Seeing Liu Erlong's frustrated expression, the smile in Dai Chengfeng's eyes deepened.
"This woman's gritted teeth and clenched fists are quite amusing, but…"
"I've teased her enough. It's time to get down to business."
With that thought, as Dai Chengfeng skillfully flipped the sizzling, fragrant slices of grilled meat on the iron plate, he casually remarked:
"By the way, Liu Erlong, can you guess who I saw before coming here today?"
Liu Erlong didn't even lift her head, her mind preoccupied with what condition Dai Chengfeng might impose after winning the bet.
Thus, she absentmindedly replied, "Whoever you saw is none of my concern. I don't know many people in Spirit City anyway—it has nothing to do with me."
Dai Chengfeng's movements never stopped as he placed a golden-brown slice of grilled meat onto a plate. His voice carried just the right amount of teasing:
"So sure about that?"
"This person… you're extremely familiar with."
"Who?"
Liu Erlong finally raised her head, but her demeanor remained indifferent.
After all, in her mind, almost everyone in Spirit City was a stranger to her, except for the people at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan stronghold and Dai Chengfeng. Who could she possibly know?
If anything…
For a fleeting moment, an image of a cold and noble figure flashed through Liu Erlong's mind—Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Spirit Hall.
The instant she thought of that name, a wave of complex emotions surged within her, and her expression unconsciously darkened.
After all, she was well aware of the relationship between Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong before they met her…
And at this very moment, Dai Chengfeng acted as if he hadn't noticed the change in Liu Erlong's expression.
He neatly arranged the last slice of grilled meat onto the plate, turned around to face Liu Erlong, and with his usual calm and nonchalant smile, casually dropped a name:
"Yu Xiaogang—at the entrance of the Seven Treasures Hotel run by the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Sect!"
Clang!!!
A sharp, ear-piercing sound instantly shattered the silence of the kitchen!
The empty plate in Liu Erlong's hand slipped from her grasp the moment she heard the name "Yu Xiaogang," shattering into pieces on the floor.
Her earlier gloomy and agitated expression, brought on by thoughts of the past and Bibi Dong, was now replaced by an unprecedented mix of shock, disbelief, and an almost ecstatic excitement!
She abruptly looked up, her gaze piercingly fixed on Dai Chengfeng's face. Her usually fiery and temperamental beautiful eyes now radiated sheer urgency:
"You… you said what? Yu Xiaogang? Are you sure?!"
Liu Erlong's voice suddenly rose, trembling slightly. "He's… at the entrance of the Seven Treasures Hotel?!"
"Yes, absolutely certain."
Dai Chengfeng glanced at the shattered porcelain shards on the floor, then at Liu Erlong's flustered state, feigning surprise at her intense reaction. His tone was perfectly laced with confusion and curiosity.
"Strange, I thought you knew?"
"He's been in Spirit City for quite some time now, often visiting my teacher."
At first, when Liu Erlong heard Dai Chengfeng confirm that Yu Xiaogang was indeed in Spirit City, she felt a surge of joy.
After all, she had no idea—he had always assumed he was still at Shrek Academy. There was no way for her to know otherwise; news traveled far less conveniently in the Douluo Continent than it did on Earth.
Thus, instinctively, Liu Erlong wanted to drop everything in her hands and rush to find Yu Xiaogang immediately.
However, when she heard the latter half of Dai Chengfeng's casual remark…
"… Often visiting your teacher? You mean… Y-Yu Xiaogang frequently visits… Bibi Dong?"
The joy on Liu Erlong's face drained away like a retreating tide. A flash of red appeared in her eyes as her expression turned to jealousy and anger!
"Is this the influence of the Rakshasa divine power?"
Dai Chengfeng observed the familiar red glow in her eyes, feeling a slight twinge of doubt.
But soon, the corners of his lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile. "Things are becoming… much more interesting!"
---
The air in the kitchen seemed to freeze at this moment.
"Do you know… why Yu Xiaogang went to see Bibi Dong? What did they talk about?!"
Although Dai Chengfeng knew that Yu Xiaogang was meeting Bibi Dong only regarding Tang San's matters, he wore an expression of complete bewilderment and incomprehension, as if he couldn't understand why Liu Erlong was so agitated.
"How would I know? Their conversations are naturally private."
Dai Chengfeng shrugged and handed the plate of perfectly grilled, golden-brown meat to Liu Erlong:
"Here, the meat's ready. Would you like to try it? The timing should be just right… So, do you admit I've won?"
Winning or losing? Could Liu Erlong even think about that right now?
At this moment, her mind was consumed entirely by thoughts of Yu Xiaogang, Bibi Dong… and their past.
"Yu Xiaogang secretly went to see Bibi Dong behind my back. Could it be that…"
In an instant, the red glow in Liu Erlong's eyes intensified as flames of jealousy threatened to consume all reason.
"You win!"
After a long moment, Liu Erlong forced out those three words through gritted teeth, her voice trembling with suppressed fury.
"As for the bet…" Dai Chengfeng began, as if intending to continue.
"Forget about the bet for now!"
Before Dai Chengfeng could finish, Liu Erlong cut him off sharply. She spun around abruptly, creating a gust of wind, not even bothering to glance back at him. She wanted to rush to that accursed Seven Treasures Hotel immediately, drag that man out, and demand answers!
Why had he gone to see Bibi Dong without telling her?
"I have an urgent matter to attend to! If Tianheng and his friends arrive this afternoon, tell them I'm busy and can't entertain them!"
Before her words even faded, Liu Erlong's figure bolted out of the kitchen like a gale, carrying an almost palpable aura of anger and rage. Her movements were so forceful that she knocked over a shelf holding several bottles of spare seasonings near the door, completely oblivious to the chaos she left behind.
The sound of shattering glass and rolling bottles filled the air.
But her figure had already disappeared down the corridor.
The kitchen fell silent once again.
Dai Chengfeng stood alone amidst the mess, his earlier ease and teasing replaced by a profound calm. A slow, icy smile of triumph spread across his lips.
He picked up a piece of the most perfectly grilled meat with his chopsticks, brought it to his mouth, and took a deliberate bite.
The crispy exterior gave way to hot, savory juices bursting in his mouth—the timing was indeed perfect.
"Hmm, the flavor… just right!"
He murmured softly, his voice barely audible to himself, but his gaze was razor-sharp as it followed the direction in which Liu Erlong had vanished.
"It seems the 'thoughtful' Soul-Forming Pill won't go to waste! And as for Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong… heh!"
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