He suddenly paused his steps when he heard his name being called.
“Why should we be led by such a weak leader!? We should let Lady Long Nuhuang lead us!”
****
From the tent hosting a meeting of the high-ranking members of the Long Family, a phrase that was the result of a slow poisoning belief seeping into the hearts of many people here.
“Silence Long Yan! Who are you to dictate who leads this family!?”
“Everyone agrees with me, Long Chen! He’s just a shadow of his former self!”
“Your disrespect needs to cease! The leader has lost his son and—”
“So did Lady Long Nuhuang! But look at her! She used that to motivate herself and motivate us to get stronger. However, while we grow, he remains stuck at that same stage!”
“You know he has been unable to advance ever since the acc—”
Swish!
The curtain to the tent drew aside to reveal Long Huangdi entering unhurriedly.
In the centre of the tent was a long table that nearly stretched the length of the massive tent. Seated around it were several core members of the Long family.
Everyone present was frozen in place at the moment, and no one dared to say a word. After all, no matter what, Long Huangdi was still the leader of the Long family and here they were not just starting the meeting without him, but they took it further and were even talking about replacing him!
Long Huangdi didn’t show much expression on his face as he slowly made his way to the head of the table. Every audible step drove home the magnitude of what they were doing and discussing.
This was not much different from betrayal. The only thing that made it slightly better was the fact that they wanted his wife to be the one to lead them.
Once Long Huangdi sat down, Long Chen was the first to stand up with cupped fists towards him, apologising profusely. “I am sorry, Family Head, for the disrespect of entertaining a meeting that didn’t have you here. But I couldn’t sit back after hearing certain things!”
When he did this, nearly everyone else got up and cupped their fists towards him, apologising as well.
There was only one person who didn’t get up. It was a mountain of a man who appeared to be middle-aged with bushy brows and bushy sideburns.
He had a scowl on his face that fitted him so well that it wouldn’t be surprising if he was born like that. It was he who vehemently argued with Long Chen before.
Still, Long Huangdi didn’t say anything about this and only nodded in general, allowing everyone to sit down.
The atmosphere was tense and awkward as everyone waited for Long Huangdi to start.
“You’re not pleased with me and my current leadership style.”
“Family Head we—!”
Long Huangdi put up a hand to stop the person who just spoke so he could continue.
“Now, I’m not an unreasonable person, and if anyone here wanted to speak to me about my position in the family, there is no problem.” Long Huangdi found himself staring at the table as he spoke, but it just made everyone feel worse for some reason.
“However,” he went on. “To speak behind closed doors about such matters and behind my back is a traitorous act. As it signifies that, you have no qualms about discussing even more severe actions and putting into motion said actions.”
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No one said anything at the moment because everything he said was true. Traitors were not an existence that was tolerated anywhere. No one wanted to say something wrong and be labelled as such because they could very well be killed as a result.
Nonetheless, Long Huangdi’s next words gave them pause.
“So… to have none of you bear the moniker of a traitor, I will give you the chance to speak your mind in front of me right now.”
Several minutes went by with no one saying a thing, but Long Huangdi waited. He noticed the way the clansmen stared at him recently.
They cupped their fist or bowed to him when he passed by, but their gazes contained hidden contempt.
This most likely stemmed from his enduring nature in the face of their current situation. It was highlighted even more when his wife took the initiative to make sure that things were put in place for a goal for them to work towards.
Of course, Long Huangdi wasn’t jealous or anything, but everyone that saw this viewed him in a lesser light and before they knew it, talks like replacing him as the family head, had become commonplace within the encampment.
It didn’t help that his strength was being weakened due to the salve that he was using to treat his wife. All these things painted him as an incompetent leader in their eyes, especially when compared to the shining sun that was Long Nuhuang.
“Well?” He urged them on.
“Fine! Since no one else is saying anything!” One person finally couldn’t help keeping silent and stood up.
“You should step down as family head and have your wife be the one to lead us!” It was the same mountain of a man who remained seated when everyone else got up to apologise, Long Yan.
“My wife doesn’t wish to be the family head, else I would have stepped down a long time ago. In addition, though my cultivation has stagnated, I was the strongest here.”
Long Yan snorted when he heard this. “Your cultivation grows more insignificant each day! Have you not realised that though our cultivation has not increased much, the amount of power we can execute within our respective realm grows!?”
This was something they discovered when cultivating in a place suffused with a draconic aura. Their own aura was affected and as long as their will was strong enough, they would benefit from it instead of being harmed.
This benefit resulted in the strengthening of their foundation and allowed them to grow more powerful.
Of course, it would be more amazing if Lady Nuhuang passes the challenge allowing them access to resources that would allow them to increase their power even more. At that point, they would be a tiger with wings, able to take on any challenge!
However, it was this same overbearing will that was being transmitted to them that caused some to view Long Huangdi as a weak leader. One of these was, of course, Long Yan.
“You should be embarrassed to keep your position!” Long Yan continued.
“Long Yan! watch your tongue!” Long Chen grew angered in the face of Long Yan’s arrogance.
However, Long Yan ignored Long Chen’s warning and went on. “Use whatever dignity you have left and step down. Even without an established leader, your wife will take the wheel and be more of a man than you ever—”
Shing!
A sword light illuminated the inside of the tent for a flash before it disappeared. However, that flash brought with it an extra body inside the tent.
“Dear!?”
Long Huangdi was surprised to see his wife standing beside him all of a sudden.
“L-Lady Long Nuhuang!”
Everyone scrambled to get up to greet her.
Boom!
Her cultivation base spread out, pressuring them to remain seated, for she would not take any respect from them at this time.
“You.” Her cold gaze shot towards Long Chen, sending a chill up his spine. “Drag every clansman to the open grounds right now. There are things that need to be said.”
Long Chen didn’t hesitate; he rushed outside, leaving a gentle breeze in his wake.
“Let me make one thing perfectly clear.” Her expression was cold, but everyone knew that she was undeniably furious!
“This is my husband, and I will not tolerate the slightest disrespect towards him. To use me to do so is nothing short of courting death. An example stands before you.”
When she said this, everyone turned their heads to Long Yan, who remained standing with an arrogant look on his face.
Suddenly, a thin red line appeared on his neck before the head slid off and fell to the ground, followed by the body shortly after.
Thud!
The thump of the head rolling on the floor made everyone’s blood run cold. He didn’t even realise how he died! Just how much stronger had Lady Nuhuang become!?
“Once again,” her low voice out in a growl that forced their attention on her once more. “This is my husband, and he is the head of this house.”