Chen Shao!
This time, Tang Long was completely convinced of what he had been thinking in his heart — sure enough, it was that great benefactor once again!
Tang Long was deeply moved. He could never have imagined that the person he casually ran into while patrolling the border defenses would turn out to be the great benefactor of his life, helping him time and time again, always appearing like deliverance in his darkest hours.
"I… Chen Shao, Chen Shao, he is my great benefactor." Tang Long was so emotional that after fussing for a long while, he finally managed to squeeze out the words "great benefactor."
Captain Gu was actually curious too. Hearing Tang Long speak like this, he figured the relationship between this Tang Long and Chen Shao might truly run deep. This Tang Long — he'd need to look out for him in the future.
Otherwise, if Commander Tian got displeased, how would he continue holding his position as Battalion Commander? Captain Gu was also very grateful to Tian Shao.
It was precisely because Tian Shao had been promoted to Deputy Commander that the Battalion Commander position had opened up. For that seat, the higher-ups wanted Tian Shao to recommend a candidate.
Originally, Tian Shao could have easily recommended the former Deputy Battalion Commander, but he didn't. Instead, from among the Squadron Commanders, he had promoted him, Gu, to the position.
A Squadron Commander, directly promoted to Battalion Commander. Captain Gu's gratitude toward Tian Shao could be seen from this. That was why whatever Tian Shao ordered, he carried out with all his heart and effort.
It was also this chain of promotions and connections that had led Captain Gu to arrive just in time, finally allowing Tang Long to escape disaster — and changing his fate forever.
"Tang Long, these few guys — how do we deal with them? Got any ideas?" Captain Gu decided to give Tang Long all the face he could.
"I can decide?"
Captain Gu smiled. "You're the victim. They attempted murder — as the victim, you certainly have every right to have a say. In the Royal Capital, attempted murder and kidnapping are capital offenses."
Captain Gu was hinting at Tang Long, suggesting that he could press the matter and have these men sentenced to death, to prevent future trouble.
Bald Captain Yu and the rest were old soldiers and rogues — how could they not understand this? They realized Captain Gu was signaling Tang Long to push for the harshest punishment, and hurriedly scrambled over on their knees.
"Tang Long, Brother Tang! I, Old Yu, was wrong! I was blind and offended you. For the sake of the time we served as colleagues, let us go! We're… willing to be your dogs from now on!"
"Brother Tang, we were wrong! We let greed blind us and offended you. Don't you remember? Back when you didn't have enough to eat, I even split a steamed bun with you!"
"Brother Tang, don't kill me! I have a sister, and I'm willing to marry her to you as a concubine!"
"I have a sister too — and she's a twin! Brother Tang, you're now a Dragon Tooth Guard, a Sixth-Rank Dragon Tooth Guard, a noble! Taking a few concubines is perfectly natural!"
Tang Long sneered. He knew these guys all too well — they were chameleons. Now they were terrified of death, crying and begging for mercy, but the moment they were let off the hook, they'd turn around and become venomous snakes.
This routine was something they had down cold.
"Captain Gu, these men broke into my private residence, shouting about killing me, and tried to kidnap my wife! Their crimes are unforgivable! I want to report them and formally accuse them!"
"Good — breaking into a private residence, attempted murder, kidnapping a man's wife — any one of these is a capital offense. Men, take them back — execute them!"
The moment those guys heard the order, their souls scattered. They tried to resist, but against hundreds of Dragon Tooth Guards, their resistance only accelerated their own deaths.
The instant they raised their blades and charged toward Captain Gu, they were cut down by a volley of whistling arrows, each one pierced through like a hedgehog.
"Clean this up. Take the bodies back for the report."
Killing a few people was to Captain Gu like slaughtering a few chickens — he didn't spare it a second thought. He turned to Tang Long and said, "Tang Long, I'm giving you three days of leave. Report to me at the Dragon Tooth Guard headquarters in three days! Remember — don't be late. Once you've joined the Dragon Tooth Guard, you follow the Dragon Tooth Guard's rules!"
"Yes, sir!" Tang Long straightened his body, snapped into a military stance, and saluted.
"Good. We'll head out first. Take care of things at home." Captain Gu waved his hand, and a group of Dragon Tooth Guards departed with the bodies in a rush.
The sight of all those Huangyi Yalong taking to the sky at once was truly breathtaking — blotting out the sky and sun, a magnificent display that sent waves of emotion crashing through Tang Long's chest, his excitement almost more than he could bear.
In just a few days, he could join their ranks. He could become one of them. He could live as proudly as they did!
"Brother, that was just… too awesome!" Tang Chong exclaimed excitedly, gripping the wheelchair and wishing he could stand up.
Tang Long laughed ruefully. "Awesome, sure, but I'd rather not go through something like that again. Just now, I honestly thought we were done for. I was ready to fight them to the death."
"Brother, you're a Dragon Tooth Guard now — a Sixth-Rank Dragon Tooth Guard! From now on, who'd dare bully our family?" Tang Chong's voice brimmed with deep pride, his excitement threatening to lift him into the sky.
Tang Long felt as though he were dreaming. If not for the bloodstains from those Border Defense Army soldiers still on the ground, he would have thought the whole thing had been a figment of his imagination.
"Xiao Qing, I must have scared you, didn't I?"
Tang Long turned around and looked at his wife, who was trembling like a startled fawn. He felt quite apologetic.
Xiao Qing shook her head. "Brother Tang Long, I'm fine. As long as you're here, I'm not afraid."
Tang Long smiled. "Don't be afraid. Our family is going to be fine from now on. Xiao Qing, go buy some fish. I'll get some water to wash down the doorstep — all this blood is ugly to look at."
"Mm."
Though Xiao Qing had been a bit frightened, children from the slums had seen plenty of bloody fights. She wasn't so scared that she couldn't even step out the door.