Just as the three of them were about to speak further, a faint, distant song drifted toward them from the front.
The song was delicate and emotional, filled with sadness and longing. Its gentle melody tugged at the heart, swirling through the air like a sorrowful confession, making it impossible not to feel a sense of heartache. The song's softness made it sound incredibly beautiful.
"Unable to sleep at night, what can numb this pain?
So many emotions, how can I face them?
It's not that I don't want you by my side,
But there are things you can't understand.
After dropping my guard, loneliness follows me.
I want a space of my own..."
Having read the original story, Zuzong naturally knew that this was Liu Erlong singing, and it seemed like Yu Xiaogang had written the song for her. However, he was confused—wasn't Yu Xiaogang already at Blue Tyrant Academy? Why was Liu Erlong still singing so sorrowfully? Could it be because she found out Yu Xiaogang was expecting a child?
Feigning confusion, Zuzong asked, "Who is that?"
"Shh, that's Teacher Liu Erlong singing. She used to be the dean of this academy's predecessor, Blue Tyrant Academy. I overheard Dean Flender telling this story just a couple of days ago. When she was younger, before meeting Dean Flender and the Grandmaster, she fell in love with a man. Later, that man suddenly disappeared without a trace. Twenty years ago, to force that man to show himself, Teacher Erlong agreed to marry the Grandmaster. But even when they were about to exchange vows, the man never appeared. Instead, Teacher Erlong's own father came and revealed that she and the Grandmaster were cousins. The wedding ended in disaster."
"Hmph! Teacher Erlong really fell for the wrong man, waiting for that scumbag all these years," Ning Rongrong said. When she mentioned the word "scumbag," her tone grew harsher, and she shot a glance at Zuzong as if accusing him of being that very scumbag.
"Uh..." Zuzong was utterly confused. How did a mysterious man suddenly appear in this story, stealing Liu Erlong's heart? Could it be that a transmigator like him had arrived decades before and wooed Liu Erlong, only to leave her behind? Maybe they ran off to another world or became a god? After all, anything was possible, especially considering he was a transmigator himself.
Zuzong responded, "It seems that guy really was a scumbag."
"Teacher Erlong has suffered too much," Zhu Zhuqing sighed. As a woman, she knew how painful it was to be abandoned by someone you loved. She could relate, especially after hearing that Zuzong had been captured by Dugu Bo. She had been in agony for days. Liu Erlong's decades-long heartache must have been unbearable.
As the song finished, Liu Erlong's soft voice drifted in the air, "This is still the song you once sang to me, Xiao Zong. Do you know? My heart is a mess... where are you?"
"Xiao... Xiao Zong?" Zuzong was dumbfounded. How could that transmigator have the same name as him?
Hearing Liu Erlong's sorrowful voice, Ning Rongrong's eyes began to tear up. She glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and Zuzong, saying, "Zhuqing, Zuzong, let's go check on Teacher Erlong. She's been suffering for too long."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded and, without waiting for Zuzong's approval, pulled him along. Although she and Ning Rongrong had only been at the academy for a few days, Teacher Erlong had shown them exceptional care due to their status as Shrek Academy students, almost treating them better than a mother would.
As for Zuzong, well, it was probably a good rehearsal for him on how to meet his future mother-in-law.
Zuzong smiled wryly but was also curious to meet the fierce Liu Erlong from the original story.
After walking a few hundred meters, they reached a small lake.
By the lake stood a simple hut surrounded by a fence, inside which various flowers bloomed in a vibrant display of colors.
Standing among the flowers was a woman holding a watering can, tending to the plants. This woman was none other than Liu Erlong. She appeared to be in her thirties, dressed in a simple blue dress, which couldn't hide her beauty. Her hair was tied up with a simple cloth, and her slightly pale face featured delicate and beautiful features.
Though her large, dark eyes appeared dazed, they still retained a certain charm. Despite her modest clothing, her mature figure was undeniable, showing a curvaceous and voluptuous figure that young girls could only dream of having.
Zuzong nodded in admiration. She was indeed beautiful and exuded an aura of maturity, though he found it odd that she was out watering flowers at night.
Sensing the trio's footsteps, Liu Erlong frowned. "Didn't I say not to bother me when I'm alone?"
But when her gaze passed over Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong and landed on Zuzong, her entire body stiffened. Her hand loosened, and the watering can fell to the ground with a thud, water spilling everywhere. She had completely forgotten about it.
In an instant, Liu Erlong was outside the fence. Zuzong's heart skipped a beat—no wonder she was a Soul Saint. Her simple movements were so fast that, without using his Sharingan, he couldn't follow her exact motions.
"Xiao... Xiao Zong, is it really you? Am I dreaming?" Her soft voice trembled as she asked twice, and tears uncontrollably streamed down her pale face. She was overwhelmed with emotion.
"Uh..." Zuzong, who had been perplexed by Ning Rongrong's story earlier, was now completely at a loss.
Zuzong said, "Um, Teacher Liu Erlong, it seems this is the first time we've met. My name is Zuzong, but I'm not the Xiao Zong you know."
Both Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were equally confused. If it had been someone else, they might have believed it, but Zuzong was clearly just twelve or thirteen. He wasn't even born decades ago!
"Teacher Erlong, maybe you've mistaken him for someone else!" both girls said in unison.
Liu Erlong's unfocused eyes regained clarity, and she looked at Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong before turning her gaze back to Zuzong. "No, it's impossible. I would recognize him even if he turned to ash. He's my Xiao Zong."
She turned back to Zuzong, grabbing his hand. "Xiao Zong, are you avoiding me because I agreed to Yu Xiaogang's proposal? You misunderstood. I only did it to force you to appear. I looked for you for so many years and couldn't find you. I was so desperate that I resorted to that."
Feeling her grip, Zuzong smiled helplessly. What was going on? Did someone use his handsome face decades ago to woo women?
Knowing she wouldn't believe his denials, he raised his other hand and said, "Teacher Liu Erlong, I know you won't believe me no matter what I say, but I'm only thirteen years old. There's no way I could be the man you knew. If you don't believe me, check my bone age."
Liu Erlong hesitated but eventually reached for Zuzong's right hand to check. After a while, she couldn't make sense of it.
Zuzong awkwardly remembered that he had trained with the Mysterious Jade Hand technique, which made it impossible to check his bone age through his hand. Embarrassed, he said, "Sorry, I forgot. I trained in a soul technique. You can try checking my leg instead."
Without doubting him, Liu Erlong agreed, wanting to see how he would explain himself after being exposed.
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