In the end, Fu Ye was literally dragged out of Yuexuan by his ear—courtesy of Tang Yuehua herself. As fate would have it, this moment unfolded just as the students were arriving for class.
"Whoa, Brother Fu Ye and Teacher Yuehua sure have a close relationship!"
"Teacher Yuehua's blushing... could it be she's fallen for Brother Fu Ye?"
"Brother, you're wild. Even daring to flirt with Teacher Yuehua?"
"My father passed away young. Brother Fu Ye, if you don't mind... I'm willing. Woo woo woo~"
"Brother, what nonsense are you spouting? Our dad's only thirty!"
Fu Ye, still standing at the gates with a faint red mark on his ear, looked back at the furious Tang Yuehua and thought—she was really quite adorable when angry.
But cute as she was, she wasn't someone he could "eat" just yet. He would hold back for now and spend the night instead with his little fool, Ah Yin, for a deeper... emotional exchange.
He'd already made arrangements with Yuehua to return the afternoon after tomorrow. After all, these noble students still had much to learn, and Yuehua remained the best at shaping their poise and etiquette. Fu Ye simply showed up to ease her burden when it came to the guqin classes.
Still, Yuexuan's benefits were surprisingly generous. Even as an assistant, he received 1,500 gold soul coins monthly. For ordinary folks, it was a fortune. But for Fu Ye, whose system ensured unlimited wealth, it was just a side note. What he truly sought was more interaction with Yuehua.
Tang Hao, that thickheaded fool, wouldn't dare come here anyway. Fu Ye intended to eventually bring Yuehua back to the Clear Sky Sect, introduce her to the elders, and give Tang Hao a well-deserved beating.
As for Tang San's birth, Fu Ye had already begun selecting suitable candidates to be his mother. His system's store had everything—ranging from elegant to... less-than-serious types.
Minor details could shift, but the grand trajectory must remain. As long as Tang Hao lived, Tang San would be born. All that remained was finding a woman to bear him at the right moment.
Fu Ye had briefly considered pairing Tang Hao with Ju Douluo, but ultimately decided it was a little too twisted. That strange idea had long been tossed into the void. After all, if Tang San ended up inheriting the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum as his first spirit, and the Clear Sky Hammer as the second...
That combination would be terrifying.
Ju Douluo's finishing move, after all, wasn't so different from Tang San's Buddha's Fury Tang Lotus.
Yueguan: The chrysanthemums wither... wounds scatter the ground... flowers fall, hearts break.
Tang San: Eat this! Buddha's Wrath Tang Lotus: Pro Max Edition!
...Just imagining the scene gave Fu Ye goosebumps.
—
Back at the Juxiang Pavilion, Ah Yin had already awakened. She lounged peacefully on the balcony, soaking in the warm afternoon sun—photosynthesis was her favorite form of relaxation.
By nine that night, Fu Ye lay with Ah Yin on the open-air couch, holding her as they gazed at the full moon. It wasn't the Mid-Autumn Festival, yet the moon tonight was unusually round.
A figure in white silently appeared beside them and respectfully bowed.
"Thank you, Brother."
"No need for formalities," Fu Ye smiled. "I'll be away from Juxiang Pavilion for a while. I leave its care in your hands."
The man nodded solemnly—it was Chen Xin, finally fully awakened after two days of enlightenment.
"Rest assured, Brother. Should danger arise, I, Chen Xin, will act without hesitation."
"Good. I trust you."
With those parting words, Chen Xin departed. Fu Ye turned back to Ah Yin, gently lifting her. Her dazed eyes blinked up at him.
He leaned in and whispered in her ear.
"Madam."
"Mm~"
Dragons were creatures of passion. And Fu Ye, with his pure Dragon God bloodline, embodied that nature. Though the Dragon God of the Douluo Continent was only considered a hybrid, he remained the progenitor of all soul beasts—the strongest of them all.
—
Meanwhile, in a grim interrogation chamber, four figures were bound. Two of them were fresh—replacements for the previous two who hadn't survived the final saltwater punishment before dawn.
Bibi Dong's eyes were colder than ever. The new Spirit Hall managers trembled under her gaze.
They had dined at the Spirit Hall's table, only to betray their own. Unforgivable.
Bibi Dong had already sentenced them in her heart. If they confessed the mastermind, their deaths would be swift. If not—then iron whips would flay their skin, salt and acid would bathe their wounds, and whatever flesh remained would be carved off and fed to dogs.
"Shua!"
"Snap!"
A whip lashed down, tearing a bloody gouge in the fat supervisor's back.
"AHHHHH!"
"Shua!"
"Pa!"
Another strike tore his flesh anew. He lost control of his bladder from sheer terror.
Still, Bibi Dong did not pause.
"Crack!"
"Ahhhh! Saint Lady! Spare me! It was Yu Xiaogang! It was all Yu Xiaogang! I admit it! I took bribes—but I don't deserve to die! Spare me!!"
Bibi Dong's lips curled into a chilling smile. She turned toward the next man, who had gone pale as death.
"Shua!"
"AHHH! SAINT LADY!"
"It's Yu Xiaogang! He bribed me and threatened to kill me if I talked! It's him! It's him!"
Watching the two bloodied men grovel, Bibi Dong finally found satisfaction. She turned toward the waiting guards and healers standing with a pack of starved spirit dogs.
"These two traitors who survived last night? Cut off a hand or foot every quarter hour and feed it to the dogs. Let the newcomers see what fate awaits those who betray the Spirit Hall."
As she spoke with a bright smile, the entire chamber went cold. A chill swept over everyone present.
Yu Xiaogang… was finished.
Just then, the doors opened.
Two tall, lean figures stepped inside.
Bibi Dong's voice echoed gently, dangerously:
"Uncle Gui, please bring me that loser Yu Xiaogang. There's something I'd like to... discuss with him."