Liu Erlong (Part 2)

After studying all morning and eating lunch, Huangfu Ji sat cross-legged beneath a tree to cultivate, while Zhao Yuan stood nearby, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

The moment Liu Erlong walked toward them, he immediately became alert.

Sensing someone approaching, Huangfu Ji opened his eyes.

When she arrived before the two of them, Liu Erlong acted as though they were already familiar.

"You're cultivating here?"

Huangfu Ji nodded. "That's right. It's quiet here, a good place for cultivation."

Liu Erlong sat down cross-legged and asked, "We're classmates now. During introductions this morning, the teacher didn't have you introduce yourself."

"I still don't know your name."

Huangfu Ji said, "My surname is Huangfu, and my given name is Ji. My Martial Soul is the Sacred Martial War Dragon."

"Huangfu Ji, Huangfu..." Liu Erlong murmured. Her eyes suddenly widened as she stared at Huangfu Ji in astonishment.

"You're that Puppet Grand Duke with Innate Full Soul Power?"

The words blurted out before she could think, but as soon as she said them, she covered her mouth in regret. Calling someone a puppet to his face was far too hurtful.

"Watch your mouth." Zhao Yuan was immediately displeased.

"Sorry, sorry. It just slipped out." Liu Erlong hurriedly apologized.

Huangfu Ji waved it off indifferently.

"It's nothing. You're right. I am a puppet. That's a fact."

Liu Erlong gave an awkward smile.

But then she clicked her tongue in amazement.

"I never expected to meet the Grand Duke Qingyang here."

"You're the ruler of the Duchy, yet you actually came here to study."

Huangfu Ji smiled bitterly, sighing as he shook his head.

"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have needed to come, but you know my situation."

"How could a puppet possibly receive a good education?"

"Coming to study at this academy was also out of necessity. If I didn't leave, I wouldn't even be able to obtain a Soul Ring."

Liu Erlong actually felt a little sympathy for Huangfu Ji. She had heard some things as well. Her home was not in Qingyang City, but in a small town outside the city. Even so, she knew about certain matters.

Back when Huangfu Ji awakened with Innate Full Soul Power, only to be placed under house arrest by Yuan Hao and prevented from obtaining a Soul Ring, the matter had spread far and wide. Even her mother had felt pity and sympathy for him.

After all, no matter how noble Huangfu Ji's status was, he was still a child without parents.

"It's fine now. You're in the academy, so there's nothing to fear." Liu Erlong stood and patted her chest.

"From now on, I'll protect you in the academy. If anyone dares bully you, I'll beat them up for you."

"You?" Huangfu Ji tilted his head at her, almost laughing.

"Yes." Liu Erlong nodded confidently. She had absolute confidence in her strength. Back in her small town, she had been the local tyrant. Kids her age saw that she had no father and only a mother, so they tried to bully her. In the end, she beat them until their noses were bruised and their faces swollen.

When it came to fighting, she was never afraid. She would even fight people older than herself.

She feared neither heaven nor earth.

"I have Innate Full Soul Power. My Soul Power is two levels higher than yours. Do I really need your protection?" Huangfu Ji laughed.

Liu Erlong curled her lips, somewhat dissatisfied.

"So what if you have Innate Full Soul Power? You've barely fought before. What if someone bullies you?"

"If a dignified Grand Duke gets beaten up, wouldn't people laugh themselves to death?"

"Now that we know each other, we're friends. And we're classmates, too. Besides, both our Martial Souls are dragons. Like I said, if anyone bullies you, I'll stand up for you."

Huangfu Ji smiled and nodded.

"All right, all right. Then you'll stand up for me when the time comes."

He knew Liu Erlong meant well. As for what kind of person she was, she was not bad. She just had a fiery temper and a blunt personality, the type to explode at the slightest provocation. Still, she had a bit of a heroic air about her.

There was no problem with being friends with her.

Zhao Yuan looked at Liu Erlong with a face full of displeasure.

What was this supposed to be? Why had someone suddenly appeared to steal his job? This was practically poaching his line of work.

But there was nothing he could do about it. He couldn't beat Liu Erlong. She had Level Eight Soul Power, while he only had Level Six. The two-level gap was right there.

The three sat together and chatted happily. Like Huangfu Ji, Liu Erlong had no friends either. She had beaten up nearly every child her age in the small town, and coupled with her identity, no one had ever wanted to play with her.

Huangfu Ji was the first friend she had ever had in her life, and Zhao Yuan counted as one too.

Still, she always felt that the way Zhao Yuan looked at her was strange, carrying a constant sense of resentment.

"By the way, you have Innate Full Soul Power, so why haven't you obtained your First Soul Ring yet?" Liu Erlong asked curiously. From their conversation, she had learned that Huangfu Ji had awakened his Martial Soul in July.

Several months had passed since July, yet he still had not obtained a Soul Ring.

It was understandable that he had not obtained one at the Duke's Mansion, since Yuan Hao had forbidden it. But now that he was at the Soul Master Academy, he should have obtained his First Soul Ring long ago. Yet Huangfu Ji's Soul Power remained at Level Ten, and he still had not absorbed a Soul Ring.

Huangfu Ji did not answer. Zhao Yuan merely snorted and answered Liu Erlong for him.

"Isn't it all because of that bastard Yuan Hao? If the Grand Duke wants to leave the city to hunt Soul Beasts, he has to get Yuan Hao's permission. The moment the Grand Duke leaves Qingyang City without authorization, he'll be sent back to the Duke's Mansion."

"The Dean told Yuan Hao long ago that he would take the Grand Duke to obtain a Soul Ring, but that bastard Yuan Hao has kept dragging it out without giving an answer."

"Damn, that's so rotten!" Liu Erlong punched the ground in anger.

Preventing a Soul Master from obtaining a Soul Ring was the same as cutting off their future. No matter how talented a Soul Master was, they were useless without Soul Rings.

At that moment, Liu Erlong's sense of justice was nearly overflowing. She did not care what Yuan Hao's status was. She simply felt that Yuan Hao was a complete bastard.

Huangfu Ji said, "Don't worry. Yuan Hao is only trying to disgust me. This isn't the Duke's Mansion, after all. Sooner or later, he'll have to agree."

Yuan Hao definitely did not want the Duchy's affairs reaching the Empire. Otherwise, he would be in trouble.

Although the Empire was dissatisfied with its subordinate states, it did not want to see those states seized by others either. No matter what, the Huangfu Family was the Duchy's legitimate ruling family, and Huangfu Ji was its legitimate Grand Duke, recognized by the Empire.

Liu Erlong said nothing more.

After afternoon classes ended, the three prepared to head to the Cafeteria together when a teacher came looking for Huangfu Ji.

"The Dean wishes to see you."

Huangfu Ji nodded, then followed the teacher to the Dean's Office.

The moment he entered the office, Cheng Yao said, "Yuan Hao has agreed. Tomorrow, I'll take you to obtain your First Soul Ring."

"That's wonderful." Huangfu Ji was utterly thrilled, unable to stop the smile on his face.

This was his First Soul Ring. It was extremely important to him. Ever since awakening his Martial Soul, he had been waiting for this day. Now, he was finally going to obtain a Soul Ring of his own.

Cheng Yao smiled at Huangfu Ji. He could understand a child's excitement at being about to obtain a Soul Ring. Even a Grand Duke was no exception.

"I'll go back and prepare first." Huangfu Ji left the Dean's Office and returned to his dormitory.

That night, he did not cultivate. Instead, he had a good night's sleep.