Chapter 31: Liu Erlong's Inner Turmoil
"Qinyu, are you certain this information is accurate?" Sheng Jun inquired, his tone tinged with scepticism. Though he had faith in their capabilities, the details they had unearthed seemed almost too shocking to believe.
"Except for the rumors surrounding the current Pope, every other piece of information we've gathered is based on fact" Qinyu replied with a respectful bow, her confidence unwavering.
Hearing Qinyu's report, Sheng Jun couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Information about the Pope was notoriously difficult to come by, especially details as sensitive as these. It seemed unlikely that they had stumbled upon such information by chance, it is more likely that someone had deliberately disseminated it. However, since he couldn't determine the identity of the person, he decided to let the matter go.
The information he had sought about his teacher's past revealed a truth he had never anticipated. His Teacher, along with Grandmaster and Liu Erlong, was part of the Golden Iron Triangle, the trio, revered for their legendary prowess of three-person Martial Soul Fusion.
As he delved deeper into the details, Sheng Jun learned of the love triangle that had unfolded between his Teacher, Grandmaster, and Liu Erlong. It was a tale of unrequited love, with his Teacher ultimately rejected as Liu Erlong's heart belonged to Grandmaster.
Naturally, Grandmaster and Liu Erlong became a couple and planned to marry. What's worse is that his Teacher is the one who officiated the wedding. Sheng Jun couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for his Teacher. To have witnessed the love of his life choose another, and then officiate their union on the day of their wedding...
But shockingly on the day of their wedding, Grandmaster and Liu Erlong's father interrupted, revealing that they were first cousins.
Shocked and saddened by the revelation that Liu Erlong hailed from the same family that had once cast him out, Grandmaster was unable to reconcile the woman before him with the memories of his past and broke off their relationship. He then turned and fled, refusing to face Liu Erlong for two decades now.
Liu Erlong, consumed by her inner turmoil and the overwhelming desire to unleash her destructive power, lost control of herself and succumbed to her primal instincts. In her frenzied state, she unleashed a devastating onslaught upon the forest of spirit beasts.
As the chaos unfolded, it was Flender, who emerged as her beacon of hope. Sensing her distress, he sought her out amidst the chaos. With Flender by her side, Liu Erlong gradually regained control over her emotions, the storm within her subsiding due to his support.
As Sheng Jun reflected on the events that had transpired, a sense of disbelief washed over him. His teacher's selflessness in matters of love was both admirable and perplexing.
The thought gnawed at Sheng Jun, stirring a mixture of frustration and confusion within him. If only Flender had seized the opportunity to make his advances and stayed with Liu Erlong longer. How could she still harbor feelings for Grandmaster, who had shown little willingness to stand by her side in her darkest hour?
Luckily, it seems that Liu Erlong had not been completely untouched by his teacher's selfless actions. With the newfound information he had gathered about the current Pope, coupled with the history of the Grandmaster with her, he saw an opportunity to manipulate the narrative to his advantage.
By carefully crafting a tale that painted the current Pope's actions as motivated by a desire to protect Liu Erlong and the Grandmaster's happiness, Sheng Jun could twist the truth to suit his own purposes.
While the information he possessed might be false and unverified, it still held the potential to sway her opinion and influence the course of events in his favor.
With a resolute nod, Sheng Jun rose from his seat, a sense of purpose burning bright within him. With the situation at his company stabilized for the time being, he could now devote his full attention to this matter.
Setting his sights on Blue Tyrant Academy, he embarked on the journey with determination coursing through his veins.
While he harbored gratitude towards the Grandmaster for his teaching, Sheng Jun knew where his priorities lay. If it came down to a choice between the Grandmaster's happiness and that of his beloved Teacher, there was no hesitation.
With unwavering resolve, Sheng Jun's heart was set on a singular goal: to ensure his teacher's happiness, no matter the cost. As for the possibility of reuniting the Grandmaster and Liu Erlong, it was a notion that had yet to cross his mind. In this moment, his loyalty lay with his Teacher.
...
After being granted entry by the vigilant guards of Blue Tyrant Academy, Sheng Jun proceeded along the familiar path he had traversed countless times in the past week. Each step brought him closer to his destination, his heart pounding with anticipation.
Finally, he arrived at a small house nestled within the confines of the academy grounds, a place known to students as the "Academy's Forbidden Area" Undeterred, Sheng Jun called out loudly, his voice ringing through the tranquil surroundings.
"Sister Erlong! I have come to visit!" he exclaimed, his words infused with eager enthusiasm.
As Sheng Jun's voice echoed through the tranquil surroundings, a sudden crash from within the house shattered the silence, causing him to tense instinctively. Bracing himself for the inevitable repercussions of his frequent visits, he steeled his resolve, prepared to face whatever consequences awaited him.
Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Liu Erlong, her expression 'gentle' with a 'smile' on her face. "Xiao Jun, don't you have a company to manage? How can you be here almost every day?" she chided 'gently'.
Over the past week, he had shared stories of his life with Flender to her, including his involvement in the founding of a company with the guidance of Flender.
Unbeknownst to Liu Erlong, she remained unaware of Grandmaster's involvement or the significance of the badge of a Titled Douluo he had provided.
As Sheng Jun reflected on his past, a sigh of relief escaped his lips. Grandmaster's request to keep his role concealed had helped him this time. Thankfully he had adhered to it faithfully, refraining from divulging any details that could potentially reveal Grandmaster's involvement in the company.
Moreover, Sheng Jun realized with a sense of gratitude that he had exercised caution in his storytelling, ensuring that he only shared the stories that centered around his Teacher and his role in establishing the company and their shared adventures. By beginning his tales from the latest events and working backward, he had skillfully avoided any mention of Grandmaster.
...
Despite a swollen face from their 'fair spar' Sheng Jun settled himself at the table with Liu Erlong, a playful glint in his eyes as he sipped his tea.
"Hehe, Sister Erlong, do you want to hear about the recent rumors I've acquired this past week?" Sheng Jun inquired, his smile widening mischievously as he leaned in closer.
Liu Erlong raised an eyebrow in surprise, her interest piqued by the unexpected topic of conversation. Though she couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment that Sheng Jun was not going to talk about Flender today, she couldn't deny her curiosity about the rumors he had uncovered.
With a nod of encouragement, Liu Erlong leaned forward, her gaze fixed intently on Sheng Jun as she awaited his revelation.
"Sister Erlong, it's about the current Pope of Spirit Hall" Sheng Jun began, his voice tinged with dramatic flair as he delved into his fabricated narrative. Despite the sudden fall of expression on Liu Erlong's face, he pressed on.
"I heard a rumor about what she did..." Sheng Jun continued, his words painting a vivid picture of the Pope's alleged actions.
For the next five minutes, Sheng Jun regaled Liu Erlong with an exaggerated account of the Pope's supposed exploits, each detail more shocking than the last. With each word, he carefully crafted a narrative that portrayed the Pope as a selfless martyr, sacrificing everything for the sake of unrequited love.
"And you know what the craziest thing I heard about these rumors?" Sheng Jun exclaimed, his voice heavy with feigned astonishment. "It seems that she is doing all this to make the man she loves and the woman he chose instead of her happy by destroying the obstacle that is blocking their relationship"
As he spoke, Sheng Jun couldn't help but notice the subtle shift in Liu Erlong's demeanor. Pressing on, he continued "If that man had any sense, he wouldn't ignore her efforts and choose to live happily with the woman he chose instead of the Pope. So, if my calculations are correct, he will abandon the woman he had previously abandoned and get together with the Pope"
"What do you think about the rumor-" Sheng Jun queried, but his voice was interrupted by a sudden shout.
"HE WOULDN'T!!" 'Caught off guard' by Liu Erlong's sudden outburst, Sheng Jun 'flinched' as she inadvertently smashed the table in her agitation. "Sister Erlong, think about it from your own perspective" he began, his voice tinged with urgency as he sought to 'calm her down'. "Would you be able to choose the other man, instead of the one who has silently sacrificed himself for you, regardless of his own happiness, just to see the love of his life live happily?"
As the words hung in the air, Sheng Jun watched closely, his heart pounding with anticipation. He knew that his fabricated tale had struck a nerve with Liu Erlong, awakening long-buried emotions and stirring her inner turmoil
As Sheng Jun's words penetrated her heart like a piercing knife, Liu Erlong felt a surge of conflicting emotions wash over her. She knew deep down that Xiaogang, with his character, wouldn't simply abandon that woman who had sacrificed so much for him. The realization cut through her like a blade, stirring a tumultuous storm of thoughts and feelings within her.
Yet, as she grappled with this revelation, another unsettling thought began to take root in her mind. Wasn't that woman's story eerily similar to Flender, who had silently watched over her from the sidelines, sacrificing his own happiness for her sake? The parallels between the two scenarios struck her like a bolt of lightning, igniting a firestorm of conflicting emotions within her.
Tears welled up in Liu Erlong's eyes as the weight of her realization bore down upon her. Her mind swirled in chaos, the anguish of confronting her own inner turmoil. And torn between the rising desire to unleash her destructive power.
In that moment of vulnerability, she felt the walls around her heart crumbling, exposing the raw emotions that lay hidden beneath the surface.
As the tears streamed down her cheeks, Liu Erlong found herself teetering on the edge of a cliff, her heart torn between the past and the present, between love and longing. In that moment, she knew that she stood at a crossroads, faced with a choice that would shape the course of her future destiny.
As Liu Erlong's emotions threatened to overwhelm her, Sheng Jun sprang into action, his quick thinking guiding his next move. With practiced ease, he retrieved his Dalu Link device and feigned urgency as he pretended to receive a call.
"Oh! Sister Erlong!" Sheng Jun exclaimed, his voice tinged with 'concern'. "There's a sudden emergency from the company. I need to head back as soon as possible! The situation seems serious! Sadly, I probably won't be able to come for a long time!"
With a 'regretful' expression, he made a show of hastily departing. In truth, whether the rumors he had shared were true or not was inconsequential to his ultimate goal. His mission had been to plant the seeds of doubt and uncertainty in Liu Erlong's mind, and now, it was up to her to grapple with the 'truth' on her own terms.
"Teacher, this is all I can do for you" he thought solemnly as he disappeared into the bustling streets. "The rest depends on you. Please, be selfish this time" a silent plea echoing in his mind.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Aczekial
Aczekial Smh, I can't believe Sheng Jun couldn't come up with a better excuse to leave! It was so obvious! (The longest chapter so far [2000+ words])
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