Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang's office.
Tall shelves stuffed with ancient tomes lined the room. Every inch of wall space was scribbled with notes, formulas, and strange deductions. On the desk, stacks of books about spirit masters rose like a fortress, half-buried under Yu Xiaogang himself.
The so-called "Grandmaster" was sprawled across his table, nose deep in piles of parchment, oblivious to the world.
"Xiaogang…"
Flender stood at the doorway, watching in silence before sighing. "Haven't you noticed something strange about Erlong recently?"
But there was no response.
Flender shook his head helplessly. Ever since that boy Lu Yuan appeared, Yu Xiaogang had practically lost his soul, drowning himself in endless theories and calculations. Books flipped endlessly, formulas rewritten repeatedly, only to end in the same despair.
The truth was simple: no matter how hard he studied, he was still standing at the bottleneck of level twenty-nine, stagnant. He could research until his hair turned white—it wouldn't move him forward even half a step.
Still, Xiaogang refused to stop.
"No, what's wrong with Erlong?" Yu Xiaogang muttered absently, not even looking up, eyes glued to the ink marks before him. In his mind, the only thing circling was the same question:
Is it truly possible for a twelve-year-old Soul King to exist?
By normal cultivation standards, it was utterly impossible. Bartleby's records, the ancient texts—none of them suggested such a thing. Unless, of course, some unspeakable secret techniques were used. Forbidden methods that granted rapid growth at the cost of one's life span.
Had Lu Yuan dared to touch something like that?
"Xiaogang! Xiaogang!"
Flender raised his voice after being ignored again. His bespectacled friend barely stirred.
Finally Yu Xiaogang blinked and looked up wearily. "What is it?"
"Have you truly not noticed Erlong avoiding us these days?" Flender asked, putting his hands on his waist. "Did something happen to her? Shouldn't you at least check on her?"
Flander's tone was edged with worry. When they first arrived at Shrek, Liu Erlong had been warm, even moved into the academy grounds with them. But lately? Suddenly she had moved back to her little forest hut—and worse, she had warned them: unless the sky was literally falling, they were not to bother her.
Erlong always had a fiery temper, yes, but this… this was different. She'd grown cold, even hostile—especially toward Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang gave a bitter little smile and shook his head hard, like a drum. "I won't go."
Flender nearly gawked. "What do you mean you won't go?"
The so-called "Grandmaster" rubbed his leg subconsciously, wincing at the memory. "The last time I walked over out of concern, before I even reached her door, I was blasted away. Nearly broke my leg. You want me to go again? Forget it."
Flender's jaw tightened. "Yu Xiaogang, you're really hopeless…"
He slammed his hand on the desk. "Erlong likes you! Everyone can see it. And you—what are you doing? Sitting among dusty scrolls while the woman who's waited for you twenty years pulls away?!"
Flander's Push
Flender leaned closer, almost pleading now. "If you keep ignoring her, she'll grow colder and colder. Keep this up, and eventually you'll have no chance left."
Yu Xiaogang's chest trembled. He sighed. Deep down, he'd felt it too—the distance creeping in between himself and Erlong. And yet some twisted logic told him that maybe… maybe this was good.
After all, she was his cousin. Could he truly cross that line?
Flender read his hesitation and slammed the nail in deeper. "Tell me honestly, Xiaogang. Do you care for Erlong or not?"
Yu Xiaogang's lips trembled. His throat stuck. "What's the point of having her in my heart? We… we can't…"
"We can't what?" Flender rolled his eyes so hard it nearly hurt. "Listen clearly—you love her. She loves you. Don't overcomplicate it. Even if you can't cross that final line, you can still be—at least—spiritual partners. Companions. A couple of the heart if not of the flesh. Isn't that better than rejecting each other completely?"
His grin widened as inspiration struck. "What's wrong with mutual devotion without crossing the line? It's pure, dignified, and fulfills the longing in both your hearts. Who says it can't work?"
This fiery speech left Yu Xiaogang motionless. Then slowly, like dawn breaking through the clouds, a spark of realization shone in his eyes.
"Flander…" His voice was hushed, emotional. "…you truly have a way with words."
For the first time in decades, Yu Xiaogang felt clear. His chest surged with longing. He slammed his fist against Flender's chest with brotherly force.
Yes. He loved Erlong. She loved him. So long as that line wasn't crossed—what harm was there?
He could still hold her, stand beside her, exist as her pillar for the rest of their lives.
"Erlong!" His heart overwhelmed, Yu Xiaogang jumped to his feet and all but bolted from the office. "Erlong, I'm coming to you at last!"
Flender sagged in his chair, half-relieved, half-worried. "He finally figured it out… though why do I feel like this solution is going to backfire horribly?"
In the Forest
At the forest hut, Liu Erlong sat alone before the quiet lake, her lovely reflection trembling in the water. Her hand unconsciously stroked her lower abdomen as her scarlet eyes dimmed.
Then suddenly, reflected in the waters, her face rippled and changed—replaced by a blurred image, a smiling man greedily drinking from a wine jar.
The face made her chest clench.
"Lu Yuan, you bastard!"
Her wrath burst forth. Grabbing a stone, she hurled it with all her strength. The water shattered into ripples.
Even now, she couldn't escape his shadow. That night replayed endlessly in her mind. That daring grin, the burning heat seared into her memory. She hated it. She hated him.
And yet she couldn't forget.
Her fists clenched. "Who dares disturb me now?"
Her dragon aura flared as a presence entered her woods.
Yu Xiaogang Arrives
Panting heavily, Yu Xiaogang stumbled into the glade, sweat pouring down his face from half-running all the way here. But before he could steady himself, a blazing dragon flame swept through the air, snaring his body.
He was yanked off the ground like a helpless rabbit.
"E—Erlong! It's me, Yu Xiaogang!" He waved his arms frantically, terrified she'd burn him alive before his words reached her ears.
"What are you doing here?"
Her voice was cold, hard, laced with unfamiliar distance. Once, if Yu Xiaogang had come to her—her heart would have burst with joy. But not anymore. Things were different now.
Pulling in a deep breath, Yu Xiaogang shouted from his heart:
"I came here to say… let's be together!"
Words burned his lips. He stumbled forward, arms wide, as though ready to embrace her.
Slap!
The strike landed across his chest like a thunderbolt. The force blasted him back more than ten meters, crashing him flat to the earth.
"Get out of here!" Liu Erlong's voice trembled between rage and heartbreak.
Twenty years. She had waited twenty long years for him. And now, now he dared to come with such words? Too late. Much too late.
Yu Xiaogang staggered up weakly, ignoring the ache in his ribs. Confusion spun in his head. Why? Why is it nothing like I imagined? Doesn't Erlong still love me? After twenty years, can her heart have changed so suddenly?
But the fire in her eyes made him wither. He bit back his words helplessly. She was furious now—better to retreat, wait for a calmer moment. Perhaps in a few days…
He turned limply to leave.
Lu Yuan Appears
But the forest had other plans that day.
"Hmm? What's this? Erlong, are you beating Xiaogang again?"
A cheerful voice cut through the trees. Lu Yuan, carrying his ever-present wine jar, strolled lazily into view. His tone was amused, though his golden eyes gleamed curiously at the scene.
He'd been puzzled lately—Little Pepper had stopped seeking him out like before. So today, with time to spare, he'd come to check. And what did he see? Yu Xiaogang being smacked around like a ragdoll.
"Little Pepper, I'm here!" he greeted with a grin.
At the sound of his voice, Liu Erlong froze. Her teeth clenched hard, the name she had called in countless dreams finally echoing in reality.
Her head jerked, dragon flames swirling around her fists as she lunged at him.
"Lu Yuan!"
Two fists blazing like sunfire shot toward him.
But Lu Yuan merely twisted calmly aside, catching her slender wrists with unshakable strength.
"Tch, Little Chili," he said with faux reproach. "You weren't this fierce when we were on the bed."
The words dripped with shamelessness.
Liu Erlong's cheeks burned scarlet as rage consumed her. "Bastard! Shut up!"
Every time that night was mentioned, her heart shattered between fury and shame. Without him, she never would have…
"Don't be angry," Lu Yuan soothed, smiling as though nothing was wrong. He set down two jars before her. "I didn't come to fight today. I came to drink with you."
Her eyes darted briefly toward the jars. Fine wine—rare, treasured.
She snapped her gaze away coldly. "Don't drink!"
If not for wine, that night wouldn't have happened. If not for imitating his drinking, she never would have let herself…
Her breath caught, and she bit her lip.
She hated him—yet she couldn't stop trembling every time she saw him.
--
Unlock 50 exclusive advanced chapters for just $10 – don't miss out! Check the synopsis/description for the link! 🚀
Loved this fic? 🔥 Then you'll absolutely binge my other hits — "Douluo Dalu: Ten Thousand Years Early System!" & "Douluo Dalu: My Harem System is Bugged!" — don't miss out!