Earlier, he'd been saying Shrek Academy was in the wrong. Now, though, somehow he's putting the blame entirely on Jiang Nannan?
Hearing Yu Xiaogang's inconsistent words twice over, Liu Erlong couldn't help but feel a wave of displeasure.
Coming from a background as a civilian spirit master herself, Liu Erlong could see some of her struggles reflected in Jiang Nannan. It was easy to imagine herself in Jiang Nannan's position.
If she were Jiang Nannan, facing the same kind of circumstances, she'd naturally hope Shrek Academy would step in to help.
After all, Jiang Nannan was still one of Shrek Academy's students with solid talent, no less. Shouldn't a school for spirit masters have a little more heart?
Helping her would hardly be an inconvenience for Shrek Academy.
But instead, they'd rather have Jiang Nannan sell herself than lift a finger.
Can a place like that call itself an academy? Are teachers like that worthy of being called teachers?
Liu Erlong felt nothing but scorn.
When she'd first entered the City of Slaughter, she'd been incredibly eager and hopeful to reunite with the Yu Xiaogang she'd loved for so long.
But after actually entering the City of Slaughter…
Liu Erlong found her earlier hopes and anticipation had faded quite a bit.
The strongest memories she had of her time with Yu Xiaogang weren't of love, but of the years they spent together as friends and comrades.
Initially, she'd resisted that realization.
After all, she had loved and waited for Yu Xiaogang for more than a decade—from her twenties until now.
It was the most beautiful chapter of a woman's life!
But after seeing Yu Xiaogang's two-faced behavior, Liu Erlong suddenly felt a strange sense of release.
Perhaps her feelings for him had never been true love. Maybe it was just a stubborn attachment and unwillingness to let go after all those years.
She had always been the one making concessions. But had he ever truly cared about her?
Come to think of it, even her little brother Aotian was kinder to her than he was.
For some reason, Liu Erlong's mind drifted to Lin Yu—to the warmth of his hand when he had held hers as they entered the City of Slaughter.
But then, she quickly shook her head.
How could she think that? She was nearly forty—a middle-aged woman, while her little brother Aotian was only in his teens.
The age gap between them was just too big. It would never work!
She'd left the Blue Tyrant Academy and risked her life to come to the City of Slaughter for Xiaogang!
Sure, his recent words had made her feel a little sick, but maybe he'd only said those things to comfort Tang San.
Perhaps it wasn't really what he believed.
She should give him another chance, shouldn't she? At least watch him a little longer.
Of course, Lin Yu had no idea what was going through Liu Erlong's mind at that moment.
If he did, he'd no doubt be laughing at her.
Yu Xiaogang, only comforting Tang San? Please! Those words revealed what Yu Xiaogang truly thought.
He may be a failure as a spirit master, but his noble blood gave him an unshakable belief in bloodlines and "value."
Only those with the right blood and worthiness were fit to associate with him, Yu Xiaogang.
And commoners? What did they matter?
Maybe the original story didn't show this side of him explicitly.
But Yu Xiaogang had freeloaded at Nuoding Academy for years, constantly bemoaning his underappreciated talents.
Why didn't he just teach at Nuoding Academy?
At the end of the day, it was simply because he looked down on Nuoding's students as lowborn and unworthy of his instruction!
Meanwhile, while Yu Xiaogang was busy "comforting" Tang San, Biluo withdrew from the livestream, as Lin Yu had instructed. She took out the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring she had earned as her reward.
At that moment…
Yu Xiaogang glanced at Biluo after finishing with Tang San, cleared his throat, and asked, "So… Biluo, the reward this time is a Ten-Thousand-Year Heaven's Gift Spirit Ring. How do you plan to use it?"
Yu Xiaogang's motives were clear.
He wanted Biluo to give the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring to his disciple Tang San.
Biluo had previously mentioned she was fifteen or sixteen, but only a Grand Spirit Master. That level of progress was embarrassingly low by Yu Xiaogang's standards.
To him, letting her keep such a valuable ring was a complete waste.
Why not give it to his disciple Tang San?
With this Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring, Tang San would reach the level of a Spirit Ancestor.
If he then mastered the Great Xu Mi Hammer's Exploding Ring skill, he might even be able to start tackling the Hell Slaughter Arena.
Once Tang San achieved one hundred victories in the Hell Slaughter Arena and completed the Path of Hell, he could take Yu Xiaogang out of the City of Slaughter.
In the outside world, free from the confines of the City of Slaughter, Tang San would be able to rise unhindered.
And when his disciple Tang San finally became a renowned powerhouse, Yu Xiaogang's theories would be validated as well!
Yes, Yu Xiaogang had high hopes for the future.
However, things didn't play out quite the way he had expected.
In Yu Xiaogang's mind, Biluo would initially want to keep the spirit ring for herself, and he would then have to use his silver tongue to persuade her to hand it over to Tang San.
But instead, when she heard his suggestion, Biluo blushed and smiled, saying, "I was planning to give this Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring to Xiao San."
"Biluo, this Ten-Thousand-Year Ring might not be the best fit for—wait, what? You're planning to give it to Xiao San?"
Yu Xiaogang was momentarily stunned, caught off-guard by Biluo's immediate willingness to give the ring to Tang San.
"Biluo!"
Hearing her offer, Tang San was deeply moved.
"Biluo, you don't have to give me this Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring. It would be perfect for you, too. With a ring of this level, your combat abilities would greatly increase."
Of course, Tang San wanted the ring.
But the girl he liked offering such a precious gift stirred his sense of pride, so he put on a modest front and declined at first.
"Xiao San!!"
Seeing Tang San hesitate, Yu Xiaogang grew anxious.
Meanwhile, Lin Yu, watching the drama unfold, couldn't help but smirk. "The emperor isn't worried, but his eunuch is panicking."
"Take it, Xiao San. You have more talent than I do. You'd get much more out of this Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring. I'm counting on you to get strong, become the Killing God, and get me out of the City of Slaughter someday!"
The ending suited Yu Xiaogang just fine: Biluo genuinely wanted to give the ring to Tang San, seeing him as the one who would make the best use of it.
Tang San was, of course, profoundly moved.
Could this be… the sweetness of love?
I'm sold! So sweet!