509. Crack on Relationship

It turned out Qian Renjue was overthinking.

Or perhaps he was simply too sensitive after being teased relentlessly by Ling Yuan and Ah Yin these past two days.

Upon entering Dugu Yan's boudoir, nothing overly provocative occurred.

At most, there were a few light kisses and gentle caresses that didn’t demand much effort.

“Your Highness~”

Dugu Yan snuggled into Qian Renzhu’s embrace, a golden banana chip perched between her lips.

Tilting her head up, she leaned closer. Her moist red lips glistened, as if coated in sugar.

“Yan Yan, there’s no need to feed me like this, is there?”

Qian Renjue chuckled awkwardly.

At this moment, he felt like prey, ensnared on the soft couch by Dugu Yan’s coiled form.

“...”

Dugu Yan paid no heed to his protests, tightening her hold. Her mesmerizing green pupils locked onto her quarry, exuding a bewitching allure.

She wrapped her arms around Qian Renjue's neck, her snake-like lips delivering the banana chip into his mouth, where it dissolved.

“Mm!”

Qian Renjue's Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, his hands instinctively scratching the smooth snake tail coiled around his waist.

The finely scaled surface felt cold and slick beneath his touch, quivering slightly under his fingers as the tension melted into warmth.

Dugu Yan’s face turned a rosy hue as she retracted her tongue. Watching Qian Renjue swallow the treat, she bit her luscious lips, her expression one of contentment.

Running her delicate hand over her chest, she murmured, “If Your Highness doesn’t like it, Yan Yan won’t feed you this way again.”

“Mm.”

Qian Renjue nodded faintly, wrapping his arms around her slender waist and gently patting the tail coiled around him.

“By the way, loosen your tail a bit. It’s a little tight.”

“As you wish, Your Highness.”

Dugu Yan immediately loosened her grip, nestling quietly in his arms.

Her gaze dropped, and she caught a glimpse of the daunting sight emerging from the entwined serpent's body. Blood rushed to her face, and her demeanor turned shy and demure.

She quickly averted her gaze, her thoughts suddenly drifting to Ye Lingling.

Lingling had made so many preparations—had she mentally readied herself for what was to come?

She must have, right?

After all, Lingling and His Highness had already shared a bed.


---

While Qian Renjue rested with the beautiful serpent in his arms, awaiting the arrival of noon, far away at Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang had spent a sleepless night.

Rising early, he prepared a nourishing medicinal chicken soup and made his way to Tang San’s dormitory.

Knocking softly, he heard a familiar voice from inside.

“Is that Xiao Ao? Come in!”

Creak!

Pushing the door open, Yu Xiaogang stepped inside with the chicken soup, leaning on his cane and treading lightly.

“Little San, how are you recovering?”

Hearing the voice, Tang San immediately turned his head, surprise lighting up his face.

“Teacher! When did you arrive?”

Tang San’s excitement was palpable as he quickly got up to greet Yu Xiaogang, though the movement caused a twinge of pain, making him wince.

“Little San, you’re injured—just lie down. Formalities like these are unnecessary,” Yu Xiaogang chided gently.

Dropping his cane, he hurried forward to support Tang San, his eyes filled with concern as he took in the bandages tightly wound around his student’s body.

“Sit down quickly,” he urged, his tone laced with worry.

“I arrived the day you left the academy,” Yu Xiaogang answered Tang San’s question while setting down the food container he had brought.

“I heard about your injury last night and didn’t want to disturb your rest, so I waited until now. I made this chicken soup especially for you—have some.”



"Thank you, Teacher, but I've already eaten," Tang San said, glancing at the food box on a nearby table with a gentle smile.

"Already eaten?"

Yu Xiaogang froze, following Tang San's gaze. On the table lay the remains of a green turtle shell.

"No wonder. Did that girl Xiao Wu buy it?"

"Yes, she did," Tang San replied, a shy and tender expression on his face. "But she's busy training, so Ma Hongjun brought it over."

"Busy training? More like busy fooling around," Yu Xiaogang said with frustration.

Tang San chuckled awkwardly. "Teacher, Xiao Wu is actually working very hard."

"Turning misfortune into fortune, yet still showing no ambition," Yu Xiaogang muttered with a regretful sigh, his left eye filled with disappointment.

Hearing this, Tang San's smile disappeared, replaced by a heavy silence. He was reminded once again of what had happened that day.

He hesitated, struggling to find the words.

"Teacher, my... my spirit ring..."

Noticing his student's change in demeanor, Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened.

"I already know."

"You know, Teacher?" Tang San was startled. He hadn’t even gathered the courage to inspect his spirit rings since that day. How he wished it had all been just a nightmare.

"Hmph!" Yu Xiaogang snorted, his tone stern. "Little San, tell me—did I ever instruct you to cultivate your second martial soul?"

"No... no, you didn’t," Tang San muttered, lowering his head.

Yu Xiaogang's face was devoid of any smile, only sorrow and harshness remaining.

"Then why did you act recklessly?!"

"Do you realize you're squandering the immense potential of your twin martial souls?"

Hearing Yu Xiaogang’s icy rebuke, the frustration Tang San had suppressed surged to the surface. He raised his head, his voice almost a roar.

"I know!"

"Teacher, I know this is wasting my potential, but I had no choice!"

"..."

Yu Xiaogang stared at Tang San's bloodshot eyes. His own single eye grew cloudy as he coldly asked, "Then why did you knowingly make this mistake?"

"Because I couldn’t stand it anymore! Because I’m desperate to improve!"

Tang San fixed his gaze on Yu Xiaogang, his voice tinged with grievance.

For once, he couldn't hold back.

"Teacher, do you know how strong the monsters in this academy are?"

"They’ve shattered all the so-called theoretical limits you taught me!"

"And yet I’m stuck with two white rings, constantly mocked and ridiculed."

"Like you! Too ashamed to even use your spirit skills!"

Yu Xiaogang's eyes widened in disbelief, his breath quickening, anger surging within him.

What did Tang San mean by "like him"? At least his spirit skills had some offensive capability!

"Heh. No such thing as a useless martial soul, only a useless spirit master?"

Before Yu Xiaogang could react further, Tang San continued, his tone laced with bitterness.

"Teacher, I used to believe in that saying."

"But now, reality has proven how ridiculous it is!"

"The truth is, Blue Silver Grass is a trash martial soul! Even without a ten-year spirit ring, it can barely sustain my cultivation!"

"And aiming to become a Titled Douluo before training my second martial soul? It’s nothing but a pipe dream!"

"I’m a prodigy born with innate full spirit power! But relying on Blue Silver Grass, I’ll end up just like you—forever stuck at a bottleneck, a failure!"

Yu Xiaogang’s face grew darker with each word. Watching Tang San’s relentless outburst, he finally raised his hand and swung it hard.

Slap!

A resounding smack silenced Tang San's shouts.

"Ugh!"

A red mark appeared on Tang San’s face as his head was knocked to the side. He staggered, falling against the edge of the bed, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.

His face burned with pain.

"Enough!" Yu Xiaogang roared, trembling with rage. His breathing was heavy as he continued, his voice shaking.

"I used to think you were mature beyond your years! Now I see how wrong I was! It’s only been a few years of ridicule and rumors, and you’ve already given up?! I’ve endured it for most of my life! And yet I carried on, carving out my path in the field of spirit theory!"

"Ha!" Tang San spat out a mouthful of blood onto the bed, his voice hoarse as he replied coldly.

"But I’m not you, Teacher! I’m not a failure!"

"You!"

Yu Xiaogang’s blood pressure soared, his face flushing with anger. He pointed at Tang San, unable to utter a word in response.

If he had been able to continue cultivating, would he have chosen a theoretical path? Of course not! Yet, his fury remained.

"Ungrateful student! Arrogant and unrepentant!"

"You need to calm down!"

"Come out, Luo San Pao! Thunderous farts, put this brat to sleep!"

Pffft!