The night blurred, wine drowned judgment, and anger burned out into haze.
"Little Chili, we're home."
Lucien carefully tossed Liu Erlong's beautiful but stumbling body onto his bed. Her jacket was already torn — the dragoness too eager, too furious to wait.
"…T-take me…!" Liu Erlong gasped, clutching his arm, gaze unfocused. In her intoxicated heart, Lucien's face had long blurred into Yu Xiaogang's.
"I want it… I want you…"
Lucien scratched his head. …Eh? Can this be right?
But drunkenness blurred denial, and strangeness turned to madness.
Later.
Morning sun filtered through broken curtains.
"Augh—why does my waist ache…?" Liu Erlong's groan broke the silence. Her eyes fluttered. A blurred vision steadied: Lucien, head tilted back, throat gulping, wine dripping from his lips as always.
Realization slammed in.
Her silver teeth clenched. "L…LU YUAN?!"
She bolted upright, clutching quilt tight to her chest—only to feel exactly how raw her body was. Her face exploded red.
"You bastard! You destroyed my innocence!!"
Lucien turned, blinking. "Hah? Little Pepper, why so dramatic? Weren't you the one who ripped your clothes and pounced? I remember—even like seaweed swaying in the wind—"
"Y-you fart!!" she roared, face crimson, heart hammering. "I still had socks on! You—turn around!"
Rustle of cloth. When she finished tying her black battle‑suit, thunder roared again in her fists. Dragon flames surged as her punch blurred toward his back.
Lucien lazily pivoted. His palm caught her wrist, eagle-claw tight, twisting her into his chest.
"Little Pepper," his drunken grin leaned close, fingers brushing her cheek. "After last night, do we really need to fight anymore? If you want drink, just find me. No need for fists."
"Let me go!" Liu Erlong's heart rattled.
"I'll let go. But if you fight me again…" His eyes lifted to the ceiling, at the rope swaying lazily on the beam. "I'll just hang you back up."
Her pupils shrank. Memories of fuzzy rope burns on her wrists… her roar could have earthquaked.
"Lu Yuan… if you dare say a word about this… my old lady swears it — I'll never let you live it down!!"
Meanwhile – Martial Soul City.
Outside the palace, Yueguan and Ghost whispered bitterly:
"…Third scouting team erased. Just following orders. Why does the Pope keep cutting her own eyes?"
"Shut up! Misfortune comes from the mouth — especially at these doors."
A shadow stirred. They stiffened until a young woman in golden robes stepped forward.
"It's me."
Qian Renxue.
They bowed fast. She was supposed to remain undercover in Heaven Dou… Why was she risking return?
Her chill eyes pierced them. "I don't need answers. Only your faces. Tell me if I am right. Years ago, for a hundred‑thousand‑year soul beast. Blue Silver Grass. Sacrificed to Tang Hao, right?"
Their gazes flinched. That alone was answer enough.
The girl nodded sharply, turning away. So. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass is no petty weed. Born of sacrifice. Tang Hao's son. Tang Hao's sin. And the Pope herself was involved.
Behind the cathedral shadows, she ordered quietly: "Watch that Tang San."
Back in Tiandou dawn.
Lucien tipped another swig, lips wet, glancing at the dragoness trembling in his sheets.
She glared with wildfire eyes, quilt clutched. "If you say a single word… about this night…"
He just grinned stupidly, black flames licking. "Heh. I'll save it in my heart forever, Little Chili."
Her roar shook the house.
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