Recalling how he almost had his leg broken when he proposed to her,
a chill ran down his spine.
Despite the fear, a sliver of fantasy still lingered in his heart.
"Flander, don't mention her again. It's impossible between us. It's all just wishful thinking on my part!"
Yu Xiaogang sighed softly, a nostalgic glint in his eyes, a hint of self-pity in his voice.
Back then, as the leader of the Golden Iron Triangle, the Corner of Wisdom, he
was quite well-known throughout the Soul Master world.
But he never imagined he would have such thoughts about his cousin.
"Xiaogang, you can fool others, but you can't fool me, and you certainly can't fool yourself! Dare you say you've forgotten your third sister?"
Flander shook his head helplessly, looking at Yu Xiaogang with a mocking expression.
A pang of sadness gripped him. He hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang to actually abandon the Soul Master world because of his third sister's angry words.
"Enough! Flander, stop talking about her. Twenty years have passed, it's all too late!"
"She should have found her own happiness now. My only hope is to raise her to be a capable person. I dare not hope for anything more in matters of the heart!"
Though he said he had let go, Yu Xiaogang's gaze was somewhat lost in thought.
How could he forget?
The days when the Golden Iron Triangle roamed the Soul Master world together were the most beautiful memories in his heart.
After half a year of imprisonment and torture in the Spirit Hall, he had become neither human nor ghost.
Like a stray dog, he had a home but couldn't return!
The entire Soul Master world saw him as a joke.
His dignity had been ruthlessly crushed!
But her slight concern for him, her every smile and frown, was a ray of warm light that illuminated him again.
It restored his confidence, and he vowed to prove himself!
That's why he did such a morally reprehensible thing, even knowing their identities!
Seeing his infatuated expression, Flander knew perfectly well he couldn't forget her.
"Actually, I've seen Third Sister before, she..."
Hearing that Flander had seen her after the three parted ways, Yu Xiaogang's heart trembled.
But when Flander mentioned her recent situation, he suddenly stood up, shouting at Flander and interrupting him.
"Shut up, Flander!"
"Don't say anymore, I don't want to know! I don't want to cause trouble because of these old stories!"
Yu Xiaogang's emotions suddenly became agitated, his eyes fixed on Flander, bloodshot.
Even his heart was trembling.
"You..." Flander, seeing Yu Xiaogang's angry appearance, couldn't utter another word for a long time.
He could only shake his head helplessly: "Fine, fine, these are your own business! But Xiaogang, as your brother, I will always support you!"
Yu Xiaogang didn't respond.
Only he knew that he wasn't angry.
He was just afraid.
He was afraid of hearing the news that she was already married, and he couldn't bear to shatter the beautiful illusion in his heart.
Flander saw his reddened eyes and stopped bringing up those things.
He could understand Yu Xiaogang's pain to some extent.
Wasn't he himself also indulging in wishful thinking?
Taking a deep breath, Flander changed the subject.
"Have you been home?"
"Home?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head stiffly.
He said coldly, "I haven't had a home for a long time!"
"After all these years, that's still your home! Although they don't welcome you, blood is thicker than water..."
Yu Xiaogang raised his hand, signaling Flander to stop talking.
"Alright! I won't go back until I prove myself. I've had enough of their cold looks, and I don't want to be laughed at by those people anymore!"
He turned away with his hands behind his back.
Looking up at the bright full moon in the sky outside the window, his eyes even filled with tears.
His body also seemed a little hunched.
Over the years, hadn't he ever thought of going back to visit?
But he couldn't go back! He dared not go back!
He was afraid his second uncle would find out what he had done!
His dignity couldn't withstand being trampled on again!
Flander had some idea of his concerns.
He knew he was a person with extremely strong self-esteem.
He gave a helpless bitter smile.
"You're still so stubborn, why bother?"
Yu Xiaogang didn't say anything more, silently holding back his tears. His pride wouldn't allow him to show this side of himself in front of others.
...
Night fell, and the moonlight was very gentle.
At this time, in the girls' dormitory under the night sky, besides Xiao Wu and the other two girls, there was one more person.
Ye Qiu hadn't come out since he went in.
He even washed up in the three girls' room.
Washing up takes girls a lot of time, and the lights in the room were still on.
After Zhu Zhu finished washing up, she sat cross-legged on the bed to cultivate.
Ye Qiu, on the other hand, lay down in Ning Rongrong's bed to fulfill his promise.
"Xiao Qiu~!"
Xiao Wu had just finished washing up.
As soon as she came out, she rushed to the bedside.
"Rongrong! Get up and start cultivating!"
"Ah! Xiao Wu... what are you doing?!"
Xiao Wu immediately pulled back a corner of the blanket, revealing Ning Rongrong, who was buried under the covers, secretly receiving a massage from Ye Qiu.
Fortunately, Ye Qiu had already withdrawn his hand in time, preventing the exposure of their secret relationship.
Ning Rongrong's eyes shone with embarrassment as she straightened her clothes.
She pouted at Xiao Wu, annoyed that she had to give up her warm bed.
She rolled her eyes at Ye Qiu again, then playfully punched him twice: "Idiot, you're hurting me!"
"Cough cough~ Well, I didn't mean to!" Ye Qiu smiled helplessly.
Xiao Wu was so quick that he, engrossed in his work, hadn't noticed in time.
Ning Rongrong wouldn't let him reveal the massage formula.
He had no choice but to quickly stop.
"Xiao Qiu~ What were you doing just now?" Xiao Wu looked at them curiously.
"N-nothing, when I got up, he stepped on my hair!" Ning Rongrong said hastily, then stood up without waiting for Xiao Wu's response.
She practically tucked her tail between her legs and ran towards the bathroom; she needed to change into long pants, or she'd catch a cold.
Xiao Wu glanced at her retreating figure strangely, but didn't dwell on it. Sleeping with Xiao Qiu was more important right now.
"Xiao Qiu~ Quickly help me dry my hair, don't get Rongrong's bed wet!"
Ye Qiu, pulled up by Xiao Wu, gave a strange laugh.
The thing Xiao Wu feared had actually happened.
But he wouldn't say it aloud.
"Hmm! Come closer to me." Ye Qiu pulled Xiao Wu to sit on the edge of the bed.
A crimson light appeared in his hand as he slowly dried her hair and slightly warmed the blankets.
"Thank you, Xiao Qiu~!" Xiao Wu turned and hugged Ye Qiu, her long legs slipping under the covers.
"Uh~ Behave yourself! It's late, get some rest." Ye Qiu rolled his eyes at the little rabbit rubbing against him.
"Okay! I'll listen to you, my dearest Xiao Qiu!" Xiao Wu stuck out her tongue at Ye Qiu, quickly sinking into the blankets and hugging his waist.
"Rongrong, remember to turn off the light!"
"I know, hmph!"
Ning Rongrong, who had just come out of the bathroom, sneered and glanced at Xiao Wu, who had taken over her spot.
If it weren't for wanting to get Ye Qiu's gift as soon as possible and break through to Soul Master so as not to fall too far behind, she wouldn't have given it to Xiao Wu and the others like that.
"Rongrong, goodnight!" Ye Qiu looked at her apologetically, and then everything went black.
Ning Rongrong had already turned off the light.
"Goodnight!"
In the darkness, Ning Rongrong hummed twice, responding to Ye Qiu somewhat reluctantly.
Her voice was very soft.
She groped her way to Xiao Wu's bed in the dark and sat down cross-legged.
She calmed her mind and began to cultivate.
Not long after, a pair of beautiful eyes gleamed in the dark room.
Zhu Zhuqing had finished her short cultivation session. Although this opportunity was not as good as being alone, she still didn't want to miss it.
"Ye Qiu~" She
quietly crept to the bedside and lay down without hesitation.
"Zhuqing." Ye Qiu naturally felt her movement and the tenderness of her embrace.
He grabbed Xiao Wu's reaching hand and pulled her closer.
The single bed was already rather narrow, and with Zhu Zhuqing's exceptional talent, it naturally felt a bit cramped. Xiao
Wu, who had been enjoying herself all to herself, pouted and called out from afar,
"Zhuqing, why aren't you cultivating?"
"I want to stay with Ye Qiu!" Zhu Zhuqing silently wrapped an arm around herself, securing it to her chest.
She closed her eyes, leaned against Ye Qiu's shoulder, and pressed close to him.
After consuming the immortal herb, her cultivation had increased so much.
She had already saved a lot of cultivation time; she was simply using a small portion of that time to be with Ye Qiu.
"Alright, then let's do it together." Xiao Wu nodded helplessly, ceasing her teasing, wrapped an arm around Ye Qiu's shoulder, and slowly closed her eyes.
The room became unusually quiet, with only the sound of breathing audible.
Ye Qiu enjoyed the blessing of having three women, inhaling their distinct scents, yet his heart was surprisingly calm.
It seemed he had almost achieved his purpose in coming to Shrek Academy.
Once Oscar bought a set of hidden weapons,
barring any unforeseen circumstances, he should be able to temporarily retreat with the three women!
The Mysterious Heaven Skill and such were also something the girls could begin cultivating.
These things were quite beneficial to them.
...
The night slowly dissipated, and as the first hint of dawn appeared in the distant sky, until the sun rose high,
the entire Shrek Academy was quiet.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun hadn't returned all night
. There was still no movement in the three girls' dormitory.
Yu Xiaogang, who had been waiting all night, got up early, prepared a pot of medicinal chicken soup, and was walking towards Tang San's dormitory.
Knock knock!
He gently knocked on the door, and his familiar voice immediately came from inside.
"Is that Xiao Ao? Come in!"
At this time, Oscar had already gone out to eat breakfast.
Only Tang San was there, his body wrapped in bandages, leaning against his bed, his eyes half-closed, seemingly thinking about something.
Creak! The dormitory door opened, and Yu Xiaogang stepped in.
Seeing his disciple's appearance, an inexplicable anger rose in his heart.
That Ye Qiu is so ruthless!
A slight smile was forced onto his stiff, sour face.
Trying to keep his voice down, he asked, "Little San, how's your recovery going?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Tang San trembled.
He turned around in shock, his face lighting up with joy.
He immediately recognized the person before him.
"Teacher! When did you arrive?!"
Overjoyed, he almost stood up to welcome him.
But the pain in his body made him wince.
"Teacher, please forgive my rudeness."
"What's with all this? You're injured, so just lie down. All that etiquette is just for show. After all these years, do you think I don't know what kind of person you are?"
Yu Xiaogang quickly stepped forward, helping Tang San back to his original position.
"I just arrived here the day before yesterday. I heard you were injured, and I was going to come see you last night, but I didn't want to disturb your rest, so I came earlier!"
After answering Tang San's question, Yu Xiaogang patted the food box he had brought, which was placed beside the bed: "Here, this is chicken soup I specially made for you; it will help with your recovery!"
"Thank you, Teacher," Tang San said, his eyes welling with tears.
After leaving Holy Soul Village and entering Notting Academy, he never saw his alcoholic father again.
From then on, his teacher filled that void.
Although he was not good with words and was very strict with him,
Tang San truly received a lot of care and love from him. He understood that his teacher's strictness was all for his own good.
For Tang San, besides his father, his teacher was his closest relative.
He also had Xiao Wu, but Ye Qiu had stolen her away!
Thinking of this, Tang San felt a surge of anger.
Noticing the change in Tang San's expression, Yu Xiaogang thought he was troubled by his spirit ring.
He reached out and patted his head.
"Little San, I've already heard about your situation from Teacher Zhao and Flander!"
"Teacher, my... my third spirit ring..." Tang San came to his senses, stammering, finding it difficult to speak.
Yu Xiaogang's face suddenly darkened.
"I already know! Tang San, tell me, did I ever teach you how to absorb a spirit ring from a spirit beast of unknown age?"
Tang San was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized that his teacher must know the whole story and knew he had almost been in danger.
When he saw the spirit ring of the Human-Faced Demon Spider, he only thought it was a rare treasure and was indeed careless.
He could only honestly lower his head and shake his head: "No!"
Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly, his face no longer showing any smile, only sternness.
"Then you still dare to act recklessly? Don't you know how dangerous the Human-Faced Demon Spider is? If something happens to you, how can I explain it to your father?"
"You must understand, you are my only disciple, my hope! You cannot die without my permission! Do you hear me?!"
Yu Xiaogang's cold voice made Tang San's eyes redden.
Although these words weren't pleasant, he could still hear his teacher's sincere concern for him.
He was genuinely afraid something would happen to him!
"I was wrong, teacher, but..."
But while moved, he also felt a little wronged.
"But I could feel it! I could have endured it at the time. It was all because of some villains interfering that my third spirit ring became like this!"
As he spoke, Tang San's teeth began to clench.
His eyes were filled with hatred and killing intent!
It was indeed his mistake to rashly absorb the Human-Faced Demon Spider's spirit ring, but he had his own assessment of his condition at the time!
If it weren't for the unexpected event, he would definitely have obtained a spirit ring beyond the age limit!
Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San, remaining silent for a long time.
After a long silence, he sighed, "I believe in you! But what's done is done, and now we can only try our best to make amends!"
"Alright, drink the chicken soup first, then let me see the changes in your Blue Silver Grass."