"Nooo!"
Liu Erlong jolted awake, trembling, her chest heaving, sweat clinging to her hair. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was—only the nightmare, only the pain.
Only then did she realize… she was lying on someone's chest. Slowly, she lifted her head—and saw Tang Yin.
"Rise and shine, gorgeous!" he said.
Her eyes widened, stunned, and before she could think, she leaned up and pressed her lips to his. She clung to him as if letting go would make him disappear.
Tears streamed freely, soaking his clothes.
"Sob… snff…" A soft, broken whimper escaped her lips. Erlong pressed herself against him, trembling, letting everything spill out—every sorrow, every longing, every piece of her heart.
Tang Yin held her. He didn't speak. He didn't move. He simply let her cry, let her have this moment.
After what felt like forever, her sobs slowed, and she whispered in choked, uneven breaths, "Do you know… Tang Yin? It was the first time… the first time he ever apologized to me."
Her fingers dug into his clothes. "He smiled at me," she said, voice shaking. "At his last moment… he smiled at me…"
Her words faltered. She buried her face deeper into his chest, as if trying to hide the weight of all the years, all the pain.
"I waited my whole life for that…" Liu Erlong murmured softly. "And I only got it at the end… before he left me forever. Please… promise you'll never leave me."
Tang Yin shifted slightly, pressing a hand to her back. "It's okay," he said gently. "I'll be by your side—for eternity."
She looked up at him through tear-streaked eyes, her sobs slowing into soft, shuddering breaths. She thought of how close she had come to never seeing him again, how fragile life could be, how unbearable the thought of loss had felt.
Without a word, she pressed herself against him, and their lips met again—this time quieter, more desperate, carrying all the sorrow and longing she had held inside.
"Mmph~"
For a while, nothing else existed—they found refuge and passion in each other, and Erlong, battered and bruised, finally felt alive again.
As the saying goes, "Sorrow finds its solace in the warmth of another's embrace." And in that quiet moment between them, it truly did.
Amid their heated embrace, Tang Yin's power surged—he broke through to Level 90, now only a single soul ring away from becoming a Titled Douluo ranked powerhouse.
A week later,
Cradling Liu Erlong in his arms, Tang Yin returned to Tiandou City and made his way to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect.
Thanks to his persistent care, she had finally regained her usual self. Through him, she also learned that her Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect hadn't been the only one targeted.
Erlong couldn't help but worry about Ning Rongrong, knowing that her Sect had likely faced Spirit Hall's wrath as well.
"You should've stayed and protected them. I just hope everyone's alright," she said, her eyes scanning the devastated walls and broken buildings along the way.
"Don't worry. With how powerful they are, it's Spirit Hall you should be worried about—they probably suffered the most," He reassured, a hint of anticipation lightning his eyes.
As they drew closer, the contrast struck him: scorched earth and ruined buildings lay alongside the lively bustle of the disciples energetically restoring what had been lost.
"Waah! I still can't believe that one beautiful sister struck down seven Soul Saints in less than a minute!" one exclaimed in disbelief.
"Hah? That's nothing! I saw one of the sisters standing here one second, and the next—a Soul Douluo's head was already rolling!" another boasted, chest puffed with pride.
The sounds were deafening, yet one thing was clear—the girls had successfully repelled the Spirit Hall's assault.
Erlong let out a sigh of relief, though a tinge of regret lingered. She was happy for Rongrong, but having witnessed the destruction of her own Sect, a part of her still felt lost.
Suddenly, Tang Yin wrapped Erlong in a warm embrace, sensing the turmoil in her eyes. "It's okay to feel conflicted," he whispered softly. "I'd feel the same if I were in your shoes."
She choked back a sob and nodded, taking a deep breath before giving him a soft smile. "Let's go. I haven't seen them in months."
---
"I wonder how Erlong is doing… Tang Yin's been gone for three months already," Yiran muttered, gazing up at the distant clouds.
"Hmph! Stinky Tang Yin didn't even let us come with him," Xiao Wu pouted, though worry lingered in her eyes.
"Just… come back soon." The others also shared her worry.
Rongrong opened her mouth to comfort them, but her words caught in her throat. Before she could speak, movement at the entrance drew her attention.
Tang Yin appeared first, followed closely by Erlong, their presence instantly filling the hall with a sense of relief and quiet awe.
For a moment, time seemed to pause.
"Waah! You guys are back! Stinky Tang Yin, you sure took your sweet time," Xiao Wu broke the silence with a playful jab.
"You're stinky! Your mouth is stinky! Damn it, bunny, where did you learn that word? Was it Yiran… or you, Rongrong?" Tang Yin retorted, pretending to be fierce as he chased after her.
Laughter rippled through the Main Hall as the teasing continued. Even Liu Erlong let go of her lingering tension, her lips curving into a relieved smile.
The worries, the months of separation, and the unease melted away. Stepping forward safe and smiling, they were ready to return to the life they had temporarily left behind.
Soon afterwards, Chen Xin and Gue Rong, accompanied by Fenzhi, entered the hall, their expressions a mix of curiosity and surprise at the sudden commotion.
Creak—
Seeing Tang Yin's return, they welcomed him warmly, already aware that he was the reason the girls had stayed behind to defend against Spirit Hall's attack.
Thanks to their extensive network, learning about the destruction of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan hadn't been difficult.
The aftermath was grim: three Titled Douluo had fallen, along with one of the lower-ranked Sect leader. Only Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were said to have survived.
Unaware of Liu Erlong's cultivation level, they mistakenly assumed Tang Yin had killed them all. In reality, she had single-handedly claimed two of the kills and assisted in two more.
Ning Fengzhi was about to speak, presumably to confirm his assumption, when his daughter cut him off.
"Tang Yin, let me tell you—this time, our loot was incredible!" Ning Rongrong said, revealing thirteen soul bones from her soul ring, each over 10,000 years old.
Gu Rong and Chen Xin widened their eyes in disbelief, seeing their granddaughter in a new light. These two had never even considered searching for soul bones themselves, leaving that task to the Sect disciples.
Yet Rongrong, as a princess of their esteemed sect, had claimed the loot for her boyfriend—but weren't the least bit displeased. Fengzhi, for his part, merely laughed it off.
Two soul bones from She Long, one from Ci Xue, one from Devil Bear, and—surprisingly—three from Spirit Kite Douluo. Perhaps, being a female, she had earned Bibi Dong's favor.
Six soul bones came from Huyan Zhen; after all, as a sect leader, he had full access to the Elephant Armored sect's abundant resources.
Of the total, four soul bones were over 50,000 years old, while the rest barely exceeded the 10,000-year mark. Though impressive in their own right, they couldn't compare to his haul.
Still, Tang Yin didn't dampen her enthusiasm, nor did he reveal his own gains. Instead, he simply smiled and went to catch up with his lovers, Erlong by his side.
Under his father-in-law's care, Tang Yin was welcomed with a lavish banquet. He didn't refuse—on the contrary, he even asked that the crown prince be invited as well, knowing the Renxue was likely restless to meet him.
In Tiandou City,
An extremely luxurious restaurant was rented out by Ning Fengzhi, where a private banquet was formally arranged. An invitation was also sent to Crown Prince, who immediately rushed over upon receiving the news.
Before long, Tang Yin arrived alongside the girls and the two elders, joining the gathering one after another and breathing life into the evening. Fatigue faded as joy filled the hall.
"Hahaha..."
Dressed in exquisite attire, laughter and music soon filled the venue. Before long, Tang Yin and the girls took to the floor, their dance turning the banquet into a truly joyous affair.
"Huff… hoo…"
Arriving out of breath, Xue Qinghe—Qian Renxue in disguise—stepped inside, only to see Tang Yin surrounded by beauties no less stunning than herself.
For some reason, it felt as though she had just swallowed something sour. You're always busy chasing women, Renxue cursed silently, yet reason prevailed. Can't reveal myself to other.
Suppressing the familiar irritation, Xue Qinghe straightened her posture and stepped forward with a composed smile. Meanwhile, Tang Yin—who had sensed her arrival the moment she stepped into the restaurant—turned toward her and flashed a bright smile.
"Brother Qinghe! We meet again." Tang Yin stepped forward and pulled her into a warm, tight embrace. She leaned into him naturally, breathing in his familiar scent with quiet greed, her embrace lingering for sometime.
Tang Yin's hands, however, had a mind of their own. They drifted down, bold and possessive, to grope her butt. A startled gasp escaped Renxue's lips before she could choke it back, smothering the sound into a soft, breathy moan. "Mmph~!"
Her composure, fractured for a split second, slammed back into place. From across the way, Fenzhi saw nothing amiss—just Tang Yin and Qinghe laughing like old friends, framed in the warm glow of the hall.
A perfect picture of camaraderie.
He had no idea that beneath that pleasant smile, Xue Qinghe was gritting her teeth. Her hidden hand pressed against Tang Yin's side, fingers digging into his flesh in a silent, punishing protest.
She swallowed her irritation—and the violent urge to do far worse—behind a mask of indifference. "Brother Tang Yin, you're being naughty. Why don't you go grope one of your girlfriends instead? Leave mine alone."
Yet Tang Yin only grinned and asked, "Brother Qinghe, where are your Titled Douluo guards? I can't seem to sense them nearby. Who's stopping me from harassing you now?"
Renxue froze, suspicion flickering across her eyes. Had he already discovered her identity? And yet, how could he possibly know?
Sure, her flustered reactions might give away that she was concealing her gender—but that still didn't explain it all.
Before she could question him further, Tang Yin's hands roamed once more, prompting another soft moan. She swatted his hands away and glared at him.
"Do you know who I really am?" she asked bluntly. Tang Yin raised a brow, nodding slowly, then led her toward the terrace.
Whoosh—!
The wind whipped through his long hair, the moonlight catching in the strands of his pale blue locks. Renxue found herself captivated by his profile before she forced herself to focus.
Before answering, Tang Yin used the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud to conceal them and revealed the golden Trident mark on his forehead.
"I knew the moment I met you that you were a woman," he admitted, taking her hands and pressing a tender kiss to them, making her blush furiously.
"I also know that Tang Hao killed your father," he continued, locking eyes with her golden gaze. Seeing her frown, he stepped closer.
"I know your true identity as the Young Master of Spirit Hall, who attacked the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect a week ago." Renxue stepped back, guilt flickering across her face.
"And I know you love me. I know I love you. So… what now?" Qian Renxue blinked, processing his words, her face burning red. She stammered, then weakly tumbled into his embrace.
"Idiot… what are you saying?" she murmured, crouching slightly and covering her face with her hands to hide her embarrassment at the sudden confession.
"I'm telling the truth. Are you going to deny it?" Tang Yin asked, feigning heartbreak. "I even steeled myself before confessing… and it seems you don't feel the same."
"Of course I love you!" Renxue admitted, hugging him tightly before looking up at him with a questioning gaze. "Then… why didn't you confess earlier?"
"Well…" Tang Yin began, scratching the back of his head with a wry smile, "you're always surrounded by those two old guys. It's a bit tricky to reveal your identity in front of them—they might just report back to your grandpa."
He shot her an "I-don't-have-a-death-wish" look, making her stifle a laugh. "Yeah… if he knew, he'd skin you alive."
"Hey, don't say things like that so casually," Tang Yin teased, leaning closer. "Though your boyfriend isn't strong enough to take on your grandfather yet… I can promise he won't be able to skin me."
He let his hands wander playfully, brushing and teasing her, making her squirm and stifle another laugh.