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

……

The Moon Pavilion remained as tranquil and elegant as ever, with melodious music filling the air. Xuanming appeared outside Tang Yuehua's music room without disturbing anyone, like a ghost.

Tang Yuehua was sitting by the window, her fingertips lightly caressing the strings of her zither, a lingering worry on her brow. Sensing a familiar presence, she abruptly looked up, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes when she saw Xuan Ming, only to be quickly replaced by a deeper, more complex emotion.

"You've come." Tang Yuehua's voice was still gentle, but it carried a hint of weariness.

"Yes, I came to see you." Xuanming walked into the music room and sat down opposite her. "How have you been lately?"

Tang Yuehua sighed softly, her fingertips unconsciously plucking a string, producing a slightly somber note: "What else can I do? Just like always, teach the students, play the zither. But... the situation in Tiandou City is becoming increasingly critical."

She raised her head and looked at Xuanming, her eyes pleading: "Xuanming, I know there are some things I shouldn't say, but... Haotian Sect is my root after all. I hope... you can leave them a chance to live, and not drive them to extinction."

Xuanming remained silent for a moment, his eyes unwavering. "This is not something I should concern myself with. The affairs of the Empire are decided by Bibi Dong. The fate of the Haotian Sect depends on their own choices."

"If they behave themselves, the Spirit Empire won't cause trouble for them. But if they insist on courting death, the Empire won't show any mercy. That's the rule."

He looked at Tang Yuehua's slightly pale face and continued, "The empire belongs to Bibi Dong; I am at most assisting from the sidelines. Moreover..."

"There is a deep-seated blood feud between me and the Haotian Sect."

Upon hearing this, Tang Yuehua's lips moved, but in the end, she said nothing. She knew that Xuanming was referring to Tang Hao's attack on her back then, as well as the grudges from even earlier times.

She was powerless to refute this.

Xuanming clearly didn't want to discuss the matter further. He had lunch with Tang Yuehua, chatting about everyday matters until the atmosphere eased slightly. After the meal, he got up to take his leave.

“I’m going to Shrek Academy,” Xuanming said. “Xiaowu and the others are waiting for me there.”

Tang Yuehua nodded, and Xuan Ming nodded slightly. His figure gradually faded and disappeared from the spot.

……

Xuanming's figure appeared silently in the familiar forest behind Shrek Academy.

Passing through layers of tree shadows, the once vibrant cabin in the woods came into view.

The cottage remained the same, but a lingering, deathly silence permeated the surroundings.

The flowers and plants in the yard looked somewhat messy due to neglect, and a few withered leaves swirled in the wind, adding to the desolation.

Liu Erlong sat on the stone steps in front of the small house.

Her appearance hasn't changed much compared to many years ago; time doesn't seem to have left many marks on her face.

But those eyes, which once burned with fiery passion, were now empty and lifeless, as if all the light had been sucked out.

She just sat there quietly, like a soulless sculpture, her breathing so light it was almost imperceptible.

Xuanming could clearly sense that what she exuded was not just exhaustion and sadness, but also a deep-seated despair, and even... a faint hint of a desire to die.

If no one intervenes, this woman, who was once as fiery as a flame, will probably quietly exhaust her last bit of life in this cabin in the woods.

He made no attempt to conceal his footsteps as he arrived.

Liu Erlong seemed to sense something and slowly raised her head. When her gaze fell on Xuan Ming's figure, her lifeless eyes trembled violently, and a complex and indescribable emotion surged up like a tide—a moment of astonishment, an instinctive anger, an unspeakable bitterness, and perhaps even a trace of... a faint stirring of emotion upon seeing a familiar person that she herself had not even noticed.

Her lips trembled slightly, as if she wanted to say something—question? Lament? Or simply call out his name?
But in the end, all the words stuck in his throat, turning into silence.

She just looked at him like that, her eyes filled with a heartbreakingly complex expression.

Xuanming walked up to her and stopped. He didn't speak immediately, but simply looked at her quietly for a moment, then sat down on the stone steps beside her, maintaining a distance that was neither too close nor too distant, neither too intimate to be oppressive, nor too aloof.

After a long silence, Liu Erlong spoke first, "You... is there something you need?"

"I've come to see you," Xuanming said calmly.

"But judging from your appearance, you probably won't live much longer."

"If you want to die... then die. I'll be waiting to collect your corpse." Liu Erlong's expression froze, a sudden surge of anger rising within him. "Can't you speak properly?!"

Xuanming simply looked back at her calmly, his eyes even carrying a hint of obvious doubt: "You know perfectly well why I'm asking this."

"..."

Liu Erlong was speechless, her chest heaving violently, when he heard his attitude.

These days, everyone is careful around her, even Flander only dares to watch from afar.

Only Xuanming, that brat is still the same!

Liu Erlong clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms: "You came here to laugh at me?"

"Hmm... that was true originally, but now, as people are about to die, their words are often kind," Xuanming said calmly.

"To be honest, I don't understand why some people, even when they see the truth clearly, still punish themselves for other people's mistakes."

"Yu Xiaogang chose to live in the past, so you insist on being buried with him?"

Liu Erlong trembled, all her anger dissipating instantly like a punctured balloon. She staggered back a step, leaning against the doorframe, her voice hoarse: "You...you know nothing..."

“I know.” Xuanming took a step forward, an invisible pressure descending upon him. “I know you’re tired, I know you see things clearly but can’t let go, I know you feel that life is meaningless.”

"In that case, go in peace. You have nothing left to hold you back in this world anyway."

"I will collect your body."

"..."

"Who told you I was going to die!"

Liu Erlong suddenly stood up straight, a familiar flame rekindling in his eyes. Although this flame still carried pain, it was at least no longer lifeless.

Xuanming raised an eyebrow slightly: "Didn't you just act like you were about to die?"

"I..." Liu Erlong was speechless for a moment, then became angry and embarrassed, "I was... contemplating life!"

"Thinking about death?" Xuanming asked calmly. "What's the difference between that and actually wanting to die?"

Liu Erlong stomped her feet in anger: "Xuanming! It's been years, and your mouth has become even more venomous!"

"Just telling the truth." Xuanming looked around the dilapidated courtyard. "Look at this place, and then look at you. Rather than dragging this half-dead state on, it's better to make a decision sooner rather than later."

He suddenly turned around and looked directly into Liu Erlong's eyes: "If you're going to die, then die quickly. I can help you, and it won't hurt at all. If you're going to live, then live well. I'll take you with me."

Liu Erlong was stunned. Looking into Xuanming's icy blue eyes, she clearly felt the power contained within them for the first time. He was no longer the pitiful little brother she knew, but a true powerhouse who could protect her.

"You..." She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Xuanming stretched out his hand, palm up: "Choose one."

Liu Erlong looked at the hand, then at Xuanming's serious expression, and suddenly smiled. This was the first time in days that she had truly smiled.

"You brat..." she muttered under her breath, but didn't touch the hand. "Who asked you to help me choose?"

She turned and went into the small house, her voice coming from inside: "If you're going to come in, hurry up. What kind of behavior is it to stand outside like this?"

"..."

In the grove, Xiao Wu and the others stared in disbelief at Xuan Ming's "refreshing and unconventional" advice.

"As expected of him." Ning Rongrong didn't know how to comment.

Because of the arduous training over the past few years, she had completely forgotten about Xuanming's mouth!

That's something that can drive a living person to death, and even bring a suicidal person back to life! (End of Chapter)