Liu Erlong stared at Song Qing, her black eyes wide with a mixture of shock, confusion, and a dawning sense of betrayal. The world she thought she knew, the man she had loved for so long, suddenly seemed to be built on a foundation of lies.
"Why?" she finally managed to ask, her voice barely a whisper, laced with a raw vulnerability she hadn't felt in decades. "Why are you telling me all this?"
Her voice then rose in anger, a desperate attempt to cling to her shattered illusions. "What do you gain by this? What do you gain by making me doubt him like this?!"
Song Qing merely smiled, a gentle, almost pitying expression on his handsome face. He set his empty teacup down with a soft clink.
"I gain nothing, Madam Liu Erlong," he said calmly, his verdant eyes holding a steady gaze. "My only intention is to help you. To help you prevent yourself from being further fooled by a man who clearly does not deserve your affection."
He paused, his gaze softening slightly. "Loving a man is not a crime, Madam Liu Erlong. And you are not at fault for Yu Xiaogang breaking his relationship with my teacher, Bibi Dong. I do not blame you for any of that."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice taking on a tone of genuine sympathy. "In fact, I pity you, Madam Liu Erlong. I pity you for having wasted so many years on a man who has consistently shown himself to be selfish and dishonest. And it is out of that pity that I am willing to show you the truth."
Song Qing straightened up, his expression becoming more neutral. "As for how you choose to proceed with your relationship with Yu Xiaogang from this point forward, that is entirely your decision. I will not care, nor will I interfere any further."
He stood up, his gaze sweeping over her one last time. "I simply wished to present you with the truth, Madam Liu Erlong. To see what you will do with it. Will you continue to walk down a path paved with deception, a path that will likely lead to your eventual heartbreak and perhaps even destruction? Or will you finally open your eyes, look at the reality of the situation, and choose to confront it rather than blindly ignore it?"
He paused, allowing his words to resonate in the silence of the forest clearing. "The choice, as always, is yours."
Then, a hint of a more encouraging tone entered his voice. "However, if you do decide that you wish to confront this truth, if you desire to see the evidence of my words with your own eyes, then you should find me, Madam Liu Erlong. I will demonstrate everything I have told you through actions, not just words."
He took a step away from the porch, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer. "And before I take my leave, Madam Liu Erlong, let me offer you one final incentive. If you do choose to find me, if you choose to embrace the truth, then the first reward I will provide to you will be the evolution of your Fire Dragon spirit. I will ensure it reaches a level of power comparable to, if not even surpassing, that of the true Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon spirit."
With those final words, Song Qing turned and walked away, leaving a stunned and bewildered Liu Erlong sitting alone on the porch of her cabin, the weight of his revelations pressing down on her like a physical burden.
'Spirit evolution?' Liu Erlong thought, her mind racing. The promise was almost unbelievable. Her Fire Dragon spirit, while powerful, was still a variant. To think it could reach the level of the powerful Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon… It was a temptation she couldn't easily dismiss.
But the other things he had said… the accusations against Xiaogang… Could they really be true? The man she loved, the man she had waited for all these years… a thief? A liar? A user?
'No,' she thought fiercely, a surge of her old loyalty rising within her. 'I can't believe it. Xiaogang wouldn't do that.' But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was already beginning to take root, its tendrils slowly wrapping around her heart.
She remembered the times Xiaogang had spoken so vehemently against Bibi Dong, the bitterness in his voice, the accusations he had hurled. Had those been the words of a wronged lover, or the desperate attempts of a guilty man trying to justify his actions?
And the theory… the 'Ten Core Competitiveness Theory'… it was his pride and joy. Could it really be stolen? The thought was almost unbearable.
But then, Song Qing's words about the soul ring limits echoed in her mind. She had always accepted Xiaogang's teachings as gospel, never questioning their validity. But a 1500-year soul ring for a first ring? It defied everything she knew.
'Could I have been wrong all this time?' she wondered, a cold dread creeping into her heart. 'Could I have been so blinded by love that I failed to see the truth?'
She looked out at the tranquil lake, its surface now reflecting the turmoil within her own soul. The peace she had sought in this secluded place had been shattered, replaced by a gnawing uncertainty.
Song Qing's words about confronting the truth resonated deeply within her. She had spent years avoiding the pain of Yu Xiaogang's abandonment by clinging to the idealized image of their past. But perhaps it was time to finally face reality, no matter how painful it might be.
The promise of spirit evolution was a powerful lure, but it was more than just the potential increase in power that drew her attention. It was the implication that Song Qing possessed knowledge, perhaps even power, that could fundamentally change her future.
She watched as Song Qing's figure disappeared into the trees, a sense of unease and a flicker of reluctant curiosity swirling within her.
'Find him, he said,' she thought, her black eyes narrowing in determination. 'He said he would show me the truth.'
The path ahead was uncertain, filled with the potential for heartbreak and disillusionment. But for the first time in a long time, Liu Erlong felt a stirring of something other than grief and longing.
It was a spark of hope, perhaps, or maybe just a desperate yearning for answers. Whatever it was, it was enough to make her consider the possibility that the truth, however painful, might ultimately be her only path to true freedom.
She remained sitting on the porch, the silence of the forest broken only by the gentle lapping of the water against the shore. The tea on the table had grown cold, mirroring the chill that had settled in her heart.
But amidst the coldness, a tiny ember of resolve began to glow. She would find Song Qing. She had to know the truth, no matter what the cost. And the promise of a stronger spirit… that was a temptation she simply couldn't ignore.
~~
Song Qing walked away from Liu Erlong's cabin, his expression unreadable. He had planted the seeds of doubt and offered a path forward. Whether she chose to take it or not was entirely up to her.
'I've done what I could,' he thought, a slight shrug in his mind. 'The opportunity is there. If she wants to wallow in her delusion, that's her choice.'
The potential loss of an alliance with a Soul Douluo and the Blue Tyrant Academy wasn't insignificant, but Song Qing had other priorities and other potential allies. He wasn't overly concerned with the immediate outcome of this encounter.
He soon met up with Dugu Bo, who was waiting patiently at the edge of the forest.
"So, little brat," Dugu Bo asked, his green eyes filled with curiosity, "what was all that about? I definitely sensed Liu Erlong's soul power flaring up quite a bit. Fortunately, it didn't seem like she actually attacked you."
Song Qing offered a small, enigmatic smile. "It was nothing to worry about, Senior. Just something I had anticipated." He didn't elaborate further, knowing that explaining the intricacies of his conversation with Liu Erlong would take too long and likely wouldn't interest Dugu Bo much anyway.
Upon their return to Dugu Bo's mansion, Song Qing made his way directly to his room. He sensed Bibi Dong's presence in her own chambers, a faint hum of soul power indicating she was likely cultivating.
As Song Qing entered his room, Bibi Dong, who had indeed sensed his return, immediately stopped her cultivation. A moment later, the door to his room opened, and she stepped inside, her pink eyes filled with a warm, affectionate concern.
"Qing'er," Bibi Dong said softly, her voice gentle. "You're back. Where did you go?"
Song Qing offered her a tired smile. He didn't want to reveal his meeting with Liu Erlong just yet. "Teacher," he said, his voice a little weary, "I'm feeling a bit tired. Would it be alright if I just rested my head on your lap for a while?"
Bibi Dong's expression softened instantly. "Of course, my dear Qing'er. Come here." She moved towards the bed and sat down, patting the space beside her.
Song Qing gratefully laid his head on her lap, his verdant eyes closing almost immediately. Bibi Dong gently began to stroke his blue hair, her touch light and soothing. The familiar comfort of her presence, the gentle rhythm of her hand in his hair, quickly lulled him into a deep and peaceful sleep.
Bibi Dong looked down at her sleeping disciple, her heart overflowing with tenderness. His handsome face, usually so full of energy and mischief, was now serene and childlike in slumber.
'He looks so incredibly cute when he's sleeping,' she thought, a soft smile gracing her lips. She couldn't resist the urge to lean down and press a gentle kiss to his forehead.
In his sleep, Song Qing instinctively snuggled closer to her, his arms wrapping around her slender waist. His hands, seemingly of their own accord, slipped beneath the hem of her robe, resting on the soft, snow-white skin of her stomach. His fingers gently caressed her skin, moving in slow, soothing circles.
Bibi Dong's breath hitched slightly. A wave of unexpected warmth spread through her. His touch, even in his sleep, sent shivers down her spine.
'Oh, Qing'er,' she thought, her heart pounding gently in her chest. She enjoyed the feeling immensely, the innocent intimacy of his touch stirring something deep within her. She desperately wanted to savor this moment, to prolong it for as long as possible. She dared not make a sound, not even a soft moan, for fear of waking him up.
Hesitantly, slowly, Bibi Dong guided his hands upwards, her fingers gently nudging his until they rested on the soft swell of her large, plump breasts. His fingers instinctively curled around the generous curves, a soft sigh escaping his lips in his sleep.
Bibi Dong's body trembled slightly. Her large breasts, usually held firm and proud, felt heavy and sensitive under his touch. Her slender waist seemed to arch almost imperceptibly, and even her curvy buttocks tightened slightly against the mattress. A wave of heat flushed through her entire being.
'Oh, heavens,' she thought, her breath coming in shallow gasps. The feeling was intoxicating, a forbidden pleasure that sent a mixture of guilt and intense longing through her. She knew she shouldn't be encouraging this, that it was inappropriate for a teacher and disciple, but the warmth of his touch, the innocent trust in his sleeping embrace, was too much to resist.
Her pink eyes, usually so sharp and commanding, were now filled with a soft, dreamy haze. She continued to gently stroke his hair, her other hand resting lightly on his back, savoring the feeling of his closeness. Her heart beat a rapid rhythm against his head, a silent testament to the tumultuous emotions swirling within her.
'He feels so good,' she mused, her thoughts becoming increasingly scattered. The warmth emanating from his touch seemed to seep into her very soul, filling a void she hadn't even realized existed. Her body felt alive, awakened in a way it hadn't in years.
She closed her eyes, allowing herself to simply enjoy the moment, the unexpected intimacy of her sleeping disciple's touch.
This was a secret she would cherish, a stolen moment of unexpected tenderness with her beloved Qing'er.