Tang San Wept and Howled: Teacher Erlong, What Am I Supposed to Do Without You?!

The morning sunlight was so warm. It crossed the uneven rooftops of Heaven Dou City and fell upon Tang San's face, waking him.

Tang San quickly got out of bed.

After last night, he had realized that having her Martial Soul destroyed had dealt Teacher Erlong too great a blow. So, he planned to make a fragrant, nourishing medicinal congee for Liu Erlong, so that his Teacher Erlong could feel his care.

Originally, Tang San had wanted to get up before dawn to make it, then wake Liu Erlong while she was still sleeping soundly and have her drink the congee.

That way, Teacher Erlong would surely feel the depth of his care!

Tang San felt touched just thinking about it!

But Tang San had not expected that he would be unable to wake up.

Still, it was no big deal. It was early enough now, and Teacher Erlong would surely feel it.

At the thought of Liu Erlong's moved expression, Tang San felt cheerful. He put even more care into cooking the congee, gently stirring it with a ladle to keep it from sticking to the bottom.

As he stirred, he softly hummed, "Shake up a nice cup of tea~ Shake for lucky stars shining bright~"

The congee simmered for a full hour. Tang San immediately packed it into a food box, then came to the small courtyard where Liu Erlong was staying and gently pushed open the door with his shoulder.

The door hinge let out a brief creak, which quickly faded into the room's silence.

Tang San frowned. It was far too quiet. Could it be that Teacher Erlong had not gotten up yet?

How lazy.

Tang San looked into the room and found that it was indeed so. Liu Erlong was still asleep with the blanket pulled over her head, with only one hand dangling over the side of the bed. That sleeping position was far too unhealthy!

Tang San wanted to go over and correct Liu Erlong, telling her that she should not sleep with the blanket over her head. But the moment his gaze fell upon that hand hanging over the bedside, he froze.

That hand was too pale—white as the first snow of Douluo Year 2008. Against such pallid skin, the purplish-red livor mortis stood out all the more starkly!

At the sight, Tang San felt a chill run through his entire body, as though he had been frozen solid. He stiffly moved his legs and shuffled into the room step by step.

Each step felt as if he were treading on cotton, soft and yielding, leaving him unable to exert any strength.

The food box slipped from his hand. The congee that no one would ever eat again smashed onto the floor, splattering everywhere.

Tang San held Liu Erlong's hand, finding it terribly cold—so cold that he did not even have the courage to lift the blanket.

Liu Erlong was now like congee spilled across the floor, beyond saving while it was still hot.

"How could this happen..."

Tang San's voice carried a shattered pain, as though something had broken inside his chest and its fragments had pierced his words.

He lay against the bedside, his forehead pressed to the back of Liu Erlong's icy hand.

"How could this happen... Teacher Erlong! Teacher Erlong, what am I supposed to do without you?!"

"Teacher Erlong, take me with you, Teacher Erlong! Sob, sob, sob..."

Tang San wailed as though he had lost his parents. He had lost the last family member who had remained by his side.

The joys and sorrows of people were never shared. At this moment, the Great Soul Arena of Heaven Dou City was adorned with lanterns and colorful decorations, while jubilant drums beat out a festive rhythm.

Today was a good day—Skywater Academy versus Blazing Fire Academy.

The moment the news came out, all of Heaven Dou City was ignited!

That was because Shui Bing'er's battle against Liu Erlong had already spread to every corner of Heaven Dou City.

Countless people wanted to witness the moment this miraculous Soul Emperor fought!

In contrast to the spectators' joyous excitement, the seven members of Blazing Fire Academy stood in the competitors' passageway, sighing in dismay.

Captain Huo Wushuang leaned against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

A deep furrow had formed between his brows as he listened to his teammates talk about Shui Bing'er's exploits.

"Captain, have you heard?" Huo Yun leaned closer and lowered his voice. "That Shui Bing'er, Skywater Academy's captain, beat up Liu Erlong, the dean of Blue Tyrant Academy, yesterday! Liu Erlong is a Soul Saint. She even activated her Martial Soul Avatar, yet Shui Bing'er still knocked her flat."

"Senior Liu Erlong? She's the Slaughter's Horn of the legendary Golden Iron Triangle! How is that possible? How old is Shui Bing'er?"

"What does age have to do with anything? I can even tell you that Shui Bing'er's Soul Power is only rank sixty-nine!"

"Only" rank sixty-nine...

The furrow between Huo Wushuang's brows deepened further.

Huo Wu fell silent as she listened to her teammates' discussion. As a favored daughter of heaven, it was difficult for her to accept that someone else could be stronger than her.

She tightened her pretty face and asked, "Is that Shui Bing'er really that strong?"

Huo Yun had just been about to speak when Huo Wushuang raised his head to stop him. "Whether she's strong or not, we'll know once we fight."

Huo Wu clenched her fists and said nothing more.

Soon afterward, both sides entered the arena. The two teams took their positions on either side of the Soul Arena platform, their gazes colliding across the distance.

Huo Wushuang's gaze settled on Shui Bing'er's face.

That face was far too young and beautiful, like a princess cherished by all within an ice-and-snow castle. It was difficult to imagine that its owner possessed the strength to defeat a Soul Saint across a whole realm.

Shui Bing'er's gaze swept past Huo Wushuang and landed on Huo Wu.

Huo Wu was looking at her. The instant their eyes met, Huo Wu's pupils contracted slightly.

Those ice-blue eyes were so beautiful.

Although Blazing Fire and Skywater were both among the Five Elements Academies, this was actually the first time Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er had met.

Huo Wu could not help gritting her teeth. She had not expected Shui Bing'er to be equally outstanding in appearance. If her strength was also as the rumors claimed...

A powerful sense of defeat rose within Huo Wu.

The host's impassioned voice rang through the entire venue. "The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, second round of the preliminaries—Skywater Academy's representative team versus Blazing Fire Academy's representative team!"

The cheers of all the spectators immediately surged forth like a tidal wave, overwhelming the arena as everyone shouted Shui Bing'er's name.

This made Huo Wu jealous as well. Shui Bing'er's popularity actually surpassed hers!

"Blazing Fire Academy is a traditionally powerful team, a representative of the ultimate fire-attribute Martial Soul style! Skywater Academy is precisely the opposite! A clash of ice and fire! This is a battle of elemental restraint, and also a battle of wills!"

Huo Wushuang took a deep breath and walked toward Shui Bing'er.

"Captain Shui Bing'er," Huo Wushuang said quietly, though his voice reached Shui Bing'er's ears clearly. "I have long admired you."

Shui Bing'er looked at him and nodded.

"Mm..."

Huo Wushuang did not know how to continue, because if Shui Bing'er truly possessed the strength described in the rumors, then Blazing Fire Academy basically had no hope of winning.

So he wondered whether he should... ask Shui Bing'er to go easy on them?

But this was a competition!

Huo Wushuang immediately began to stammer.

Just then, Xue Wu stepped out from behind Shui Bing'er and walked to the front of the team.

"Don't worry. Our captain won't be making a move."

Upon hearing Xue Wu say that, Huo Wushuang's speech immediately became smooth again. "Is that true?"

Shui Bing'er promised, "Of course. Xue Wu and the others need experience too."

Huo Wushuang said somewhat sheepishly, "In that case, thank you... Though it seems we would be winning unfairly this way!"

As long as Shui Bing'er did not make a move, what could the others possibly do to us?

After all, fire-attribute Martial Souls had always restrained ice-attribute Martial Souls!