Shrek Academy.
Yu Xiaogang's office.
Two bookcases stuffed full of manuals, shelves buried under research notes, and even the walls themselves covered in scribbles and deductions. A thick stack of tomes on soul masters lay sprawled across the table, almost threatening to topple.
At the center of this chaos sat Yu Xiaogang, consumed by his studies, eyes hypnotized by paper and ink.
"Xiaogang, haven't you noticed anything strange about Erlong lately?" Flender asked, helplessly watching his lifelong brother sink deeper into obsession.
Ever since Lucien's arrival, Yu Xiaogang had gone borderline mad, endlessly flipping through ancient texts, clinging desperately to theories. To Flender, it was all wasted effort. Instead of breaking his own bottleneck at rank 29, this fool was drowning himself in someone else's mystery.
"No, what's wrong?" Yu Xiaogang muttered absently, head still buried in his book.
Could a twelve-year-old Soul King truly exist? Normal cultivation could never allow it.
Unless… some forbidden technique? Several ancient texts did mention secret methods to accelerate cultivation—but always at a terrible cost: the user's life itself.
Would Lucien really risk something like that?
"Xiaogang! Xiaogang!" Flender barked, shaking his head.
Yu Xiaogang finally looked up. "What is it?"
"Have you truly not noticed Erlong avoiding us lately? Just tell me—did something happen to her? Why don't you check on her?"
Lately, even Flender could feel it. When they first arrived at Shrek, Liu Erlong had been warm and welcoming, even moving from her small cottage back into the academy itself. But now… she had retreated without explanation, locking herself away again, warning them not to disturb her unless the very sky fell.
And toward Yu Xiaogang? Her warmth had turned icy cold.
Something was clearly wrong.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head like a rattle-drum. "Don't even think about it. The last time I tried to check on her, she nearly broke my legs before I got through the door!"
"Then I'll go?" Flender growled.
"You're a Soul Sage, you can fly away if it gets dangerous. Me? I'm just a great soul master. I still want to live a few more years." Yu Xiaogang dropped his eyes back to the book in his hands.
Flender slapped the desk. "Yu Xiaogang, are you sick?! You know Erlong has loved you all this time! Can't you see her growing colder by the day? If you don't do something soon, you'll lose her forever."
Yu Xiaogang sighed deeply, the words pressing into his chest like stone. Yes, he could feel the growing distance. And yes, he knew all too clearly—he did have Erlong in his heart. But…
"She's my cousin," he said hoarsely, "how could we ever take that step?"
Flender's eyes widened, then rolled hard. "You blockhead! You love her, she loves you. So what? Just stay together—spiritual companions, partners in heart if not in flesh. As long as you don't cross the line, isn't that enough?"
Yu Xiaogang froze, stunned. Half an hour later, his face suddenly flushed pink. He punched Flender's chest lightly. "Brother… you really do have a way with words!"
His eyes shone with decision. Yes. He loved Erlong. And if they never crossed that line… wasn't that acceptable?
"Erlong, I'm coming!" he shouted, springing up and rushing outside, heart trembling at the thought of finally embracing her.
A small hut in the forest.
Beside the lake, Liu Erlong sat quietly, staring at her reflection in the moonlit water. Her slim hand drifted to her lower abdomen.
The rippling image in the water began to flicker—then warped into the figure of a familiar drunkard clutching a wine jar.
"Lucien, you bastard…" she whispered bitterly, hurling a stone into the water.
Everywhere she looked, every time she tried to rest, his shadow surfaced again. She couldn't forget him.
Her brows suddenly knitted. Someone was approaching.
"Who dares bother me now?"
Flames licked her fists as her temper surged.
"Haa… haa…" Yu Xiaogang stumbled through the trees, drenched in sweat from his frantic run. Before he could even cry out, a blazing dragon flame roared, dragging him into the air.
"Erlong, it's me! Yu Xiaogang!" he screamed in panic.
The flames circled tighter, her aura murderous as she recognized him.
"What do you want?" she snapped.
Before, if Yu Xiaogang had sought her out, she would have been overjoyed. But now… it was different.
"I want to tell you… we should be together!" he declared, lungs burning with the words. Three strides forward, arms open, he all but threw himself at her embrace.
"Get out!" Liu Erlong's palm struck like a hammer, sending him flying more than ten meters.
She had waited for him over twenty years. Now, after everything… he came forward only because he'd finally "figured it out"? Too late.
Yu Xiaogang lay coughing on the ground, the pain in his body drowned beneath the heavier ache in his chest. Why?
Didn't Erlong still love him? She had waited decades for him. He couldn't accept that her heart had changed. But for now… he couldn't push further. She was too angry.
I'll wait a few days. When she calms down, I'll explain again, he told himself bitterly as he staggered back.
"Eh? What's happening here?"
Just as Yu Xiaogang limped away, Lucien arrived.
He was stunned to see Liu Erlong blasting Yu Xiaogang through the trees. Taking a sip from his wine jar, he nearly choked.
So that's why Little Pepper has been avoiding me lately? She hasn't come looking for me at all—suspicious. Guess I came at the right time.
"Little Pepper, I've come!"
Lucien stepped forward, smirking.
"Lucien!" Liu Erlong hissed between clenched silver teeth. That familiar voice—echoing endlessly through her restless nights—stabbed her chest with heat.
With a roar, her fists burst with dragon flame, striking out at him with both hands.
Lucien tilted his body slightly, catching her wrist in one hand with practiced ease.
"Little Pepper, you didn't act like this back when we were in bed together," he said reproachfully.
Fight at first sight? Pretending not to know him after everything they'd shared? How ruthless!
"You bastard, shut up!" Her face flushed crimson, rage flaring hotter. The mere reminder of that night burned shame into her veins.
"Don't be angry," Lucien soothed, grinning. "I came here especially to drink with you today."
He set down two cherished jars of fine wine before her.
"Don't drink!" she snapped, giving him a cold glare.
If she hadn't learned to mimic his endless drinking, that night would never have happened.
How could she bear to touch wine ever again?
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