Long Xiaoyao's Relief?

After that, I left, and that departure lasted an entire year. I wanted to use time to wash away the sorrowful emotions in my heart.

For that year, I traveled alone just as I had when the three of us journeyed together, roaming the continent, aiding the weak and suppressing the strong, taking the eradication of Evil Soul Masters as my duty; only this time, my methods were far more ruthless than before, as if I were using this to vent my pent-up frustration.

On the surface, during that year, I forgot the past and focused on the present, but in truth, I never reduced my attention on Mu En and Xishui. I kept my distance, stayed away, made sure they couldn't find me, and always sought out the latest news as soon as it broke.

And so, the tale of Mu En and Ye Xishui—this couple roaming the continent as the leading figures of their generation—became a romantic legend I constantly heard about. Yes, Mu En was the heir to the Sea God Pavilion Master, a figure destined to be the center of attention; now his life was even more complete, but what about me?

In the end, time did not wash everything away for me, nor did it let me forget those painful emotions. There was no peaceful heart as I had hoped, only a stronger urge to see Mu En and Xishui again.

Perhaps this was just my nature. I have always been too stubborn, too fixated on everything. Truly walking away from that failed relationship was far too difficult.

So, tormented by that stubbornness and emotion, I made a decision—to go back and see them.

Back then, young and impulsive as I was, I could never have imagined that this would be the worst decision of my life, one that would completely alter the paths of the three of us. It destroyed Xishui's happiness and betrayed Mu En...

···

At the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy, Meng Hongchen looked at the Heavenly Curtain Monologue with eager anticipation for what would happen next.

"The gossip of top-tier powerhouses is just so entertaining. After waiting so long, we've finally reached the best part."

Meng Hongchen's words drew agreement from the surrounding female students.

"Yeah, yeah, it's so good."

"If only I were Ye Xishui, having the two most promising figures on the continent by my side. Just imagining that scene is extraordinary."

"I bet what comes next is some kind of angsty romance like in those storybooks."

With Dragon God Douluo Mu En's monologue as a "foundation," they could naturally make guesses about key plot points while watching Dragon Emperor Douluo's monologue.

The worst decision of his life that Dragon Emperor Douluo mentioned—wasn't it that when he went to see Mu En and Ye Xishui, he ended up sleeping with Ye Xishui, betraying his big brother Mu En?

Even though Dragon God Douluo's monologue hinted there might be hidden circumstances, the gossip was still delicious.

Meng Hongchen was a sucker for handsome men, only liking good-looking people, so she naturally preferred the younger years in Dragon Emperor Douluo's monologue.

If this world had the concept of idol dramas, then watching the early part of Dragon Emperor Douluo's monologue was like watching an idol drama, and the upcoming love triangle would just make it a cheesy one.

"Tch, Meng, you're so shallow. The purpose of the Heavenly Curtain Monologue should be to help us better understand our own strength and see how far we fall short compared to those top powerhouses when they were young."

"Not to stare at the curtain with a lovesick face, looking forward to some so-called romantic affairs. That's a pure waste of time."

Xiao Hongchen was long used to his sister's lovesick, gossipy attitude.

Though she had talent as good as his and was usually just as domineering and sharp, when it came to this kind of thing, she just couldn't hold up.

Shouldn't they be using this chance to see the gap between themselves and those truly top-tier powerhouses?

"Brother, save it." Xiao Hongchen wasn't that worried about strength and took it lightly. "Whether it's Dragon God Douluo or Dragon Emperor Douluo, they're existences we can never reach. Our talent can't compare, let alone trying to find and fix our flaws."

"They're Level 99 Limit Douluo. Our Sun Moon Empire could never produce a soul master like that."

Hearing his sister's sharp rebuttal, Xiao Hongchen was left speechless, because he knew she was speaking the truth.

[And so, I finally met Mu En and Xishui again in Shrek City. They looked so happy together!]

[My sudden arrival made Mu En a bit awkward, but he still comforted me a lot, and we drank ourselves into a stupor together, trying to ease the tension between us.]

[Suddenly, at that moment, I became strangely calm, as if I had let go of everything.]

[Because Mu En was still the same Mu En, still the good man Mu En, never having changed. What had changed was me. Those vile fantasies I had before were nothing more than venting over what I couldn't have.]

[The fact that Mu En could face me so openly and comfort me meant that back then, it was truly fair competition—no tricks, no schemes.]

[And so, I let it go. Like is like, and feelings can't be forced. During that night's talk, I felt I could put it all behind me and start a new life.]

[Perhaps this was the best answer the three of us could have for this matter. Mu En and Xishui would live happily together, and I would move on, hurting neither others nor myself.]

Seeing this, many began to wonder—if Dragon Emperor Douluo was so free-spirited and open-minded, how did he end up betraying Mu En and sleeping with Ye Xishui?

With that doubt and a gossipy curiosity, they eagerly wanted to know the truth behind it.

[When I saw Xishui again, she was also very calm, and that intimate feeling from a year ago was completely gone. That lively girl had become so gentle, as if she had already prepared herself to be Mu En's wife.]

[What more could I say? I could only offer them my sincerest blessings.]

[Though I had indeed let go and accepted reality, there was still some resentment in my heart. That resentment came from many sources—like how, ever since I met Mu En, I had lost more than I won in our spars? Or the envy of him winning the beauty?]

[So, I took this chance to challenge Mu En. Partly to soothe my own heart, and partly to test the results of my year of training.]