As he thought about it, Dai Chengfeng stood up and walked toward the courtyard gate.
"Squeak—"
With the sound of the door latch turning, the small gate of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family's estate was pulled open by Dai Chengfeng from the inside.
The next moment, Dai Chengfeng stepped out with a calm demeanor. A faint, barely noticeable smile lingered on his lips—it wasn't hard to tell that he was in an excellent mood.
At this moment…
"Stop!"
Dai Chengfeng had only taken a few steps when he seemed to notice someone hadn't realized his presence.
Yu Tianheng, unable to contain himself any longer, suddenly sprang to his feet and stood behind Dai Chengfeng.
He stared at Dai Chengfeng's back, his hands clenched into fists, nails digging deeply into his palms. His chest heaved violently, and his voice, strained with frustration, came out hoarse.
"Oh?"
Hearing Yu Tianheng speak, Dai Chengfeng stopped in his tracks, raising an eyebrow slightly. He turned his head just enough to display a well-timed look of "surprise" at being stopped.
Then, seeing Yu Tianheng's disheveled, enraged appearance, he chuckled softly. "Yu Tianheng? What a coincidence. I didn't expect to run into you here."
"A coincidence?"
Yu Tianheng glared at Dai Chengfeng, each word grinding out between clenched teeth. "This… is one of our family's estates in Spirit City! Why would it be strange for me to be here?!"
"On the other hand…"
Yu Tianheng took a deep breath. "You… why are you here?"
"And… what exactly is your relationship with my aunt?!"
"What 'relationship'?"
Dai Chengfeng looked at Yu Tianheng, whose serious expression betrayed his desperate need to confirm the nature of Dai Chengfeng's relationship with Liu Erlong. With a nonchalant tone, he sidestepped the core issue.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I have somewhere to be, so I'll take my leave."
Dai Chengfeng walked past Yu Tianheng and turned to leave.
"By the way…"
Halfway through his departure, Dai Chengfeng seemed to suddenly remember something and turned back to face Yu Tianheng.
"I almost forgot to mention… your aunt… is very smooth~"
After saying this, Dai Chengfeng wore a lingering, satisfied expression. Without another glance at Yu Tianheng, he burst into laughter and strode away.
Yu Tianheng watched Dai Chengfeng's carefree retreating figure, even adorned with a hint of leisurely amusement, and felt a surge of blood rush to his head!
If before, upon witnessing that scene, he still clung to a shred of absurd hope—that Aunt Liu Erlong's behavior was merely due to some accidental lapse, and that Dai Chengfeng, being so young, couldn't possibly have any connection with her—
Then now, Dai Chengfeng's evasive response and his final taunt were like a bucket of icy water, ruthlessly extinguishing the last remnants of his self-deception.
This was guilt! This was tacit admission! And blatant provocation!
"Dai! Cheng! Feng!"
A hoarse, strangled roar erupted from Yu Tianheng's throat.
His eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, as if they were about to bleed. His once handsome face twisted grotesquely under the weight of extreme humiliation and anger. The dormant Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit within him stirred restlessly in his fury, and faint crackling sounds of leaking soul power could even be heard in the air, arcs of electricity sparking uncontrollably.
"You… you…"
Yu Tianheng wanted to curse Dai Chengfeng, but he didn't know how to begin.
After all, no matter how he looked at it, his aunt appeared to have acted willingly. What could he say?
Call Dai Chengfeng a beast? Call him a scoundrel?
"AAAAHHHH!!!"
In the end, Yu Tianheng could only release a helpless, furious roar to the heavens.
Once again, he collapsed onto the ground, utterly defeated.
The mere thought of his beloved woman and his aunt possibly serving his enemy Dai Chengfeng together made Yu Tianheng want to vomit blood.
"Yan Zi… Aunt… How could you…"
---
Meanwhile
Inside the courtyard, in Liu Erlong's room.
Splash splash…
Warm water cascaded down from the showerhead, washing over Liu Erlong's delicate yet slightly tense skin.
The rising steam blurred the bathroom mirror, mirroring the chaotic turmoil swirling in her mind.
Liu Erlong had just returned to her room and immediately decided to bathe. She scrubbed vigorously at her arms, neck, waist where Dai Chengfeng's arms had embraced her, and even her wrists where his hands had held her.
It was as if she wanted to wash away every trace of Dai Chengfeng's presence.
However, the lingering warmth of his touch seemed branded onto her skin, refusing to fade despite the relentless flow of water. Even though her skin had turned slightly red from her vigorous scrubbing…
Yet, the images from the pavilion continued to replay uncontrollably in her mind: the heat radiating from his chest pressed against hers, the strong arm wrapping around her, the strikingly handsome face inches away from hers, and…
And her own unfamiliar, unrestrained gaze, lost in the depths of desire!
"Ahh!"
Liu Erlong shut her eyes tightly and pressed her hands firmly against her cheeks, shaking her head forcefully as if trying to shake those shameful memories out of her mind.
"What's wrong with me?! Have I gone mad?!"
She screamed inwardly, overwhelmed by a wave of panic and self-reproach.
How could I possibly react like that to… a young man so much younger than me?!
No, that can't be me!
I am Liu Erlong! The Liu Erlong who has always carried Yu Xiaogang in her heart!
"No… I can't let this continue…"
Liu Erlong panted heavily. "That power… it's too sinister… It's… it's corroding my mind. I need to stay away from Dai Chengfeng… Xiaogang… I've failed you…"
Liu Erlong abruptly opened her eyes and gazed at her body, covered in droplets of water streaming down her skin. A determined glint flashed in her eyes.
Yes, stay away from Dai Chengfeng!
Never see him again!
I can't let his powers influence me anymore!
However, just as this resolve formed, a sudden, eerie crimson glow flickered deep within her eyes amidst the misty haze!
It quickly transformed into greed.
The sheer power that could shatter the heavens with a single punch or incinerate mountains and seas with a single thought—just the memory of it made her blood instinctively boil!
"That power… how terrifying it is…"
She muttered to herself, her fingers unconsciously tracing the smooth, pale skin beneath the flowing water. She felt the overwhelming surge of her soul power, more easily triggered than usual, and an insatiable craving subconsciously began to grow in her mind.
If I could obtain that power, surpassing the level of a Soul Sage? That would be nothing!
Soul Douluo, or even… the pinnacle title of Elder Douluo might no longer be an unreachable dream!
Leave Dai Chengfeng? Cut off all contact with him?
"No!"
Liu Erlong tossed her long hair, sending water droplets flying everywhere. The confusion in her eyes was replaced by a sharp, almost fanatical confidence.
"Why should I retreat?! Why should I abandon such immense, easily attainable power just because of a minor risk of losing control?!"
She raised her head and stared at the foggy ceiling. "Before, I wasn't prepared! And that power came too suddenly, too violently, which caught me off guard!"
Her chest heaved violently, her eyes blazing with determination. "But if I'm prepared…"
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