Assassination

Along the way, Mother Liu's pale, somewhat sickly pretty face was filled with worry.

Her daughter had talent and was already a Soul Master. There was a high chance that she could become a Titled Douluo in the future.

She did not want Liu Erlong to get involved in the Duchy's struggle for power.

With Huangfu Ji's Innate Full Soul Power talent, he was bound to seize power from Yuan Hao in the future. If her daughter became involved, the danger would be far too great.

"Erlong, your father has sent a letter. He wants to bring you back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan for training."

Mother Liu's words carried a questioning tone. In the seven years since Liu Erlong had been born, she had barely seen her own father. After all, she was an illegitimate daughter, and her mother's former status had not been respectable either.

Naturally, they were never mentioned. Usually, he merely gave them some Gold Soul Coins to ensure that mother and daughter wanted for neither food nor clothing and lived comfortably.

At the mention of her father, the joy on Liu Erlong's face immediately vanished.

"Hmph!"

That cold snort said it all. She had never held a good impression of this father of hers. He had always ignored them completely.

Now that he had sent a letter, she guessed that he had learned of her talent and wanted to acknowledge her as family and bring her back.

"I'm not going. He never even came to see me before, so why should I go to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

She was deeply dissatisfied with Yu Luomian, but somewhere in her heart, she also carried a trace of longing. She wanted a father who could stay by her side.

Yet she also understood that her status as an illegitimate daughter was not something presentable. She had never been acknowledged. Now that she had become a Soul Master, and one with innate level-eight soul power, such talent was rare across the entire continent.

"Your father had no choice either. Besides, with your current talent, even if you return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, no one will say anything. They will definitely focus on nurturing you."

"There, you can live a better life and obtain more resources."

Mother Liu hoped her daughter would go to her father's side. If Liu Erlong remained with her, her identity would never be acknowledged. Besides, Mother Liu knew her own body well.

She was not a Soul Master, and she had fallen ill. Ordinary medicine could no longer cure her.

Even though Yu Luomian had sent medicinal herbs before, they could only extend her life by a few years.

She did not hope to gain a proper status for herself, but Liu Erlong could not remain an illegitimate daughter forever.

"Then will you come too, Mom?" Liu Erlong asked expectantly. If her mother went as well, she might consider it.

But then she thought of Huangfu Ji. He was her first friend. If she left, what would happen to him? Who would cultivate with him and study Martial Soul Fusion Skills with him?

Although the two of them had yet to figure out any fusion skill at all, she did not care. On the contrary, she enjoyed it.

The smile on Mother Liu's face froze, replaced by bitterness and loneliness in her eyes. What Yu Luomian wanted was Liu Erlong, not her.

"I won't be going."

Liu Erlong was immediately disappointed.

"I'm not going."

"I don't need their training. I'm happy here. I have Mom, and I have friends."

"I cultivate with my friends. If I go to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, I won't have any of that anymore."

"What they want isn't Liu Erlong. What they want is this innate level-eight soul power."

There were many illegitimate sons and daughters, but very few of them possessed talent.

"You really won't go?" Mother Liu leaned closer, her face nearly pressing against Liu Erlong's.

"I won't." Liu Erlong's attitude was resolute, and the last trace of hesitation in her heart completely disappeared.

Mother Liu let out a long sigh. "Then don't go. I'll write back to your father."

She knew that once her daughter made a decision, not even ten oxen could pull her back. No one could make her change her mind easily, not even her mother.

Seeing that her mother was in low spirits, Liu Erlong quickly changed the subject and began telling her about Huangfu Ji again.

"Mom, let me tell you, although Huangfu Ji is Grand Duke Qingyang, he doesn't put on airs at all. Being around him doesn't feel uncomfortable in the slightest."

"It's just a pity that he's a puppet now."

Mother Liu stroked her daughter's long, soft black hair and said softly, "No matter how nice he is, he is still a grand duke—the nominal ruler of a nation. You still need to mind your boundaries when you're around him."

"Besides, he is a genius with Innate Full Soul Power. His future is limitless."

"If he can reclaim power from Yuan Hao, then he will become someone above the clouds in the future."

"You're still young. There are many things you don't understand yet. You'll understand when you grow up."

Liu Erlong pursed her lips. She wanted to refute her mother, but she did not know how. In any case, she simply felt that Huangfu Ji was a good person. Unlike other nobles, he did not look down on others or bully them.

Night fell. Huangfu Ji stood alone by the window, looking out at the bright night sky.

A bright moon hung high in the sky, stars scattered around it, beautiful as a painting. Yet at that moment, he felt somewhat lonely.

Perhaps after spending the past year together, he had grown accustomed to having friends by his side. At this time of day, Zhao Yuan would usually be chatting with him.

But now, the dormitory was cold and empty. Not only the dormitory—the entire academy was quiet. During this holiday, even the Work-Study Students had all gone home.

In such a scene, he wanted to recite a poem, but he could not remember what poem he ought to recite.

Thinking back to his previous life, he had been alone then as well. Although he had also felt lonely at night, at least he could browse the internet. There were so many talented people online, and they all spoke so pleasantly. He could also play games and fight clan genealogy defense battles in them.

But now, aside from cultivating, there was nothing else he could do.

In the darkness, a shadow silently slipped into the academy. Most of the academy's teachers were on break as well, with only a few remaining behind. However, none of them were particularly strong, and no one noticed the intruder.

Inside the Dean's office.

Cheng Yao, who was organizing books, also failed to notice that someone had infiltrated the academy.

Huangfu Ji was staying at the academy, so Cheng Yao could not return home either. He had to remain behind to protect Huangfu Ji.

To that end, he had specifically arranged to stay in the room next to Huangfu Ji's.

The shadow arrived beneath the dormitory building and leaped onto a lush, towering tree, his gaze precisely locking onto Huangfu Ji's dormitory.

The room was brightly lit, and Huangfu Ji's figure was clearly visible before him.

The shadow raised a hand, and an ink-black longbow appeared in his grasp.

He drew the bowstring, and black Soul Power condensed into a pitch-black arrow.

Black light flickered from the arrowhead as the shadow's eyes lit up.

Whoosh!

The arrow left the string, tearing through the air as it shot toward Huangfu Ji.

Standing by the window, Huangfu Ji saw a flash of black light. His instincts immediately warned him of danger.

The arrow shattered the window and was about to strike him in the chest. Huangfu Ji hurriedly twisted aside, and the black arrow grazed past his chest before embedding itself in the wall.

Though the arrow struck the wall, it did not stop. It pierced straight through the dormitory wall.

Huangfu Ji panted heavily, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, his eyes filled with terror. In that instant just now, he had brushed past death.

If he had reacted even a moment later, that arrow would have pierced straight through his chest, killing him on the spot.

Cheng Yao was on his way to the dormitory building when he heard the commotion. His expression changed drastically, and he immediately summoned his Martial Soul and rushed toward the dormitory at full speed.

Five Soul Rings revolved around him. At that moment, he noticed the shadow in the tree.

"Who's there?!"

Seeing that he had been discovered, the shadow did not linger. He leaped down from the tree, but the instant he landed, a black Soul Ring lit up on his body. A spatial vortex then appeared beneath his feet, and he jumped into it, vanishing without a trace.

Silence returned to the surroundings, as though nothing had happened.

Cheng Yao did not pursue him and hurried into the dormitory.

Seeing that Huangfu Ji was unharmed, he let out a long sigh of relief.