Everyone Reunites

Heaven Dou City, Outer City Area.

The Outer City Area was unusually lively today. Many residents had gathered at the city gates, gazing out beyond them.

Along the main roads inside and outside the gates, numerous Spirit Hall guards clad in silver armor were strictly managing the scene to maintain order.

Before long, a carriage convoy escorted by knights appeared at the end of the road outside the city and sped toward the gates of Spirit City.

Seeing this, the Spirit Hall guards outside the gates immediately changed formation. Several guards clad in golden armor rode out from the ranks on tall horses and took the lead.

The carriage convoy soon reached the gates. Two knight officers rode forward from the group and presented their passes and documents.

Two Golden Armored Guards from Spirit Hall took them and, after completing their inspection, led the convoy into Spirit City.

The convoy had naturally set out from the Heaven Dou Empire to attend the finals of the Advanced Soul Master Academy Competition.

They had been ambushed along the way by an Elder of Spirit Hall and his forces. Though no one had been injured, the ordeal had been harrowing, and everyone in the group looked rather grim.

Following the Spirit Hall guards' directions, the convoy did not stop in the Outer City. Instead, it went straight into the Middle City.

The convoy finally stopped outside a hotel. Spirit Hall left some guards behind, while the rest returned to the Inner City.

The contestants climbed down from their carriages and entered the hotel to find their rooms. Most of the knights who had escorted them also went inside, though two stayed behind to guard the entrance.

At a restaurant across from the hotel, Yu Xiaogang had just finished breakfast. He got up, left the restaurant, and headed toward the hotel opposite.

He had learned where the contestants would be staying several days earlier. He had come early today specifically to reunite with everyone from Shrek Academy as soon as possible.

At the hotel entrance, Yu Xiaogang took a Black Token from the Soul Tool on his wrist and handed it to the two knights guarding the door.

This Black Token was the Heaven Dou Empire's form of identification. It had been issued to the participating academy teams half a month earlier, and Yu Xiaogang had naturally received one as well.

One of the knights took the token. After seeing the Shrek Academy crest on it and verifying its authenticity, he handed it back to Yu Xiaogang and said, "Shrek Academy's rooms are on the Third Floor."

"Thank you."

Yu Xiaogang thanked him, entered the hotel, and went straight up to the Third Floor.

In the Third Floor lobby, everyone from Shrek Academy was discussing how to assign the rooms. Liu Erlong, one of the team members, seemed distracted. She turned to look toward the stairwell, hoping to see the person she had been longing for.

She had only glanced over tentatively, but at that very moment, the person she had been longing for really did appear before her. For a moment, Liu Erlong could hardly believe her eyes.

"Xiao Gang...!"

Liu Erlong asked tentatively. Yu Xiaogang, who had just reached the Third Floor, immediately nodded. Liu Erlong's eyes grew moist, and she flung herself into his arms.

The others from Shrek Academy heard her voice and turned around. When they saw Yu Xiaogang, smiles spread across their faces.

Flender laughed. "Well, Xiao Gang, you got here early!"

Seeing everyone looking over, Yu Xiaogang patted Liu Erlong's back. She understood and let go of him, then stepped aside and took his arm.

Yu Xiaogang smiled and replied, "I missed everyone, so I found out where you were staying a few days ago. As soon as the team entered the city this morning, I hurried over."

Everyone laughed at that. Flender continued, "All right, then. Everyone, head to the rooms we just assigned."

The students dispersed and headed for their rooms.

After the students had gone, Flender came over to Yu Xiaogang and smiled. "As for your room, Xiao Gang, let Erlong show you. Yours is right next to hers."

Flender patted Yu Xiaogang on the shoulder, then headed down the corridor with Zhao Wuji and Dugu Bo. The three of them went into their respective rooms.

Yu Xiaogang turned to Liu Erlong beside him. She had calmed down, and the redness in her eyes had faded.

"Come on, follow me."

Liu Erlong took Yu Xiaogang by the arm and led him farther down the corridor.

When they reached the door, Liu Erlong took out her key and unlocked it. Then she shoved Yu Xiaogang inside, entered after him, closed the door, and locked it from the inside.

She did it all in one smooth motion, leaving Yu Xiaogang utterly bewildered.

Liu Erlong turned around and fixed her beautiful eyes on Yu Xiaogang, sizing him up from head to toe.

She kept stepping toward him, one step at a time, radiating an imposing aura.

Seeing that she meant business, Yu Xiaogang hurried to say something to ease the tension.

But before he could open his mouth, a dark blur lunged at him and pinned him against the wall.

"Tell me, what did you do after meeting that woman?!"

Liu Erlong braced her left hand against the wall and pressed her right hand against Yu Xiaogang's chest, staring fiercely into his eyes.

Overbearing CEO Falls in Love with Me!

Yu Xiaogang couldn't help complaining inwardly. Then he saw Liu Erlong's gaze slowly drift downward, and his legs tensed. He hurriedly said, "Hey... don't! Really, nothing happened. I asked her about Twin Martial Souls this time, but she didn't tell me anything."

"Really?"

Liu Erlong looked back into Yu Xiaogang's eyes, suspicion in her gaze.

"Really."

Liu Erlong stared at him for a long while. Then her gaze gradually softened, growing tender and affectionate.

She lowered her hands, took Yu Xiaogang to sit at the edge of the bed, and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Xiao Gang. I haven't been able to control myself these past few days. I worry about you, but then I start imagining all sorts of things."

Yu Xiaogang patted Liu Erlong's back and smiled. "It's all right. We'll just try not to be apart from now on."

Liu Erlong nodded, then seemed to remember something. "Oh, Xiao Gang, Xiao Wu broke through the level-forty bottleneck on the way here. I took her to get her Fourth Soul Ring while we were on the road."

"The process of obtaining it was a little strange, though. After we entered the forest, a powerful Soul Beast scattered us. By the time we regrouped, Xiao Wu had already obtained her Fourth Soul Ring."

"She said she found an injured Soul Beast in the forest. That girl really is lucky."

As Liu Erlong spoke, a smile unconsciously appeared on her face, though she still felt a little perplexed.

After listening, Yu Xiaogang hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke. "Erlong, do you remember what I told you about Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts?"