Women Really Are Terrifying

The first things that caught the eye were two carved wooden beds by the window, their curtains made of pale green gauze.

Across from the beds stood two desks side by side. On them sat celadon brush washers and neatly stacked sheets of rice paper, with a small pot of asparagus fern at each corner.

Two carved wardrobes stood in the corner, their doors fitted with smooth, polished copper rings.

Against the wall nearby was a low couch covered with soft cushions. Several throw pillows embroidered with orchid patterns were piled on top.

The small balcony by the window was enclosed by a wooden railing, which was covered in purple morning glories. A little round stone table stood in the corner, with two bamboo chairs facing each other.

There was an open doorway in the right-hand wall, revealing another room.

Gray-green tiles covered the floor. A bathtub as white as jade was set into the corner, with a soft cotton shower curtain draped over its edge, patterned with tiny gardenias.

Xu Yuan thought of Shrek Academy ten thousand years in the future and smiled to himself.

Leaving everything else aside, having a whole group of people fight over the bathroom and toilet was just ridiculous.

The cafeteria didn't even bother to provide tables and chairs. He'd never seen such a stingy school.

After putting away their things, the three of them followed Liu Erlong on a tour of the academy.

The academy wasn't very large, but Blue Tyrant Academy was located in Heaven Dou City, after all.

Heaven Dou City was the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, where land was worth its weight in gold.

Liu Erlong looked at Xu Yuan and said, "Xiao Yuan, come with me to the office."

Xu Yuan nodded. "You two go back to the dorm and get settled. I'll be right back."

Xiao Wu waved. "Go on, go on. We can figure out what to eat tonight!"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly. She watched the two of them follow Liu Erlong toward the attic, then turned with Xiao Wu and headed back to their quarters.

On the way, Liu Erlong walked at an unhurried pace. Then she suddenly asked, "The Soul Tool at your waist—is it from Yu Xiaogang?"

Xu Yuan slowed to a stop, surprised by how directly Liu Erlong had asked. After a moment, he answered, "Yes."

In a sense, it did count as something Yu Xiaogang had given him.

After all, Yu Xiaogang had told Tang San to challenge him, and Tang San had lost the item to him. So Yu Xiaogang had practically handed it over himself.

Liu Erlong's voice grew somber. "Where is Yu Xiaogang?"

Xu Yuan hesitated. "He doesn't want anyone else to know where he is, especially..."

He trailed off.

It wasn't as though he was making it up. Yu Xiaogang really didn't want anyone to know his whereabouts—especially Liu Erlong.

Back then, Yu Xiaogang hadn't even wanted to see Liu Erlong.

Liu Erlong stopped abruptly. Her profile looked stiff in the dusk.

She fell silent for a few seconds before slowly turning around, emotions churning in her eyes like a deep pool disturbed by a stone.

"Especially me, right?" Liu Erlong's voice was very soft.

Xu Yuan said nothing, which was as good as confirming it. Some things were more dignified to admit than to deny.

Liu Erlong suddenly laughed. There was a touch of self-mockery in it, along with a weariness he couldn't quite name. "That's right. That's just how he is."

She sighed inwardly, regretting that she had fallen for Yu Xiaogang in the first place.

She would have been better off choosing Flender. He was leagues stronger than Yu Xiaogang.

Then again, given Flender's character, he wasn't exactly a good choice either.

Liu Erlong turned and continued walking, her steps carrying a lightness of relief, as though that moment of stillness had never happened.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan quietly followed behind her.

Once they reached Liu Erlong's office, she asked Xu Yuan to sit down and poured him a cup of tea.

Liu Erlong sat down and looked at Xu Yuan. "Xu Yuan, can you tell me about Yu Xiaogang?"

Thinking of Yu Xiaogang's self-important expression, Xu Yuan felt like he could devour him with his eyes. He smiled, unsure what would be best to say.

Xu Yuan picked up his teacup and pondered for a moment before speaking slowly. "Yu Xiaogang... He always says he's a master of theory."

At that, Liu Erlong's hand paused around her teacup. A trace of scorn flashed in her eyes. "A master of theory? That's the only thing he's good at. Back then, he spent all day poring over ancient books and saying that Soul Masters had to cultivate step by step. Yet his own Soul Power was stuck in the twenties, and he never broke through all those years."

By now, she had figured everything out, and the rose-tinted glasses she'd worn for Yu Xiaogang were gone.

A master of theory?

How many people would believe those wild ideas of his? Back when she'd loved Yu Xiaogang, she'd thought he was a genius whose talents had gone unrecognized.

Thinking it over carefully now, she could only think it was complete bullshit. With the knowledge of two great powers at his disposal, even a dog could have learned a great deal.

Looking at Liu Erlong's resentful expression, Xu Yuan couldn't help swallowing. For some reason, he found her a little terrifying.

Inside the Sea of Consciousness, God King Tang San also found Liu Erlong inexplicably terrifying.

Was Liu Erlong, now that she'd come to her senses, the sort of person who turned love into hatred?

Liu Erlong seemed to notice that her feelings had spilled out too plainly. She lifted her teacup and took a sip, her tone softening. "Sorry. I tend to lose my composure when he comes up."

Xu Yuan shook his head. "It's fine, Teacher."

"Don't take his theories seriously." Liu Erlong set down her teacup, her expression turning earnest. "There's no fixed set of rules for cultivating as a Soul Master. Martial Souls and constitutions differ, so naturally the methods of cultivation differ too. He always says you can't exceed the age limit when absorbing a Soul Ring, but over the years, I've met plenty who have. They're all doing just fine."

Xu Yuan remembered how Yu Xiaogang had insisted that Tang San had to absorb Soul Rings according to his level. He really wanted to laugh.

He didn't even know about the ten-thousand-year Soul Shock. How much could anyone expect Yu Xiaogang to know?

"Good. I'm glad you understand." Liu Erlong nodded in approval. "You're a clever boy. Don't let his crooked theories lead you astray. Your Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul is excellent—you've got real potential. Polish it well, and you'll achieve as much as anyone."

Liu Erlong suddenly changed the subject. "Speaking of which, why did he have you bring his Soul Tool this time? Was he planning to make you do something for him again?"

Xu Yuan answered honestly. "Earlier, Tang San challenged me on his orders. After Tang San lost, the Soul Tool became mine. He didn't say anything else."

"Tang San..." Liu Erlong repeated the name, her brows knitting slightly. "Is he his new disciple?"

"Yes."

"Hmph. He's teaching someone else again." Liu Erlong let out a cold laugh. "He can't break through himself, yet he loves telling other people what to do. I hope that child doesn't get taken in by him."

Xu Yuan was immediately curious. Yu Xiaogang had apparently taught someone else before.

But on second thought, it made sense.

Yu Xiaogang needed to prove his theories were sound, which meant finding a few unlucky people to test them on.

He'd probably led plenty of commoner Soul Masters astray before. Most commoners didn't know much, making them ideal test subjects.

If nothing went wrong, it was thanks to his skill. If something did, it was their fault.