"Long Chen, is it? Your sister owes me a total of 180,000 yuan, principal plus interest. I'll give you one hour to come up with the money. If you don't pay up, I'm taking your pretty little sister with me today."

In the shabby room, a fierce-looking bald man, flanked by a group of underlings dressed in suits, surrounded Long Chen and his sister, Long Xue'er.

"It was only 100,000 yuan, how come..."

"I say it's 180,000 yuan, and it is 180,000 yuan. You're two months overdue, understand? Stop your yapping, or my brothers here will take good care of you right now. You believe me?" the bald man interrupted Long Xue'er sharply.

Long Xue'er's face turned pale with fear, and her large eyes were full of terror as she clutched Long Chen's hand, whispering an apology, "Brother, it's all my fault. I shouldn't have borrowed from him. It's all my fault."

"Xue'er, you did it to gather money for grandpa's medical fees. It's not your fault, it's me who's useless," Long Chen said, his eyes rimmed red.

Thinking about how his sister had suffered to treat their grandfather's illness and his own helplessness made Long Chen's heart twist in agony.

"Brother, maybe I should..."

Slap.

Before Long Xue'er could finish speaking, she was harshly slapped by the bald man, causing half her face to swell up.

"I'm losing my patience. Cut the crap and get the money," the bald man appeared more threatening than ever.

Long Xue'er shivered and silently wept.

Watching his sister's swollen face, Long Chen clenched his fists and said through gritted teeth, "I'll get the money right now, just don't you dare touch my sister."

He took out his cell phone, but had no idea who to call for a loan.

Having married into the Li Family for over a year, his old friends had nearly all cut contact once they learned he had become a son-in-law living with his wife's family.

And though the Li Family was wealthy, they had never looked at him properly, asking them for the 180,000 yuan would be as hard as reaching the sky.

At this moment, the Li Family was Long Chen's only hope.

After taking a deep breath, Long Chen steeled his heart and dialed his mother-in-law, Han Min's number.

It took a while for the call to be answered, and Han Min's impatient voice came through, "I'm playing mahjong. Spit it out if you've got something to say."

"Mom, my sister's in some trouble and needs 180,000 yuan. Could you…"

"All you ever do is cause trouble when you call. Get lost," was all she said.

The call was ruthlessly ended by Han Min.

Long Chen was stunned for a moment, the result was expected, yet it still left him feeling suffocated.

"Ha, that was your mother-in-law, wasn't it? Seems like you've got quite a pitiful life as a live-in son-in-law. Time is running out; keep looking for a loan. If you can't get it, tonight your delicate little sister will have to… heh heh."

The bald man eyed Long Xue'er lecherously, even going as far as to pinch her chin.

"Xiaochen, you are a descendant of the Dragon Physician, with the Dragon Bloodline coursing through your veins, sealed… with the legacy of a medical immortal. Don't let these scoundrels look down on you, don't be afraid of them."

At this moment, the critically ill old man on the bed shouted with all the strength he had left.

"Dragon Bloodline? Medical immortal legacy? Haha, this old man is really funny."

The bald man laughed uproariously, and his lackeys joined in with an unrestrained laughter.

Long Chen's face flushed red; his grandfather was old and often delirious. Those words he had just spoken had been said before, and this wasn't the first time.

"Brother, if it really comes down to it, I... I will go with him."

Long Xue'er said softly, tears streaming down her face, her eyes filled with utter hopelessness.

"No," Long Chen said fiercely, "Even if I have to risk my life today, I won't let you suffer in the slightest."

"Oh, ho! So, what are you saying, you want to take us on? Kid, look at yourself. You're a useless son-in-law who married into a family. Do you even deserve to?"

The bald man casually picked up a chair.

Long Chen's face changed slightly as he said in a deep voice, "Just give me a little more time; I'll try to borrow it."

"Make it quick. You have ten more minutes," snapped the bald man.

"Wasn't it an hour?"

"Can't I change my mind?" the bald man gave a savage kick to Long Chen's stomach, "Stop dawdling, or you won't even get ten minutes."

"Brother, are you alright?"

Long Xue'er hurried to help Long Chen up, her eyes blurry with tears.

"I… I'm fine."

Flipping through his phone, Long Chen found the number of his nominal wife, Li Yuechan, and called her.

The call connected, and Li Yuechan's cold voice came through, "I'm busy."

"Yuechan, my family's in trouble. We need 180,000 yuan. Debt collectors have come to take my sister away, can you lend it to me for now?"

Long Chen braced himself and spoke up.

Li Yuechan fell silent for a while before she finally spoke indifferently, "Don't call me during work unless it's important."

The call was over, and the line went dead.

Long Chen clutched his phone, feeling somewhat desperate.

Based on his understanding of Li Yuechan, although she hadn't explicitly refused, it was as good as a rejection.

"What did she say?"

The bald man asked.

"She agreed, and told my sister to go get the money," Long Chen said, hoping to get Long Xue'er out of danger first.

"Do I look like an idiot to you? Am I easy to fool?"

The bald man sneered.

"I..."

"Hit him!" the bald man ordered abruptly.

A group of young men immediately rushed forward, raining punches and kicks down on Long Chen.

Long Chen grunted continuously, with blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

Long Xue'er wanted to step forward but was grabbed by the bald man.

"Alas, little sister, it looks like you can't escape your fate today, come with brother," he said.

Evil light danced in the bald man's eyes, and he reached out a finger, moving it towards a certain part of Long Xue'er.

"Don't touch my sister."

Long Chen, in a rage, pushed two men away and charged towards the bald man.

"Seeking death."

The bald man grabbed a stool and smashed it down on Long Chen's head.

Bang.

Long Chen was immediately knocked out, his head bleeding profusely.

Not satisfied, the bald man stepped on Long Chen twice more.

"Brother..."

Long Xue'er wept bitterly.

"Boss, this kid isn't dead, is he?"

A lackey asked, somewhat uneasy.

"He shouldn't be dead. If he is, I'll claim self-defense. Hurry up, take this chick away," the bald man said impatiently.

"Right, boss."

Two young men immediately reached out to grab Long Xue'er.

Long Xue'er struggled fiercely, screaming loudly, but her strength was not enough to break free.

"Let... let go of my sister."

At the critical moment, Long Chen on the ground, his face covered in blood, suddenly opened his eyes.

His pupils had turned blood-red, emitting a faint red glow, as if he had transformed into a demon.

The bald man's lackey was startled, loosening his grip on Long Xue'er instinctively.

But Long Chen was not done; he furiously charged at the bald man and his group.

Bang, bang, bang...

A series of dull sounds followed as the tall and burly debt collectors were all knocked to the ground by Long Chen, screaming in pain.

"Get out, all of you get out."

Long Chen roared.

At that moment, he exuded an indescribable ferocious aura, as if he were a changed person.

Especially those crimson pupils, filled with some mysterious power.

"Go, get out of here, this kid's possessed," the bald man said, covering his bleeding nose, turning tail to flee.

His gang, already terrified, scattered in panicked flight following the bald man.

No sooner had the group fled than Long Chen's head drooped, and he lapsed into unconsciousness once again.

And the bald man leading the escape out the door ran headlong into a tall beauty.

Dressed in a black gown, she had a perfect oval face, and her almond-shaped eyes brimmed with icy coolness. As she walked, her flowing hair and stunning figure seemed almost ready to leap out, enough to make any normal man's imagination run wild.

The bald man was slightly distracted, giving her an extra look or two.

Her beautiful eyes, with a touch of surprise, scanned the injured group, and she spoke in a crisp, cold voice, "Are you here to collect debts? I am Long Chen's wife, Li Yuechan. How much does he owe you? I'll pay it back."