Dai Mubai's lips curled into a smile as he spoke, his face full of amusement.
"Isn't Tang San always aiming to surpass me, Dai Mubai? Fine, I'll give him a chance!"
He couldn't help but wonder about his good brother, Li Si. It had been ages since he last visited that godly place. What was going on with Li Si? Dai Mubai wasn't aware that his good brother had been in need of his "help" multiple times.
But every time Li Si thought about what kind of "help" Dai Mubai might offer, he became decisively firm:
Help?
This master doesn't need your help!
Dai Mubai felt a bit melancholy, and so did Flender. Their time at the new Shrek Academy hadn't been short, yet his relationship with Liu Erlong hadn't made any progress.
On the contrary, Yu Xiaogang, after having his "little Xiaogang" ruined, had undergone a drastic transformation. Lately, he had been pestering Flender to accompany him to get manicures!
Manicures?
"Heavens, what a disaster!"
Flender sighed and massaged his temples, faintly regretting his decision to cripple Yu Xiaogang.
"He's turned into this, and I still feel sorry for him? Should I expose his true face in front of Erlong?"
Flender fell into deep thought, unable to make up his mind. The evidence of Yu Xiaogang's deceit from years ago was already in his hands. If he invited Yu Luomian for a confrontation, he could finally unveil the truth.
With a slap to his own face, Flender shook himself out of his hesitation.
"That Yu Xiaogang fooled Erlong and me so thoroughly back then, and I still pity him? I deserve a beating!"
Resolute now, Flender made his decision.
Three days later, Flender invited both Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang to an open, secluded forest. This wasn't something glorious to reveal. Yu Xiaogang's downfall wasn't important, but Liu Erlong's reputation as a woman was.
"Erlong, what's the matter, Flender?" Liu Erlong asked, puzzled as she followed him into the forest with Yu Xiaogang.
If Flender had invited only her, she could guess his intentions without thinking. But since he had also invited Yu Xiaogang, the situation was far from simple. It couldn't possibly be about pursuing her.
"Erlong, Land must have his reasons for bringing us here. Why are you asking so many questions, woman? When Land wants to talk, he'll naturally tell us…me," Yu Xiaogang scoffed, rolling his eyes at Liu Erlong with disdain before turning to Flender with a sly grin.
"Land, how's my manicure? This is the latest style of the year—'Pink Temptation'!"
With a mischievous smile, Yu Xiaogang raised his eyebrows at Flender.
"Ha! Are you tempted?"
Flender and Liu Erlong's faces turned dark. Truly, it felt like a critical hit straight to their core. After a moment of stunned silence, Flender exhaled deeply, unclenching his fists.
"Erlong, the reason I've brought you and Yu Xiaogang here is to reveal a truth—"
"—the truth about what happened back then."
Hearing this, Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang both froze. What truth?
"Erlong, back then, when I first met you and we ventured through the world of spirit masters together…" Flender began recounting.
It didn't matter what Liu Erlong or Yu Xiaogang thought—Flender was determined to tear apart Yu Xiaogang's facade, even if Liu Erlong didn't end up with him in the end!
As Flender spoke, Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang's expressions grew increasingly uneasy. Why would Flender suddenly bring up their past? Still, neither of them interrupted him, treating it as a trip down memory lane.
"Erlong, you'll need to mentally prepare yourself for what I'm about to say."
The color drained from Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang's faces. Flender was about to bring up their near-marriage!
Yu Xiaogang frowned deeply. By all accounts, Flender shouldn't know the truth from back then. Yet his tone suggested otherwise.
"No, wait…why am I worried? What's the worst that could happen if Erlong finds out? Isn't it better if she knows? Then she'll stop clinging to me!"
Yu Xiaogang smirked. If Flender didn't get things quite right, he was prepared to lay it all out for Liu Erlong.
That's right. Back then, I did deceive you!
Meanwhile, Liu Erlong's face paled further, her brow furrowing tightly. She had sensed something was off from Flender's earlier words, and now she was almost certain he was about to reveal something she couldn't bear to hear.
"Erlong, Yu Xiaogang pursued you back then for one reason only—to gain absolute control in our so-called 'Golden Iron Triangle!'"
"He knew about your relationship with Yu Luomian from the start! Dragonification is an exclusive technique of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
"Even if Yu Xiaogang was considered a waste, even if your martial spirit changed slightly, how could he possibly fail to recognize your dragonification?"
"Right before your wedding, Yu Xiaogang received word that Bibi Dong had become the Pope…"
"And the letters your father, Yu Luomian, received were written by Yu Xiaogang himself!"
Flender's voice rose as he nearly shouted these words, unable to hold back his anger. For years, he and the woman he loved had been deceived by Yu Xiaogang. If not for Dai Mubai's insight, he might never have realized the truth!
Yu Xiaogang deserved death—a hundred deaths wouldn't suffice!
Liu Erlong felt as though her world had collapsed. She staggered back, her head buzzing.
"Flender, you're lying to me, right? Xiaogang wouldn't do such a thing…"
Before Flender could present his evidence, or Liu Erlong could finish her sentence, Yu Xiaogang burst out:
"Liu Erlong! How can you speak to Land like that?"
"He's been our leader for so many years—when has he ever lied to us?"
"Everything Land said is true. Yes, I, Yu Xiaogang, deceived you all those years ago. The letters to my uncle? I wrote them myself."
Liu Erlong and Flender: "???"
Even Yu Luomian, hidden nearby and waiting for the right moment to come forward, was stunned.
For a moment, the three were at a loss, mouths slightly open, unable to find the words.
"Liu Erlong, what's with that look? Don't believe me, the great master?" Yu Xiaogang was enraged by Liu Erlong's expression and continued:
"If you don't believe me, you can ask my uncle for proof. The letters from back then were written by my hand!"
"If you compare the handwriting, you'll see—"
Liu Erlong stared at Yu Xiaogang blankly. Was this even a question of whether she believed him?
"You're right," a deep voice rang out as Yu Luomian stepped into view. "It was indeed him. Erlong, he deceived you. He never had any feelings for you…"
(To be continued)