Chapter 136: The Gathering Storm

"Mr. Li Nianlong, according to our current information, Old Master Liu does not have a grandson, only a granddaughter, Miss Shao Meiyun. Can you confirm if you are really Old Master Liu's grandson? Who are your mother and grandmother?"

Old Master Liu's expression changed, a flicker of severity passing through his eyes. Noticing the reporter's badge, he saw she was merely from a small county-level TV station in Tianfu. How dare she come to the Liu family residence to cause trouble? It seemed this TV station needed to be shut down for a while.

Facing the question, Li Nianlong calmly responded, "I am indeed the old master's grandson. As for who my mother and grandmother are, I'm sorry, but I cannot disclose that information."

"The public has the right to know the truth!" The female reporter pressed on.

"I also have the right to privacy." Li Nianlong's response was measured, and his composed demeanor earned Old Master Liu's appreciation and relief.

"Stop dodging the question!" The reporter became somewhat furious.

Li Nianlong looked at her and said lightly, "Then may I ask you, what brand of underwear are you wearing? What color is it? Do you prefer vibrators or eggs? Where are your sensitive spots? How many times do you need it in a night? And how many men do you like at once?"

"You...you...you..." The young reporter, flustered by such indecent questions, turned red with anger and trembled all over. "You're shameless!"

"I'm shameless?" Li Nianlong sneered. "The public has the right to know the truth. I'm just asking on their behalf. Stop dodging the question and answer me."

This was truly a case of using one's own method against them.

Old Master Liu couldn't help but cheer inwardly: Menglong, you answered well. You are indeed my grandson, a true Liu family man. I can rest assured with you as the head of the family.

After being humiliated by Li Nianlong, the reporter was so enraged that she fainted on the spot. The scene became chaotic as security carried the unconscious reporter to the hospital. Other reporters, who were planning to ask sharp questions, backed off immediately. Li Nianlong's sharp tongue and young age were intimidating enough to make them reconsider their approach. Following this incident, the Q&A session became much more harmonious.

Finally, Li Nianlong concluded, "I don't want to say more than necessary. I just want to tell those who covet the Liu family, if you dare to reach out to us, be prepared to have your hand cut off. With me here, the Liu family will only grow stronger. Any obstacles in our way will be kicked aside by me, Li Nianlong."

After saying these words, Li Nianlong stood up and left the main hall. Old Master Liu also stood up with a smile and followed him out.

The reporters were thrilled. The new head of the Liu family was clearly not someone who would easily suffer losses. With such a strong-willed head, there would be no shortage of big news in the future.

The reporters quickly relayed the news back to their headquarters. By noon, the news of the new head of the Liu family had spread throughout Tianfu and then nationwide.

When students at Tianfu No. 3 Middle School saw that their PE teacher from a few months ago had suddenly become the new head of the Liu family, they were collectively astonished. The Liu family was like royalty in Tianfu, and their PE teacher had become the head of the Liu family. Did this mean they could now proudly say they were 'students of the emperor'?

Isn't this too ridiculous?

At home, Xiang Youyou watched the news about Li Nianlong's assertive and dominant demeanor, her eyes shining with admiration and a smile on her lips. "What a remarkable man."

"Sis, are you talking about me?" Xiang Yu, munching on a pancake, flipped his hair. "Of course, I'm remarkable."

With a slap, Xiang Yu fell face-first.

In Longcheng, the imperial palace, the crown prince's residence.

Watching Li Nianlong on TV, Long Zongheng's heart raced, and he exclaimed, "Impossible!"

He grabbed his phone and called Nalan Rugang, who had returned to Manzhou and was under house arrest by Nalan Meng. Nalan Rugang's tone was still casual when he answered, "Young Master Long, what brings you to call me today?"

"Qiangzi!" Long Zongheng's tone indicated trouble, confirmed by his next words, "Didn't I order you to kill that bastard? Why has he become the head of the Liu family? Tell me! Now!"

"What!?" Nalan Rugang's expression changed. "That's impossible! I shot him!"

"Did you see his body?"

"Well... it was raining heavily, the river was flooding, and the current was swift. I thought even if he survived, he would be swept away and die."

"Idiot! You've ruined my plan!"

With a "smash," Long Zongheng's phone shattered into pieces.

Nalan Rugang was perplexed. "How could this be? I clearly shot him. He couldn't have survived, could he?"

He immediately turned on his computer to search for news about the new head of the Liu family. Seeing Li Nianlong's face and hearing his voice, Nalan Rugang slumped in his chair, muttering, "Impossible... it's impossible... how could this happen..."

Meanwhile, in the imperial palace of Longcheng, Long Qingyun was handling the aftermath of Long Jingtian's affairs when he received a call from his secretary. "Your Majesty, the new head of the Liu family has emerged. He's a young man named Li Nianlong."

"Li Nianlong?" The name startled Long Qingyun. Could it be the same name as my son's? A coincidence?

"What do we know about him?" Long Qingyun asked.

"According to our investigation, he is the grandson of Liu Tianming. Li Nianlong, a 24-year-old from Tianfu, is 1.88 meters tall. He grew up with his mother, with no information about his father. There's an old housekeeper named Guan in the family. His mother passed away in late June this year. Later, he went to Longcheng with the housekeeper, and something unknown happened. He returned to Tianfu with a girl, said to be his long-lost sister, but the housekeeper disappeared.

For the past few months, Li Nianlong worked on a construction site and then quit his job as a PE teacher. He worked at a massage parlor for a while. After the Liu family massacre, the position of family head was shunned by the collateral branches. Apparently, Shao Meiyun personally went to find him. Today, Li Nianlong took over as the head of the Liu family."

After listening to the secretary's detailed report, Long Qingyun trembled, his voice shaking, "What was his mother's name?"

"Li Ying, she was only 41 when she died."

With a thud, Long Qingyun's phone dropped to the ground, and he collapsed into his chair.

In Tianfu, at the Liu residence.

Shortly after the press conference, Li Nianlong, accompanied by Shao Meiyun, began to familiarize himself with the Liu family's military and political affairs. Although his role as the head of the family was largely ceremonial, the Liu family needed a head, especially one with enough martial prowess. The family had just endured a massacre and couldn't afford more turmoil.

"Menglong..." After briefing Li Nianlong on the military forces under Liu family control, Shao Meiyun's eyes showed concern. Looking at Li Nianlong, she said with difficulty, "Although it's late to say this now, I still want to apologize. For the sake of the Liu family, I've pushed you into a dangerous position."

Li Nianlong looked at her, seeing genuine guilt and sincerity in her eyes, without any pretense.

His expression softened, and he shook his head gently. "It's fine. I can even kill Long Jingtian. Assassins are nothing to me. If they come, they'll pay the price."

The masterminds behind the Liu family massacre were still in Longcheng. There was no way they would come to assassinate me.

No matter how tense the Liu family was and how much they reinforced their defenses, Li Nianlong remained unchanged, confident in his strength.

Seeing his fearlessness, Shao Meiyun felt relieved, adjusting his tie with a smile. "I admire your fearless spirit, cousin. Don't worry, tonight Grandpa and I will stay with you. If the Liu family is to perish, we'll go down together."

"Cousin, don't say such inauspicious things." Li Nianlong smiled wryly. "Don't you have any faith in me?"

"Having faith and being afraid are two different things," Shao Meiyun smiled slightly. "I believe in you, but I'm also scared. I don't want to see more turmoil. If assassins do come, it's best if we defeat them. If not... I'm prepared to die with you."

"No way!" Li Nianlong scratched his head. "I don't want to die with an old woman."

"You—" Shao Meiyun, enraged, stepped on his foot with her high heel, causing him to yelp in pain, tears welling up in his eyes.

The Liu household had already maximized its security measures today: guards stationed every three steps, sentries every five, and extra attention paid to the spots most vulnerable to infiltration. Submachine guns, grenades, and landmines were all in use. Old Master Liu and Shao Meiyun were tensely accompanying Li Nianlong, whose mixed feelings were evident as he felt both touched and amused.

"Grandpa, Cousin, there's no need to be so nervous, alright? It's not even nighttime yet!" The one supposedly in 'mortal danger,' Li Nianlong, ended up comforting them instead.

This whole situation was so absurd that Li Nianlong felt tempted to reveal the truth, but he didn't dare. The Yue sisters were his acknowledged 'family,' but now he had become the head of the Liu family, and his uncle and cousins had been killed by his 'family.' There was simply no way he could speak of it.

"We can't help but be nervous!" Old Master Liu sighed. "Menglong, the previous successors were all assassinated on the day they were announced as the heir. Now that your identity has been made public, we can't afford not to be on high alert. But don't worry, this time Grandpa has mobilized the strongest security team in the Liu family to protect you. Not even a fly will get into the Liu household."