"I..."
Liu Erlong stood frozen in place, the flames around her weakening considerably.
But remembering the hatred and anguish in Yu Xiaogang's eyes when he looked at her made her heart feel as though knives were slicing through it.
Liu Erlong pleaded:
"I admit this was my fault. Could you give Xiaogang's martial soul back to me? Please, I'm begging you. He really can't lose his martial soul. He'll die!"
"What does that have to do with me? You took the Soul Guide Ball I gave you and used it on another man because of your feelings for him, and now you're begging me to save him?"
Chen Yang put on a wounded expression.
Liu Erlong withdrew her martial soul and slowly approached Chen Yang, looking utterly defeated.
"Then what exactly would it take for you to return Xiaogang's martial soul? Whatever your conditions are, I'll agree."
"Whatever my conditions are? You really are hopelessly devoted to Xiaogang."
Chen Yang lifted Liu Erlong's chin with one hand, wrapped the other around her waist, and pulled her into his arms.
With a startled cry, she fell against him.
Their bodies pressed tightly together, close enough that they could distinctly feel each other's breath.
"If you want to kiss me, then do it. I only hope you'll keep your promise."
With that, Liu Erlong closed her eyes. He had already kissed her before, so one more kiss hardly mattered.
As long as she could save Xiaogang, what did it matter if he kissed her for an entire day?
Chen Yang's lips curved upward. Just a kiss?
No, no, no. That would waste this opportunity. Today, I'm going to imitate those classic films from the land of the rising sun.
But first, I'll collect a little interest.
Chen Yang leaned in and once again tangled his tongue with hers.
Meanwhile, Flender, who had rushed over after hearing the sounds of a fight, landed just in time to witness the scene.
He felt as though someone had clenched his heart in a fist. Even breathing became difficult, and he hurried behind the dormitory wall, out of their sight.
Clutching his chest, Flender pressed his back against the wall and slowly slid to the ground.
What if I've misunderstood, and Erlong is being forced? Chen Yang is so powerful, after all. I can't rule out the possibility that he's threatening her with violence!
He convinced himself, clutching at the thought like a drowning man grasping a straw, and peeked out again.
But no matter how he looked at it, she did not seem to be under duress.
Erlong had even wrapped her arms around Chen Yang. If anything, she looked more like the one forcing herself on him.
Erlong... how could you two do this... how can you face Xiaogang after this?!
Flender closed his eyes, desolation written across his face, then turned and left that heartbreaking place like a man who had lost his soul.
He could hardly be blamed for misreading the situation.
After all, a woman was a wolf at thirty, a tiger at forty, and at fifty could suck up the very earth.
Liu Erlong had guarded her chastity like jade for so many years that her pent-up desire had long since become unbearable.
Faced with Chen Yang's masterful tongue work, she was naturally like a pan of oil with a flame thrown into it, her surging passion hot enough to burn someone alive.
Not to mention that Chen Yang's physique and looks were both second to none.
"Hah... hah..."
They parted, Liu Erlong's gaze hazy. She even felt she had not had enough.
"Now... can you keep your promise?"
"When did I ever promise to give it back after a kiss?"
"You!!"
Liu Erlong's eyes widened with fury, and she shoved Chen Yang away.
"Heh. Since I can't win your heart anyway, I might as well let Xiaogang remain a cripple for the rest of his life. Consider it revenge for deceiving me. Unless..."
"Unless what?"
A spark of hope immediately lit Liu Erlong's eyes, and she hurried to ask.
Chen Yang's lips curled upward as his gaze roamed over her voluptuous curves.
"If I can't have your heart, I can still have your body~ You wouldn't want Yu Xiaogang to remain a cripple for life, would you~?"
Liu Erlong shuddered and instinctively took two steps back, disbelief filling her eyes.
There were now two paths before her.
One was to preserve her chastity for Yu Xiaogang, then watch helplessly as he spiraled downward until he died, perhaps hating her for the rest of his life.
The other was to give herself to Chen Yang in exchange for restoring Yu Xiaogang's status as a soul master. But then she would no longer have the face to stay by Yu Xiaogang's side. A ruined flower and withered willow like her would no longer be worthy of Xiaogang.
"I... agree..."
After saying those words, Liu Erlong seemed to have been drained of all her strength, her eyes empty.
Chen Yang swept her up in a bridal carry and walked into the dormitory, step by step.
"Erlong, look, you're getting excited too, aren't you? You're already like this."
"Shut up!"
Having abandoned all restraint, Liu Erlong simply seized the initiative, driving her soul power into motion without a care for the consequences, hoping to take revenge on Chen Yang that way.
The immense force made the entire dormitory tremble slightly, while the bed frame creaked incessantly.
Flender, who was drowning his sorrows in alcohol some distance away, also noticed the commotion in the dormitory.
His shoehorn-shaped face twisted in agony, and he raised his wine jug and gulped madly, like a helpless, lovesick Boiling Goat.
Damn it! Chen Yang, can't you be a little gentler?! Erlong! My dear Erlong!
"Boo-hoo-hoo..."
Liu Erlong's eyes went blank, focused again, then went blank and focused once more. Somehow, she endured until the next day.
Chen Yang leaned leisurely against the headboard, looking at the unconscious Liu Erlong.
He had to admit that although her martial soul was a mutant fire dragon, she possessed potential of the opposite kind that was in no way inferior to a water-type soul beast.
Chen Yang had shown Liu Erlong no mercy, standing up to thrust. After all, a woman with love on the brain could only be brought around through a thorough pounding of persuasion.
As the saying went, the shortcut into a woman's heart led straight through her "bridal chamber."
Remembering how she had gritted her teeth and resisted his attacks, Chen Yang felt deeply satisfied.
"Mmh..."
With a faint, muffled groan, Liu Erlong slowly opened her heavy eyes, gradually awakening from her stupor.
The moment she moved, soreness, weakness, and aching discomfort swept through her entire body. Her limbs felt powerless, and she barely had the strength to lift a hand. She was utterly exhausted.
Every scene from the previous night flooded uncontrollably into her mind, each one crystal clear.
Remembering how she had lost control earlier, Liu Erlong felt her cheeks burn, intense embarrassment and guilt surging through her heart.
In her more than thirty years of life, she had always been strong-willed and prided herself on her composure. Never had she lost control and indulged herself like that. The strange sensations she had never experienced before left her embarrassed and bewildered, her thoughts tangled into a complete mess.
She pressed her lips together, afraid to recall it, yet unable to forget. Conflicting emotions filled her heart.
She spoke in a hoarse voice.
"Can you return Xiaogang's martial soul now?"
"Of course."
Chen Yang squeezed her snowy mochi-soft flesh, covered in red marks, and took out the Dark Ball containing Luo Sanpao.
"Click-"
The Dark Ball opened, and black light enveloped Luo Sanpao, carrying him toward Yu Xiaogang's dormitory.
At the sight, the great stone weighing on Liu Erlong's heart finally dropped away. Fortunately, this man had not broken his word. Otherwise, she would have lost her chastity for nothing, and worse, there would have been nothing she could do about it-she could not beat him in a fight.
Now that the matter was resolved, it was time to sever ties with him and stay far away.
"From now on, neither of us owes the other anything. We'll never meet again."
Liu Erlong took out a fresh set of clothes and began dressing, paying no heed to Chen Yang's gaze.
Chen Yang smiled faintly and spoke in a tempting tone.
"Don't rush. Don't you want to help extend Yu Xiaogang's lifespan? I happen to have a rare natural treasure that can add years to someone's life~"
Liu Erlong paused in the middle of putting on her shoes.
Chen Yang leaned over and rested his chin on her shoulder.
"As long as you do what you did yesterday, I'll give you enough to add one year to his lifespan. If you perform well, I might increase that amount depending on how things go. What do you say?"
Before you continue