Poking Liu Erlong Where It Hurt

Liu Erlong's expression froze for a moment, then returned to its aloof demeanor. "What do you know? He has his reasons."

"What's the trouble?" Jiang Lan looked up at him, persistently pressing for an answer. "Is your leg broken so you can't walk here, or are you locked up? I heard he's been traveling around a lot, writing books, taking on disciples, and researching Martial Soul. He's very busy. If he's so busy, how come he still has time to give lectures to others but no time to come see you?"

Liu Erlong's lips pressed into a thin line, and her fingers unconsciously gripped the hem of her clothes.

Jiang Lan, seemingly oblivious to her already dark and gloomy expression, leaned closer and whispered mysteriously, "Auntie, let me tell you a secret. My Mom Bo Saixi, once said that if a man truly loves a woman, even if it rains knives, he'd crawl over to her. If he doesn't even have that much courage, it just means that woman isn't worth his time in the rain."

Liu Erlong was startled.

She recalled the scene of Yu Xiaogang Yu Xiaogang without saying goodbye, and the face of Yu Xiaogang when she first learned that they were cousins.

Liu Erlong wanted to explain that their relationship was not just that of a man and a woman, but that they were related by blood.

But the words stuck in his throat.

"Besides, you're single now, doesn't that prove something?" Jiang Lan continued to add insult to injury.

"Maybe... maybe it's because of something else," Liu Erlong said, his voice terribly dry.

"Then you can go ask him," Jiang Lan tilted her head, looking innocent. "If he really likes you, you should make him say it clearly. If he doesn't, then don't wait for him. There are so many good men in Heaven Dou City. My master may be a bit old, but he's a good person."

Liu Erlong was so angry at Jiang Lan's last sentence that she burst out laughing. Her eyes reddened, and she reached out to roughly rub Jiang Lan's head. "You little brat, what nonsense are you talking about! Who is your master? I don't want him!"

"My master is Dugu Bo, Titled Douluo!" Jiang Lan puffed out her chest proudly. "I can introduce you to others. Uncle Ning is fine too; he's rich and handsome, but a bit cunning. And my second brother Xue Qinghe, is also good-looking, and as the crown prince, he doesn't have to worry about food or clothing."

Liu Erlong was amused by his words and poked his forehead hard. "Shut up, you're getting more and more ridiculous."

"I'm not lying," Jiang Lan muttered softly, rubbing her forehead where it had been poked red.

Liu Erlong took a deep breath and looked up at the sky.

She had to admit that being poked around by this brat brought up all her old grudges, making her feel even worse than when she was drinking alone in silence.

Jiang Lan tilted her head and said, "If all else fails, I can reluctantly marry you when I grow up? No, no, you'll be too old then."

He was just saying it; he would never actually marry Liu Erlong.

By the time he grew up, Liu Erlong would already be an old woman.

Liu Erlong was taken aback at first, then the veins on his forehead bulged visibly.

She bent down, pinched Jiang Lan's cheeks with both hands, and pulled them outward like kneading dough.

"You little brat, you dare to take advantage of me?" Liu Erlong's voice was sinister, but a smile lingered on her face, a smile more terrifying than anger. "You're still forcing yourself? You think I'm too big? Do you believe I'll drag you back to the Blue Tyrant Academy right now and have Flender and Zhao Wuji take turns being your sparring partners until you cry?"

Jiang Lan's lips pouted from being pinched, her little hands flailing in the air. "Waaah... I was wrong, I was wrong... I was doing this for your sake... If you don't want to get married... you can be the manager of my shop... room and board included..."

"You still dare to talk back!" Liu Erlong tightened his grip even more.

Jiang Lan screamed in pain. Seeing that things were not going well, Doro had already quietly retreated three meters away, squatted down by the wall, took out an Ju Zi from under his belly, and peeled it nonchalantly.

"I... I didn't say anything..." Jiang Lan squeezed out half a plea for mercy through gritted teeth, tears welling up in her eyes.

Liu Erlong then released his grip, straightened up, dusted off non-existent dust from his palm, and glanced down at Jiang Lan: "Such a young age, and already so ill-mannered, spouting nonsense. Were you going to find Xiao Wu and the others? Fine, I'll take you. Let them see how this glib-tongued Little Penguin ended up in my hands."

"No! I want to go back to Honey Snow Ice City! I'm not looking for Sister Xiao Wu anymore!" Jiang Lan covered her cheek and was about to run away when Liu Erlong scooped her up and tucked her under his arm like a disobedient kitten, and strode off towards the Blue Tyrant Academy.

"Trying to run now? Too late." Liu Erlong snorted coldly, his steps steady, clearly determined to bring this brat who dared to provoke him back to the academy for a good "education."

Jiang Lan was trapped under Liu Erlong's arm, her two short legs dangling in the air. The hood of her penguin onesie flipped up to the back of her head because of the upside-down position, and her chubby face was deformed by the wind.

He turned his head with difficulty to look for Doro, only to see the little white ball of fur running behind Liu Erlong with its short legs, stuffing Ju Zi into its mouth as it ran.

"Doro! You traitor! You just watched her kidnap me!" Jiang Lan yelled at the top of her lungs.

"I didn't see a kidnapping, I only saw you get punished for your rudeness." Doro stuffed the last two segments of Ju Zi into his mouth, wiped his little hands on his belly, and continued to jog after him. "Don't worry, I'll draw the way you were being carried away and show it to Mom Bo Saixi later."

"You dare!"

"I've already drawn a third of it." Doro pulled a small notebook and half a charcoal pencil from under his belly, held it up and waved it at Jiang Lan. On the notebook was a penguin tucked under his arm, the lines were rough but very expressive.

Jiang Lan felt as if the sky had fallen.

Liu Erlong completely ignored Jiang Lan's struggles under his arm, treating her as if she were a talking hand warmer.

She walked through the front courtyard of the college, around two bamboo groves, and headed straight for the girls' dormitory area in the back courtyard.

The students on the road saw the principal striding past with a child dressed Penguin Suit, and they all bowed and greeted him, but their eyes couldn't help but glance at the child.

"Hello, Principal."

"Um."

"Hello, Principal Liu!"

"Um."

Jiang Lan was being led past group after group of students, feeling utterly humiliated. He buried his head in Liu Erlong's clothes, trying to disguise it as an unusual personal item.

"Stop pretending, I saw you." Liu Erlong glanced down at Jiang Lan, who was huddled under his arm, his tone carrying a hint of barely concealed amusement. "Weren't you quite talkative just now? Now you know how embarrassing you are?"

"Even my Mom Bo Saixi never squeezed me like that..." Jiang Lan said sullenly.

"Then your Mom Bo Saixi, must be very gentle," Liu Erlong said.