A flash of light, and he was back on the platform.
"Xiaogang, are you okay?" Flender and Liu Erlong called out.
In the adventure space, Yu Xiao'an had endured two days, but to Flender and Liu Erlong, only a moment had passed.
Hearing their concern, knowing they'd passed smoothly while he'd suffered the trial space's punishment and that ordeal, Yu Xiao'an's heart twisted with resentment and imbalance.
He turned away, ignoring Flender and Liu Erlong, unwilling to share his bathhouse nightmare.
Above the central abyss of the Eternal Passion Abyss, only two rewards remained: a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower and a Fire Element Origin Crystal. Seeing the Golden Dragon Fruit gone, Yu Xiao'an's heart sank. This trial hadn't brought him transformation but an unprecedented nightmare. If not for the space's restrictions, he'd have fled already.
"The second round begins: Trial of Love. If you have a beloved, the rewards will be granted based on their decision," a majestic voice announced.
Mist enveloped Yu Xiao'an, Liu Erlong, and Flender, isolating them from each other's sight and sound.
Yu Xiao'an mulled over the words. "So, if Liu Erlong wants that immortal herb, I decide whether she gets it, because I'm her beloved?"
Realizing this, a dark thought took root in Yu Xiao'an's heart.
Here's the English translation of the text you provided, rendered into clear and faithful prose:
The mist between Liu Erlong and Flender finally dissipated.
A crystal containing the essence of fire element hovered above the platform between them.
A supreme voice asked Liu Erlong:
"Let me ask you again—do you love Flender?"
Although some recent events had caused a small crack in Liu Erlong's impression of Yu Xiaogang, she couldn't erase the image in her heart of that scholarly man with his hands behind his back and his neatly trimmed hair. So, when faced with this question, Liu Erlong decisively shook her head and looked at Flender with guilt:
"No, I do not."
"Very well. If this fire element essence crystal is granted to Flender, it will transform his spirit, improve his talent, and give him the potential to become a Titled Douluo. As the one Flender loves, its fate is up to you. Do you agree to grant Flender this crystal?" the supreme voice asked.
"I agree."
To Liu Erlong, Flender was like an elder brother—someone she deeply cared about but didn't love romantically. Since this was a great opportunity for him, she naturally wouldn't stand in the way.
After she made her decision, the fire essence crystal floated toward Flender. His Owlcat spirit was summoned, and the crystal merged into it. The spirit's feathers turned fiery red, and flames surrounded its body.
His spirit evolved from a high-level Owlcat into the advanced beast spirit—Flame Owl!
The spirit then returned to Flender's body. The fusion of spirit and flesh further refined his bloodline.
"Thank you, Erlong," Flender said, feeling the changes in his spirit. The Flame Owl was slightly stronger than the Owlcat, and he looked at Liu Erlong with gratitude.
"No need to thank me. You deserve this, Big Brother Flender," Liu Erlong replied.
The mist once again separated the two. In the void, the last remaining treasure appeared—a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower.
Liu Erlong gazed at it and felt a deep longing from within her martial spirit. If she could obtain this divine herb, her spirit would evolve, potentially even surpassing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.
She recalled the recent events and thought, Next, it should be Xiaogang's turn to decide whether or not I receive the Phoenix Sunflower. That shouldn't be a problem.
Still... the Golden Yang Dragon Fruit that Xiaogang could've had! Liu Erlong sighed in regret. She thought, After I marry Xiaogang, when we roam the continent together, I'll try to find another Golden Yang Dragon Fruit for him.
The mist cleared. Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong saw each other again.
The voice asked Yu Xiaogang:
"Let me ask you again—do you love Liu Erlong?"
Yu Xiaogang remained silent. He dared not lie, lest he face punishment. But if he spoke the truth, wouldn't that ruin his plans to take revenge on Yu Luomian?
The voice clarified:
"This round is not the Love Trial. There will be no punishment."
Upon hearing this, Yu Xiaogang breathed a sigh of relief. He looked deeply at Liu Erlong and said:
"Yes. I love her."
"Very well. This is the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, a rare immortal herb that can boost soul power, purify flame attributes, evolve martial spirits, strengthen muscles and bones, and clear meridians. If Liu Erlong takes this herb, her talent will rise to innate full soul power. Her Fire Dragon spirit will evolve into Extreme Fire. With her current talent, she might only just reach the threshold of Titled Douluo, or perhaps never attain it at all. But with this herb, she may possess peak potential. If lucky, she may even be chosen by the gods and undergo divine trials—thus stepping onto the path of godhood."
Hearing this, both Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang were stunned.
Liu Erlong only knew she longed for the herb. Yu Xiaogang knew it was valuable, but not that it held such potential for her.
Yu Xiaogang turned pale. He thought of the Golden Yang Dragon Fruit—also an immortal herb. If he had taken it, would his spirit have evolved into the Golden Holy Dragon, granting him similar peak potential and divine favor?
That thought only deepened his regret. He cried out inwardly:
Don't I love Liu Erlong?! No one loves her more than I do! So why couldn't I pass the Love Trial?!
The supreme voice continued:
"Now, as the one Liu Erlong loves, you decide—do you agree to grant her the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower?"
Would he agree?
The events in the bathhouse had long twisted Yu Xiaogang's heart. In this trial space, not only had he failed to receive the Golden Yang Dragon Fruit, he'd also endured inhuman torment. Yet Liu Erlong… she was to receive an immortal herb? Why?
Why should she be granted such a gift?
Jealousy twisted Yu Xiaogang's thoughts. But then he realized—her fate was in his hands. Her future potential, even godhood itself, could be snuffed out by his single word. That gave him a dark, twisted sense of control and superiority.
Let Yu Luomian's daughter become a god? Dream on.
This life, you'll be nothing more than a tool for my revenge and a spare part for the Golden Holy Dragon.
Without hesitation, Yu Xiaogang denied her fate:
"I do not agree."
As soon as the words were spoken, the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was withdrawn from the trial space.
"Xiaogang…" Liu Erlong looked at him, heartbroken.
But remembering his plan, Yu Xiaogang put on a tender, regretful expression and said with deep emotion:
"Erlong… I'm sorry. I was being selfish. I just… I love you so much. I didn't want the gap between us to grow any wider. I wanted to still have a chance to reach your level, to stand beside you one day. I don't want to be seen as a man who lives off the strength of a woman…"
"It's… it's okay," Liu Erlong replied, though her eyes were dim and full of disappointment.
Soon after, the fog dispersed. The three met again. The trial space declared:
"This Eternal Love Trial is now concluded."
The world in their eyes blurred and faded.
In a daze between dream and wakefulness, Yu Xiaogang heard voices speaking to him:
"I miss you… next time, come to my house and play. If you get tired, just sleep there, it's okay. Remember, this is our little secret—don't tell anyone, got it?" — Brother Jie
"Too bad you didn't eat the first bite of ginseng fruit in the bathhouse space. When you return to the real world, you'd better come to me willingly, or else I'll come find you myself. Don't make me do that." — Scar Brother
"I'm waiting for you in the Wuhun Hall dormitory. Clean yourself up, and come in on your own. Don't keep me and the dozens of brothers waiting." — Brother Long
"Come to me when you're out. Let me show you the world. If I find out you've already been 'shown' by someone else… you'll regret it." — Brother Ji
"No… no… please, no—!"
Yu Xiaogang woke up drenched in cold sweat.
When Yu Xiaogang awoke, he was drenched in sweat. The memories of the Eternal Love Abyss surged in his mind—especially that unbearable bathhouse adventure.
It felt too real, as though it had actually happened.
"This has to be a dream... a nightmare, right?!" he repeatedly tried to convince himself. After a while, he stood up and carefully patted himself all over. Only then did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Phew... thank goodness, it was just a bad dream."
The bathhouse incident had been far too vivid and humiliating for Yu Xiaogang. His mind had automatically filed it away as nothing more than a nightmare.
Liu Erlong also woke up, sitting up in bed.
She recalled the dream in which Yu Xiaogang had refused to accept the punishment of soul power on her behalf and had even denied her the divine-grade treasure. The memory stung her heart.
But as she glanced around the room and realized she was in her own bedroom, lying safely in her bed, her love-struck brain went into overdrive to rationalize it all:
"That must've just been a dream. Yeah, definitely a dream. Xiaogang would never treat me like that. Ugh, how could I even dream of him being that way?" she muttered, now blaming herself for even imagining such a thing.
Flender also woke up. At first, he too thought it had all been a dream.
But something felt off very quickly.
"My martial soul…" he mumbled. He sensed that his elemental affinity had shifted—from wind to fire.
He immediately summoned his spirit: Flame Owl.
Staring at the flaming owl in shock, Flender muttered, "So that means… what happened in the Eternal Love Abyss was real."
He had no idea what had transpired between Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, but assumed that Xiaogang must have agreed to give the divine item to Liu Erlong.
This thought brought him a mix of bitterness and reluctant acceptance.
"Ah well… love can't be forced," Flender sighed.
Thus, within the Golden Iron Triangle, Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang both dismissed their experiences in the Abyss as a nightmare, while Flender buried the truth deep within his heart.
That very day was Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong's wedding.
That night, under a bright and beautiful starlit sky, the ceremony was conducted with Flender as the officiant.
Looking at the stunning Liu Erlong in her white wedding gown, Flender's heart ached. The woman he had long adored was marrying his closest friend.
Still… Liu Erlong and Xiaogang made a perfect match.
Holding back his sorrow, Flender patted their shoulders and said,
"Xiaogang, I'm entrusting Erlong to you. Now I can rest easy."
Yu Xiaogang wrapped his arm around Liu Erlong's waist and grinned smugly,
"Don't worry, Flender. I'll take care of her for both of us."
Flender winced internally. The three sat down and drank together.
After a few rounds of wine, Yu Xiaogang prepared for the wedding night. Flender was about to take his leave and embark on a solo journey, when suddenly—
BANG!
The small wedding hall's door was kicked open. Several uninvited guests marched in.
Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Liu Erlong turned to see none other than Yu Luomian and several members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Reactions varied: Liu Erlong's happy expression instantly darkened; Flender looked at her with concern; Yu Xiaogang's initial shock quickly turned into confused surprise, as though he had no clue what was going on.
Playing dumb, he asked,
"Second Uncle? What brings you here?"
Yu Luomian walked straight up to him and eyed the bride in her wedding dress.
"Yu Xiaogang, so you do remember I'm your uncle. Looks like you're just about to start calling me Father-in-law."
"Father-in-law?" Xiaogang's eyes briefly flashed with something unreadable.
"Second Uncle, what are you talking about?"
Yu Luomian's expression soured. Looks like Plan A had failed—he wouldn't get to consummate the marriage with his daughter. But no matter; Plan B was already in motion.
"What do I mean? The woman you just married is my daughter. That makes her your cousin."
His voice grew louder. "If I'd arrived even a little later, you two would already be in the bridal chamber. A cousin marrying a cousin—Yu Xiaogang, have you no shame?"
Another clan disciple echoed angrily,
"Disgraceful! Marrying your cousin—how dare you?!"
Yu Xiaogang was thunderstruck. He turned stiffly toward Liu Erlong and asked in disbelief,
"Erlong… is it true?"
Liu Erlong instantly realized how serious this was. She knew how much Xiaogang cared about his reputation. If he found out they were cousins, he would never accept her.
So she hastily denied it,
"No! That's not true! My name is Liu Erlong—I don't have a father!"
Yu Luomian interjected coldly,
"Erlong, I know you hate me for neglecting you and your mother, but that doesn't change your blood. You carry the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon lineage."
He then glared at Xiaogang.
"And even setting that aside, Xiaogang—you, a useless waste, dare to lay hands on my daughter?!"
The word waste pierced Xiaogang like a dagger. The old hatred he bore for Yu Luomian burned hotter.
Fine then, Yu Luomian. Since you want a fight, I'll use your own daughter to ruin you.
Eyes reddened, Yu Xiaogang said bitterly,
"I should've realized it sooner… your fire dragon spirit—it's a mutated version of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, isn't it? Just swapped electricity for fire…"
Liu Erlong weakly protested, "No… it's not like that…"
Xiaogang let out a pained, tearful smile.
"You and Flender both knew, didn't you? You kept it from me."
Flender stayed silent. Liu Erlong quickly said,
"No, Xiaogang, that's not what I meant. Even if we're cousins, I don't care! I still love you!"
But Xiaogang shouted,
"You may not care—but you lied to me! This is a scam marriage! Were you planning to tell me after the wedding? Let the world know I, Yu Xiaogang, married my cousin?!"
With that, he stumbled out, fleeing the scene. Flender followed in a panic.
"Xiaogang!" Erlong tried to chase after him, but Yu Luomian grabbed her arm.
"Let me go!" she snarled, wrenching free and glaring hatefully at him.
"You ruined my wedding. Happy now?!"
Yu Luomian squirmed under her furious gaze.
"That piece of trash—what's so great about him?! If I hadn't come, what then? You marry him and keep this secret forever? Or let it leak and be shamed forever? I know Xiaogang—he'd use that excuse to abandon you! Then what? Lose your dignity and your man?"
"Xiaogang is not trash!"
Shoving her father aside, Liu Erlong ran after Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Luomian's rage exploded. He prepared to forcibly drag her back.
In the original timeline, he did take her away—separating her and Xiaogang for twenty years.
But this time, something unexpected happened.
A hand clamped down on his shoulder—completely suppressing his soul power.
Yu Luomian spun around in shock. The person wore his clan's uniform… but the face was unfamiliar.
Someone had infiltrated his entourage—and he hadn't even noticed.
With a twisted grin, the man said,
"Don't chase after them. What's ahead… is the dessert after the main course. My lord has been looking forward to this for a while."
Outside, Flender caught up with Yu Xiaogang and stopped him.
"Xiaogang… does being cousins really matter that much?" he asked.
Yu Xiaogang, looking wounded, shot back,
"You both knew. She knew. I was the only one kept in the dark. I feel… betrayed."
"I'm sorry, Xiaogang," Flender said guiltily. "We didn't mean to hurt you."
"Enough!" Xiaogang roared.
He then sighed deeply.
"Even if I love her… her father would never allow it. And think about it. She's my cousin. Weare related by blood. But you… you and she… you'd make a better pair."
"Xiaogang…" Flender said, his eyes heavy.
"Don't say anything, Flender. I'm leaving. I'm entrusting Erlong to you."
He put on the face of a man giving up his beloved. Then he turned slightly, smirking.
Yes, this was Plan B.
Because of their spirit fusion technique, Flender would never betray him. Nor would Erlong.
By giving Flender this illusion, he ensured that Flender would pine for Erlong forever—but never act on it. A lifetime bachelor.
And the more miserable Flender was, the more Yu Xiaogang's wounded ego would heal. With no distractions like family or offspring, Flender would remain the perfect material for his Golden Saint Dragon project.
Yu Xiaogang would now vanish, disappearing from Erlong's life entirely. Over time, her love for him would only deepen—and her hatred for Yu Luomian would grow.
Perfect revenge.
But just then—
"No, Xiaogang! Don't leave me to anyone—I'm coming with you!" Liu Erlong caught up to him.
"What the—" Xiaogang nearly jumped.
Damn it, old man! You couldn't even hold her back?! How am I supposed to disappear now?!
Divine Realm – Eternal Temple
The scene revealed the Golden Iron Triangle in extreme emotional chaos.
Huo Yuhao sneered,
"The main course was delicious—but dessert? That's what I'm really looking forward to. Evil Emperor, are preparations complete?"
"Yes, my lord," the Evil Emperor replied.
"The ten-thousand-year soul beast is in position. Your masterpiece will have ample opportunity to shine."
He immediately gave orders to the beast under his control.
Huo Yuhao poured himself a glass of wine made from golden dragonfruit as he said,
"Excellent. Let's see the show."
Back on the surface, just as Liu Erlong reached for Xiaogang's hand to elope, the ground beneath them trembled violently.
"Something's coming up from underground!" Flender shouted.
The trio quickly moved away from the epicenter. The ground split apart, and two massive claws tore through the earth.
A twenty-meter-tall soul beast emerged before them.
It had the body of a giant mole, but its claws were sharp as steel. Its head bore both mole and dragon features.
The mole-dragon hybrid had arrived—its full appearance…
It resembled a mole but with claws as sharp as steel and a head bearing both mole and dragon traits. As soon as it appeared, its cold eyes locked onto them, hissing.
"This is a Dragon-headed Mole. Its age must be at least fifty thousand years," Yu Xiaogang said, hands behind his back, eyes gleaming with wisdom.
"It's called a dragon because its blood carries a trace of dragon lineage—"
"Stop talking, Xiaogang. It clearly sees us as prey. None of us can defeat it," Flander interrupted.
How dare you interrupt my rare chance to show off! Yu Xiaogang felt a flash of annoyance. But Flander was right. None of them alone could handle it. To defeat it, they needed—the Golden Holy Dragon Martial Spirit Fusion Technique.
A √ appeared at the corner of Yu Xiaogang's mouth. Yes, only in moments like this could his value truly shine.
"Flander, Erlong, behind me," Yu Xiaogang commanded, as if a level 29 spirit master could protect two spirit kings.
They obeyed, standing behind him.
Facing the Dragon-headed Mole, Yu Xiaogang's eyes gleamed with disdain.
"You only have a trace of dragon blood. Today, I'll show you what a true dragon is!"
"Sun and Moon Shine Golden Turn!" Flander and Liu Erlong began channeling their soul power.
Yu Xiaogang summoned Luo Sanpao, proudly declaring,
"Let me, Yu Xiaogang, face you. Come forth, my Golden Holy Dragon, my pride, my Tamashi!"
However—
An accident occurred. The expected martial fusion barrier did not appear.
He and Luo Sanpao just stood awkwardly in front.
Somewhere deep within, Yu Xiaogang felt...
Yu Xiaogang turned to look behind him—and saw something that completely defied belief.
Originally, within the Golden Iron Triangle, the positioning of the three of them would form a soul power triangle. Soul power would flow continuously from Flender and Liu Erlong to him, allowing him to use their strength to transform Luo Sanpao into the Golden Saint Dragon.
But now, everything had changed.
Only a single crimson soul power conduit remained, connecting Liu Erlong and Flender.
Soul power now streamed endlessly from Flender to Liu Erlong.
Both Flender and Liu Erlong were visibly shocked by this strange development.
"Is this a new Martial Soul Fusion Skill?" Liu Erlong said in surprise. She could feel herself becoming the lead in this fusion process.
Yet once the fusion had started, it couldn't be stopped.
Flender's Flame Owl and Liu Erlong's Fire Dragon—two illusory martial souls—merged in the sky, transforming into a massive, physical red dragon stretching dozens of meters long.
The dragon radiated waves of intense heat—far hotter than even Liu Erlong's own fire dragon.
It flapped its wings, spread its mighty arms, and whipped its tail through the air, distorting the very sky from the heat. The dragon raised its head and let out a deafening roar at the mole-dragon below.
Its draconic might poured forth without reservation.
Yu Xiaogang and Luo Sanpao felt the overwhelming pressure of a superior martial soul suppressing an inferior one. Luo Sanpao especially trembled under the weight of its bloodline being dominated.
This sight filled Yu Xiaogang with bitter humiliation—just like half a year ago when Yu Luomen summoned the Golden Saint Dragon and crushed him with its aura while he stood helpless.
This was a Martial Soul Fusion Skill that could rival his Golden Saint Dragon—but...
Where was his Golden Saint Dragon Fusion Skill?
Yu Xiaogang's modest flattop hairstyle could barely contain the enormous question swirling in his mind.
Huo Yuhao, watching from his divine perspective, saw the crimson dragon flailing with power and felt immensely satisfied.
This dragon was, without a doubt, his masterpiece.
He had mimicked the template of the Golden Saint Dragon to create a new Flame Saint Dragon—nearly equal in power. Then, using the essence of the fire-element martial soul, he gifted it to Flender as a reward, purging part of his original bloodline and replacing the Cat Owl with the Flame Owl.
Thus, Flender and Liu Erlong now had their own exclusive Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Flame Saint Dragon.
"But," Huo Yuhao teased, "all gifts from fate have their prices clearly marked in secret. For this Flame Saint Dragon, our dear Xiaogang paid a heavy price indeed."
That's right—since Flender's martial soul was replaced, he could no longer serve as one corner of the Golden Saint Dragon. The price of the Flame Saint Dragon was Xiaogang's pride, and the disappearance of his Golden Saint Dragon Fusion Skill.
So—snap!—Xiaogang's Saint Dragon Experience Card... was gone!
Huo Yuhao glanced at the other side of his vision. The mole-dragon, frozen in fear under the pressure of a superior martial soul, wasn't even moving. Dissatisfied, he contacted the Evil Emperor below:
"The soul beast you summoned is paralyzed just because of bloodline suppression? That won't do. I need it to fight, so everyone can witness the power of my ultimate dragon. Let Xiaogang properly feel what he's lost, won't you?"
"As you command, my lord. Hehehe!"
They had encountered a soul beast that none of the three could defeat alone—only a Martial Soul Fusion Skill could handle it. This was supposed to be Yu Xiaogang's moment, his shining center-stage opportunity.
Yet now, Yu Xiaogang felt like he was just... a side dish. A dish called Steamed Grouper.
He stared at the oppressive crimson dragon with disbelief, his voice bitter with anger:
"What the hell is this dragon?! Where's my Golden Saint Dragon?!"
"Xiao Xiaogang..." Liu Erlong stood within the fusion circle, unsure how to explain.
Flender seemed to realize something. Just as he was about to speak, the mole-dragon—previously suppressed by the Flame Saint Dragon's aura—finally moved.
It slashed with its claws toward the trio below, aiming to "capture the king first."
"Engage it! Flame Saint Dragon!" At the sign of danger, Liu Erlong ignored Yu Xiaogang and commanded the dragon into action.
The Saint Dragon smacked aside the mole-dragon's claws, then, guided by Liu Erlong's battle instincts, launched a counterattack.
The Flame Saint Dragon was on par with the Golden Saint Dragon in power—but, led by a different person, it fought in a completely different style.
When Yu Xiaogang was in charge, the Golden Saint Dragon's signature attack was—farting. Yes. He refused to use its claws, breath, tail, or body—he just used dragon farts.
Liu Erlong's style? Full-on melee brutality. Every blow was visceral.
After a nightmarish wedding crash, Xiaogang trying to run, and countless frustrations building up—Liu Erlong was ready to explode. And here came a conveniently suicidal soul beast, just as she gained control of a devastating new fusion skill.
You can guess what happened next.
The Flame Saint Dragon engaged in a savage melee with the mole-dragon—claws, aura, wings—everything was used. Liu Erlong unleashed all the close-combat techniques she could think of. The powerful soul beast was pushed back blow after blow.
Soon, the mole-dragon's claws were broken. Its body was covered in whip marks from the dragon's tail, slash wounds from claws, and its bones shattered from the Saint Dragon's brutal charges.
"Final strike—Saint Dragon's Breath! Burn this bastard to ashes!" Liu Erlong ordered.
The red dragon flapped its wings and soared dozens of meters high, opened its maw, gathered an inferno within its throat, and unleashed it down on the mole-dragon.
The Saint Dragon's fire reached the extreme limit—carrying the might to incinerate all. The mole-dragon let out a wretched scream as it was engulfed in fire. The blaze was so fierce it lit up a hundred-meter radius like daylight.
Moments later, the mole-dragon was reduced to ash.
The three spectators were left stunned. Flender and Liu Erlong instinctively ended the fusion. The terrifying Flame Saint Dragon split into two—returning as the red dragon and the Flame Owl—then faded into their respective bodies.
Flender swallowed nervously and said:
"That was... one powerful Flame Saint Dragon. Totally your style, Erlong—clean and efficient."
"Don't say that..." Liu Erlong replied shyly.
But then, a suffocating tension radiated from nearby—Yu Xiaogang.
His face was pale, his eyes bloodshot, fists clenched. Under the moonlight, his twisted expression overflowed with repressed rage. He shouted at them:
"Tell me what the hell happened! Where is my Golden Saint Dragon?!"
Liu Erlong still didn't fully understand what had happened. But Flender stepped forward:
"Xiaogang, calm down. I think I know what happened."
He summoned his martial soul—a fiery owl.
"That's... the Flame Owl!" Liu Erlong gasped. "Wait, then... it wasn't a dream?"
"What wasn't a dream?" asked Yu Xiaogang.
"In the Eternal Love Abyss... it asked if I'd grant the fire-element martial soul essence to Flender. I agreed. Then his martial soul changed into the Flame Owl. I thought it was a dream... but it was real." Liu Erlong admitted, somewhat gleefully.
"It was real?" Yu Xiaogang's pupils dilated. He thought of more—of the punishment he endured in the Eternal Love Abyss, of being bossed around in the bathhouse, forced to pick up soap...
What he thought was a nightmare... had actually happened.
If his previous breakdown at the wedding was a fake one—this time, Yu Xiaogang truly shattered.
"AAAAHHHHHHH—!" he screamed like a howler monkey.
"Xiaogang, calm down!" Flender urged.
"Calm down? How?! You don't know what I went through in that damn abyss!" Xiaogang screamed. He turned on Liu Erlong: "Why?! Why did you give that essence to Flender?!"
Before she could answer, he rounded on Flender:
"And you! Why did you accept it?! Where's your Cat Owl?! Bring it back! GIVE IT BACK!"
A tear slid down Liu Erlong's cheek. "I... I'm sorry, Xiaogang. I didn't think it would turn out this way..."
Yu Xiaogang's voice rose louder:
"SORRY DOESN'T FIX IT! Liu Erlong, because of you I lost my Golden Saint Dragon Fusion Skill! GIVE IT BACK!"
Liu Erlong went pale.
"Xiaogang, don't blame Erlong like that," Flender interjected.
But he was cut off immediately.
"Shut up, Flender! I bet you're gloating deep down, aren't you?!"
"I'm not. Xiaogang, you really need to calm down—"
"NO, YOU ARE!" Xiaogang snapped, glaring at him.
He then unleashed the full force of his wrath, pouring out every grievance, every humiliation, every injustice. All of it—dumped on Flender and Liu Erlong. Spittle flew with every word. Before long, their hair, faces, and clothes were soaked.
Yu Xiaogang lashed out with every vile accusation he could think of:
"Flender! Liu Erlong! You both wanted to see me fall—to be a useless joke—just so you could prop up your phony love and friendship! I was blind to think you were my friends. I trusted you... and you betrayed me!"
"Xiaogang..." Liu Erlong began.
"SHUT UP! My one shred of pride—my Golden Saint Dragon—is gone! And it's all your fault, you wretched woman! YOU RUINED ME!"
His eyes full of venom, Yu Xiaogang turned and fled.
Liu Erlong's knees buckled. She collapsed, stunned that he could see her that way. Flender quickly rushed to support her.
Watching Xiaogang's figure vanish in the moonlight, and holding a sobbing Liu Erlong in his arms, Flender let out a long sigh.
"He's just too angry right now. Give him time. He'll come around."
With that, he wiped Xiaogang's spit from his face and helped Liu Erlong away.
Thus, the wedding ended—abruptly and painfully. Liu Erlong sat at the banquet table, drowning herself in alcohol, numbing her sorrow with drink.
"Flender, you too... come drink with me..."