Hate and Not Hate

Liu Erlong's expression seemed to fall into a state of extreme inner conflict, a look of agitation gradually surfacing on her face.

Yet, even in this state, she remained silent, not uttering a single word.

This left Mo Li, who was sitting across from her, feeling incredibly anxious. He hurriedly pressed her with a few more questions, but that only served to make the rims of Liu Erlong's eyes turn even redder.

Her black eyes, usually filled with cold sharpness, now shimmered with a hint of tears, as if she had suffered some great grievance.

Mo Li sat idly in his seat, but instead of waiting for Liu Erlong to speak, he was met with her sudden, abrupt rise.

Mo Li's gaze followed Liu Erlong's movement, filled with confusion and bewilderment, but Liu Erlong refused to meet his eyes. She merely threw out a flustered, "I'm going to the academy, you focus on your cultivation," and fled as if escaping.

Before he could fully collect his thoughts, Liu Erlong's figure had already vanished into the woods.

By the time he came to his senses, a wry expression had replaced the look on Mo Li's face; he had absolutely no idea what this outburst of hers was about.

If she didn't want him to get involved, he wouldn't, so why act as if he had caused her some terrible injustice?

Thinking of this, Mo Li felt a degree of frustration himself. From the conversation between Liu Erlong and Yu Luomian, he had managed to extract some useful information.

From their initial exchange, it was clear that Liu Erlong had spent some time at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and that period had been far from pleasant; she had likely suffered quite a few grievances there.

Mo Li frowned, secretly noting this in his mind.

The emotional explosion between the two had started the moment Yu Luomian mentioned Liu Erlong's mother.

Mo Li could roughly guess the reason: with Yu Luomian's timid, "second-son" nature—daring to act but not daring to take responsibility—he hadn't dared to bring the mother and daughter back into the clan, keeping them hidden away privately instead.

Later, he had taken the initiative to acknowledge her and bring her back to the clan. Although it was unclear what status she held while living there, one could imagine that the events involving Yu Xiaogang had caused her to be the subject of gossip everywhere she turned.

Yu Luomian had even explicitly pointed this out.

The greatest point of contention between them was that Liu Erlong's mother had never received the status she deserved. Perhaps due to clan rules, and the fact that neither Yu Luomian nor Liu Erlong possessed overwhelming strength, they were naturally suppressed by the clan leader.

Regarding the mountain assembly, Yu Luomian had mentioned that Liu Erlong had parted on bad terms with the clan there. There must have been many hidden details, but due to his limitations, Mo Li couldn't guess what had actually happened at that assembly.

Instead, it was after that—around the time he was found—that he began living at the Blue Tyrant Academy from the age of three, right up until today.

It was strange, though; by his estimation, Sister Erlong should have deeply hated the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, so why name the academy the "Blue Tyrant Academy"?

Wasn't that just purely adding to her own distress?

Mo Li rubbed his chin, frowning in thought for a moment, but ultimately reached no logical conclusion. He had to set it aside; perhaps only Sister Erlong herself knew the truth.

Estimating the time, Mo Li waved his hand, clearing the table completely and storing the tea set and cups into the bracelet on his left wrist.

Afterward, he went to the grassy area where he usually spent his time and entered a state of cultivation.

He quietly circulated the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Art, and a faint halo of Soul Power appeared on his skin, as if he had fallen into some miraculous state.

Mo Li was not surprised by this state; ever since he finished absorbing his second soul ring, he had noticed this change in his body whenever he circulated his technique.

After some research, he discovered that this halo could slowly absorb the free-floating Soul Power in the surroundings and integrate it into his meridians.

This wondrous phenomenon had only delighted him for a short time, as he soon discovered that while this absorbed Soul Power could be used, it could not be retained, nor could it enhance his actual Soul Power cultivation.

It was, in a sense, like temporarily borrowed Soul Power; after a while, it would dissipate exactly as it had come.

However, Mo Li had clearly conducted thorough research. Although this Soul Power could only exist for a short time, it could be used to unleash his own soul skills.

The only issue was that at this rate of absorption, even if he sat there for an entire day, he could barely sustain the release of his first soul skill, and even that absorbed power was constantly leaking away.

Its practicality was greatly diminished, so Mo Li could only console himself with the thought that even a mosquito's leg is still meat, and eventually, he stopped paying much attention to it.

The day passed in this state of self-forgetful cultivation.

After dinner, Mo Li walked back alone.

Passing along a bluestone path hidden within the primeval forest behind the teaching building and crossing a patch of woods, he could see the clear lake on his right, the two wooden houses on his left, and the garden enclosed by a nearby fence.

The day was still early, and the pale golden rays of the setting sun spilled into the forest, dyeing the thin mist into golden gauze—dreamlike, illusory, and incredibly magnificent.

On the winding bluestone path, Mo Li walked along by himself. He had walked this path countless times; everything was as usual.

But as he walked, Mo Li suddenly paused. His left shoulder shifted slightly as he leaned back toward his right, and without even looking, he swiped his palm toward his left rear.

A faint Black Flame flickered in his palm.

The next moment, a crisp sound rang out from behind his head, causing Mo Li to immediately drop all his prepared defensive measures.

"Huh?"

At the same time, a wave of delicate fragrance wafted over, and Liu Erlong appeared to Mo Li's left, her expression one of surprise.

"Sister Erlong, are you trying to scare someone to death?" Mo Li said with feigned dissatisfaction, though there wasn't a shred of resentment in his tone.

"Hmph, aren't you the one who isn't even afraid of a Title Douluo? Could a Soul Saint like me really scare you?" Liu Erlong teased.

"That's different," Mo Li laughed as well. Seeing that Liu Erlong's mood seemed to have returned to normal, he couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.

"How is it different?" Liu Erlong asked with curiosity.

Mo Li smiled without answering, which caused Liu Erlong to knit her brows and glare at him for a long while. Seeing that Mo Li still had no intention of answering, she gave a light huff and quickened her pace through the forest.

Just as Mo Li pushed open his door, intending to go inside, Liu Erlong poked her head out from her own room and called out, "Come to my room."

"Oh." Mo Li lowered his hand from the door, turned around, and entered Liu Erlong's room.

Once inside the room, Mo Li sat at the table and watched Liu Erlong's brows knit together, a murmur of unease rising involuntarily in his heart.

"You today..." Liu Erlong began.

"Sister Erlong..." Mo Li said at the same time.

The two exchanged an awkward glance; why was there always such an inexplicable sense of synchronicity when it came to speaking?

"You go ahead, Sister Erlong, I'm listening." Mo Li didn't dwell on the coincidence, as he was far more curious about what Liu Erlong had to say.

Liu Erlong cast a glance at Mo Li before turning her gaze toward the bright oil lamp. After a moment, she spoke in a weary voice, "Are you curious about why I have that attitude toward my father?"

"It would be a lie to say I'm not. I still hope to know what happened to you, so that when I eventually fight my way back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, I'll have a valid reason to do so," Mo Li replied.

"Fight your way back where?" Liu Erlong snapped, turning her head to glare fiercely at Mo Li.

"To the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, of course. Don't you hate them, Sister Erlong?"

Liu Erlong's eyes flickered, the light within them dimming and brightening like a burning wick as she spoke slowly, "I do not hate the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, nor do I want you to harbor any resentment toward them on my account."