeared a very surprising figure. Who is he? He's the one next to me, the Saint Warrior clad in golden light."
The camera immediately focused on the Saint Warrior, and the reporter smiled, "Hello, Saint Warrior, say hi to everyone."
"Uh, hello to all the viewers in front of the TV, I am Zhang Xiaofan, the Golden Saint Warrior from Guanzhong." After saying that, Zhang Xiaofan waved the golden sword in his hand and struck a few cool and handsome poses, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
The reporter giggled, and when he stopped, she immediately asked, "So, Zhang Xiaofan, how did you get this suit of armor?"
"I made it myself. It can't really be called a Saint Cloth, but rather a full-body armor. I just made the details more in line with the aesthetic preferences of modern young people, so it looks similar to a Saint Cloth. Of course, I believe mine looks much better than a Saint Cloth."
There was another round of light laughter at the scene.
"You made this armor yourself?" The reporter was amazed.
Zhang Xiaofan nodded. "Yes, I spent three years, painstakingly crafting it piece by piece."
"Three years? Zhang Xiaofan, you really have a strong will. Ordinary people wouldn't spend three years making something like this," the reporter remarked with emotion.
Zhang Xiaofan scratched his head. "I had no choice. I've loved watching Saint Seiya since I was a child and thought Saint Seiya was so cool. Later, I watched movies like Iron Man and felt that Iron Man's armor was too ugly, so I had the idea to make my own armor. Who knew it would be so difficult? It took me three years, but thankfully, I finished it, and I'm very satisfied with it myself."
"It's indeed very handsome," the reporter smiled and asked, "So, why did you wear it out today? Is there a purpose?"
"Of course," Zhang Xiaofan nodded. "I actually wore it out for a specific reason."
"Oh? What's the reason?" The reporter asked eagerly.
Zhang Xiaofan scratched his head. "Um, well, not long ago, I saw the Crown Prince on TV and felt that his image perfectly matched the image of a Saint Warrior in my mind. So, I hope to meet the Crown Prince and have him wear my armor for a photo with me."
With that, Zhang Xiaofan looked a bit embarrassed but also a bit hopeful. "I just don't know if the Crown Prince would be willing."