"Dai Mubai, you're even weaker than I imagined," Zhu Zhuqing said sharply. "Before your brother Dai Weisi turns twenty-four, go on falling further. Keep indulging yourself, keep rotting away. From today on, don't ever mention that ridiculous engagement again. Otherwise, next time, I won't hold back."
With that, she withdrew her Netherworld Spirit Cat martial soul and turned, returning to Xiao Se's side.
"You—"
Dai Mubai spat out another mouthful of blood. This time, it wasn't from his injuries—it was pure rage.
Xiao Se gently rubbed Little Kitty's head, then casually took a jade bottle out of his storage ring and tossed it to Flander. His expression turned serious.
"Dean Flander, this matter is settled. Hurry and give your student this bottle of Recovery Pill. There are two pills inside—one to be taken internally, one to be crushed and applied to the wounds. If you delay any longer, his hands might truly be ruined."
"Thank you," Flander said, taking the jade bottle with a bitter smile. He turned and walked over to treat Dai Mubai.
From the moment Zhu Zhuqing revealed her soul rings, Flander had already foreseen this outcome. He just hadn't expected Dai Mubai to lose so completely—defeated so easily even after unleashing all three soul skills.
"No need to thank me," Xiao Se said with a faint curl of his lips. "I only gave it because you're a competent teacher."
Of course, Xiao Se had no goodwill toward Dai Mubai at all.
But if Dai Mubai wasn't treated… how could this Evil-Eyed Ape-Tiger go crazy tonight?
And if he didn't go crazy tonight, wouldn't all the illusions Xiao Se had prepared be wasted?
Sigh.
He, Xiao Se, was simply too kind.
"Zhuqing, Xian'er, Xue'er—we should go," Xiao Se said, turning his head toward Qian Renxue and the others.
Qian Renxue shook her head, leaned close to Xiao Se's ear, and whispered with a soft laugh, "Dad, it seems you still have something left to deal with~"
"What?" Xiao Se asked in confusion. "I've already taken care of everything I needed to."
Those three would have more than enough to keep them busy tonight.
At that moment, Liu Erlong walked over, holding the jade bottle.
"Xiao Se," she said softly, "who gave you this Recovery Pill? And… who is Xiao Huohuo to you?"
Her gentle voice trembled violently as she asked those two questions. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her slightly pale face. She was already caught in an intense emotional storm.
Earlier, Liu Erlong had only felt that Xiao Se's voice was familiar, but she hadn't been able to confirm anything.
However, after personally examining the Recovery Pill Flander gave to Dai Mubai, she was now certain—
Xiao Se was absolutely connected to the young man from her memories.
"Uh…"
The corner of Xiao Se's mouth twitched. He instantly felt that something was seriously wrong.
This Mother Tyrannosaurus… actually knew his old alias?!
Everyone else was completely stunned as well.
From the Shrek side, Tang San asked Yu Xiaogang in confusion, "Teacher, who is Xiao Huohuo?"
After Dai Mubai took the Recovery Pill Xiao Se provided, both his external and internal injuries had visibly improved. This had already piqued Tang San's curiosity.
And now, from Liu Erlong's words, it was clear she had seen this pill before—and that it had come from Xiao Huohuo.
Given that Xiao Se could reach such an almost despair-inducing level of power at such a young age, he had to be connected to that person.
Yu Xiaogang shook his head, his expression grave. "I've never met that person either. When Flander, Erlong, and I were traveling together in our younger days, I occasionally heard Erlong mention him. He once used pills to save Erlong's mother."
Beside Xiao Se, Zhu Zhuqing and Little Medical Fairy exchanged bitter smiles. Both could see the helplessness in each other's eyes.
It was obvious—they had guessed part of the truth as well.
"Brother, isn't Xiao Huohuo just one of your old aliases?" Dragon Kui's voice suddenly rang out in Xiao Se's mind. "How does she know it? Don't tell me that when you were controlling Sister Dong'er's body back then, you… ended up getting involved with her?"
"How could that be?" Xiao Se replied guiltily.
Truth be told, even he wasn't confident.
Given his personality, it really wasn't impossible. If he had encountered a younger Liu Erlong back then, even if he didn't fall for her, he would likely have tried to change her tragic fate.
At the very least, he wouldn't let her fall for someone as irresponsible as Yu Xiaogang.
In the process, misunderstandings weren't out of the question.
After all, Li Hanyi from The Song of Adolescents was a living example—one accidental move, and he'd intercepted someone else's fate entirely.
What a sin.
(But also… pretty damn satisfying.)
"Xue'er, what exactly is going on?" Xiao Se sent a soul transmission to Qian Renxue.
"Dad," Qian Renxue replied, making a playful face, "it looks like when Mom was young, you controlled her body, hid your identity, and accidentally stole Headmaster Erlong's heart. For all these years, she's rejected every suitor… just waiting for you."
"Pfft—!"
Xiao Se nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.
His lips twitched violently as he turned to look at Liu Erlong, forcing a dry smile.
"You're Headmaster Liu Erlong, right? Before I answer you… could you tell me what happened between you and Xiao Huohuo back then?"
"When I was young," Liu Erlong replied truthfully, tears still in her eyes, "he saved my mother."
"Oh, thank goodness…"
Xiao Se let out a long breath of relief internally.
At least nothing actually happened. He'd only saved her mother.
He, Xiao Se, always did good deeds without leaving his real name behind.
If he left anything, it was usually a fake one.
"Thank goodness for what?" Liu Erlong asked.
"Uh… nothing," Xiao Se waved his hand hastily. His expression suddenly turned serious.
"Headmaster Liu Erlong."
"I'm listening," she replied, her voice trembling. There was excitement in her beautiful eyes—the more she listened to Xiao Se's voice, the more it resembled Xiao Huohuo.
"Farewell."
Xiao Se clasped his hands.
Under Liu Erlong's stunned gaze, he turned, grabbed Qian Renxue's hand, and in an instant, the Purple Cloud Wings burst from his back. With a single beat, the two of them turned into a streak of light and vanished into the sky.
His voice echoed faintly as he left behind one last sentence:
"Headmaster Liu Erlong, I'll give you a satisfactory answer another day. Xian'er, Zhuqing—run!"
Hearing this, Little Medical Fairy and Zhu Zhuqing could only smile helplessly. Spreading their wings, they flew off in the direction Xiao Se had disappeared.
"…"
Xiao Se's sudden departure caught everyone completely off guard.
Watching his retreating figure, Liu Erlong murmured softly, "Could it really be him…?"
—
High in the sky.
Qian Renxue leaned against Xiao Se's chest, asking in confusion, "Dad, why didn't you tell her just now that you're Xiao Huohuo?"
"And then what?" Xiao Se replied quietly. "I don't remember anything. I'll ask your mom first before deciding what to do."
At some point, he had already accepted that form of address.
At this moment, Little Medical Fairy and Zhu Zhuqing also caught up.
"Xiao Se… you didn't actually get involved with her, did you?" Little Medical Fairy couldn't help asking.
"With Xiao Se's personality, it's really not impossible," Little Kitty chimed in with a grin. "After all, in the Douluo Continent, someone calling himself Xiao Huohuo who can refine Recovery Pills—there's basically only Xiao Se."
Having just settled Dai Mubai's matter, Little Kitty was in an unusually good mood and even found the rare urge to joke around.
(End of Chapter)
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