Thank You, Sister Tang

Ye Feiyang slowly rose to his feet, his hands clasped behind his back. He stood tall, carrying himself with the air of a true master.

Both spiritual power and physical constitution were closely tied to the number of years of soul rings one could absorb. Now that his disciples' physiques had improved, their spiritual power could not lag behind.

With a wave of his hand, five Soul Nurturing Pills landed precisely in the hands of each disciple.

"This pill is called the Soul Nurturing Pill. It can expand the sea of consciousness and increase spiritual power. However, the first time you take it, you may experience some... intense sensations. Be prepared."

After carefully explaining the precautions for taking the pills, Ye Feiyang waved everyone away and told them to find their own places to cultivate.

Afterward, he stopped Xue Qinghe alone.

"Qinghe, can we talk privately for a moment?"

When Xue Qinghe saw the somewhat sly smile on Ye Feiyang's face, her heart inexplicably tightened. Was he pulling her aside now because he wanted to bring up taking her as his disciple?

She hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. So be it. Becoming his disciple isn't that big a deal!

"Alright."

Heaven Dou City.

It was the fifth day since Ye Feiyang had left Supreme Academy with his disciples.

Inside a small cottage behind Blue Tyrant Academy, a figure silently pushed open the door and entered.

The visitor was none other than Liu Erlong, who had been avoiding everyone for several days.

Over the past few days, she had rarely gone out to clear her mind.

It was not that she absolutely had to avoid Ye Feiyang. More than anything, she wanted to calm herself down and sort out the relationship between them.

If she did not keep her distance, her heart would turn into a mess every time she saw him. She could not think calmly at all.

Did no one know that once a woman reached thirty, her longing for love only grew stronger?

But Liu Erlong quickly discovered that even when she could not see Ye Feiyang, his figure would still involuntarily appear in her mind, making it impossible for her to calm down.

After some thoroughly uncalm thinking, she decisively made up her mind: she would never deliberately try to calm down again!

Calming down was useless anyway. She might as well follow her heart and go with her feelings.

Alone in this incredibly familiar little cottage, Liu Erlong inexplicably felt a little lonely.

She had lived alone for so long without ever feeling lonely before, yet now she found herself particularly unaccustomed to it.

Everything in the room was exactly as it had been when she left. Nothing had changed in the slightest.

For some reason, a trace of resentment quietly crept into her heart.

Liu Erlong walked out of the cottage and climbed to the tallest pavilion of Blue Tyrant Academy. She gazed into the distance toward Supreme Academy, her eyes filled with complicated emotions.

At the same time, at the gates of Heaven Dou City.

A young woman who looked to be around twenty stood quietly there, gazing at the towering city gates before her, her eyes carrying a touch of nostalgia.

She wore a Blue-Gold Gradient Dress. Her azure hair fell to her waist like a waterfall, her skin was as fair as jade formed from morning dew, and her clear eyes resembled pure crystals.

This young woman was none other than the Blue Silver Emperor, who had taken human form once more and named herself Lan.

She had used the opportunity originally meant to let Tang San transform into the Blue Silver Emperor. In an extremely short time, she had completed her transformation again and, with the aid of her origin power, broken through in one stroke to the realm of a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor.

After taking human form, Lan followed her heart and traveled all the way to Heaven Dou City.

She had yet to break through Rank Sixty, so she could not completely conceal the aura of a soul beast around her.

Along the way, she had not only endured the hardships of travel, but had also remained cautious at all times, afraid of encountering someone who could see through her true identity.

Fortunately, nothing happened on the journey. She also happened to remember Ye Feiyang mentioning that after leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, he would head north to Heaven Dou City. Otherwise, she truly would not have known where to search for him.

Still, Heaven Dou City was so vast. Although she had reached her destination, she had no idea where to find him.

Just as Lan was at a complete loss, inspiration suddenly struck her, and she remembered someone—Tang Yuehua.

Back then, she and Tang Hao had gone to the Clear Sky Sect and met Tang Yuehua.

She knew that the head of Moonlight Pavilion was Tang Yuehua, and she also knew Moonlight Pavilion's exact location.

If she found Tang Yuehua, perhaps Tang Yuehua could help her contact Ye Feiyang.

Having made up her mind, Lan headed directly toward Moonlight Pavilion.

Inside Moonlight Pavilion.

Before going out, Ye Feiyang had specifically informed Tang Yuehua and asked her to help look after Supreme Academy.

Ever since that passionate kiss with Ye Feiyang, Tang Yuehua's long-silent heart had been completely awakened.

Now, she was in a state where a single day apart felt like three autumns. Her heart was full of longing for Ye Feiyang.

"It's already been five days. Why aren't you back yet?"

Tang Yuehua muttered softly as she arranged her skirt, preparing to head to Supreme Academy and complete today's teaching duties.

She was still teaching what she knew best—etiquette and music. As for other subjects? Sorry, she was not good at them!

Fortunately, Tang Yuehua's reputation in Heaven Dou City was great enough, and the power behind her was strong enough. Even if she only taught etiquette and music, no one dared to gossip.

The moment she stepped out of Moonlight Pavilion's entrance, Tang Yuehua bumped into someone head-on...

That person was the recently transformed Blue Silver Emperor—Lan.

"I'm terribly sorry. I ran into you." Lan hurriedly lowered her head, her tone apologetic.

"It's fine, it's fine..."

Tang Yuehua only gave Lan a casual glance, yet she froze at once. The young woman before her gave her an inexplicably familiar feeling, but upon further thought, that feeling seemed absurd.

She shook her head and thought to herself, It must just be a coincidence.

There were countless people in the world. Even if two people looked somewhat alike, it was nothing strange.

Lan naturally recognized Tang Yuehua as well. However, her appearance had changed dramatically, and seeing that Tang Yuehua did not recognize her, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're the head of Moonlight Pavilion, Tang Yuehua, right? I'd like to ask you about something." Lan deliberately pretended not to know Tang Yuehua and stated her purpose directly.

Tang Yuehua frowned slightly at those words. Although this girl looked somewhat familiar, she was in no mood to help anyone right now. She only wanted to reach Supreme Academy as quickly as possible.

"May I ask who you are?" Tang Yuehua asked politely.

"Oh, my name is Lan. You can call me Little Lan. I came here specifically to find you because I'd like to ask you to help me find someone. I can offer appropriate compensation..."

Before Lan could finish, Tang Yuehua interrupted her. "Sorry, I have urgent matters to attend to right now. I really can't help you. Miss Little Lan, you should seek someone else."

After saying that, Tang Yuehua moved around Lan and prepared to leave.

Panicking, Lan quickly reached out and grabbed Tang Yuehua's sleeve. "Please! I don't know anyone in Heaven Dou City. Could you just help me ask whether there's someone named Ye Feiyang here? Please?"

Tang Yuehua had originally intended to shake off Lan's hand, but when she heard the name "Ye Feiyang," she stiffened abruptly and stopped in her tracks.

She spun around and stared intently at Lan, her tone urgent. "Y-You said the person you're looking for is who?"

Frightened by Tang Yuehua's sudden reaction, Lan softly repeated, "Ye Feiyang. His name is Ye Feiyang. I heard him say that after leaving the Star Dou Great Forest, he would establish an academy in Heaven Dou City called 'Supreme Academy.' Do you know this place? Could you help me?"

Tang Yuehua was now certain that the Ye Feiyang Lan spoke of was the same person on her mind.

Her gaze shifted, and her voice grew more wary. "What do you want with him?"

Lan pointed to herself and said somewhat flusteredly, "I-I'm his family. I came to Heaven Dou City to seek refuge with him."

For the moment, Lan did not know how to explain her relationship with Ye Feiyang, so she could only call herself his family.

Tang Yuehua asked suspiciously, "Family? But from what I've heard, his family passed away long ago."

"Besides, judging by your appearances and temperaments, you don't look like family at all... Though you do resemble someone I know..."

Lan hurriedly cut Tang Yuehua off, afraid that Tang Yuehua would recognize her if she continued. "We're sworn family! Are you going to help me ask around or not?"

Even if Tang Yuehua had her suspicions, Lan could always claim they merely looked alike. There was no need to reveal her true identity.

Tang Yuehua smiled faintly, her tone carrying a hint of scrutiny. "You say you're sworn family, and I'm supposed to believe you? How do I know you aren't here to cause him trouble?"

"Sorry, I'm really busy. Please stop blocking my way."

For some reason, Tang Yuehua had a strong intuition that this girl named Lan was probably a romantic debt Ye Feiyang had incurred somewhere. The moment that thought arose, alarm bells rang in her heart.

She even had an impulsive thought: should she find someone to knock Lan out and secretly send her away?

However, her good upbringing immediately suppressed that thought. What if Lan really was someone important to Ye Feiyang? Would that not mean she had done something terrible?

Seeing Tang Yuehua refuse her again and again, Lan could not help looking somewhat dejected. She sighed softly, let go, and said, "Sorry. I've disturbed you."

Looking at Lan's disappointed expression, Tang Yuehua suddenly felt a little reluctant.

"W-Wait! I can take you to Supreme Academy."

Tang Yuehua's tone softened as she explained, "To be honest, I happen to be going there to teach. But first, you have to tell me what your relationship with Ye Feiyang really is."

At those words, a brilliant smile instantly bloomed across Lan's face, bright and captivating.

"Really? You aren't planning to trick me somewhere else and sell me, are you?" Lan said half-jokingly, though her sparkling eyes were full of anticipation.

Just moments ago, Tang Yuehua had wanted nothing to do with her, yet she had suddenly become so enthusiastic. Could there really be some trap?

Tang Yuehua could not help rolling her eyes. "Do you have some kind of persecution complex? Believe me or don't. I don't have time to waste on you."

Lan hurriedly jogged a few steps to catch up with Tang Yuehua, saying with a smile, "That's not what I meant. Of course I believe you!"

"Feiyang and I have known each other for a long time. I really came to Heaven Dou City to find him. There was a misunderstanding between us before, and I traveled a long way just to explain everything clearly to him."

"Sister Tang, you'll definitely help me, right?"

Lan's sweet "Sister Tang" made Tang Yuehua secretly pleased. This girl really knew how to talk and make people like her.

"Whether I believe you or not can be verified later. But the person you're looking for isn't at Supreme Academy right now. He took his disciples out to gain experience, and no one knows when he'll return."

The moment Lan heard that, she was dumbfounded. "What? He isn't in Heaven Dou City? Then where did he go?"

Seeing Lan's anxious look, Tang Yuehua could not help wanting to laugh. "I don't know exactly where he went either. You can either wait here for him to return, or leave now and search elsewhere yourself."

Of course Lan would not leave. She had gone through so much trouble to reach Heaven Dou City and had finally gotten a lead on Ye Feiyang. How could she give up so easily?

Still, doubts rose in her heart. Tang Yuehua looked very familiar with Ye Feiyang.

Could there be some unspeakable relationship between the two of them?

Lan quietly calculated in her heart. Tang Yuehua looked almost forty and could practically be Ye Feiyang's mother. That should be impossible, right?

But why did Tang Yuehua's eyes light up whenever Ye Feiyang was mentioned?

Unable to suppress her curiosity, Lan asked with a smile, "Sister Tang, what is your relationship with Feiyang?"

The moment Tang Yuehua heard that, a gentle smile unconsciously appeared on her face. "Him? He's a very sunny young man. We're very good friends."

Lan carefully observed Tang Yuehua's expression and found it increasingly suspicious. If they were ordinary friends, why would Tang Yuehua blush while answering?

However, even if Lan had her guesses, she could not ask too much right now. She still had not resolved her misunderstanding with Ye Feiyang. What right did she have to be jealous?

The two chatted idly along the way, and before long, they arrived at Supreme Academy.

"This is Supreme Academy. Feiyang currently has five Personal Disciples and more than twenty ordinary students. After he went out, he asked me to help look after the academy," Tang Yuehua introduced.

Lan nodded thoughtfully, muttering inwardly, I didn't expect him to already have five Personal Disciples...

She followed Tang Yuehua into the academy. Tang Yuehua went straight to the classroom to teach, while Lan wandered around the academy alone.

This scene happened to be witnessed by Liu Erlong, who was watching from the pavilion of Blue Tyrant Academy across the way.

"Tang Yuehua? Why is she at Supreme Academy?"

Liu Erlong had remained in her cottage these past few days and had not come to Supreme Academy, so she naturally did not know that Tang Yuehua came here to teach every day.

A woman's sharp intuition immediately put her on guard.

Without thinking further, Liu Erlong went downstairs at once and hurried toward Supreme Academy.

The moment she entered the academy gates, Liu Erlong heard a melodious tune. Then she spotted Lan, who was wandering around, at a glance.

Their eyes met in the air, and both of them froze.

"Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

They spoke at the same time, slowly approaching each other as they sized one another up.

"My name is Liu Erlong. I'm the dean of Blue Tyrant Academy across the street. I came to see Dean Ye. Could you help call him out?" Liu Erlong spoke first, revealing her identity and purpose.

Lan paused, then answered truthfully, "My name is Lan. You can call me Little Lan. I came to find Ye Feiyang too. But Sister Tang said he left with his disciples five days ago to gain experience, and no one knows when he'll return."

As she spoke, Lan silently studied Liu Erlong. This Dean Liu still had her charm, and her temperament was quite remarkable. Could she also be connected to Ye Feiyang?

Lan did not know whether she was being overly sensitive. Now, whenever she met a woman who had dealings with Ye Feiyang, she felt that woman might have a special relationship with him. Perhaps that was a woman's sixth sense.

"You said Fei... Dean Ye went out with his disciples?"

Upon learning that Ye Feiyang had left, Liu Erlong's first thought was that he had deliberately left because she had been avoiding him.

At that thought, regret immediately surged through her heart. Why had she impulsively hidden from him? Now he was gone!

Lan nodded and asked tentatively, "Are you from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

Although she did not know Liu Erlong, she had heard of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Liu Erlong's academy was named Blue Tyrant, so it should be connected to that clan.

But Liu Erlong was currently lost in thought, her mind filled with the question of whether he was angry with her. She did not hear Lan's question at all.

"Dean Liu? Dean Liu? What's wrong?" Seeing Liu Erlong remain in a daze, Lan waved a hand in front of her eyes and called softly.

Only then did Liu Erlong come back to her senses. She hurriedly explained, "Huh? Nothing. I suddenly remembered something and got distracted. What did you say just now?"

Lan shook her head somewhat speechlessly. "Nothing. Since Ye Feiyang isn't at the academy, why don't you come back after he returns?"

Liu Erlong turned to leave, but after taking a single step, she abruptly stopped again. Why was she leaving?

She turned back with a smile. "I don't have anything to do right now anyway. How about I keep you company while you look around the academy? It's my first time here too."

Lan was a guest after all and could not easily refuse Liu Erlong's suggestion, so she could only nod in agreement.

Thus, the two strolled through the academy while chatting casually.

Before long, Tang Yuehua finished today's lesson. As she stepped out of the classroom, she happened to see Lan and Liu Erlong walking together, so she headed toward them.

"Dean Liu, what brings you to Supreme Academy today?"

Tang Yuehua and Liu Erlong both lived in Heaven Dou City and both came from great families, so it was only natural that they knew each other.

By some strange twist of fate, these three women had gathered together at Supreme Academy.

At that moment, as the three faced one another, they somehow all sensed a trace of something far from simple in the others' expressions.

An intuition quietly arose within them: Could these two be my love rivals?

Their feminine intuition clearly told them that the possibility was extremely high.

Yet such things could not be spoken of openly. They could only keep their thoughts to themselves and secretly observe the other two.

"Dean Ye and I are neighbors. Is it not perfectly reasonable for me to come pay him a visit?" Liu Erlong crossed her arms, her tone carrying a hint of probing.

After saying that, she changed the subject and looked at Tang Yuehua. "But Head of Tang Clan, why have you come to Supreme Academy to teach? That truly is unusual."

Tang Yuehua maintained her elegant bearing and said calmly, "Dean Ye and I are on good terms. At his request, I took on a teaching position here and am also helping him look after the academy."

The moment Liu Erlong heard that, she felt somewhat uncomfortable. If she had not avoided Ye Feiyang back then, would she be the one standing here and helping him look after the academy now?

"I see. Head of Tang Clan truly is kindhearted. However, I've been a dean for several years and am fairly familiar with academy management. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask me anytime," Liu Erlong said, unwilling to be outdone.

Tang Yuehua smiled and replied, "President Ye's students are all well-behaved and sensible, so I don't need to worry too much. I happen to specialize in teaching etiquette and music, so there should be no need to trouble President Liu in that regard."

Lan looked left and right from the sidelines. Why did Tang Yuehua and Liu Erlong's conversation seem to carry a faint hint of rivalry?

Liu Erlong suddenly felt a little tightness in her chest. She took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed her discomfort.

"Ha ha, it's fine. There will always be things you're not good at..."

Without giving Tang Yuehua a chance to retort, Liu Erlong continued, "I still have some matters to handle at the academy, so please excuse me."

Before turning to leave, she did not forget to say to Lan, "Miss Little Lan, come visit our Blue Tyrant Academy when you have time."

Lan, who had been silently enjoying the spectacle nearby, was suddenly called out. She hurriedly replied, "Uh, okay! I'll be staying at Supreme Academy while I wait for Feiyang to return. Once I have time, I'll go play with Sister Liu..."

After saying that, Lan looked at Tang Yuehua again, her eyes full of anticipation. "Sister Tang, can I stay with you for a few days?"

Tang Yuehua had originally wanted to refuse, but when she saw Liu Erlong stop in her tracks and turn back to look at them, she immediately changed her words. "Of course. You can stay with me."

She could not explain why she had suddenly changed her mind. Perhaps it was because of that inexplicable hostility, or perhaps she wanted to take a gamble—if she took good care of Lan, maybe it would make Ye Feiyang happy.

"That's wonderful! Thank you, Sister Tang!"

A dazzling smile bloomed across Lan's face, and her beautiful features revealed a hint of a young girl's innocence and brightness.

Perhaps it was because she had become younger after taking human form, but even her mindset had grown much younger as well.