Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

……

Xiao Wu couldn't help but ask softly, "Teacher Erlong, are you... alright?"

Liu Erlong raised his eyes, looked at Xiao Wu, and forced a bitter smile: "It's alright... let it be like this."

She was clearly unwilling to talk about it further.

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong and the others didn't press the matter further. After chatting for a while about the current situation of the academy and the Martial Soul Empire, they got up to take their leave.

As they left Shrek Academy and looked back at the ever-receding gate, the girls felt a little heavy-hearted.

"Teacher Erlong... seems to have completely changed," Xiaowu said softly, her voice filled with heartache.

The once fiery and passionate Teacher Erlong is now just an empty shell.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded silently.

They could understand Liu Erlong's pain, caught between his former love and the cruel reality; the sense of being torn apart was enough to destroy a person's spirit.

Xiao Wu hesitated for a moment, then suggested, "How about... we ask Xuanming to take a look at Teacher Erlong? Maybe he can help Teacher Erlong get through this. After all, they're old acquaintances, Xuanming shouldn't refuse, right?"

Ning Rongrong shook her head upon hearing this: "I'm afraid that won't work."

Seeing Xiao Wu's puzzled look, she explained, "The relationship between Xuan Ming and Teacher Liu Erlong is different from ours."

It was more like... sibling affection? Or rather, Teacher Liu Erlong's feelings for Xuanming back then were a kind of pity and care for a younger brother who was both exceptionally talented and had a pitiful background.

Xuanming's feelings towards her were more of respect and a sense of helplessness towards his violent older sister. Tang Yuehua, the Pavilion Master, was in a similar situation.

Ning Rongrong tried hard to sort out these complicated relationships: "Although Tang Yuehua Xuanzhu had so many scandals with Xuanming back then, the essence of their relationship is very clear."

Xuanming has been studying at Yuexuan since he was seven or eight years old. For nearly ten years, he has always been seen as a smart, well-behaved, and pitiful younger brother in front of Tang Yuehua.

Tang Yuehua's affection for him, though extraordinary, was ultimately the love of an older sister for her younger brother, not romantic love.

The subsequent troubles were also caused by Tang Yuehua's fear that something might happen to Xuanming.

“Given Teacher Erlong’s current state, if we let Xuanming, with his brains…” Ning Rongrong helplessly spread her hands, “he would most likely be at a loss.”

Xiao Wu was unwilling to give up: "But what can we do now? Dean Flander has liked Teacher Erlong for so many years, but he still couldn't persuade her, right?"
Teacher Erlong's social circle is so narrow; besides Yu Xiaogang and the academy, she doesn't even have a single friend to talk to. Right now, the only one who can really provoke her, and who she can truly confide in, is probably Xuanming.

Zhu Zhuqing frowned and reminded him, "This is not appropriate. After all, Xuanming killed Yu Yuanzhen and has a blood feud with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. If he appears, it will be very awkward for both sides."

Several girls stopped at the street corner, looked at each other, and fell silent for a moment.

In the end, Ning Rongrong made the decision: "How about this, we'll contact Xuanming first and tell him the situation. Whether or not he needs help, let him decide for himself."

Xiao Wu nodded and took out a palm-sized, strange scale from her storage soul tool. The scale emitted a faint chill and a weak dragon's might.

This is a communication token left to them by Xuanming, connected to his divine consciousness. As long as they concentrate, they can contact him at any time, and even teleport directly to his side if necessary. If teleportation is restricted, Xuanming will sense the signal and rush over as soon as possible.

Xiao Wu gripped the dragon scale tightly, closed her eyes, and used her divine sense to convey Liu Erlong's current condition.

Xuanming, who was far away in Wuhun City, received the message from Xiaowu almost immediately.

Sensing the despairing state of Liu Erlong as described in Xiao Wu's thoughts, and their request for his help, Xuan Ming stood by the window of the Papal Palace and sighed softly.

He was exhausted. Liu Erlong's situation reminded him of Tang Yuehua.

The reason he had previously insisted that Tang Yuehua stay away from the conflict between the Haotian Sect and the Tiandou Empire was that he didn't want her to fall into a similar painful situation.

He hoped that Tang Yuehua could maintain that detachment and tranquility.

But now, Liu Erlong has inevitably reached this point.

Should we send him to comfort Liu Erlong?

How should he explain it?

Should I go and tell Liu Erlong, "Let go of Yu Xiaogang, he's not worth it"?
Or to put it more directly: "Yu Yuanzhen's death was his own fault. Yu Xiaogang's obsession was the root cause. Try to think more positively."
Even if these words are true, coming from the "murderer," they would only seem incredibly ironic and cruel, and might even have the opposite effect.

He understood Liu Erlong's pain, the despair built on the gap between false hope and cruel reality, but he was not good at handling such delicate emotional entanglements.

After thinking for a moment, he vanished from his spot in a flash, and appeared outside Gu Yuena's residence the next moment.

Gu Yuena was sitting in the courtyard, toying with a crystal that emitted a soft glow, seemingly studying something. Sensing Xuanming's aura, she looked up. "What's wrong?"

Xuanming sat down opposite her and explained Liu Erlong's situation and Xiao Wu and the others' requests. Then he asked, "Do you have any suggestions for this situation?"

After listening, Gu Yuena frowned slightly and shook her head: "I know nothing about what exactly happened between you and that Liu Erlong. I can't give you any specific advice."

"However, this kind of thing is actually very easy to solve. Just like with Qian Renxue before, you should know what to do."

Xuanming raised an eyebrow: "Qian Renxue? Can that be considered the same situation?"

Qian Renxue's problem stems from her obsession with him, while Liu Erlong's problem stems from the collapse of her beliefs and emotional trauma.

Gu Yuena shook her head and said calmly, "The essence is the same. Women, regardless of their strength, all harbor a deep-seated desire to be protected and guided."

Liu Erlong's current problem is that the beliefs and emotional pillars that have supported her for many years have collapsed. She has lost her direction and fallen into self-doubt and despair.

“In the past, in her eyes, you might have been a younger brother who needed her care, who worried her, and whom she couldn’t help but pity. But now, the situation is very different.”

You can be an older brother, or more accurately, a protector strong enough for her to rely on and trust.

She further explained, "What Liu Erlong needs most now is not empty comfort or analysis of the past, but a new and more solid pillar."

You need to make her feel that the little one who used to need her protection has grown up and become a powerful being who can shelter her and protect her from the wind and rain.

You need to demonstrate your strength and responsibility, so that she subconsciously feels that relying on you, or at least trusting your guidance, is safe and has a future.

"When she feels this strong protective force from you, most of the panic and emptiness in her heart caused by losing her support will be filled. The rest will naturally be soothed by time."

……

Tiandou City.

The space rippled slightly, and Xuanming's figure quietly appeared deep within a secluded alley. He concealed his aura, and the two dragons behind him disappeared as well, not wanting to cause any unnecessary commotion.

He didn't head directly to Shrek Academy, but instead turned and walked towards the familiar building in the city center—Moon Pavilion. (End of Chapter)