Isn't This Easy to Coax?

After seeing off Ye Lingling and Dugu Yan, Mo Li returned to his quarters and proceeded with his daily routine of meditation and cultivation.

Half a month ago.

Upon obtaining his second soul ring, he had already sensed his mental power reaching a state of fullness, waiting only for the right opportunity to advance further.

As for the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Art, although he had not abandoned his practice of the technique over the past two and a half years, he still had no clue how to break through to the second level.

Mo Li felt somewhat helpless about this.

He could only vaguely perceive that some sort of catalyst was missing, leaving him no choice but to continue practicing in silence and let nature take its course.

Time drifted on until evening.

With the setting sun casting its final glow and mist rising between the trees, Mo Li remained sitting cross-legged on the grass as the birds and beasts returned to their nests.

His eyes were slightly closed, his breathing steady, as he contemplated the wonders of his soul power circulation.

Just then, a soft palm gently patted his head. Mo Li opened his eyes immediately. "Sister Erlong?"

"Mm."

A crisp, familiar voice sounded above his head, and at the same time, that gentle palm retracted.

Mo Li stood up, stood side-by-side with Liu Erlong, and turned his head to look at her.

Liu Erlong's dark hair was still draped over her shoulders, and her exquisite face was illuminated by the sunset, as if coated in a layer of golden radiance. Her expression was distant and melancholic, her gaze fixed on the setting sun in the distance.

"It's almost dark. Aren't you going back inside?"

"I was waiting for you to return, Sister Erlong," Mo Li said.

Liu Erlong glanced at him and smiled faintly. "Why wait for me? Is there something important you need to tell me?"

"Nothing urgent. Aren't you curious about what I talked to them about today, Sister Erlong?"

Mo Li shook his head, looking at Liu Erlong's calm profile.

"That is your private business; you don't need to report everything to me."

Liu Erlong's tone seemed to soften slightly.

"Then, Sister Erlong, were you unhappy that they came today?"

Liu Erlong's expression turned peculiar. She turned her head and tapped Mo Li on the head. "What are you thinking? You've made friends; why would I be unhappy about that?"

Mo Li recalled the conversation the two of them had in the Sunset Forest. It seemed Liu Erlong hadn't taken the visit from Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling too much to heart.

Connecting this to Liu Erlong's behavior today, it could be described as impeccable.

Yet, Mo Li just felt that Liu Erlong's mood was off—especially just now, and with that look she had given him when she left at noon.

It left him feeling uncertain.

Seeing Mo Li lost in thought, Liu Erlong tapped his head again. "What are you daydreaming about? Didn't that Dugu Yan lose to you today?"

"Mm," Mo Li nodded.

Dugu Yan had twenty-eight levels of soul power; he wasn't surprised by that level. At the very least, before she reached level thirty, he just needed to resolve the toxins from her Jade Phosphor Snake martial soul.

If he let her obtain her third soul ring unchecked, the Jade Phosphor Snake venom would deepen, and she would suffer quite a bit of hardship then.

"I heard you won quite decisively."

Mo Li looked at Liu Erlong with some suspicion. At this moment, Liu Erlong was looking back at him with a half-smile.

Mo Li gave a dry laugh. "Sister Erlong, didn't you say you didn't want to hear about it?"

"True, I didn't ask you. I ran into Jiang Zhu on the way and asked her instead."

Hearing this, Mo Li suddenly thought of the awkward scene when he defeated Dugu Yan that morning, and his face flushed slightly.

Since Liu Erlong had run into Jiang Zhu and asked about today's events, given Jiang Zhu's simple nature, that girl must have confessed every single detail.

Mo Li coughed dryly. "Of course it was decisive. Bringing glory to the academy is a duty for people like us."

"I like hearing that." Liu Erlong smiled.

She immediately began walking toward the field where she and Mo Li often sparred. "Follow me."

Mo Li was just wondering what Liu Erlong's actions meant when her crisp voice drifted over.

"Sister Erlong, why are we here? Are you going to spar with me?" Mo Li looked at the darkening sky.

"It's getting late, isn't it? Why not do it tomorrow?"

Liu Erlong, standing opposite him, shook her head. Her crisp voice carried a hint of an emotion that was hard to detect. "We haven't sparred yet today, have we? Let's make the most of the time."

Hearing this, Mo Li nodded helplessly.

Although he didn't know why Liu Erlong had chosen this time for a sparring match, he focused his mind and prepared for battle the very next moment.

Unlike the spar with Dugu Yan during the day, facing Liu Erlong—even if she suppressed her strength—brought him far more pressure than Dugu Yan ever could.

Therefore, in this long-drawn-out battle, Mo Li naturally would not be the least bit careless.

The daylight grew increasingly dim until, at one moment, Mo Li tapped his feet against the ground and took the initiative to attack Liu Erlong.

"Sister Erlong, that's cheating!"

Following this exclamation came the sound of a splash as someone hit the water.

Now, only Liu Erlong remained on the flat ground, a dragon arm covered in red scales slowly reverting back into a normal human arm.

By the time she strode up to the wooden cabin, Mo Li had just climbed ashore, soaked from head to toe and looking thoroughly unconvinced. He muttered, "Sister Erlong, you're not keeping your word. You actually used Dragon Transformation..."

His voice reached Liu Erlong's ears, but she paid him no mind. "Are you washed clean?"

Mo Li ignored her in a huff, but Liu Erlong didn't take offense, instead pointing toward a wooden basin. "Put your wet clothes there. There are new clothes prepared for you in the room."

"Do you think a single set of new clothes is enough to make me forgive you, Sister Erlong? Hmph." Mo Li said, still acting petulant.

Liu Erlong didn't reply and turned to enter her own room, though the slight curve of her red lips the moment she turned away betrayed her current mood.

Seeing Liu Erlong go inside, Mo Li thought for a moment, then turned and went back into the lake; since he was already soaked, he might as well have a proper wash.

When he returned to the room, a set of brand-new clothes lay on the bed, and beside them sat a bracelet.

The bracelet was entirely red, interspersed with golden patterns. It looked like jade but wasn't, and it was impossible to identify what kind of metal it was made of.

After tidying up, Mo Li finally looked at the bracelet. He picked it up, channeled his soul power into it, and with a thought, withdrew the item inside.

Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a bag of Gold Soul Coins. Mo Li didn't check the exact amount before putting it back, a look of joy appearing on his face.

This was clearly a storage-type soul tool.

Mo Li happily knocked on Liu Erlong's door.

"What is it?" A crisp voice sounded from near the window.

Hearing this, Mo Li smiled and said, "Sister Erlong, what special day is it today? You're actually giving me such a wonderful gift."

"It's no special day. I had it prepared for you a long time ago; as long as you like it, that's all that matters."

"I love it." Mo Li touched the bracelet on his wrist. Having spent so much time with Liu Erlong, he naturally recognized this as the very bracelet she wore every day.

Of course, he couldn't rule out the possibility that there was an identical pair, but at this moment, Mo Li's heart was surely filled with joy.

"Mm, go back to your room and rest now," Liu Erlong's voice came again.

"Alright."

Inside the room, Liu Erlong gazed out the window. Seeing Mo Li return to his room, looking completely satisfied, she let out a soft laugh.

"Li'er is really easy to coax, isn't he?"