The realization hit Yu Xiaogang like a lightning bolt: the people before him were indeed Flender and Liu Erlong!
And what had he just done?
He had confessed, in excruciating detail, how he had deceived and manipulated Liu Erlong and Flender in the past.
Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang's thoughts froze. Something still felt off. Why had Flender done all this?
"Flender! It must be him setting me up!"
"He's trying to turn Liu Erlong against me, make her hate me, and then take advantage of the situation to swoop in! What a clever scheme!"
"Decades of brotherhood, and he not only crippled my spirit power but also treated me this way!"
Yu Xiaogang was utterly devastated, teetering on the edge of despair.
After everything he had revealed, there was no way Liu Erlong would forgive him. And Flender, as Liu Erlong's ever-faithful admirer, would never let him go either!
Wait. Liu Erlong was so easy to fool! If he told her that everything he said was under Flender's coercion, wouldn't that give him a chance to fix things?
His eyes brightened. He had found a way out!
Once he escaped, he swore vengeance.
Flender, Liu Erlong? Just wait.
Once he reached Spirit City and reconnected with Bibi Dong, she would surely take care of Flender and Liu Erlong for him!
Yu Xiaogang smirked inwardly. He was already plotting his revenge. What he didn't know, however, was that his current predicament was largely Bibi Dong's doing.
It was Bibi Dong who had severed his future, destroyed his Golden Holy Dragon bloodline, and left him crippled.
If Yu Xiaogang went to Spirit City now, what awaited him would make his current situation seem like paradise.
After settling Liu Erlong in her quarters, Flender sought out a healing spirit master, Jiangzhu, to take care of her.
Jiangzhu was Liu Erlong's disciple. At nineteen years old, she was already a Level 35 Spirit Elder and a talented healer. With her beautiful appearance and sweet voice, she was a favorite among many Shrek Academy students.
Liu Erlong had taken her as a disciple because of her impressive potential and pitiful background as a commoner.
When Jiangzhu saw Liu Erlong unconscious, with bloodstains on her lips, she assumed her mentor had faced a powerful enemy.
"Headmaster Flender, what happened to my teacher?"
Flender shook his head. He could already guess what Jiangzhu was thinking.
"She's fine. She was just overwhelmed by some news. Take care of her for now; I have matters to handle."
Flender's voice was low and cold, his face contorted with barely restrained fury.
Jiangzhu could feel the killing intent emanating from him, almost tangible.
"Not an enemy? Then what's with this terrifying aura?"
Though unnerved, Jiangzhu nodded and assured him, "Headmaster, don't worry. I'll take good care of my teacher."
She was supposed to be participating in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, but what was a competition compared to her mentor's well-being?
To Jiangzhu, Liu Erlong wasn't just a teacher but a benefactor who had taken her in and treated her like family. Missing the tournament was a small price to pay.
Satisfied with Jiangzhu's response, Flender's expression softened slightly. Without further delay, he stormed off, his mind set on making Yu Xiaogang's life a living hell.
In the secret room, Yu Xiaogang was still dreaming of how he would exact revenge on Flender and Liu Erlong when the door creaked open.
Flender entered, his face twisted with anger. Yu Xiaogang quickly wiped the smirk off his face.
"Flender! How dare you cripple my spirit power and tie me up? Aren't you afraid of my father coming after you?"
"My father, Yu Yuanzhen—you know what he's capable of!"
Yu Xiaogang puffed up his chest, feigning courage, though he was slightly disappointed Liu Erlong wasn't with Flender.
"Yu Xiaogang, a man disowned by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, still dares to bring up his father?"
"Fine. Let your father come for me later. For now, worry about yourself!"
Flender's eyes were bloodshot, and his words carried a lethal edge. He didn't care about his own safety anymore; avenging Liu Erlong was worth any price.
Yu Xiaogang flinched. Flender was right—why provoke him now when he was already seething?
Wait. I'm not normally this reckless…
(No, you are.)
"Flender, what are you planning to do? If you kill me, my father and even Bibi Dong won't let you off!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice trembled. Flender's aura had become even more terrifying, his murderous intent unmistakable.
"Oh? Bibi Dong?"
Flender paused, then shook his head with a cold smile. "With what I now know about you, your approach to Bibi Dong was never sincere, was it? She must have been just another victim of your schemes."
Yu Xiaogang nearly retorted, You guessed right! So what?!
But the image of Flender and Liu Erlong together earlier stopped him short.
"Hmph! Flender, don't think you can trap me with your words. I, Yu Xiaogang, have always been upright and honorable. How could I do something so shameless?"
Flender froze for a moment, then sneered. Yu Xiaogang's shamelessness never failed to reach new heights.
"Hmmph…"
With a cold snort, Flender suddenly lashed out, kicking Yu Xiaogang forcefully.
"???"
"!!!"
Their gazes met in awkward silence.
Flender's eye twitched as he realized something shocking—Yu Xiaogang's condition was strikingly similar to the eunuchs serving Emperor Xue Ye!
Someone else had already gotten to Yu Xiaogang first.
"Wait a minute… what's going on here? When…?"
Yu Xiaogang stiffened, mortified that Flender had discovered this particular humiliation.
If not for the fact that he had been "altered" over two years ago, he would have been in unbearable agony from Flender's kick.
"I don't know… it happened two years ago…"
(End of Chapter)
Notes-Read all chapters in patreon.com/Shadow_D_X