Shui Yue'er and Dugu Yan were more than happy with the situation. Each took three flying soul tools and returned in high spirits.
As for the remaining flying soul tools, Dan Heng sold them to Ning Fengzhi.
Right now, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect lacked everything—except money.
In fact, they urgently needed to spend their wealth before it attracted unwanted attention.
Ning Fengzhi even consulted Dan Heng on how to best use this fortune to maximize the sect's interests.
Dan Heng gave him some advice.
After all, aside from ignoring his warning that one time, Ning Fengzhi had always acted in ways that aligned with Dan Heng's wishes.
…
Elsewhere, Dugu Yan was eager to experiment with the flying soul tool and show off in front of the Emperor Team, while Shui Yue'er couldn't wait to rush back to her residence.
Even though she promised Mr. Dan Heng not to involve him, her "others" naturally didn't include her teammates!
After all, the flying soul tool wasn't meant for Shui Yue'er to mess around with in secret.
Claiming she obtained it from some ancient ruins? Totally believable.
"BANG…!!!"
Shui Yue'er slammed the door open and burst in.
The other girls were deep in discussion, but when they saw her return, they couldn't help teasing her.
"Little Yue'er's heart is full of Mr. Dan Heng now. I bet she wouldn't even notice if we all left!"
"Yue'er, did you forget I told you we were having an important meeting today?"
Shui Bing'er looked at her, her eyes full of helplessness.
Shui Yue'er was getting out of hand!
She had always been a bit of a fangirl, but this time she'd completely lost herself to a man—missing an important team meeting, no less.
And Shui Bing'er had even reminded her just yesterday.
Shui Yue'er scratched her head awkwardly and explained:
"I thought I'd make it back in time… Besides, whatever decision you make, I'm fine with it!"
Xue Wu laughed:
"What if I told you our decision is to return to the academy soon?"
"Huh? Why?! Isn't training here way better?" Shui Yue'er instantly protested.
She could never get tired of watching Mr. Dan Heng. A whole lifetime wouldn't be enough.
The thought of leaving now? Absolutely unbearable!
Xue Wu grinned:
"And just a moment ago, you were saying you'd go along with anything."
The rest of the Tianshui girls giggled and joined in teasing her.
Shui Yue'er blushed furiously, but her eyes showed worry as she looked pitifully at Shui Bing'er:
"Big sis… don't tell me we really have to go. Things are so great here…"
Shui Bing'er shook her head and said coldly:
"Good? Yue'er, you're being foolish. We don't even have an ice mountain here to use as a mimicry training ground…"
"…" Shui Yue'er deflated instantly.
Was she really going to be separated from Mr. Dan Heng?
She couldn't bear the thought.
"Maybe… maybe you all can go back…?" she muttered, not daring to meet Shui Bing'er's eyes.
"YUE'ER!!!"
Shui Bing'er scolded angrily.
For a soul master team, the most important thing wasn't individual training—it was team cohesion.
If Shui Yue'er left the Tianshui Team to train alone, it would ruin their synchronicity and cripple their future combat effectiveness!
"Don't let me hear such foolish words again! Even if I have to drag you back to the academy myself!"
"You're… You're being too mean!"
Shui Yue'er's eyes turned red with tears, glaring at Shui Bing'er.
The other Tianshui girls stood up. The teasing expressions vanished from their faces.
Their gazes toward Shui Yue'er grew solemn.
Shui Yue'er stomped her foot:
"I'm not talking to you anymore! I— I'm not leaving! It's clearly better to train here!"
With that, she bolted out of the room, wiping away tears.
Shui Bing'er and the others chased after her immediately.
One of the agility-type soul masters quickly overtook her and blocked her path.
"Enough! Yue'er, don't disappoint the captain!"
But Shui Yue'er was beyond reasoning now. She suddenly activated the flying soul tool.
Blue flames burst from the base of the box-shaped device, and she soared into the sky.
"BOOM…!!!"
Everyone was stunned.
Shui Yue'er didn't have a flying-type martial soul—how could she fly?!
And what's more, her speed seemed even faster than Shui Bing'er's!
"Yue'er! You…" Shui Bing'er was dumbfounded, forgetting to give chase.
Xue Wu shook her head:
"Indecision leads to disaster. If we let her keep acting like this, she'll only fall deeper…"
Shui Bing'er nodded, gazing at the rapidly shrinking silhouette of Shui Yue'er:
"That thing on her back… I'm guessing it's another one of Mr. Dan Heng's creations? He really is a strange one…"
Xue Wu gently nodded:
"At this point, we probably won't be able to find Yue'er. She'll have to figure it out on her own."
…
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
At this time, Yu Xiaogang—once frustrated and full of self-doubt—suddenly had a turnaround.
His biological father had taken him back into the clan.
Yu Yuanzhen summoned both Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong to his chambers.
He was weak now, but his cloudy eyes were unusually bright as he looked at the two of them.
"Xiaogang, I once expelled you from the clan. Do you resent me? Or your fellow clansmen?"
Yu Yuanzhen asked.
Yu Xiaogang knelt immediately, his expression sincere:
"How could I ever resent you? I've long understood your good intentions! It's just… I never managed to make anything of myself…"
Yu Yuanzhen smiled gently and patted his shoulder:
"As long as you understand my intentions, Xiaogang…"
Tears welled in Yu Xiaogang's eyes as he expressed his loyalty once again.
Right now, he just wanted to secure his position in the clan as quickly as possible!
Liu Erlong watched the scene, her lips twitching with annoyance.
She'd seen right through this dog of a man.
Her disgust extended to everything about Yu Xiaogang—she saw no redeeming traits.
Obviously, he was just acting!
But Yu Yuanzhen completely bought into it. She had no choice but to watch silently, unable to object.
After catching up for a bit, Yu Yuanzhen grabbed Liu Erlong's hand and said:
"Erlong, you are the most outstanding of your generation. Even your elder brother can't compare. And Xiaogang is the smartest among your peers. Only by working together can you make the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan great again and survive these troubled times…"
"Your uncle hopes the two of you can unite—Xiaogang serving as your advisor, helping you carry out the duties of clan leader."
Yu Yuanzhen's idea was clear—he thought Liu Erlong disliked being tied down and would willingly hand over the leadership to Yu Xiaogang.
But Liu Erlong was still fuming that Yu Yuanzhen hadn't trusted her and instead sought advice from Dan Heng, only to follow Yu Xiaogang's manipulative suggestions.
"Fine! I agree, Uncle!"
"???"
Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang were both stunned.
(End of Chapter)