"Dai Mubai, Oscar, what's going on with you two?"
At this moment, a commanding female voice rang out, drawing everyone's attention toward its source.
The owner of the voice was dressed in a strikingly bold and revealing outfit, exuding a fiery and explosive temperament.
"Eh? Sixth Brother, Tianxin…"
The woman had just arrived when she spotted Yu Longliu and Yu Tianxin.
"Er Long (Aunt)!"
The fact that Liu Erlong was Yu Luomian's illegitimate daughter wasn't a secret within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The scandal from back then had been the talk of the town, making it impossible for the clan members to remain ignorant.
Because of this, the clan blamed Yu Xiaogang for tarnishing the honor of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Liu Erlong, with her exceptional talent, had the potential to become a Titled Douluo, but her birth circumstances had hindered her. However, the clan was willing to tolerate almost anything for a strong talent. For someone like Yu Xiaogang, though—a so-called failure…
Yu Longliu, who was about ten years older than Liu Erlong, managed various affairs in Heaven Dou City, which explained his presence here. Liu Erlong also lived in Heaven Dou City, so the two were fairly acquainted.
Yu Tianxin, being Yu Luomian's grandson, was technically Liu Erlong's nephew—a direct family connection!
"Erlong, this is Fourth Uncle, the one we've been searching for!"
Yu Longliu hurriedly introduced Liu Erlong to Li Si, unwilling to leave him out of the conversation despite the other matters at hand.
Hearing this, Liu Erlong froze for a moment, furrowing her brows. This child, who looked no older than his teens, was the so-called prodigy—and her uncle?
"Greetings, Fourth Uncle!"
Liu Erlong addressed him plainly. She harbored little affection for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, so this was more out of basic respect for an elder. Kneeling or showing further reverence? Not a chance.
Li Si: "..."
Dai Mubai and the others were equally stunned. Their fiery Dean Erlong was actually this man's niece? His junior?
What in the world? This was insanity!
"Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing—someone explain what happened here!"
Liu Erlong frowned. She had sensed a Soul Saint releasing pressure earlier, which prompted her to investigate.
Without needing much detail, she could roughly piece together the situation. Clearly, Dai Mubai and the others must have provoked her Sixth Brother.
"Dean, maybe we should talk about this back at the academy?" Oscar suggested hesitantly. After all, this wasn't exactly a matter of pride. Rehashing it would probably make Dai Mubai want to crawl into a hole.
"Yes, Dean, let's discuss this later," Dai Mubai added, throwing Oscar a grateful glance.
"When I say speak, you speak! What's with all this hemming and hawing?"
Liu Erlong's fiery temper flared up, and her anger made the two shudder, leaving them no room to protest.
In the end, it was Ning Rongrong who recounted the whole incident.
After hearing the story, Liu Erlong glanced at Dai Mubai with some pity. No wonder he was so reluctant to talk—who would want to air such an embarrassing episode in public?
She could empathize, but saying "sorry" was not in her nature.
"All right, all right. Erlong, since this blonde brat is your student, I won't hold it against him. We have more important matters to attend to. Let's go!"
With those words, Yu Longliu didn't bother with further pleasantries toward Liu Erlong. Turning to Li Si, he asked cautiously, "Fourth Master, shall we depart now?"
Yu Longliu and Yu Tianxin were about to lose their minds. They'd been ready to leave earlier, but then they bumped into Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing.
Just as they were about to go again, in came Dai Mubai and Oscar.
And now, Liu Erlong had shown up too!
If they didn't leave now, Yu Longliu feared they might never make it out today!
Ridiculous!
Li Si's expression twitched as he nodded, bid a brief farewell to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, and finally started walking toward the outskirts of Heaven Dou City.
Not long after they left, only the Shrek Academy group and Liu Erlong remained behind.
Liu Erlong frowned and asked, "Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, do you know my… ahem, Fourth Uncle?"
Calling a teenager her uncle was clearly a challenge for her pride.
"Yes, we've known him since two years ago," Ning Rongrong replied with a nod, then turned to glance at Dai Mubai. "Actually, Dai Mubai knows him too."
Dai Mubai: "???"
This was his first meeting with this so-called Fourth Uncle. When had he ever met the guy?
"Back then, Dai Mubai and Teacher Zhao were both beaten up by Li Si," Ning Rongrong said with a mischievous smile.
Hearing this, Dai Mubai felt like a long-forgotten wound had been ripped open. He couldn't forget the time he and Zhao Wuji were soundly thrashed in Soto City.
Even after all this time, the memory still stung. Li Si's overwhelming strength and underhanded tactics, including poisoning them, were things he simply couldn't forgive.
"That guy is Li Si?"
Did this person even remotely resemble the Li Si he remembered? Wait—wasn't the pink-clad girl standing by his side back then the same one here now?
Realization hit Dai Mubai like a ton of bricks. Grinding his teeth, he glared into the distance. The hatred burned bright as day.
"Of course! Didn't you recognize him?" Ning Rongrong teased.
"Ning Rongrong!"
Dai Mubai practically spat her name through gritted teeth.
"Pfft, it's been so long, and all you ever do is yell at a Support-type Spirit Master like me. If you've got the guts, go catch up and challenge Li Si one-on-one!" Ning Rongrong said disdainfully, her lips curling in a mocking smirk.
Dai Mubai: "..."
He was only a Rank-41 Spirit Master, and two years ago, Li Si was already at the Spirit King level, almost a Spirit Emperor. Now, it wouldn't surprise him if Li Si had reached Spirit Saint. Challenging him? That would be suicide.
Silent, Dai Mubai shot Ning Rongrong a cold glare before storming off toward Shrek Academy without looking back.
Oscar quickly followed suit, bidding the group a hasty farewell before chasing after Dai Mubai.
Liu Erlong shook her head. She wasn't one to meddle in such affairs. With her own unresolved emotional turmoil, how could she judge anyone else's?
She was just shocked that this Fourth Uncle—a mere youth—had once defeated Zhao Wuji!
She held a fair amount of respect for Zhao Wuji's strength. For such a veteran powerhouse to lose to a youngster was simply mind-boggling.
"Dean Erlong, what brings you here?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously. "Shouldn't you be singing those sad songs on the hill behind the academy?"
They'd been in Heaven Dou City for over a year, and they could count on one hand the number of times they'd seen Liu Erlong. Meeting her here was truly unexpected.