Chapter 209: A Chinese Odyssey... Pfft!

(Bonus chapter added via the green channel for book friend 【Life is Just So】, who tipped 10,000 book coins)

"Xiaogang... is it really you? Am I dreaming?"

As Flender forcefully dragged Grandmaster forward, a moving and tragic encounter played out before everyone's eyes.

That call of "Xiaogang" made the hearts of everyone present go soft; it was the classic "royal sister" body with a "loli" voice from Liu Baolong.

In a very strange atmosphere, both sides completed their information exchange. The members of Shrek Academy stepped forward one after another to pay their respects, and Liu Erlong also composed herself, wiped the tears from her eyes, and politely returned the gesture.

After understanding the situation, Liu Erlong immediately expressed her extreme indignation toward Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, as well as her determination to rename Lanba Academy to Shrek Academy.

Liu Erlong said: "How to teach in the future is Flender's problem. I was never a competent Dean anyway, so I can finally be liberated. To think Heaven Dou Imperial Academy dared to kick you all out—hmpf, I want to see what they have to back that up. See you at next year's Advanced Spirit Academy Competition."

These words were completely contrary to her gentle appearance; her hatred of evil and fiery temper began to show.

"Giving away an academy at the drop of a hat; a second-tier Shrek promoted to a first-tier double-first-class institution..."

Qin Jian asked Oscar for a melon-eating sausage and watched as Dragon Mom, who was focused on love and had no heart for teaching, stood before Grandmaster, gradually losing herself in the mist of love, unable to extricate herself...

This melon was delicious to eat; Flender, Qin Jian, and the others ate melons all the way to the dining table.

"Qin Jian, I have something I'd like to talk to you about."

Grandmaster finally couldn't withstand Dragon Mom's burning gaze, greeted Qin Jian, and walked out of the restaurant.

"???"

Qin Jian's head was full of question marks.

Shouldn't Grandmaster be looking for his biological son Tang San to tell stories and seek comfort right now? Why look for him?

He had been busy all day and wanted to eat, not listen to stories...

In the end, he reluctantly put down the chicken leg in his hand and followed him out, looking back every three steps.

Walking out of the restaurant and into the woods, the temperature was clearly a few degrees lower than outside. The refreshing air made Grandmaster feel invigorated, and even his mood seemed to ease a little.

Stopping in his tracks, Grandmaster turned to Qin Jian and said indifferently: "Qin Jian, do you want to ask what kind of relationship Erlong and I have, why it is the way it is now, and why I have avoided her for twenty years?"

No, I don't want to ask, I just want to eat...

Qin Jian nodded, feeling life was meaningless.

And so, he heard a moving and tragic story about how lovers in the world eventually become cousins.

"Qin Jian, you must find it strange why I didn't tell Xiao San these things, but instead came to find you..."

Grandmaster's words made Qin Jian look up; he did indeed find it strange.

"It's mainly because, in the year I've been training you all, I've seen quite a bit of the emotional entanglements between you, Rongrong, Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu..."

Grandmaster's gaze also held a hint of strangeness: "If we're talking about emotional experience, yours is certainly much richer than mine. Whether it's Rongrong's lingering thoughts of you, Zhuqing's reliance, or the ambiguity with Xiao Wu, I am not as good as you in this regard, so I wanted to ask for your opinion."

Who has rich emotional experience? Who is good at this? It's not me, I don't have it, Grandmaster, you are slandering me!

Qin Jian's face darkened slightly, but seeing the suppressed pain on Grandmaster's face, he couldn't help but start turning his gears.

"Grandmaster, let me tell you a story too..."

Qin Jian composed his expression and said with a smile: "This story is called... Blue Life and Death Love."

He roughly recounted the main plot of the story, but kept the sibling identity at the end, only saying that they were together in spirit.

"Blue Life and Death Love... spiritual love..."

Grandmaster stared blankly.

"That's right, Grandmaster. This kind of purely spiritual love is even purer and more ideal than a normal marital relationship. You and Aunt Erlong can consider this approach." Qin Jian nodded.

Platonic love was perfect for them, although Qin Jian privately thought... as long as you don't produce deformed children, you can play however you want, who would know...

Of course, if these values were spoken aloud, he would definitely get beaten up...

As it turned out, Grandmaster shook his head in pain: "No, that would be too unfair to Erlong. Qin Jian, to love someone doesn't necessarily mean you have to possess them. I would rather she live happily."

"Where is she happy?"

Qin Jian crossed his arms and looked at him sideways: "If she were happy, why would she sing such sad songs? She isn't happy without you! If you really love her, what do worldly views matter? What does it matter if people despise you? Grandmaster, it is you who lacks the courage to fight and embrace her. Don't make excuses for yourself."

These words were heavy, but they hit Grandmaster like a bolt from the blue, making his head buzz.

"He's right, Xiaogang. Don't you really understand? If I cared about our kinship, would I have kept looking for you like this? Would I have been in so much pain all this time?"

Liu Erlong walked out slowly from not far behind Qin Jian and Grandmaster. Tears kept sliding down her face, but she looked at Grandmaster and approached him step by step, firmly.

Qin Jian glanced at their expressions and suddenly felt he had played Cupid...

"Forget it, I won't be a lightbulb here..."

Qin Jian retreated quietly and gradually disappeared into the woods.

He hadn't walked many steps before he saw Flender sitting against a large tree, drinking silently, his eyes fixed on the embracing Grandmaster and Liu Erlong as he tilted his head to drink.

The lemon Dean on the lemon tree; Qin Jian shook his head, went around the tree, and left from the other side.

As it turned out, he hadn't walked more than a few meters before he saw Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing hiding together under a tree.

Qin Jian couldn't help but glance around a few more times: "Just how many melon-eating masses are hiding in this little forest?"

"Hehehe..."

Ning Rongrong walked up with a giggle and, without a word, took his hand, fingers interlaced: "The story Brother Jian just told was so touching."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at their joined hands, a flash of envy in her eyes.

Ning Rongrong then quietly let go of Qin Jian's hand, put her hands behind her back, spun on her toes, and asked with a smile: "Brother Jian, do you have any more good stories like that? I want to hear them."

Zhu Zhuqing's cold face became much softer; this was the reason why she could never hold hostility toward Ning Rongrong—because she was always so understanding.

"Telling stories, huh..."

Qin Jian thought for a moment and smiled at the two pairs of equally beautiful big eyes: "I did think of a story that's very suitable for me to tell. It's a story about how one must gain power to protect love, but must give up love to gain that power..."

As soon as he finished this summary, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's hearts stirred, and they couldn't help but look at each other.

Because this story seemed very similar to what he himself was doing—only by experiencing heartbreak could he obtain a Soul Ring and increase his strength.

"This story is called... A Chinese Odyssey... Pfft..."

Speaking of this, Qin Jian spat out a mouthful of old blood, a sensation he had not felt in a long time.

(End of this chapter)