Liu Erlong smiled sweetly. "Senior Dugu, we certainly don't have the right to challenge you. However, I wonder if you've noticed what Martial Souls we bear. Both Xiao Gang and I come from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan. Perhaps we are no match for you, but can you afford to offend our family?"
"Erlong, silence!" the Great Master barked. His heart sank. If Liu Erlong had kept her background to herself, there might have been a slim chance of survival. But now that she had revealed it, how could Dugu Bo possibly leave loose ends?
Sure enough, Dugu Bo's expression shifted slightly at her words. Recalling the Martial Soul Fusion Technique the three had just used, he frowned. "So you're from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan? Fine, very well. But so what? Even if I can't beat that dragon of yours, if I kill the three of you and leave no trace, what evidence would your clan have to come after me? Erasing every last trace of you is child's play for me."
Liu Erlong smiled. "You make a fair point, Senior. As long as you kill both me and Xiao Gang, our clan would have no way to pin anything on you, even if they came looking. But Flandre has no connection to our family whatsoever. Even if he were to go to our clan and tell them everything, no one would believe him. His word alone would never constitute proof. We two can die and that will be that — but might I ask whether you would be willing to let him go?"
Dugu Bo laughed out loud. "Do you take me for a fool? Release a tiger back to the mountain? There may be nothing in this world I truly fear, but I've always lived by the principle of cutting the roots to prevent regrowth. Killing all three of you is far more certain, wouldn't you say?"
A cold glint flickered through Liu Erlong's eyes. With a flip of her wrist, a small blue metal sphere appeared in her hand. "Then by all means, try. This is a unique signaling device of our clan. You may be stronger than us, but in the instant you strike to kill, I can release it with absolute certainty. This is your territory — but once our clan's people come searching, can you really wash your hands of it? If you let Flandre go, we will willingly let you kill us, and I won't release the device."
To die alongside the one she loved — rather than sorrow, Liu Erlong felt a secret thrill. She had never once found death to be something frightening.
"Erlong, what are you saying? Am I, Flandre, the sort of man who clings to life out of cowardice? If he wants to kill, then let him kill. When we reach the underworld, I'll still play matchmaker for you and Xiao Gang. So what if the Golden Iron Triangle dies together? Release that communication device of yours — at least then, someone will avenge us."
Flandre flickered forward, positioning himself in front of Liu Erlong and the Great Master.
"Elder Flandre, have you lost your mind? Run — this is no time for heroics!" Liu Erlong urged.
Flandre sighed. "I've lived past fifty. Dying now can hardly be called dying young. Erlong, even though you've never loved me, in my heart your place is just as Xiao Gang holds in yours. For you, dying alongside Xiao Gang would be happiness. For me, dying alongside the two of you — what regret could there be? It's just a shame about little San. Dugu Bo, I won't hide it from you — little San's father is someone even you can't afford to cross. If we don't return, my people will go to him immediately. His very existence is more terrifying than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan."
"Oh?" Dugu Bo regarded the three before him with keen interest. "So that brat has some backing behind him? Someone even I can't afford to cross? There are precious few in this world. Go on — tell me. Who is his father?"
Flandre let out a cold snort. "Can't you do the math? Little San is thirteen this year, so his father can't be too old either. And he's someone you can't afford to cross — who else on the continent could it be?"
Dugu Bo froze for a moment. Then, as if something had clicked, his face drained of color. "Tang San... Tang San... that man's surname is also Tang. Could it be...? No, that can't be right. That brat's Martial Soul is nothing but Blue Silver Grass."
The Great Master spoke in a cold voice. "Correct — the Martial Soul you see is only Blue Silver Grass. But what if he has two?"
In his mind, Tang San was already dead. There was no point in keeping secrets anymore.
"What did you say?" The shock Dugu Bo felt was beyond description. "Are you telling me that brat is a Twin Martial Soul?"
"Indeed," the Great Master replied calmly.
A flickering, uncertain light played in Dugu Bo's eyes. His right hand rose slowly, and a murderous gleam flickered through his gaze. In that moment, he had made his decision — not only would he kill these three immediately, but he would also hurry to finish off Tang San. Flandre was right: that man was someone even he could not afford to provoke. But if he destroyed all evidence and fled this place at once, it would not be easy for that man to track him down.
Just as Dugu Bo was about to strike, a clear, resonant voice rang out from the distance:
"Dugu Bo — you wouldn't dare!"
Dugu Bo started and turned toward the voice. He could see a figure hurtling toward them at extraordinary speed. The rugged mountain path did nothing to slow the newcomer, who was being propelled forward by eight slender, dark projections trailing behind — closing the distance with terrifying swiftness.