Douro Continent

Chapter 230 The Past of the Golden Triangle (Part 2)

"Years have passed, and I haven't even dared to inquire about Erlong's situation, afraid I'd be unable to resist going to her. In my dazed state, I could only pour all my energy into researching martial souls. It wasn't until I met you that my inner vitality was rekindled. I placed my heart and soul in you, and these past few years have been a little better. I know that Flander definitely knew Erlong was here. He's not a rash person; if he hadn't known beforehand, why would he have chosen another academy after being traumatized at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy? It's just that I didn't think that much about it at the time. Seeing Erlong again will only cause me more pain. Erlong's strength far surpasses mine; this time, even if I wanted to leave this vortex of pain, I'm afraid it would be impossible."

Tang San looked at Grandmaster, his eyes already a little moist. Yes, how unfair was Heaven to his teacher! It was bad enough that it deprived him of the powerful martial soul he should have inherited, but it even tried to destroy his union with his lover.

"Teacher, is worldly opinion really that important? Who said you were a waste? In my heart, you are the most powerful Soul Master. Knowledge is also power. Who dares to say they have more knowledge about Martial Souls than you? No one. Teacher, you are the best. Aunt Erlong has waited for you for so many years without choosing anyone else. How deep her affection for you is! If you continue to run away like this, it will only cause pain for both of you. Even if you really care about worldly opinion, you can take her and run away together!"

The master shook his head painfully. "No, that would be too unfair to Erlong. Xiaosan, loving someone doesn't necessarily mean you have to possess them. I'd rather she live a happy and fulfilling life."

Tang San, having forgotten his student status, looked at Grandmaster's somber expression and couldn't help but protest, "Does your avoidance really bring Aunt Erlong happiness? If she were happy, would she sing such a sorrowful song? Would she cry every time she sees you? She doesn't even dare to test you with her words, afraid of upsetting you. Teacher, your heart is too fragile. What do worldly opinions matter? Aunt Erlong, a woman herself, isn't afraid, so what are you afraid of? You should be with her, bravely facing these things, breaking through all obstacles to be together, like your family, like everyone else, proving that your being together isn't wrong. Cousins ​​may be closely related by blood, but is such a union truly impossible? Teacher, you're not just afraid that Aunt Erlong will suffer with you; you're also afraid to accept this reality. You're insecure!"

Grandmaster stared blankly at Tang San, his lips moving but unable to utter a word. Although he, like Flander, was incredibly proud, deep down, he harbored a deep-seated inferiority complex due to his low-level martial soul. Flander and Erlong hadn't dared to speak of his inner pain, but Tang San, in his excitement, had revealed it, hitting the nail on the head.

"He's right. Why are you so insecure? So what if millions of people say you're useless? As long as I, Liu Erlong, believe you're the best, that's enough. Xiaogang, don't you understand? If I cared about our kinship, would I keep searching for you like this? Would I be in so much pain?"

Liu Erlong slowly emerged from not far behind Tang San and Xiao Gang, tears streaming down her face as she looked at the Grandmaster and approached him step by step with unwavering determination. Her beautiful face was dazzling.

This time, the master no longer avoided Liu Erlong's gaze. As she approached step by step, his heart pounded faster than ever. The inner demons were gradually crumbling under the overwhelming surge of emotion. Twenty years of suppressed feelings could no longer hold back the golden affection deep within his heart.

Tang San quietly retreated, gradually disappearing into the woods. He knew that at this moment, no one should disturb them. He silently offered his blessings to his master. How could he not see the melancholy that often lingered in his teacher's expression?

At this moment, the source has finally been found. If it can be resolved and the master and Liu Erlong can truly come together, then it will be the best outcome for both of them.

The forest was dark and quiet. Tang San wasn't in a hurry to go back. He simply walked quietly through the woods. For some reason, after hearing the story between Grandmaster and Liu Erlong, Xiao Wu suddenly came to mind. His mindset wasn't that of a thirteen-year-old child, but rather that of a middle-aged man.

Xiao Wu is also his younger sister. What is her place in his heart? After meeting Xiao Wu, Tang San pondered this question for the first time in the depths of his heart.

If the same thing that happened between Grandmaster and Liu Erlong happened to him and Xiao Wu, how would he resolve it? Tang San found himself feeling somewhat confused and lost.

The surrounding air suddenly felt a bit cold, and Tang San shivered, frowning in surprise.

With his soul power breaking through level 30, his Xuan Tian Gong had also been cultivated to the fourth level, reaching the point where he was impervious to heat and cold. Moreover, it was summer, so how could he feel cold?

Just then, Tang San suddenly stopped in surprise. Three meters in front of him, there was another person who had appeared out of nowhere. A person dressed entirely in green.

With green hair, green eyes, and green fingernails, and a cold, evil gaze like that of a venomous snake, the person who suddenly appeared before Tang San was none other than Dugu Bo, the Title Douluo with the title of Poison that he had seen during the day.

Tang San almost instinctively wanted to activate his martial soul, but Dugu Bo's body was already in front of him the next moment. Without seeing him move, Tang San only felt a dizziness in his brain and then knew nothing more.

But this instantaneous fluctuation of soul power startled Erlong, who had just merged into the master's embrace not far away.

"Who is it?" Liu Erlong's eyes flashed with a sharp light. She abruptly sat up from the master's arms and looked in the direction from which the soul power fluctuation came. She clearly felt the terrifying aura contained within that weak soul power fluctuation. In a flash, she had already shielded the master behind her.

The master was stunned for a moment, then his expression changed drastically. "Oh no, something might have happened to the mistress. Go check on her quickly."

Liu Erlong naturally took the master's hand and suddenly sped up, relying on their soul power to quickly arrive at the place where the incident had occurred. However, apart from the coldness in the air, they found no clues. Liu Erlong urged her soul power to search with all her might, but she could no longer find Tang San's aura.

The master made a quick decision: "Let's go back and find Flander first. This cold aura is somewhat familiar. If it's that person, things will be difficult." Although the master's strength was not great, his observation and judgment were far superior to those of ordinary people.

This chilling aura immediately reminded him of Dugu Bo, whom he had met at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy during the day, and Dugu Yan, the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Soul Master who later met Dugu Bo and his grandson.

Feeling dizzy, Tang San woke up from his unconsciousness to find himself surrounded by complete darkness.

Only two points of green light shone eerily in the darkness.

Silently circulating his Mysterious Heaven Skill, Tang San's soul power gradually condensed within his body, and his strength returned, but he did not move. His master had taught him that the more dangerous the situation, the more calm he needed to remain, and he must never risk danger through reckless actions.

"You don't need to pretend anymore now that you're awake. Are you really only thirteen? How come you act like a veteran?" A hoarse voice came from the side. As his eyes adjusted to the light, Tang San was able to vaguely see, with the help of the two pale green lights, that Dugu Bo was sitting not far from him, and those two green lights were actually Dugu Bo's eyes.

Tang San sat up abruptly, saying nothing, only coldly staring at Dugu Bo, his heart already ice-cold. He knew without asking why Dugu Bo had captured him; it was clearly revenge from Dugu Yan. Falling into the hands of this Title Douluo known for his poison, what good could possibly come of him?

"Boy, your name is Tang San?" Dugu Bo leaned against the stone wall behind him and asked casually.

"Not bad." Tang San's answer was simple. He was naturally unwilling to just sit there and wait to die, quietly gathering his own soul power.

Although he knew that with his level 30+ soul power, he had no chance against a titled Douluo of level 90 or higher, how could he be content if he didn't make a final stand?

A green light flashed in Dugu Bo's eyes. "I heard you broke my granddaughter's third soul skill and even subdued her with poison. How did you neutralize her snake venom? I doubt strong liquor was enough."

Tang San said calmly, "You old monster, you call yourself the Poison Douluo, don't you even understand the principle that realgar counteracts snake venom? Realgar mixed with strong liquor can bring out the full properties of realgar, plus the burning effect of flames. Although your granddaughter's third soul skill is very poisonous, it's not unsolvable."

Dugu Bo suddenly let out a strange laugh, "How many years has it been? Let me count how many years it has been since anyone dared to speak to me like that? Kid, aren't you afraid of death? How dare you question my poison? Do you know that even other Title Douluos turn pale when they talk about my poison?"

Tang San scoffed, "Your poison? It's nothing but trash."

"What did you say?" Dugu Bo's eyes suddenly flashed with green light. With just a slight raise of his hand, Tang San's body was slammed away by an irresistible force, crashing heavily against the wall behind him. The intense pain almost made him faint again.

(End of this chapter)