Chapter 65: Erlong's Past (Patreon)

Lu Feng knew very well that Liu Erlong was exceptionally strong-willed and stubborn.

Once she set her mind on something, no one could pull her back.

Two years ago, the only thing Lu Feng could do was acquire the Blue Tyrant Academy, giving Liu Erlong a broader stage and a higher perspective—along with a subtle hint.

He had only said one sentence to her: "I heard that Yu Xiaogang saw the family crest your father left you a long time ago?"

That single remark was like a wake-up call.

Indeed, after she met Yu Xiaogang, she had shown him the family crest—the only keepsake her father had left her.

At the time, Yu Xiaogang had frozen, lost in thought, but said nothing.

Back then, she hadn't even known her father was a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Liu Erlong wasn't foolish—in fact, she was quite sharp. But her emotions often overwhelmed her, clouding her judgment and trapping her in long periods of heartache.

Stubborn people, once blinded by emotion, could sometimes stay that way for a lifetime.

Lu Feng's hint was just enough to let her reflect on her own, and time would prove the truth.

Hearing his words, Liu Erlong seemed to realize something. Gradually, she pulled herself out of her misery and threw herself into cultivation, making significant contributions to the Merchant Alliance.

This time, Lu Feng had called her over to help her resolve the last of her lingering regrets.

After all, she was one of the Alliance's most outstanding members, and as its leader, he had to look out for her—giving her the best support possible.

If she could settle her inner turmoil and grow stronger, she'd be an even greater asset to the Merchant Alliance.

As his thoughts raced, Liu Erlong abruptly pulled him into the bathroom.

With a wave of her jade-like hand, the door slammed shut behind them.

"Greetings, Alliance Leader. Congratulations on awakening a Divine Martial Soul."

Only then did she bow respectfully.

Unlike his interactions with Flender, Lu Feng had always dealt with Liu Erlong as the Merchant Alliance's leader from the very beginning.

"Was it really necessary to drag me into the bathroom?"

Lu Feng's lips twitched slightly, his smile a little awkward.

A man and a woman alone in a room was already questionable enough—but now, behind closed doors?

Was she…?

A flirtatious tension rose in his chest.

Is President Liu have a thing for this kind of vibe?

Is she going to do 'that' with me in the bathroom…

"It was necessary. Flender's Four-Eyed Owl martial soul doesn't just give him sharp eyes—it also grants him exceptional hearing. If we talked in the room, he'd eavesdrop. The bathroom adds another layer of privacy."

"Ah… I see."

Lu Feng nodded.

Well, so much for that thought.

Turns out, Sister Erlong was just being practical.

"Alliance Leader… you didn't think I was trying to…?"

Liu Erlong had wandered the world and seen all kinds of situations. Noticing the odd look on Lu Feng's face, she suddenly realized what he might have assumed—and her own expression turned awkward.

She was always straightforward and impulsive, focused solely on business. She hadn't even considered how inappropriate it might seem for the two of them to be alone in a private bathroom—especially since Lu Feng had grown up so much.

Two years ago, he had been shorter than her.

Now? He stood half a head taller, with the build of a full-grown man.

Not wanting to lie, Lu Feng could only offer an embarrassed chuckle.

The sudden silence between them only made the atmosphere even more charged.

A faint blush crept across Liu Erlong's fair cheeks.

She quickly broke the strange quiet. "Don't misunderstand—I really just…"

Lu Feng nodded. "Understood. Let's focus on business."

"Right. First, I need to file a complaint against that old coot Tai Tan! I asked the Strength Clan to forge a batch of training equipment, but that old bastard pulled rank as an elder, refused to prioritize my order, and even snapped at me! Infuriating!" She huffed angrily.

"What's the equipment for?" Lu Feng asked calmly.

"For the academy students' training."

"There's no right or wrong here," Lu Feng said. "You know I prefer letting everyone operate freely within the Merchant Alliance's rules—people can follow their own principles. Besides, Tai Tan is an Elder…"

He left the sentence hanging, subtly reminding Liu Erlong that Tai Tan outranked her.

Truthfully, her complaint wasn't about anything urgent or major. Tai Tan had simply stuck to the first-come, first-served rule instead of giving her special treatment—and that had rubbed her the wrong way.

"I want to be an Elder."

Liu Erlong cut straight to the point: she wanted a promotion.

Lu Feng chuckled. "Sure. Once your spirit power breaks through to level 80."

"Good. It won't take too long before I'm on equal footing with Tai Tan."

A confident smile curled her lips, her eyes glinting with the sly satisfaction of a scheme well executed.

With the Alliance Leader's definitive promise, all she needed was to reach Soul Douluo rank, and she'd be promoted to Elder.

That had been her real goal all along.

The "complaint" was just a strategic excuse.

Becoming an Elder meant entering the Merchant Alliance's true inner circle—getting closer to Lu Feng himself, learning his secrets like how he'd recruited the Peerless Douluo.

To her surprise, the Alliance Leader had agreed easily, attaching no extra conditions. With another year of dedicated cultivation, she'd likely make the breakthrough.

Ever since Lu Feng's eye-opening remark two years ago, she'd thrown herself into training.

Once she stepped back and coldly reassessed the past, the pieces fell into place:

Yu Xiaogang had probably known she was his cousin all along.

Right before their wedding, Bibi Dong had ascended as Pope, wielding overwhelming power and prestige.

Upon hearing the news, Yu Xiaogang had vanished for days, returning only to proceed with the ceremony—until her father stormed in.

The signs pointed to one conclusion, and it made her question everything about him.

Yet, a part of her couldn't face the truth. She'd never confronted Yu Xiaogang directly, leaving one last knot in her heart unresolved.

But she'd learned one thing: Love was an illusion.

Romance was just a small part of life, not the entirety of it.

She would prove herself—to her father, to every man who'd wronged her.

Her father had abandoned her, denying her even entry into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Yu Xiaogang had walked away on their wedding day, offering no explanation.

She swore silently: She'd reach the pinnacle on her own—looking down on the world, on all those men.

That pinnacle wasn't just about spirit power—it was about status. As a Merchant Alliance Elder, she'd wield immense influence, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the elites of this world. And only Lu Feng had ever truly valued her, trusted her with real power.

The Merchant Alliance wasn't what it used to be, especially after the Peerless Douluo's debut.

If she became an Elder, her standing wouldn't be far beneath that woman on the Pope's throne.

Liu Erlong and Lu Feng shifted to discussing acquisitions (like the Aquatic Academy and Plant Academy) and the resource blockade against the Clear Sky Clan.

The first task had been personally assigned by Lu Feng via letter.

The second was Liu Erlong's own initiative.

The Clear Sky Clan had sealed its mountain gates, retreating from the world—but the Merchant Alliance's grip tightened around them.

But the Clear Sky Clan was located atop a snow-capped mountain, where ice and snow covered the land year-round. Almost nothing grew there, and it produced no cultivation resources.

People still needed to eat food, right? And they still needed to purchase cultivation resources, didn't they?

And these two things? Controlled entirely by the Merchant Alliance.

Every so often, the Clear Sky Clan would send envoys to trade with the Merchant Alliance, buying large quantities of food and cultivation supplies.

Not long ago, intelligence reports confirmed that Tang Hao had returned to the Clear Sky Clan.

Clearly, he was seeking powerful reinforcements—planning revenge.

And the Clear Sky Clan had taken him in.

Because of this, even without waiting for Lu Feng's order, Liu Erlong made the decisive call: Cut off all trade with the Clear Sky Clan.

Unless they publicly declared they would not assist Tang Hao in causing trouble for the Merchant Alliance, business was over.

Sure, the Clear Sky Clan could still buy food and resources from other sources—but at ten times, even a hundred times the price. That was no sustainable solution.

The Clear Sky Clan had produced nothing and earned nothing for over a decade, surviving purely on old savings. But a major sect's cultivation expenses were enormous, and from the way they'd started pawning furniture for money, their reserves were likely running dry.

Lu Feng fully supported Liu Erlong's decision.

Even if she hadn't acted, he would've given the same command.

Both of them were decisive by nature, and in just a few words, they settled the matter—both pleased with the outcome.

Liu Erlong, smiling like a blooming flower, moved to open the bathroom door.

But then—

Lu Feng hesitated for a moment before speaking up.

"Wait a second, President Liu… have you forgotten something?"

Liu Erlong blinked. "Huh? What?"

Lu Feng grinned. "Back then, you promised me that if I ever awakened spirit power you'd let me kiss you."

Liu Erlong: "..."

Suddenly, she remembered—she had said something like that.

But at the time, it had just been a joke, an offhand remark.

Who would've thought? Casual words from her, but taken to heart by him.

Liu Erlong let out a mix of laughter and exasperation.

"I did say that… but you were just a kid back then! And you hadn't even awakened spirit power by age ten—how was I supposed to know you'd actually manage it?!"

"As long as you remember, that's enough. And I know President Liu always keeps her promises. So… time to pay up."

Lu Feng said, brushing off her explanation. He stepped closer, pinning her gently against the door, and captured her soft, red lips with his own in a bold, heated kiss.