I Was Only Telling the Truth!

The wind howled past their ears as the trees rapidly receded behind them.

Xiao Yin's arms were tightly wrapped around Liu Erlong's waist and the backs of her knees. That sense of strength and his unquestionable protective posture gave even a powerhouse accustomed to standing alone a faint sense of security at being cared for.

After fleeing for half a day, the terrifying aura and beastly roars behind them were finally completely cut off by the forest.

The lingering glow of the setting sun spilled over the open plains ahead, and the outline of Heaven Dou City could already be seen in the distance.

As their taut nerves suddenly relaxed, Xiao Yin slowed down as well.

He found a relatively secluded spot by a stream and carefully came to a stop, breathing slightly heavily, with fine beads of sweat covering his forehead.

"Put... put me down!"

Liu Erlong's voice carried a trace of awkwardness as she struggled slightly.

Although... she had already acknowledged their relationship, she was still the dignified dean of Blue Tyrant Academy. If someone saw this, it would truly damage her authority!

Xiao Yin lowered his head and looked at the mature, charming face of the woman in his arms, slightly pale from blood loss.

Her phoenix eyes were lowered, and her tightly pressed lips revealed a hint of stubbornness. Yet the suspicious flush at the tips of her ears betrayed the unrest in her heart.

A teasing curve formed at the corner of his lips. Not only did he not let go, he tightened his arms and pulled her even closer into his embrace.

"Are you sure? Your injuries..."

His deep voice brushed over Liu Erlong's ear, intentionally or otherwise.

That clearly flirtatious gesture and those words made Liu Erlong's entire body stiffen, and her cheeks instantly grew even hotter.

"This old lady won't die! Put me down already! What would people think if they saw us like this?!"

She growled in embarrassment and anger, punching Xiao Yin hard in the chest, though the blow was soft and powerless.

"So what if they see?"

Xiao Yin raised an eyebrow, his gaze carrying a domineering certainty. "You're my woman. Holding my own woman is only natural."

Liu Erlong was left speechless by his undisguised declaration of possession, heat rushing straight to her head.

She wanted to retort, but she did not know what to say.

In the end, she merely glared fiercely at him and, with resigned embarrassment, gritted her teeth and said:

"...I'll deal with you when we get back! Now! Put! Me! Down!"

Xiao Yin knew when to stop. He knew that this Tyrant Dragon dean was thin-skinned, and if he continued teasing her, she might truly explode.

Only then did he carefully set Liu Erlong down and support her until she was steady.

The moment Liu Erlong's feet touched the ground, her body swayed. Her internal injuries were disturbed, and she could not help letting out a muffled groan.

"Are you all right?" Xiao Yin immediately reached out to support her arm, no longer concealing the concern in his voice.

"I won't die!" Liu Erlong forced herself to stand steadily, took a deep breath, and resumed the cold, imposing demeanor of an academy dean. Only a trace of lingering ripples remained in the depths of her eyes.

"We're almost there, so mind the impact! Remember, I'm the dean, and you're the student!" she deliberately emphasized.

Xiao Yin shrugged noncommittally, but the amusement in his eyes gave him away.

After straightening their disheveled clothes, the two prepared to continue on their way.

Whoosh—!

A dark green streak of light descended like a ghost and landed not far in front of them, revealing Dugu Bo's somewhat weary figure.

His face was still slightly pale, but his aura had settled considerably. His emerald eyes swept back and forth between Xiao Yin and Liu Erlong, lingering especially on Xiao Yin for several moments.

"Hmph, you two ran quite fast." Dugu Bo's hoarse voice rang out, devoid of any discernible emotion.

Liu Erlong's expression sharpened. She immediately stepped forward, slightly lowered her head, and spoke with sincere gratitude.

"Thank you for your help, Your Excellency Dugu! If you had not restrained that beast, the two of us might not have survived today! Liu Erlong will remember this favor!"

Though she had a fiery temper, she knew how to distinguish kindness from enmity when it came to a life-saving favor.

It was just rather strange. Everyone said that Dugu Bo had an eccentric and unpredictable temperament, so why had he helped two strangers today?

Xiao Yin also cupped his hands in salute, neither servile nor overbearing. "Thank you for saving our lives, Senior."

Dugu Bo waved his hand aside, his blazing gaze fixed on Xiao Yin. "Spare me the empty pleasantries. I had my reasons for acting."

His tone shifted, and a sharp light flashed in his emerald eyes. "Kid, I won't beat around the bush. You're impressive! Extremely impressive! A ten-thousand-year third soul ring! You even took a blow from a seventy-thousand-year soul beast and survived!

"And that martial soul of yours... following a Soul Saint at a commoner academy is a waste of your talent!"

It was clear that after hearing Dugu Yan's words that day, Dugu Bo had investigated Xiao Yin, though only superficially.

Then he stepped forward. The terrifying pressure of a Title Douluo faintly spread out, carrying an overbearing force that allowed no refusal.

"Come with me! Join my Dugu Family! I'll personally guide your cultivation! Wealth and glory will be within easy reach! And Yanyan is quite interested in you as well. You young people can get to know each other better!"

He directly extended an offer of recruitment, even using his own granddaughter as a bargaining chip, his tone full of confidence that he would succeed.

Hearing this, Xiao Yin finally understood why Dugu Bo knew who he was.

For a Title Douluo to investigate a Soul Elder, it could not have been easier.

Meanwhile, fury instantly blazed in Liu Erlong's phoenix eyes!

He was trying to poach one of her people right in front of her—and he was her man, at that?!

This was simply outrageous!

Just as she was about to flare up, Xiao Yin gently pressed the back of her hand and stepped forward to face Dugu Bo's pressure directly.

A helpless, bitter smile appeared on Xiao Yin's face as he spread his hands. "I am deeply grateful for your favor, Senior. However, Dean Erlong has shown me great kindness and recognized my potential. I have no other intentions."

Anyone could hear the meaning of rejection in his words, and Dugu Bo's face instantly turned cold.

"What, you're refusing me? I, a dignified Title Douluo, am personally recruiting you. Countless people would beg for such an opportunity, yet you dare refuse me?!"

"..."

Dugu Bo continued, "Under my guidance, your future achievements will certainly surpass Soul Douluo. When that time comes, can this Soul Saint dean of yours still help you hunt soul rings?"

Facing Dugu Bo's questioning tone, Xiao Yin merely said softly, "Senior Dugu, Dean Liu Erlong of our Blue Tyrant Academy is no ordinary Soul Saint..."

"Oh? What could possibly be extraordinary about a mere Soul Saint?" Dugu Bo scoffed.

"Mm... her father is named Yu Luomian."

"What?!" Dugu Bo's brows suddenly furrowed, and his emerald pupils abruptly contracted!

Of course he knew who Yu Luomian was—the second-in-command of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!

Blue Tyrant Academy... Blue Tyrant... Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon!

"That's not right. Her surname is Liu, and her martial soul isn't the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon either!" Dugu Bo's tone rose, clearly still unwilling to believe Liu Erlong's identity.

Xiao Yin continued explaining, "Dean Erlong merely took her mother's surname, and her martial soul is a mutated martial soul."

"In truth, this is no secret. Senior Dugu, you only need to ask around to find out."

Xiao Yin stopped at just the right moment, skillfully revealing both the gilded name of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Liu Erlong's sensitive identity.

He implied that he was not alone and without backing. Behind him stood one of the Upper Three Sects, a colossal force.

When you're out in the world, you make your own identity.

Besides, I was only telling the truth!