Douluo: My summoning cards can generate Title Douluo

Chapter 233 The Golden Trio Reunites!
"Dragon Emperor Branch Academy is now recruiting outstanding teachers with excellent compensation and benefits, including the opportunity to mentor the Soul Master Competition's reserve team..."

Yu Xiaogang was somewhat puzzled, "This name seems familiar..."

A hint of reminiscence and emotion flashed in Flander's eyes. He looked at Yu Xiaogang, who had a blank expression, and sighed inwardly.

As one of the original Golden Triangle, Flying Horn naturally knew that the founder of Blue Tyrant Academy was none other than Killing Horn, whom he had not seen for many years and who had always harbored complex feelings for him—Liu Erlong!

He originally planned to bring Xiao Gang and the others to seek refuge with Er Long. Based on their past friendship, Er Long would never refuse them. Moreover, Lan Ba ​​Academy also had a spot in the Soul Master Competition, which would solve their immediate problem.

The emotional entanglement between the three of them back then ultimately ended with Yu Xiaogang's escape and Liu Erlong's suffering.

Flander was afraid that if he told Yu Xiaogang the truth now, given his current fragile mentality and stubborn personality, he would probably choose to run away again, and then Shrek Academy's last flame of hope might be extinguished.

He suppressed the urge to tell the truth and said calmly, "Yes, it's a fairly large academy in Tiandou City. It's said to have a powerful background and also has a spot in the Soul Master Competition."

"So I don't know why the name was changed, but the job posting looks good and it might be our best option right now."

Yu Xiaogang, unsuspecting, carefully examined the notice and nodded: "Having a spot in the competition... that's exactly what we need right now. Dean, let's give it a try here."

Flander breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "Alright, let's go over there. As far as I know, the dean of this Dragon Emperor Branch is a very capable female Soul Saint, so perhaps... she'll be easier to talk to." He mentioned it vaguely, without specifying Liu Erlong's identity.

Clinging to a last glimmer of hope, Shrek and his group headed towards the academy, now renamed Dragon Emperor Branch, following the address on the job posting.

After a day's journey, when they finally arrived at their destination, they were all surprised to see the academy gate, which was far more magnificent than they had imagined, with a plaque hanging at the entrance engraved with ice dragon patterns and the four large characters "Dragon Emperor Branch". Except for Flander, who knew the situation, everyone else showed a surprised expression.

“This…this scale…is even bigger than we imagined!” Oscar exclaimed in astonishment.

“Dragon Emperor Branch…this name, it feels…” Dai Mubai frowned slightly, as if he had made a connection to something.

Flander looked at the familiar courtyard layout, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Every plant and tree here still vaguely resembled the old days, but things had changed.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the unease and faint sense of shame in his heart, and walked towards the imposing and solemn gate of the Dragon Emperor Branch.

The guards standing at the entrance were not ordinary guards, but two Soul Masters dressed in uniform, sharp-eyed, and composed.

The badge on their chests was not the symbol of any known college, but a simple yet majestic dragon design.

"Halt! This is the Dragon Emperor Branch Academy, a restricted area. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to trespass!" The guard on the left stepped forward, his voice cold and firm, carrying an unquestionable aura. His soul power fluctuated faintly, revealing him to be a Soul King-level expert!
Using a Soul King to guard the gate—this gesture made Flander's heart sink once again.

Flander forced a smile as kindly as possible, bowed slightly, and said in a very humble manner, "Two Soul Masters, I apologize for disturbing you. We are not just ordinary people. I am Flander, and I am... I am an old friend of Dean Liu Erlong of your esteemed academy. We have come to pay a visit today, so please let us know."

"Dean Liu's old friend?" The Soul King guard looked Flander up and down and the group of disheveled, travel-worn young men behind him, his eyes filled with scrutiny and suspicion.

The Dragon Emperor Branch now enjoys a superior status, backed by the Beast God Pavilion, and countless people try to curry favor with it every day.

He frowned, but his tone softened slightly upon hearing Liu Erlong's name: "Dean Liu is currently very busy and may not have time to see guests."

"Wait here while I send someone to inform them. Whether Dean Liu will see you or not depends on your luck."

"Thank you, thank you, Soul Master!" Flander hurriedly expressed his gratitude, but his heart was filled with even more bitterness. He, Flander, had once been the head of an academy. Although he was not famous throughout the continent, he had his own pride. When had he ever been so humble?

But for the sake of the children behind him, for Shrek's last hope, he had to put aside all his dignity.

The guard summoned a subordinate, whispered a few instructions, and the subordinate quickly ran into the academy. The wait wasn't long, but for Flander and the others, whose feelings were complicated, it felt like several years.

Soon, the subordinate ran back and whispered a few words in the guard's ear. The guard nodded, his gaze towards Flander and the others less scrutinizing and more... indescribable. He stepped aside to make way and said, "Dean Liu is in the back garden. You can go in."

"However, the academy has strict rules, so don't wander around unnecessarily."

“Yes, yes, we understand.” Flander nodded repeatedly and led the group into the academy with its powerful aura.

The interior of the academy was more beautiful than the exterior, and the concentration of soul power was exceptionally high, indicating that it had undergone special modifications.

Along the way, they could see students cultivating or sparring, each possessing an extraordinary aura, their eyes radiating the confidence and sharpness of a true powerhouse, far surpassing the students of ordinary advanced soul master academies. All of this silently demonstrated the profound foundation of the Beast God Pavilion.

Tang San silently observed his surroundings. With his Purple Demon Eye activated to its maximum, he could sense several extremely powerful auras hidden within the academy, like lurking ferocious beasts, making his heart pound with fear.

Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and the others also looked solemn; the atmosphere here was even more oppressive than they had imagined.

Led by a college staff member, they walked through several corridors and arrived at a vast and beautiful back garden.

The garden is filled with exotic flowers and plants vying for attention, and features a small bridge over a stream, pavilions and towers, all arranged in an exquisite manner.

In the center of the garden, beside a patch of plants covered in pale purple flowers, a slender figure stood with her back to them, seemingly checking on the growth of the plants.

The figure was dressed in a simple, fitted outfit that accentuated her still-fiery and alluring curves, with her long hair casually tied up, revealing her fair neck.

Even just from behind, he exuded a familiar, fiery, yet somewhat melancholic aura.

Flander stopped abruptly, his lips trembling slightly, his eyes filled with complex emotions—reminiscence, guilt, and a touch of excitement at seeing an old friend. He opened his mouth, wanting to call out that familiar name, but choked back a sob.

When Yu Xiaogang, who was standing next to him, saw the back of that person clearly, his body suddenly stiffened, as if he had been struck by lightning!
His face, which was already pale from exhaustion, was now completely drained of color, turning ashen white.

His pupils contracted sharply, his breathing suddenly became rapid, and he involuntarily staggered backward as if he had seen something extremely terrifying.

It was him! It really was her! Liu Erlong! The woman he had run away from for half his life, wronged for half his life, yet could never truly forget in the deepest corner of his heart!
Overwhelmed by immense panic, shame, and utter embarrassment.

Without even thinking, he abruptly turned around, just as he had done countless times before, wanting to escape from this person he couldn't face. He would rather face a powerful enemy and endure physical pain than, in this disheveled state, confront Liu Erlong's burning, possibly resentful, eyes.

"Xiao Gang!" Flander was prepared. Just as Yu Xiao Gang turned to run away, his strong hand gripped Yu Xiao Gang's arm like an iron clamp.

His knuckles turned white from the force of his grip, and his voice, deep yet undeniably resolute, demanded, "Where do you think you can run to?! How long are you going to keep running away?!"

"Look at us now! We have nowhere else to go! Erlong is our last hope!"

Yu Xiaogang struggled desperately, but his meager soul power was utterly useless against Flander's Soul Saint-level strength.

He lowered his head, his voice hoarse and pained, trembling with sobs: "Let me go... Flander... let me go!"

"I can't see her... I'm too ashamed to see her... I'm a useless piece of trash... I can't even protect the one I love... I don't deserve her..."

His struggles and growls caught the attention of the figure in the garden.

Liu Erlong slowly turned around. Time seemed to have left few marks on her face; she remained beautiful, with a unique air of heroism and stubbornness between her brows.

However, those eyes, which should have been as fiery as flames, now held a wealth of complex emotions. They lacked the impulsiveness and passion of youth, and instead possessed a calmness born of hardship and a hint of weariness and resignation.

Her gaze first fell on Flander, and a hint of surprise and nostalgia flashed across her calm eyes.

"Boss Fu?!" Liu Erlong's voice trembled slightly. She walked over quickly, a long-lost, genuine smile on her face, though a complex emotion lingered beneath the surface. "It really is you! How did you find this place?"

"All these years, how...have you been?"

She walked up to Flander, her gaze sweeping over his slightly weathered face and the undisguised dishevelment on his body, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes.

For Flander, the flying corner of the golden trio, she always held a brotherly affection and trust.

“Erlong…I…” Flander looked at Liu Erlong, whose charm remained but whose demeanor had changed drastically. A thousand words stuck in his throat, finally turning into a heavy sigh and a sentence full of guilt, “I’m alright…I’m sorry, Erlong, I haven’t come to see you all these years…”

Liu Erlong shook her head, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more. Her gaze then passed over Flander and landed on the figure whose arm Flander was tightly gripping, whose back was to her, whose body was stiff as a stone statue, and whose body was trembling slightly.

At that moment, Liu Erlong seemed to stop breathing.

Time seems to freeze at this moment.

The sounds of wind and flowing water in the garden seemed to have disappeared.

In her world, all that remained was that figure she had longed for day and night, loved, hated, and resented, but ultimately only left with endless waiting.

The smile on her face slowly faded, replaced by an extremely complex expression: unbelievable surprise, years of suppressed grievances, deep-seated love, and a trace of... a calm sadness that had been smoothed out by the passage of time.

She walked slowly, step by step, toward that figure.

Her footsteps were light, yet each step seemed to tread on Yu Xiaogang's heart, making him tremble even more violently.

Flander released his grip at the opportune moment, took a step back, and gave the two of them some space.

Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others held their breath, watching this scene with bated breath.

Liu Erlong walked up behind Yu Xiaogang, only a step away from him.

She could smell his familiar yet unfamiliar scent, see the few gray hairs that had already sprouted at his temples, and feel his trembling as if he were about to collapse.

She didn't speak immediately, but stood there quietly, her gaze greedily and heartbrokenly tracing his back, as if trying to see back all the more than twenty years of separation.

After a long silence, she spoke softly, her voice strained and trembling, yet still tinged with a sob, as if afraid of disturbing some dream:

"Xiao Gang..."

Just two words, yet they seemed to have used all her strength, containing all the longing and bitterness accumulated over twenty years.

Yu Xiaogang's body jolted violently, as if struck by an electric current.

Liu Erlong took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, and continued speaking. Her voice was soft but carried a power that transcended time, each word striking a chord in Yu Xiaogang's heart:
"You've finally... come back to me."

Her tone was not questioning, nor resentful, but rather a statement tinged with endless weariness and relief.

Do you know... how long I've waited for you?

These words were like a key, instantly unlocking the floodgates of guilt and pain that had been sealed in Yu Xiaogang's heart for over twenty years.

He could no longer maintain that posture with his back turned. All his struggles and all his attempts to escape seemed so ridiculous and pale in the face of this seemingly light yet incredibly heavy sentence.

He suddenly turned around!
Eyes facing each other.

More than 20 years later, the wiser and the more ruthless of the three, the lovers who have experienced the cruelest joke in the world, face each other again.

Yu Xiaogang's face was frighteningly pale, his lips trembled uncontrollably, and his eyes, which were originally filled with theoretical authority and confidence, were now filled with endless panic, shame, pain and deep self-blame.

He dared not look directly into Liu Erlong's eyes, which seemed to see through his soul. His gaze darted away, finally settling on her chin, and he let out a hoarse, whimpering sound, like a trapped beast.

(End of this chapter)