The Forty-Fifth Day of the Rich Second-Gen

The Second Spirit Rings on the two Mars Spirit Masters lit up, changing the way they buffed their allies.

"It's a fire-element-specific buff. Those enhanced will have their fire element further strengthened. Just now, Blue Tyrant Academy's Water Dragon and Ice Dragon could still counter them, but now that may not be the case."

Just as Master had said, the Water Dragon and Ice Dragon Spirit Masters began to show signs of decline. Not only that, Blue Tyrant Academy's Fire Dragon, which had previously been suppressing Fire Element Academy's Fire Dragon, was no longer as dominant.

On Blue Tyrant Academy's side, the Fire Dragon Spirit Master flinched from the enemy flames and took a step back. "Their attributes have been enhanced, so they're even harder to deal with. But the buff definitely won't last long, and they haven't revealed their Third Spirit Rings yet. Let's take it easy. Little Feng, make the wind stronger." With that, he charged forward again.

The Gemstone Dragon Spirit Master at the rear of the team buffed the Wind Dragon Spirit Master. Wind Bullets evolved into a Wind Tornado, sweeping up the Thunder Dragon Spirit Master's attacks. The flames sprayed out by Fire Element Academy were either carried away by the tornado or blown back before they could reach Blue Tyrant Academy. Lightning hid within the wind, striking without warning and making it impossible to guard against.

The Flame Scepter Spirit Master at the center of Fire Element Academy raised an eyebrow. "The enemy Wind Dragon is using a Self-Created Soul Skill. The buff duration is limited. Let's finish this quickly."

But dragon hide was still too thick. Even the enhanced flames could not burn through it directly; they only caused pain. Once Blue Tyrant Academy's Fire Dragon Spirit Master gradually got used to the temperature, he even blurted out, "It's not even as hot as my mom's bathwater."

The Fire Crane Spirit Master, hearing that, flew into a rage and immediately wanted to use his third soul skill to give the enemy a vicious beating.

"Calm down. Have you forgotten the teacher's instructions?" the Flame Scepter Spirit Master snapped.

The Fire Crane Spirit Master glared hatefully at Blue Tyrant Academy's Fire Dragon, then continued attacking. However, the attribute buff had run out, and the flames began to weaken.

They had failed to take down their opponents in one go, and the teacher had instructed them not to use their third soul skills. The Flame Scepter Spirit Master knew this match was probably lost. It was just a pity they had not managed to test the enemy's third soul skills.

Blue Tyrant Academy clearly felt the temperature dropping. Without needing any signal, they swiftly launched a counterattack. The Ice Dragon and Water Dragon, who had just fallen silent, returned to the fray, hurling ice walls and water bullets at their opponents as though they cost nothing.

Everyone could see that Fire Element Academy had lost, but everyone could also see that neither side had gone all out. Fourteen three-ring Spirit Masters with the optimal spirit ring configuration, yet not a single thousand-year spirit ring had been revealed.

Still, the clash of water, fire, ice, and wind had been spectacular enough. When the match ended, everyone applauded both teams enthusiastically.

Master sighed. "Both teams are preparing for the later promotion matches. After all, both teams had been undefeated before this."

After watching Battle Royale matches for several days, Ming Sui found the return to a match built on teamwork deeply satisfying. In particular, when Blue Tyrant Academy had worked to curb Fire Element Academy's offensive momentum, the coordination between Water Dragon, Ice Dragon, and Thunder Dragon had been truly eye-catching.

Seeing that most of the audience had already left, Flender stood and called out, "Every one of you little monsters will write a match report. Make it substantive. I'll spot-check them, and Ma Hongjun's will definitely be checked. Let's go."

Ma Hongjun looked as though his parents had died. Still, they had traveled all the way from Calais City to Heaven Dou Imperial City to watch a match, and it had even been Fire Element Academy's match. That was largely because of him, so he had nothing to say.

The other little monsters were also struck down by this extra summer homework. Every last one of them wilted as they followed Flender, Zhao Wuji, and Master outside.

Flender and Master walked ahead, talking. The little monsters trudged dejectedly in the middle, while Zhao Wuji walked at the back. As Ming Sui walked, she discussed a question from their soul beast knowledge assignment with Xiao Wu. Just as they were getting into it, they heard a door open in one of the rooms along the corridor.

It seemed to be the participating teams' lounge. It seemed they were all located along this corridor. The thought flashed through Ming Sui's mind.

Then came the sudden sound of someone running in high heels, followed by Flender's stammering voice.

"Y-you-you-you... Erlong? What are you doing here?"

Blue Tyrant Academy's representative team had been abandoned by their dean, who had climbed into Shrek's carriage instead.

The carriage was filled with an awkward atmosphere.

Flender sat there with a shameless grin, laughing as he introduced everyone to Blue Tyrant Academy's dean, Liu Erlong. Master sat to his left, while Blue Tyrant Academy's Dean Liu sat on the other side. Zhao Wuji sat opposite them with his bear-like eyes wide open, innocence written all over his face. The children scattered around the carriage, some sitting sideways while the rest squeezed in beside Zhao Wuji.

Good heavens, wasn't this the Fire Dragon Spirit Master from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan that Prince Xue Xing had mentioned? Ming Sui glanced at Tang San, only to find Tang San looking back at her. Their eyes met. Neither had expected that Flender and Master had their own story tangled up in this as well, while Tang San felt as though one of his premonitions had come true.

Everyone sat silently in the carriage like that.

When they passed Ming Sui's home, Flender had the carriage stop and said, "Sui Sui, would you mind if everyone went to your house to do their homework?"

Ming Sui actually wanted to say she minded. She really wanted to know the story between Flender, Master, and Dean Liu.

But the sharp glint reflected off Flender's lenses instantly sobered her up.

"Uh, I don't mind, Dean."

"Good. Old Zhao, take the children and get out." Flender adjusted his glasses.

Zhao Wuji had not expected to be called on. "Huh? Ah, oh, all right, Flender."

Unable to watch the juicy drama unfold, the little monsters reluctantly climbed out of the carriage, watching from the door as the sweet gossip drifted farther and farther away.

With no outsiders left in the carriage, Flender finally began to speak.

"Erlong, how have you been all these years?"

Liu Erlong was fairly composed. She glanced at Master, who sat there blankly, and parted her red lips. "Not dead."

"Ha ha, not dead is good. Not dead is the best thing, ha ha." Flender awkwardly tried to smooth things over. This girl's temper was still as stubborn as ever.

As Flender and Liu Erlong chatted idly, they arrived at the residence.

The three entered the room.

"Flender, I want to talk to him."

Flender sighed, turned, and left the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

"What, are you planning not to say a single word?" Liu Erlong found a seat and sat down.

Master slowly turned and sat down. He picked up the teapot, poured Liu Erlong a cup, then poured one for himself as well.

"Are you... well?"

Liu Erlong stared at the cup of tea. "Didn't I just say it? I'm not dead."

Master sighed and looked up at Liu Erlong, but he did not dare meet her eyes. She was still so radiant and beautiful. Time had given her only grace, while it had dealt him nothing but crushing blows.

"I'm sorry... about what happened."

"Sorry for what? Sorry for your Master's youthful years, or sorry for the feelings you gave away?"

Liu Erlong's voice was unexpectedly calm.

"I'm sorry for you." Master's tone was strained, as if it had taken all his strength to say those words.

"At first, I really did hate you. I hated my father—like a man bringing milk only after the child had died. I hated you for not daring to face the problem with me. I even started hating heaven, hating fate, for making me go through something like this."

Tears welled in Liu Erlong's eyes, softening her gaze.

Yes. Who could have gone through anything more absurd than what she had?

She had been born without a father and depended on her mother for survival. She had grown up stumbling through hardship, then found the man she loved. She did not care about his past feelings, nor did she care that his talent was poor. She only wanted to have a home with him.

But he was her cousin.

The father she had never met told her, "This is your cousin. Leave him. Return to the clan. You'll have better resources, better prospects, and a comfortable life."

Liu Erlong would never forget the day she had made up her mind to leave her family behind and go find the man she loved. She returned to an empty room and found a note on the table. That was how he had said goodbye.

"At the time, I thought you were a coward, a weakling, and a pitiful wretch. Your clan looked down on you, your family ignored you, yet you still didn't dare leave that suffocating environment. You left just like that, without even daring to say a word." Strangely, Liu Erlong's gaze grew much firmer.

"Later, I realized that you weren't just a coward, a weakling, and a pitiful wretch. You were also a hypocrite. You said there was no longer any possibility between you and your ex, that your heart was full of me. But you left so decisively. Is that what it means for your heart to be full of me?"

Master was wounded by the mockery. "No, Erlong, believe me. I was serious about you. I just couldn't accept reality. You were my cousin, and Second Uncle came looking for me too. I had no choice. I had no choice..."

Liu Erlong quietly watched Master struggle. After all these years, he had not changed at all. Just as when he had discovered their relationship, he would only ever struggle alone, always saying, "I have no choice, I don't know, what can I do?"

Actually, when she had seen Flender and Master in the corridor, her subconscious had driven her to rush toward them. Only after she came to her senses did she realize there was no real point in it. She simply had not seen Flender in a long time, and catching up was fine.

Who could have known that seeing Master's lifeless appearance would make her desire to settle things once and for all grow stronger and stronger? The farce from years ago was like an old, tangled ball of yarn. It had been rolled up and tossed into a corner, never touched again. Now, it was time to take it out, shake off the dust, untie the dead knots, wash it clean, and let it dry in the sunlight. If it was meant to be knitted into a sweater, then knit a sweater. If it was meant to be woven into a scarf, then weave a scarf.

"I never said I didn't believe you had no choice. You simply had no choice. You had no choice with your ex, and you had no choice with me too. There's nothing wrong with that. No one expects you to have a solution at every moment. So please, can you show the dignity expected of an adult, of a teacher?"

"Of course, I was also wrong. I shouldn't have forced my own thoughts onto you. Whether you chose to rebel against your family was your choice. I had no right to criticize it. Fortunately, my thoughts never had the chance to be forced upon you, and I never caused you any trouble." The more Liu Erlong spoke, the clearer her mind became.

Master had not expected their reunion to be like this. There were no tears of reunion, no resentment directed at him—only calm judgment and self-reflection.

At last, he dared to look directly into Liu Erlong's eyes. They were brighter and clearer than before.

He knew that he had lost Liu Erlong forever.