Dai Chengfeng looked at Liu Erlong's current weary appearance. Not only did he not get up and leave, but he leaned closer instead.
"Because of this, I can't possibly leave you alone!"
Liu Erlong tugged at the thin blanket covering her body, pulling it up slightly, and turned her face away from Dai Chengfeng's gaze, her voice tinged with pleading. "Dai Chengfeng, please, I'm begging you."
"Just today… let me be alone for a while, okay?"
"Please!"
"No." Dai Chengfeng's reply was firm and decisive.
The next moment, he suddenly reached out and yanked off the entire blanket wrapped tightly around Liu Erlong!
The cool morning air instantly hit her skin. Liu Erlong gasped in surprise, instinctively curling up, her arms hurriedly crossing over her chest.
Last night, she had been troubled by turbulent emotions and fell asleep fully clothed, wearing only a thin, white silk nightgown that clung softly to her body.
Now, with the blanket abruptly pulled away, the close-fitting design of the nightgown outlined her perfectly mature and voluptuous curves.
Under the sunlight streaming into the room, there was nowhere to hide.
Dai Chengfeng's gaze lingered on Liu Erlong for a moment, seemingly completely unaffected by her flawless figure. His expression grew even more serious and stern, carrying an air of admonishment, his voice deep and steady:
"Liu Erlong, look at yourself!"
"For a man who never truly cared about you, who even ruthlessly abandoned you, is it worth tormenting yourself into this soulless state?"
"Dai Chengfeng…"
Liu Erlong stared blankly at Dai Chengfeng, stunned by his sudden harsh words, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment.
But Dai Chengfeng showed no mercy, his words cutting like knives, precisely targeting Liu Erlong's deepest pain and pride: "Think about it. You're sitting here, drowning in sorrow and tormenting yourself, but what about him?"
"Do you think he feels even a shred of guilt or pity for you? No!"
"He'll only find you laughable, think you're clingy, and even… perhaps when he talks about you, he'll use your suffering as a topic of idle chatter."
"He'll mock you, belittle you, Liu Erlong, for being so childish at your age!"
"For a man who doesn't want you, acting as if you're dying without him! How foolish!"
"Stop it!" Liu Erlong screamed out loud, unable to bear the piercing truth in Dai Chengfeng's words.
Dai Chengfeng's words were like a dagger, stabbing deeply into Liu Erlong's most sensitive pride. Her body trembled violently with anger and the humiliating image Dai Chengfeng painted.
"Stop? You want me to stop?"
Dai Chengfeng showed no intention of stopping. Instead, he stepped closer, towering over Liu Erlong with an intense gaze.
"You want me to stop? Fine! But you need to take action to prove it!"
"Look at yourself right now. Aren't you just giving him more material to laugh at you?"
"What do you think he'll say behind your back? Pitiful Liu Erlong?!"
"No! I don't want that! I refuse to become a laughingstock in their eyes!"
Liu Erlong abruptly sat upright on the bed, her earlier fragility and sadness replaced by a blazing fury. Her eyes once again burned with fierce intensity—her innate pride and fiery spirit reignited.
Like a wild horse!
Seeing this side of Liu Erlong, a flicker of amusement passed through Dai Chengfeng's eyes. His tone finally softened, carrying an encouraging note: "That's right."
"The best thing you can do now is pull yourself together and live a life more vibrant and dazzling than ever before!"
"Only then, perhaps one day, will he realize what he lost and regret it!"
"Mm!"
Liu Erlong nodded firmly, her chest rising and falling slightly with her heightened emotions.
She looked up at the man who had awakened her from her most vulnerable and disheveled state, a complex wave of gratitude welling up in her heart.
Suddenly, she reached out and gently hugged Dai Chengfeng: "Dai Chengfeng, thank you. Thank you for waking me up."
"Otherwise, I wouldn't know how long I'd stay in this slump!"
"If I continued like this, I'd truly become a joke in his eyes!"
It was just a brief embrace, but through the thin fabric, Dai Chengfeng could clearly feel the warmth and softness of Liu Erlong's body.
At the same time, a faint scent of a mature woman drifted into his nostrils, causing his throat to unconsciously tighten.
He felt his throat inexplicably dry?
But soon, Dai Chengfeng quickly suppressed these distracting thoughts, trying to keep his tone steady: "Let… let go…"
"And, shall we start today's lesson?"
Hearing the slight hoarseness in Dai Chengfeng's voice, Liu Erlong was slightly puzzled. But soon, she snapped back to reality, realizing she was almost completely uncovered on the bed and had just initiated the hug. Her cheeks instantly flushed red with embarrassment.
She hastily grabbed the blanket and wrapped herself tightly again, speaking rapidly: "Alright! But you… you wait outside for me first!"
"I'll tidy up quickly, I'll be done in a moment!"
Dai Chengfeng nodded agreeably, turned, and left the room, closing the door behind him.
He walked to the pavilion in the courtyard, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, waiting.
Not long after, Liu Erlong emerged, having tidied up.
She had changed into her usual black outfit, her hair neatly combed, though a faint blush still lingered on her face. When her eyes met Dai Chengfeng's, there was still a hint of awkwardness and shyness.
"Sit down."
Dai Chengfeng smiled, gesturing for Liu Erlong to take a seat, and began the lesson.
But Liu Erlong shook her head slightly, then looked at Dai Chengfeng…
"Sigh!"
Taking a deep breath, Liu Erlong walked up to Dai Chengfeng, her expression suddenly becoming incredibly solemn and apologetic: "Dai Chengfeng, I'm sorry."
A flicker of emotion stirred in Dai Chengfeng's heart. "It seems my efforts are finally bearing fruit!"
On the surface, however, he feigned confusion: "Sorry? Liu Erlong, why are you suddenly apologizing to me?"
Liu Erlong pursed her lips. "Before, the experience and soul power techniques I taught you about the Triple Spirit Fusion Technique were mostly correct, but… I held back on two crucial subtle nodes and the key to soul resonance. I didn't tell you."
"At that time… I didn't fully trust you."
Hearing this, Dai Chengfeng smiled indifferently, his tone gentle: "That's normal."
"We were strangers then. Being cautious with strangers is the most basic survival rule in the world of soul masters."
"I understand, and I won't hold it against you. Don't worry!"
Previously, Liu Erlong had imagined that after confessing, Dai Chengfeng would be angry, furious, or even curse her as a despicable betrayer or someone untrustworthy…
But having chosen to confess, Liu Erlong had mentally prepared herself to accept whatever scolding Dai Chengfeng might unleash.
However, she never expected Dai Chengfeng to show no anger at all, instead displaying such effortless forgiveness.
For a moment, this made Liu Erlong feel even more touched and guilty.
Thinking this, she stepped forward, her eyes resolute: "Dai Chengfeng, thank you for understanding."
"This time is different," Liu Erlong said earnestly, extending her hand. "Now, please trust me. I will teach you everything I know about the secrets of Spirit Fusion Techniques, including the complete soul power flow and resonance techniques, without holding anything back."
Dai Chengfeng looked at the sincere light in Liu Erlong's eyes, smiled slightly, and extended his hand, gently grasping her fingertips:
"Alright, I believe you."
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