Chapter 309: Tang San's Fourth Soul Skill (Part 1)

Listening to Flandre's words, the Great Master felt his heart stirred. He murmured, "Is... is that really possible?"

Flandre declared with great composure, "What's not possible about it? At least this way, both of your hearts will feel much better. As long as you hold that last line of defense—don't sleep together every night, but still be able to feel each other's love—what's wrong with that? Forget that you're only cousins; even if you were full blood siblings, so what? You just love each other. To the outside world, you simply say it's sibling affection. That stubborn heart of yours wouldn't have any objection to that, would it?"

Hearing Flandre's words, the Great Master froze in place like a statue. A long, long moment passed before he suddenly blurted out, "Flandre, why in the hell didn't you say so sooner?"

With that, the Great Master sprang to his feet and dashed toward Liu Erlong at a dead sprint. Running so fast that two elegant trails of tears streamed through the air behind him.

Erlong, Erlong, I can finally love you openly and honestly. If I can love you, why must there be anything physical? Spiritual love is more than enough!

Watching the Great Master's retreating figure, a heartfelt smile spread across Flandre's face. Xiao Gang, you fool—spending every day rubbing shoulders and whispering in each other's ears, did you really think you could hold back?

Seeing the Great Master charging toward her like a madman, Liu Erlong's heart skipped a beat.

The Great Master practically flew to a stop in front of Liu Erlong, staring into her beautiful, bewildered eyes. Suddenly, he threw open his arms and gathered her into his embrace with all his strength. "Erlong, I'm sorry."

Just seven words, yet they opened the floodgates. Liu Erlong's vision blurred with tears. With her Soul Power exceeding level seventy, she couldn't muster even a shred of strength. Her entire body went limp in the Great Master's arms as tears poured down like rain.

These words—she had waited far, far too long for them. Twenty years. Just as Flandre had said, twenty years had already passed. How had she gotten through those twenty years? No matter how strong she appeared on the outside, in the end she was still just a woman. What woman doesn't long to be cherished by the one she loves? What woman doesn't long for happiness?

Perhaps because this happiness had arrived so suddenly, Liu Erlong felt as though her body were swaying in a dream. Everything seemed so unreal.

Flandre quietly waved Zhao Wuji, Xiao Wu, and the others away. The group slowly retreated to one side, leaving this wide clearing for the Great Master and Liu Erlong alone.

Outside the poison formation, the last few remaining Soul Beasts, unwilling to leave without the Fragrance Fairy Grass, finally departed. With their disappearance, the surroundings fell completely silent.

"Xiao Gang, Xiao Gang, do you know how long I've waited? More than seventy thousand days and nights—do you have any idea how I endured them? Are you really not running away anymore? Are you truly willing to be with me?" Liu Erlong sobbed uncontrollably, burying her face against the Great Master's shoulder.

The Great Master nodded firmly. "Erlong, I'm sorry. I swear I will never run from our love again. Perhaps we can't be like a normal married couple. But I will always stay by your side and love you."

He then relayed Flandre's idea. Liu Erlong lay quietly in his arms, listening. When she heard him speak of having the love of a married couple without the reality of it, she understood—he still hadn't fully broken free from that barrier in his heart. But after waiting so many years, with the man before her finally willing to stop running and at least stay by her side to love her, why should she demand anything more?

Perhaps taking Xiao Wu as her goddaughter had deeply influenced Liu Erlong's state of mind. Now, all she felt was a desire to let things take their natural course. She nodded gently in the Great Master's embrace. Being together with the one she loved was what mattered most.

Half a shichen later, Zhu Zhuqing successfully absorbed the Ghost Tiger's Soul Ring and walked back alongside Dai Mubai. She seemed even more cool and poised than before, with an added edge of valiant spirit between her brows, and she appeared to have grown taller. She hadn't yet reached Xiao Wu's height, but judging by appearance alone, she was already beginning to carry the air of a young woman.

The attributes granted by Soul Rings inevitably brought changes to a Soul Master's body. Although the Shrek Seven Devils were still young, each of them possessed at least three Soul Rings. The energy fused into their bodies through those Rings accelerated their growth and development. Their faces still held traces of youth, but in appearance they were already approaching adulthood. Compared to a year ago, each of them seemed to have aged several years. If they didn't say so themselves, it would be hard for anyone to guess that the youngest of the Shrek Seven Devils was still not yet fourteen.

Next to return was Ning Rongrong. Her complexion wasn't as pale as Oscar's had been. When Liu Erlong had been brutally attacking the Armored Beast earlier, Oscar had stayed by Ning Rongrong's side the entire time, shielding her eyes and comforting her endlessly. It wasn't until Ning Rongring began absorbing her Soul Ring that Oscar rushed off to the side and proceeded to vomit his heart out. Afterward, he cleaned up the horrific scene Liu Erlong had created. As a result, Ning Rongrong hadn't seen anything revolting after absorbing her Soul Ring, and she was in far better shape than Oscar.

At this point, only Tang San had yet to return among the Shrek Seven Devils. The group waited in silence within the poison formation.