Martial Soul City – Papal Palace.
"Exposed?!"
The marble cracked under Bibi Dong's staff as murderous pressure knocked Yue Guan and Ghost back, coughing blood.
"You fools!"
"Teacher…" Hu Liena stepped forward, robes shimmering white-silver. She bowed deeply. "Blame not the two Elders. Even Sword Douluo and Poison Douluo joined that night. Anyone would fail."
Her sharp eyes glimmered. She too had heard whispers of "Lu Yuan" too many times. The golden generation of Spirit Hall could not ignore a youth spoken of as if a myth: a drunkard with power terrifying enough to shake Contras. I want to see him for myself…
Bibi Dong's sneer finally settled. "Leave."
Yue Guan and Ghost stumbled out in silence, suffocating from shame.
Seven Treasure Glazed Sect – Inner Chambers.
Ning Fengzhi paced while aides bowed.
"Uncle Bone, any word from Brother Jian?"
Gu Rong exhaled. "Yes. Martial Soul Hall fielded two Titled Douluo for that boy. Sword Douluo barely kept him safe with help from Poison Douluo. Their intentions are clear."
Ning Fengzhi's fists clenched. "Outrageous. Our sect finally raises a peerless genius — one who can dominate the future balance of the continent — and Spirit Hall dares sink their fangs into him already."
"Rest easy," Gu Rong smirked. "If he'd died, I'd be marching now to massacre them. He's alive… and growing."
News from Chen Xin was baffling too: Prince Xue Qinghe had secretly dispatched two Contras to aid Lucien's side in Star Luo.
Why? What link binds those two? Ning Fengzhi's mind spun.
Still, his command was firm. "Have all outer disciples monitor Martial Soul Hall's shadows. The Hall won't give up."
Half a month later, Xingluo City.
The luxury carriage rolled away beneath dawn, bearing Chen Xin, Dugu Bo, Dragon-Snake, Lu Yuan, Zhu Zhuqing, and Bai Chenxiang. The city breathed relief.
News spread like wildfire that very day:
The engagement between Third Prince Dai Mubai and Second Miss Zhu Zhuqing… annulled.
Many laughed. Many sneered. Lu Yuan, drinking as usual, simply hiccupped when Zhu Zhuqing leaned at his side. "Eh? Oh. So Kitten's free now? Good. Drink!"
Chen Xin sat across, jaw twitching. Staring at the boy wrapped with two girls, he ground his teeth. "Stinky brat… tone it down, will you?"
Lucien's grin widened. "What? Jealous, Old Sword?"
Shrek Academy.
"Tons… tons… HA!"
Wine splashed as Liu Erlong drained from twin jars. Her cheeks flushed red, her aura hot enough to scorch air.
Twice beaten by Lu Yuan. Twice humiliated before peers. Impossible!
She slammed the jars down.
"If his secret is wine, then Lao Niang will drink twice! I'll drown myself in liquor and then show him — who's stronger!"
Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Zhao Wuji stared wordlessly.
Originally, Liu Erlong was fiercer than fire but disciplined. Now she drank all night, staggered all day, and worse — demanded "sparring." Which really meant hammering whichever unlucky soul tried persuading her.
"Boss F, why's Sister Erlong like this?" Zhao Wuji whispered.
"She's drunk with revenge," Flender groaned. "And we're her sandbags."
Yu Xiaogang backed away immediately when Flender urged, "You go placate her."
"No chance!" Just recalling last time Eli wrong accused him of "peeking at my old lady" while pummeling him senseless sent a chill down his spine. If Zhao Wuji hadn't stumbled in, he might've died.
As if on cue…
"Hm? Boss F? Perfect. Spar with me again!"
Liu Erlong staggered right toward Zhao Wuji, eyes blazing.
Zhao Wuji paled. "Erlong-sis, Boss F's over there—"
"Oh no, Dead Bear, today you're mine."
Zhao Wuji nearly cried. Days of lazy retirement in Soto City seemed like a distant dream. Now? Beaten daily by a drunken Tyrannosaurus who thought Lu Yuan's "strength" was in his wine.
Even students avoided the courtyard, praying their classes weren't caught in the collateral breath of dragon fire whenever Liu Erlong tested her new "training."
Zhao Wuji lifted his fists with a sigh, muttering two rules he knew by now:
Don't hurt Liu Erlong.
Don't let the fight spill into the teaching hall.
Heavy heart. Heavy chest.
And from behind the windows, students whispered to each other in terror:
"…Master Lu Yuan, what did you do to our Headmistress?"
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