Chapter 109: Liu Erlong's Imagination
When her hand touched him, Liu Erlong froze. He really was only thirteen—how was that possible? When she first met "Xiao Zong," he had already been fourteen or fifteen.
She stepped back a few paces, scrutinizing Zu Zong again.
The same long blue-silver hair, the same face, the same build—aside from the clothing, the resemblance was nearly one hundred percent. But upon closer comparison, he was indeed slightly shorter than the "Xiao Zong" she remembered.
Realizing she had truly mistaken him, Liu Erlong's eyes dulled, her body swaying as she released Zu Zong. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she murmured, "You're not him… you're not him. Xiao Zong, where are you?"
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong both let out breaths of relief, though they couldn't help but feel pity. They quickly supported the staggering Liu Erlong, cursing that "scoundrel Xiao Zong" countless times in their hearts.
Seeing her devastated state, Zu Zong sighed inwardly: "From ancient times, love leaves only endless regret. This sorrow knows no end. Damn, so poetic. But really, that senior was too scummy—flirting without commitment? What nonsense."
Taking out a handkerchief, Liu Erlong wiped her tears, then looked at Zu Zong and asked softly, "Child, can you tell me who your parents are?"
In this world, someone looking so alike couldn't be a coincidence. She suspected Zu Zong might be that "Xiao Zong's" child, and perhaps she could find him through this lead.
Parents? In his past life, he was an orphan; in this life, he had only seen his "cheap parents" once as an infant and had long forgotten their faces.
Zu Zong felt a pang of sadness. "They passed away not long after I was born."
"Passed away?" Liu Erlong's vision darkened, nearly collapsing if not for Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing supporting her.
"Child, let me see your martial soul. Is it the Sharingan, or Blue Silver Grass?" Liu Erlong still held onto a shred of hope. She desperately wished Zu Zong would say, "Neither."
Before Zu Zong could speak, Ning Rongrong exclaimed, "Wow! Teacher Erlong, how did you know his martial soul is Blue Silver Grass—and not just any Blue Silver Grass, but a powerful mutated one! Much stronger than Tang San's."
Zhu Zhuqing frowned slightly. This was the second time she had heard of the Sharingan martial soul—the first from Zu Zong himself, and now from Liu Erlong. And Liu Erlong even said he had both Sharingan and Blue Silver Grass. Could her boyfriend truly be the descendant of Liu Erlong's old flame?
Zu Zong was thoroughly unsettled. What was going on? Did that transmigrator senior have the same setup as him? Could it be he himself had traveled through time? But no, he hadn't.
Zu Zong said, "This is my martial soul—the Mutated Blue Silver Grass."
As he spoke, soul power gathered in his right hand, a faint white glow rising on his skin before condensing into a Blue Silver Emperor—dark blue tinged with black and inscribed with golden patterns.
Liu Erlong's eyes lit sharply, fixing on the Blue Silver Emperor. "It's his martial soul… it's his. You really are Xiao Zong's child."
No sooner had she spoken than she pulled away from the girls' support, rushed forward, and embraced Zu Zong tightly. "Child, you've suffered all these years. With your Aunt Erlong here, you'll never have to wander again."
"Mmph!" Pressed against her voluptuous chest, Zu Zong nearly couldn't breathe—though admittedly, the fragrance was pleasant.
Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong didn't think much of it, instead genuinely happy that Zu Zong had found a tie to his father's past.
After a while, Zu Zong finally breathed fresh air again, his face flushed red—whether from suffocation or from his first close contact with a woman's chest, he couldn't tell.
Zhu Zhuqing, who knew Zu Zong best, had already been convinced when Liu Erlong mentioned the Sharingan. Her face was filled with tenderness. "Xiao Zong, congratulations."
Ning Rongrong giggled. "Congrats, Zu Zong!"
"Uh…" Zu Zong's mouth twitched. What a mess. The truth was, his parents in this life had been ordinary folk with Blue Silver Grass martial souls. He certainly couldn't admit that his Sharingan was something stolen by his "system."
Forget it—since things had gone this far, he might as well play along. Liu Erlong was older than both his lives combined, so calling her "Aunt" wasn't too much.
Suppressing his embarrassment, Zu Zong said, "Aunt Erlong?"
"Yes!" Liu Erlong broke into a radiant smile, answering readily.
The four of them entered Liu Erlong's hut. Though plain from the outside, it was warmly furnished inside.
She poured tea for them and asked Zu Zong countless questions. He shared what he could of his life, while dodging or spinning his usual tales for what he couldn't.
When Liu Erlong heard how Zu Zong had been captured by Dugu Bo for detoxification, she was furious, nearly storming off to fight the old poison master. And when she learned that Zu Zong now had Zhu Zhuqing as his girlfriend, and even had a childhood sweetheart named Xiao Wu, she wore a strange smile.
This made Zhu Zhuqing blush scarlet, while Ning Rongrong listened with keen interest.
Zu Zong didn't care whether they saw through him or not. Tomorrow, when distributing the immortal herbs, he would confess everything to Zhu Zhuqing anyway.
What troubled Zu Zong the most was explaining his parents' deaths. He dared not fabricate too many lies, so he simply said, "I don't know. Don't spread it around either. I'll investigate myself."
After much persuasion, Zu Zong finally managed to dissuade this fierce "she-dragon" from rushing off to avenge her so-called "first love."
Liu Erlong sipped her tea and asked, "So, you came here looking for Zhuqing?"
Zu Zong nodded. "I heard from Xiao Wu that Zhuqing had also come to Heaven Dou City. After asking around a little, I found my way here."
"Didn't expect you, little one, to be so family-minded. Zhuqing hasn't even married you yet, and already you're this attentive, knowing she would worry for you." Liu Erlong teased lightly.
"Teacher Erlong, what are you saying! Who would marry this fickle philanderer?" Zhu Zhuqing's face turned so red it seemed blood might drip.
Liu Erlong only gave her a knowing look, neither confirming nor denying, her gaze lingering on Zu Zong with a faint smile. "It's late. Little Zu—" (a name she used to distinguish him from her first love) "—you can stay in the academy tonight. I'll arrange a room for you."
Zu Zong cast a meaningful glance at Zhu Zhuqing, the corner of his mouth curving upward. It had indeed been a while since he had been close with his little cat. Tonight, he would call her over.
"Alright, Aunt Erlong," Zu Zong said.
Zhu Zhuqing naturally caught the fiery look in his eyes and understood its meaning. Remembering their time at the Rose Hotel—though they hadn't gone all the way, the scene alone was enough to make her cheeks burn with shyness.
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