Looking at Yu Xiaogang in front of him, Flander felt a wave of awkwardness.
Before their relationship was confirmed, he had always buried his feelings deep within his heart.
He had never acted inappropriately or harbored any improper thoughts toward Liu Erlong.
But when he arrived in Tiandou Imperial City and saw Liu Erlong alone and sorrowful—and with a little help from his disciple—he finally expressed the emotions he had suppressed for so long.
What touched him most was that Liu Erlong accepted him in the end.
And yet, standing now before Yu Xiaogang, he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.
"Flander, is this what you call brotherhood?"
Yu Xiaogang once again turned his anger on Flander.
His bloodshot eyes and cold tone were filled with resentment.
"Xiao Gang, listen to me—"
Flander waved his hand and gently held Liu Erlong's hand, unwilling to let go.
"My feelings for Erlong are just as deep as yours. I just never said them aloud."
"You gave up on her," Flander said quietly.
"Don't mistreat your brother's woman. If we're truly brothers, why would you treat her this way?"
But Yu Xiaogang refused to listen.
He couldn't understand why Liu Erlong would choose someone as indecisive as Flander.
In matters of the heart, Flander had always been hesitant.
Yu Xiaogang had long despised that quality in him.
Ironically, it was that very trait that made Liu Erlong choose him in the end.
What Yu Xiaogang had once secretly celebrated now left him so furious he felt like coughing up blood.
"This has nothing to do with Flander," Liu Erlong interjected firmly.
"I've already told you—if you can't accept me, then there's no point in us being together."
"If you can't overcome the barrier in your heart, then stop projecting that pain onto others."
Her voice was tinged with disappointment.
Ever since she had chosen Flander, she had let go of her love for Yu Xiaogang.
Even though he was someone she once cherished deeply, she now believed it was best to go their separate ways.
"You're going to keep hiding behind a woman like a coward?"
Unable to win the argument with Liu Erlong, Yu Xiaogang turned his rage on Flander.
In his anger, he spoke without thinking.
Standing nearby, Ma Hongjun's eyes flashed with anger the moment he heard those words.
A ball of blazing golden phoenix flame ignited in his palm.
"I suggest you watch your words."
His voice was icy.
The sudden rise in temperature brought Yu Xiaogang back to his senses.
Seeing the dancing phoenix flame in Ma Hongjun's hand, he instinctively took two steps back and fell to the ground.
"My teacher is showing you courtesy—but I won't."
Ma Hongjun's glare was sharp, his expression hostile.
Yu Xiaogang felt suffocated by the pressure.
He looked up at Flander and Liu Erlong, both of whom remained expressionless.
Clenching his fists tightly, Yu Xiaogang sat frozen on the ground.
"I will never give up."
"I absolutely won't give up!"
With a fierce look in his eyes, he stood up and turned to leave.
"Hey… Xiao Gang."
Flander moved to chase after him and explain, but Liu Erlong stopped him.
"Flander, let it go."
Her voice was quiet, her gaze filled with disappointment.
In her memory, Yu Xiaogang had always been gentle and thoughtful.
She had never seen him behave like this.
His irrational attitude and refusal to hear anyone out made her start to question the image of him she had held in her heart.
"Teacher, you don't need to go after him," Ma Hongjun said. "If you do, he still won't listen. He'll just believe that you and Teacher Erlong betrayed him."
Flander let out a long sigh.
He understood Yu Xiaogang's personality. Still, it pained him to see a friendship of many years fall apart like this.
"When you and Xiao Gang were together, I could only bury my feelings and wish you happiness," he said.
"But now, even though he's clearly rejected you, he still can't accept us being together."
"Sigh…"
He let out another heavy sigh.
What had started as an eagerly anticipated trip now carried a cloud of gloom over everyone's heart.
"Enough. Don't dwell on it. Let's go to Sunset Forest," Liu Erlong said directly, trying to lift everyone's spirits.
The priority now was to obtain the fourth soul ring.
At that moment, Gu Yuena, who had remained silent until now, spoke.
"Why not go to the Star Dou Great Forest? There might be more soul beasts there."
Everyone turned to look at her in surprise, including Liu Erlong, who studied the quiet, graceful girl.
From the beginning, she hadn't been able to get a read on Gu Yuena's strength.
No matter how she observed, it always felt like the girl was hiding something.
She had once asked Flander about Gu Yuena's identity, but even he didn't know much.
Hearing her words, Ma Hongjun immediately guessed her intention.
She probably wanted to see Di Tian.
He spoke up right away.
"Teacher Erlong, I also want to go to the Star Dou Great Forest. We're more familiar with that place."
The others nodded in agreement.
For them, it didn't matter whether they went to Sunset Forest or the Star Dou Great Forest.
Gu Yuena gave Ma Hongjun a brief glance, then quickly looked away.
"Alright, then let's head straight."
Liu Erlong made the final decision.
Although this differed slightly from her original plan, it wasn't a big issue.
As long as they were within the Tiandou Empire, it didn't matter which forest they entered.
With the destination confirmed, the group immediately set off.
Tiandou Royal Academy.
"You're truly the biggest disgrace to set foot in this academy in a century."
"I've never seen anyone's third spirit ring turn out to be a white ten-year ring."
A flamboyantly dressed young man sneered at Tang San.
Tang San clenched his fists tightly.
Ever since his third soul ring had been revealed, he had endured endless ridicule.
Every attempt to stand up for himself was met with the teachers' suppression.
Worse still, the ability granted by the third ring was merely a detection skill with a one-meter range, and the boost to soul power was almost negligible.
"Don't go too far," Tang San said coldly.
"So what if I do? If you're not happy about it, come fight me!"
The boy's tone was full of mockery and challenge.
"Tiandou Royal Academy is for geniuses. Trash like you should leave while you still can!"
He burst into wild laughter.
The students nearby joined in with mocking whispers and sneers.
Tang San struggled to hold back his fury.
Recently, he had felt that the cultivation of his Purple Demon Eye was slowing down. It should have already reached the third stage, but it hadn't.
He even had a vague feeling that the Purple-Demonic Eye was regressing.
In this academy full of prodigies, he no longer had any edge to take pride in.
And since he couldn't freely use his hidden weapons in competitions, he had no choice but to endure everything in silence.