Academy Arena

Liu Erlong felt her cheeks burning, her heart pounding as if it would leap out of her chest.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt such a flutter.

Ye Feiyang sized up Liu Erlong, inwardly musing, Is this really the Liu Erlong from the rumors? They say she's as hot-tempered as a mother Tyrannosaurus Rex, but now she looks more like a shy stutterer?

Liu Erlong struggled to calm her racing thoughts, her voice trembling slightly, "Y-you, how did you find me? Did you come specifically to see me? If you don't mind, should we listen to the story first, or have some peanuts?"

A hint of amusement flickered in Ye Feiyang's eyes—how come her stutter was gone after just a few sentences?

The legendary, easily provoked mother Tyrannosaurus Rex was actually this flustered. It was quite interesting.

He raised an eyebrow and chuckled, deliberately teasing, "Dean Liu, are you planning to let your guest stand outside in the cold wind? It's chilly tonight; it wouldn't be good if you caught a cold."

Liu Erlong snapped back to reality, feeling like her head was filled with mush. She had forgotten basic hospitality.

She quickly stepped aside, saying somewhat flusteredly, "W-why don't we, why don't we go inside?"

As soon as she finished speaking, she felt it was inappropriate and quickly added, "D-doing anything else isn't necessary! Let's just talk properly this time and get to know each other. The moonlight outside is lovely; why don't we have a couple of drinks by the stone table in the courtyard?"

"Sure!" Ye Feiyang readily agreed and walked over to the stone table, sitting down.

Liu Erlong followed, her movements stiff, and sat opposite him rigidly, unsure of where to put her hands.

Ye Feiyang studied her thoughtfully—Where was the promised mother Tyrannosaurus Rex? The person in front of me is as docile as a kitten. Who's spreading these rumors?

Could it be that my 99 Charm points are too dazzling and have directly suppressed her fiery temper?

He felt that the Liu Erlong before him was completely different from the image he had in his mind, and there was something strange about her everywhere he looked.

After all, this was their first meeting!

Ye Feiyang couldn't help but call out to the system in his mind, voicing his confusion, "System, what's going on? Why is her attitude towards me so strange?"

[Host, all gravitational forces are mutual interactions. The stronger your interest in the target individual, the stronger the perceived goodwill feedback from them, which in turn will generate a higher level of goodwill towards you.]

Ye Feiyang almost burst out laughing upon hearing this—he hadn't expected the system to explain the situation using principles of physics, but on second thought, it did make some sense.

In the past, although he was handsome, he was like a transparent person with no presence at all. Ever since the system maxed out his Charm, he had gained an "active attraction" switch, becoming the center of attention wherever he went.

Now he finally understood why so many people had shown him favor—it was all because he had first taken an interest in them, and the system had amplified that attraction.

With this, everything made sense.

Ye Feiyang nodded with satisfaction and deliberately leaned closer to Liu Erlong, his tone laced with concern, "Dean Liu, your face is so red; you're not coming down with a fever, are you?"

Liu Erlong froze. She instinctively wanted to retort, but then a hand with distinct knuckles gently touched her forehead—the warm sensation made her hold her breath instantly, rendering her speechless.

"Huh? You're not hot either?" Ye Feiyang withdrew his hand, smiling innocently, "It seems the moonlight tonight is too beautiful, making your cheeks as red as peach blossoms."

Hearing this, Liu Erlong's heart beat faster, and her cheeks grew even redder, her earlobes flushing pink.

She lowered her head slightly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, "W-what are you talking about?"

After a pause, she quickly changed the subject, "You brought wine; do you want me to keep you company for a drink?"

Ye Feiyang looked up at the night sky and let out a sigh, "The night is long, and drinking alone feels lonely. It's more interesting with someone to accompany me."

"Y-you get lonely too?" Liu Erlong asked in surprise, "Don't you have your three disciples with you? They're so lively; they shouldn't make you feel lonely, right?"

Ye Feiyang swirled the wine glass in his hand and chuckled, "Children don't understand adult loneliness. Their world is simple and pure; their thoughts are different from ours."

Liu Erlong unconsciously tightened her grip on her clothes—what did his words mean? Why was he telling her this? Was he hinting at something?

She quietly echoed, "Ah? I-is that so?"

Ye Feiyang asked again, "Why do you live alone here, Dean Liu? This place is so remote; doesn't it feel lonely?"

"I just like quiet," Liu Erlong replied softly.

"Oh, I see," Ye Feiyang deliberately drew out his tone, "I thought you felt lonely, just like me."

"Ah? Actually, actually, I do feel lonely sometimes," Liu Erlong quickly said, afraid of missing something.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore," Ye Feiyang said with a smile, changing the subject, "Didn't you want to drink? Let's drink and chat. I'll tell you my story."

Liu Erlong nodded quickly—she had long wanted to know what kind of past this excessively young Soul Douluo had.

Ye Feiyang poured two glasses of wine and began to recount his experiences vividly—of course, he had embellished some details, choosing only the parts that were easy for people to empathize with.

Liu Erlong listened intently, drinking glass after glass. When the story reached an emotional point, tears welled up in her eyes; she was clearly deeply moved.

Seeing this, Ye Feiyang couldn't help but chuckle inwardly—Did I tell the story too touchingly? I actually made the legendary mother Tyrannosaurus Rex cry. This is truly rare.

It was the first time he had seen Liu Erlong react like this.

Liu Erlong sniffled, her voice thick with emotion, "I didn't expect your youth to be so difficult; it must have been so hard."

As she spoke, she raised her wine glass and drank it down in one gulp. A few drops of wine slid down her neck and disappeared into her collar.

When she put down the glass, her small face was flushed, and her eyes were a little hazy—she was clearly a bit drunk.

One had to admit, the drunk Liu Erlong had lost some of her usual sharpness and gained a touch of charming innocence, making her look exceptionally alluring.

Ye Feiyang's gaze involuntarily fell on her heaving chest, and he quickly averted his eyes, trying to remain calm.

At this moment, Liu Erlong's eyes were full of affection, her eyes slightly red, her small mouth slightly parted, and she sighed with a hint of drunkenness, "You lost your parents at a young age; you must have suffered a lot. You have no family around you now. If you don't mind, let me be your older sister? From now on, your sister will dote on you."

Ye Feiyang swallowed hard, feeling inexplicably pleased—She wants to be my older sister? This is truly an unexpected gain!

Hello, Sister!

He carefully observed Liu Erlong, secretly admiring her: he hadn't expected Liu Erlong to maintain herself so well. At over thirty, she still looked fantastic, with firm skin and a rosy complexion.

The last person who made him feel she maintained herself well was Zhu Zhuqing; her figure also seemed to improve daily, full of vitality.

"Hahaha~ Sister Liu, do you really mean that?" Ye Feiyang asked with a laugh, his tone full of anticipation.

They say alcohol emboldens the timid. After a few drinks, Liu Erlong's courage grew.

She suddenly stood up, walked over to Ye Feiyang, reached out, and pulled his head into her embrace with such force that she almost suffocated him. "Of course, I mean it! Sister will definitely dote on you well from now on!"

Ye Feiyang felt enveloped by softness, a faint scent of alcohol and milk lingering in his nose. He felt a little lightheaded—this feeling was too intoxicating!

He struggled to lift his head, his voice muffled. "Sister, I can't breathe..."

It wasn't that he didn't want to indulge in this tender embrace, but he knew that everything had its pros and cons. It felt good now, but if Liu Erlong regretted it after sobering up, the trouble would be immense.

Hearing him, Liu Erlong quickly let go, her cheeks flushed, unsure if it was from the alcohol or embarrassment.

Ye Feiyang sniffed the lingering fragrance in the air, feeling a sense of longing. He really wanted to be held again.

He looked at the tipsy Liu Erlong before him and then glanced at the empty wine jar on the table. Good heavens, she drank the whole pot! No wonder she's so forward; she's truly drunk.

Ye Feiyang suppressed the stirring in his heart. You can't touch someone when they're drunk. What if she wakes up tomorrow and accuses me of taking advantage of her? She'd chase me down the street with a knife, and that would be awful.

"Sister Liu, it's getting late. You've had too much to drink; why don't you go back to your room and rest?" Ye Feiyang gently advised.

"Rest? Yes, I should rest." Liu Erlong's eyes were hazy. She suddenly grabbed his sleeve, her tone laced with a hint of coquettishness. "Let's rest together... let Sister dote on you well."

Ye Feiyang sighed helplessly, thinking, This is truly a troublesome matter.

He hesitated for a moment before raising his hand and gently striking the back of Liu Erlong's neck. Liu Erlong grunted and fainted.

"Get some good sleep," Ye Feiyang muttered as he looked at the unconscious Liu Erlong. "Drunk like this, what's the difference between you and a lifeless fish? Besides, if something did happen, wouldn't you be chasing me with a knife when you woke up?"

He knew very well that Liu Erlong had a fiery temper deep down. The gentleness he was seeing now was merely an illusion brought on by drunkenness.

But then again, if something had happened, he wondered what Liu Erlong's reaction would be when she saw Yu Xiaogang again?

Ye Feiyang shook his head, casting aside these chaotic thoughts. He carefully helped Liu Erlong into the room, laid her on the bed, covered her with the quilt, and then turned to leave.

Returning to his own courtyard, Ye Feiyang rubbed his temples, feeling a bit dejected. After being in this world for so long, I haven't even had a taste of 'meat.' What a waste of my 99 points in charm.

"No, that's not right. I'm not a saint. Why wouldn't I eat the meat offered to me?" he muttered to himself. "Forget it. I'll come back tomorrow and test the waters again. If she's still this forward, then I'll go along with it..."

Right now, facing three beautiful disciples every day without being able to do anything felt like torture.

The reason he didn't want to live too close to his disciples was for their own good. What if one day he couldn't control himself and they walked in on something they shouldn't see? It would be awkward for everyone.

Ye Feiyang was conflicted. He clearly enjoyed being surrounded by women but hesitated to act. He had opportunities but always gave them up due to various concerns.

He was eighteen this year, his body young, but his soul had lived through another life, making him much more mature than his peers.

His body craved youthful passion, yet his soul held a degree of restraint. This conflict prevented him from making a decision.

"Perhaps I was too poor and insignificant in my past life, which is why I'm so cautious now," Ye Feiyang murmured softly. "I'll wait a little longer, until the time is right."

The news of Ye Feiyang's late-night visit to Liu Erlong quickly reached Xue Qinghe's ears through secret channels.

Upon hearing the news, Xue Qinghe first breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Ye Feiyang isn't into men. My previous worries were unnecessary.

But then, she felt a pang of annoyance. Why did Ye Feiyang go to another woman's place to drink in the middle of the night? A man and a woman alone in a room, what if something happens?

The report said it was their first meeting, so how could they hit it off so well? Was it love at first sight? Bullshit, it's clearly lust at first sight!

"You like drinking so much? Fine, just you wait," Xue Qinghe gritted her teeth, secretly plotting. Next time, I must find an opportunity to have a drink with Ye Feiyang alone.

As she was thinking, she suddenly felt a dull ache in her lower abdomen and couldn't help but frown. "I've already changed into a male body, so why am I still feeling this? How troublesome."

The next morning, Liu Erlong woke up with a pounding headache.

The smell of alcohol filling the room reminded her that she had drunk a lot last night.

Fragments of memory slowly pieced together in her mind, her expression becoming increasingly dramatic—from surprise to embarrassment, then to shame and anger.

"Oh my god! What did I do yesterday?" Liu Erlong covered her face, wishing she could disappear into a hole in the ground.

She never imagined she would say those things and make such intimate gestures to Ye Feiyang, whom she had just met.

If this got out, she would be utterly disgraced!

Heaven knew that she, Liu Erlong, was never a casual person.

Thinking about how she had almost suffocated Ye Feiyang with her chest yesterday made her head hurt even more.

"Sigh, I can't face anyone now." She had originally planned to visit Ye Feiyang at Supreme Academy today, but now, it seemed best to forget it.

Liu Erlong ran her hand through her messy hair and buried herself under the covers, not even wanting to go to Blue Tyrant Academy. Her mind was filled with the scenes from last night. Phrases like "let Sister dote on you" and "let's rest together" echoed in her ears like a curse.

If anyone heard these words, who knew what misunderstandings would arise!

Meanwhile, the area in front of Supreme Academy had already become lively.

In the early morning, a group of people were busily setting up a fighting ring, their efficiency astonishing. These people were "borrowed" from the Seven Treasure Sect by Ning Rongrong. Not only did they not ask for wages, but they also worked exceptionally hard.

After all, who would dare ask the Young Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Sect for money? They were all free labor.

Ning Rongrong was very satisfied with this, giving everyone verbal praise, saving a large sum of expenses.

In just half a day, a spacious and sturdy fighting ring was completed.

Ning Rongrong then arranged for the Seven Treasure Sect members to spread the word throughout Heaven Dou City: Supreme Academy would accept challenges from the proud disciples of all major academies starting today! If you win, you can take away ten thousand Gold Coins; even if you lose, there will be no punishment.

The implication was clear: if you have the ability, come and challenge us; if you don't, stop talking nonsense—can you actually take away this ten thousand Gold Coins?

Whether it's a Soul Elder or a Soul Ancestor, whether it's one-on-one or one-against-many, Supreme Academy accepts all!

As soon as the news broke, the entire Heaven Dou City erupted.

Many people had long wanted to witness this young Soul Douluo dean, and now there was such an "arrogant" challenge letter, accompanied by an enticing prize money. Anyone with even a little strength was rubbing their hands together, eager to try.

Everyone wanted to see: if the master is so monstrous, is the disciple also monstrous?

The next day, Ning Rongrong had new plans—she "packaged" almost all the Beast-Ear Girls she could find in Heaven Dou City and brought them back to Supreme Academy.

Ye Feiyang took the initiative to arrange work for these Beast-Ear Girls and was currently sizing them up with great interest, constantly exclaiming, "Tsk tsk tsk, truly excellent, each one has her own unique charm."

Meanwhile, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu had already stepped onto the fighting stage separately, open for people to watch.

After this period of training, they had long forgotten what "embarrassment" meant. They stood calmly on the stage, waiting for someone to challenge them.

After all, Ye Feiyang had once said: as long as you don't feel embarrassed, then others will be embarrassed!

They regarded this sentence as a golden rule and were personally practicing it.

Soon, the crowd of onlookers grew larger and larger, and the front of Supreme Academy was packed so tightly that not a drop of water could get through.

A pile of glittering Gold Coins was placed on the stage, a full ten thousand of them. Based on the cost of living in this world, one Gold Coin was enough for a commoner family of three to live for a month. This ten thousand Gold Coins was undoubtedly a huge sum.

Ye Feiyang looked at these Gold Coins with some emotion. Before he met Zhu Zhuqing, he had worked hard and saved a few hundred Gold Coins, which he thought was a lot back then.

Later, he often did good deeds, investing in Shenma Village, building bridges, and paving roads, spending a lot of money. After all, he was the most promising person from Shenma Village, and it was only right to give back to his hometown.

He never thought of committing evil deeds, robbing and killing, nor did he encounter any earth-shattering opportunities. He had only reached this point step by step through his own efforts.

He had been afraid of poverty in his past life and childhood. Is it abnormal to be a little greedy for money now?

Ye Feiyang shook his head, casting aside these messy thoughts. Being a villain doesn't necessarily mean being a bad person; it's just a difference in perspective.

Where is there absolute black and white in this world? Most people are just ordinary people, neither particularly kind nor particularly evil.

The crowd below the stage grew larger and larger, and the discussions became louder and louder.

Among the crowd, a red-haired girl and a white-haired boy were particularly conspicuous. They were Huo Wu from Blazing Fire Academy and Shui Bing'er from Skywater Academy.

Perhaps it was a coincidence, but people from various academies all seemed to be heading to Supreme Academy today.

"Look quickly! Aren't those people from the Five Elemental Academies?"

"More than that! Even people from Royal Academy are here!"

"Who is that big guy? He looks like a student from Blue Tyrant Academy."

"He's going up! He actually dares to go up and challenge!"

With a gasp, all eyes focused on the stage—a spectacular challenge was about to begin.