Liu Erlong: This Man Looks Too Much Like My Love Rival—Beat Him First

How could a penny-pincher like Flender possibly spend money on new clothes for himself?

The dull gray robe he wore had been washed until it had faded white, and the hem was even coming undone.

Flender himself was already this stingy, so how generous could the wages he paid possibly be?

As Flender's subordinates, Zhao Wuji, Lu Qibin, and Shao Xin naturally had no spare money to tidy up their appearances either. Every one of them looked dusty and bedraggled, like refugees fleeing famine.

"Yeah, anyone with even a little common sense knows that Master..." A blond nobleman with two gold-digging women in his arms was speaking when he suddenly noticed Zhao Wuji's bell-sized eyes fixed on him.

A large hand cracked its knuckles, bones popping loudly.

The blond nobleman immediately shrank his neck and swallowed the rest of his words. "...There are too many people here. I'll tell you once we're back in bed."

"What a pity," another passerby said, shaking his head with a regretful expression. "These adults are dressed far too shabbily. Even those kids are better dressed than they are."

"There are exceptions," said a flamboyantly dressed young woman beside him. Her gaze swept through the crowd before finally settling on Qian Ren Shuang. Her eyes visibly lit up. "That one who looks absolutely stunning and has decent fashion sense..."

As the saying went, daughters resembled their fathers, while sons resembled their mothers. Qian Ren Shuang looked thirty percent like Qian Xunji and seventy percent like Bibi Dong. With that foundation, his face naturally stood in a league of its own among the Shrek Academy group. What was more, he was currently wearing the standard attire for male members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—a moon-white robe, a jade belt of the same shade around his waist, and exquisite cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs. Its formality and texture were like an executive jacket on Earth, making him especially conspicuous among a crowd of dusty, bedraggled people.

"If he can hang around with Master, what do you expect from him?" another voice chimed in.

"There are always exceptions..." The flamboyantly dressed woman's gaze still lingered on Qian Ren Shuang's face. "As long as his brain isn't seriously messed up, I can still accept him."

As they spoke, the group passed an imposing restaurant. A gilded plaque hung above its entrance, bearing four large characters—Imperial Delight Restaurant.

Guilmon suddenly stopped, tugged twice at the hem of Qian Ren Shuang's clothes with its claws, then raised its head and pointed expectantly at the sign. "Qian Ren Shuang, let's eat at this restaurant later!"

Looking through the glass windows, Imperial Delight Restaurant's business was astonishingly good. The main hall was packed with people, and not a single seat was empty.

Servers carrying platters darted between tables, moving as nimbly as though they were dancing.

Just standing at the entrance and catching a whiff of the drifting aromas of oil and sauce was enough to make one swallow unconsciously.

"Sure!" Qian Ren Shuang agreed without hesitation.

Although Ning Rongrong would most likely agree to have a meal at this restaurant too, the same principle still applied: both of Qian Ren Shuang's mothers, before and after his transmigration, had abandoned him when he was young. He never placed any expectations on women's actions.

Qian Ren Shuang still had more than 1.9 million Gold Soul Coins on him. A mere meal was naturally nothing to him.

Flender led everyone onward.

He had come here during the half month when he had left with Oscar last time, so he still remembered the general route to Blue Tyrant Academy.

After turning several corners, the group soon arrived before an impressive academy gate. A security booth stood at the entrance, with three or four guards on duty inside.

Flender stepped forward and knocked on the security booth's window, his face brimming with smugness. "I'm Flender, the one who spoke with your dean a few days ago. I said I'd go back and bring a group of people here to take up positions. Now I've brought them all. Please ask your dean to come out."

Since Flender had displayed his Soul Sage cultivation when he came here previously, the people in the security booth naturally did not dare neglect him.

One person hurried off to notify the dean, while another eagerly opened the booth's door and invited everyone inside to sit.

Before long, a figure appeared in the direction of the academy gates.

Liu Erlong had clearly dressed up specially before coming—her hair was combed flawlessly and gathered into a neat bun, secured with a simple jade hairpin. She had changed into a fitted dark red gown, its hem embroidered with subtle flame patterns that complemented her Red Dragon martial soul perfectly. She had even applied a light dusting of powder, making her entire face glow.

Her pace was neither hurried nor slow. Every step carried a deliberately restrained composure, as though she were saying, "I'm here, but I'm not the one in a hurry."

"Erlong, just as I promised you before—I brought Xiaogang to you." The moment Flender saw the specially dressed Liu Erlong, his eyes practically filled with hearts. He stared at her in a daze, his smile brighter than the sun.

But Liu Erlong's gaze went straight past Flender and landed on the person behind him.

"Xiaogang... is it really you?" Her voice suddenly became very soft, as though she were afraid of shattering a dream. She hurried forward and gently touched Yu Xiaogang's face, her fingertips lingering over the old wounds that had yet to fully fade.

Yu Xiaogang stood there stiffly, like a machine that had lost power. He did not move at all. His eyes flickered, his lips trembled slightly, yet not a single word came out.

Seeing that Liu Erlong's eyes still held only Yu Xiaogang, bitterness rose in Flender's heart. But he quickly concealed it and gave a wry smile. "I've grown old, but you're still as radiant as ever. Come, let me introduce them—these are the teachers and students of my Shrek Academy. We've come here to make a living."

Only then did Liu Erlong shift her gaze from Yu Xiaogang's face to the others. Her eyes carried a hint of scrutiny as they passed over each person in turn.

"Everyone, introduce yourselves so Sister Erlong can arrange things for you later." Flender lightly nudged the people beside him with his elbow, urging them on.

Having said that, he set an example himself. "Flender. Martial soul: Cat Eagle. Rank seventy-eight, agility-attack-type battle Soul Sage."

With Flender taking the lead, everyone began introducing themselves one after another in order of age.

"Zhao Wuji. Martial soul: Vigorous Vajra Bear. Rank seventy-six, strength-attack-type battle Soul Sage."

"Lu Qibin. Martial soul: Star Luo Chess. Rank sixty-six, control-type weapon Soul Emperor."

"Shao Xin. Martial soul: Sugar Bean. Rank seventy-one, food-type Soul Sage."

"Qian Ren Shuang. Martial soul: Guilmon. Rank fifty-two, strength-attack-type battle Soul King."

Qian Ren Shuang honestly reported his information and was just about to step back when he noticed Liu Erlong's gaze pause on his face.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly—this man's features bore some resemblance to that person.