11: Liu Erlong's Thoughts

The next day, through the rock crevice, the last ray of the setting sun was completely swallowed by the dense, heavy shadows of the forest.

The wind in the forest carried the dampness of the night dew, passing through the hanging vines, brushing against Liu Erlong's sweat-soaked skin, causing a slight shiver.

Liu Erlong suddenly awoke from her stupor, her crimson eyes instantly opening, scanning the dim rock crevice vigilantly.

She was still somewhat disheveled, but a clean female coat was draped over her, and a complete set of female clothing was placed beside her.

She wiped her forehead, gentlyBreak free the restraint of the coat, her honey-golden skin glowing softly in the dim light, her sweat half-dried, leaving a few winding traces that slid from her taut and powerful collarbone, disappearing into the almost-bare remains of her fiery red leather armor.

Only a few tough beast sinews barely held the leather armor together, just covering her full peaks, while a large area of her smooth, firm waist and abdomen was completely exposed to the cool air; the red and swollen mark where the poison web had grazed her was still prominent, and the outline of her abdominal muscles was as deeply carved as if by a sculptor's knife.

The wounds steeped in Ghost-Faced Demonic Spider venom had been treated and were now wrapped in clean strips of cloth.

However, these strips of cloth were from male clothing, and very small in size, clearly torn off from the clothes of the little brat who had just saved her.

Although the pain persisted, the lethal cold numbness had disappeared.

The tattered leather pants outlined the straight lines of her long, strong, but mud-stained legs, one bare foot resting on the cold rock, her ankle delicate yet possessing astonishing resilience.

Her entire being was like a sculpture that had endured the baptism of war, yet still exuded wildness and the glow of power, only with a hint of exhaustion from overexertion and… a trace of bewilderment remaining between her brows.

Where was that little brat?

The rock crevice was empty; besides her, there was no second figure. Only the embers of the bonfire emitted a faint red glow and the last trace of warmth.

This seemed to be the little brat's flame Spirit, who hadn't forgotten to warm her before leaving.

A strange emotion, mixed with loss and unease, instantly gripped Liu Erlong's heart.

That mysterious, calm, and surprisingly strong little brat… just left? Without even saying goodbye?

She propped herself against the cold rock wall, trying to stand up, her gaze sweeping over a flattened stone next to the embers.

Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly saw a neatly folded piece of rough bark paper, with frayed edges, lying quietly on that stone.

Liu Erlong's heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

She reached out, her long, honey-colored fingers trembling almost imperceptibly at the tips, and picked up the paper.

She gently unfolded it.

The writing on it was done with a charred twig, the handwriting childish yet exceptionally neat, revealing a maturity unbefitting her age:

1. I have sprinkled insect repellent powder and poison powder all around; the poison can be neutralized by the detoxification pill.

2. The poison in your body has been completely removed, but the after-effects of the poison's erosion still require three days of rest, and you must avoid using Soul Power.

3. On your left side are pills; the white ones are detoxification pills, two bottles, twenty pills in total; take one detoxification pill per day.

Until we meet again.

—Mo Yuhan

If you wish to thank me in person, you may come to Spirit City's Spirit Hall and simply state my name.

When she read the beginning, Liu Erlong was still feeling a sense of loss.

"Mo Yuhan... you stinky little brat, you don't even know my name and you dare to leave without a word! Don't let me catch you!"

Inside the rock crevice, the embers of the bonfire emitted their last faint warmth and an orange-red glow, dancing and swirling on the rough rock wall, as if a little brat's figure was making funny gestures to amuse her.

Liu Erlong held the rough bark paper, her honey-golden fingertips clearly feeling the uneven marks left by the charred charcoal pen.

Her crimson eyes, still somewhat hazy from just waking up, finally scanned the signature, which was too neat to be an eight-year-old's handwriting.

"Spirit City, Spirit Hall..."

Liu Erlong softly read out the final signature, her crimson pupils showing none of the fierce animosity towards Spirit Hall that one might expect from a great aristocratic family; instead, there was a deep confusion and intense curiosity, like a stone dropped into a deep pool, stirring up ripples.

Although she was the illegitimate daughter of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, she should naturally harbor an inherent hostility towards Spirit Hall.

However, she had experienced the ups and downs of life since childhood, and at this time, Spirit Hall's public image in the Spirit Master's world was still that of an authoritative administrative body—primarily responsible for Spirit Master registration, spirit ring certification, and even, to some extent, maintaining Spirit Master order, making it more like a "rule-setter" than an "enemy" to ordinary Spirit Masters.

Liu Erlong leaned against the cold rock wall, a mix of post-survival exhaustion and a strange excitement.

Her honey-golden skin, in the warm glow of the bonfire's embers, resembled fine amber, exuding a restrained yet wild luster.

Between her brows, in addition to fatigue, was a deep, almost unresolvable, desire for exploration.

Spirit Hall... to Liu Erlong, the illegitimate daughter of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, this organization was vast and authoritative, the administrative center of the continent's Spirit Master's world; while not hostile, it carried an indescribable sense of distance and mystery.

When the old folks in her family mentioned Spirit Hall, their tone was quite complex—there was reverence for its control over vast resources and Spirit Master advancement channels, and also a subtle vigilance against its attempts to extend its reach into the Sect's sphere of influence.

But what about her, Liu Erlong?

She grew up on the fringes of her family, witnessing enough of the hypocrisy and infighting caused by bloodline and status.

She rebelliously left that oppressive cage and ventured out on her own.

To her, Spirit Hall was more like a distant and powerful symbol.

It was an authoritative institution that held many resources and knowledge coveted by Spirit Masters; she had also heard of the prestige of the Platinum Bishops, knew of the elites of Martial Soul Hall Academy, and was aware of their intricate relationship with the two great Empires.

Dislike?

The so-called hostility that should be so strong as to be rooted in her bloodline?

In her heart, as an illegitimate daughter, a "wild child" who had long since broken free from family ties, it did not exist.

She trusted her own eyes and fists more.

And now, this symbol of Spirit Hall had suddenly materialized into a small boy named Mo Yuhan.

Complex emotions churned and settled in her chest.

A child only seven or eight years old, yet already at twenty Soul Power, able to navigate the mixed zone of the Star Dou Great Forest with ease, and even able to suppress potent poisons with his peculiar dark yellow flames, saving her in such an unbelievable manner.

But no matter what, regardless of where Mo Yuhan came from, he saved her twice; this was an undeniable fact: once from the fangs of a Ten-Thousand-Year Ghost-Faced Demon Spider, and once from a deep, bone-chilling paralyzing poison.

Liu Erlong acted with clear distinctions between gratitude and grudges, taking pleasure in settling scores.

A life-saving grace must be thanked in person!

Trying to dismiss her with a note? No way!

She had to find him and repay this favor.

Of course, Liu Erlong also had an unspoken reason within her heart; perhaps she also wanted to question him about whether he ran away so quickly because he was afraid she would settle the score for "taking advantage"?

This thought made her honey-colored cheeks flush slightly.

A little brat sucking the wound on her arm... that scorching touch, the strange tingling sensation from the strong suction, this scene indeed made her both shy and annoyed, her honey-colored skin flushing an almost imperceptible red in the light of the embers.

The lines of her taut waist and abdomen even tensed slightly due to this shameful memory.

But this shame and annoyance, at this moment, did not turn into ill will towards Mo Yuhan or Spirit Hall; instead, it transformed into a strong obsession to find him and "demand an explanation."

Mo Yuhan's appearance was like a strong light, instantly tearing through her vague and distant perception of Spirit Hall.

This organization, it seemed, was not merely a high and mighty, rigid symbol of authority.

It could cultivate such an astonishingly talented and unbelievably calm Mo Yuhan; it must have its unique qualities.

She suddenly wanted to see what that legendary Spirit City was truly like? Were the people there all as... special as Mo Yuhan?

The night wind passed through the rock crevice, carrying the damp scent of the deep forest, stirring her crimson hair, which was scattered over her shoulders and slightly curled from sweat. In Liu Erlong's crimson eyes, confusion gradually dispersed, replaced by a burning, resolute light.