Chapter 69
Chapter 69: I Am Almost Sick of Eating Dog Food
Liu Erlong stood outside the door of her cousins' room, her mind buzzing with thoughts. Which of these two men was Yu Xiaogang, the man who, according to the diary, had once been in love with her and nearly married her? She wasn't sure.
If she had to guess, she'd say it was the younger one. With that thought, she cast one last glance at the door, sighed, and walked away.
Her thoughts wandered as she left the inn. A few days ago, hadn't there been a strange man living next door to her? He always had his head covered with clothes and acted suspiciously. But now, the room was occupied by her cousins.
'Could it be that the man with the covered head was actually my second cousin, Yu Xiaogang?' she wondered, frowning slightly.
The idea seemed absurd, but the more she thought about it, the more plausible it became. If it was Yu Xiaogang, she could have turned him in for the 100 gold soul coin reward.
Though 100 gold soul coins were insignificant to the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family—or her father—for Liu Erlong, it would have been a meaningful prize. Thinking about it now, she felt she'd lost an opportunity.
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At the Great Fighting Soul Arena
On her way to the arena, Liu Erlong grabbed a quick breakfast from a roadside stall. She ate as she walked, her thoughts lingering on Zhao Ling and the enigmatic Ah Yin.
After purchasing a ticket, she strolled into the arena and spotted Zhao Ling and Ah Yin together. As usual, they were engrossed in each other, their behavior as intimate as ever. Liu Erlong chose to watch them from a distance.
Zhao Ling, Ah Yin, and the Spirit Hall group had established a clear routine: they spent their mornings at the Great Fighting Soul Arena, dined together for lunch and dinner, and returned to their hotel in the evening.
For Yu Xiaolong and Yu Xiaogang, this consistent routine was maddening. They had been observing Zhao Ling for days, looking for an opportunity to exact their revenge, but the constant presence of the Spirit Hall entourage complicated matters.
The Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex members tasked with tailing Zhao Ling were equally frustrated.
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"This is ridiculous," one of them grumbled. "Why are we stuck following these people every single day?"
"Exactly. They don't even do anything interesting. Just flirting and eating!"
"I've had enough," another groaned. "Watching that Zhao guy show off with those two stunning women all day is making me sick of eating dog food."
The group shared a collective sigh of frustration, but they had no choice but to continue their mission.
---
Unbeknownst to his followers, Zhao Ling had noticed them on the very first day. As a Titled Douluo, his sharp perception made it nearly impossible for anyone to tail him unnoticed.
Though his attention was often on Ah Yin and Bibi Dong, he couldn't ignore the presence of two distinct groups shadowing him.
By the afternoon of the first day, both Ju Douluo and Bibi Dong had also become aware of the followers. At first, they were uncertain whether the tailing was directed at them or Zhao Ling and Ah Yin.
After a few days of observation, it became clear that the majority of the attention was focused on Zhao Ling and Ah Yin.
During dinner on the fourth day, Ju Douluo brought up the matter with Zhao Ling and Bibi Dong.
Zhao Ling shrugged nonchalantly. "I noticed them on the first day. It's no big deal. Just some small fish and shrimp." He smirked and added, "I've been letting them tail me just to see how long they can last. But since we're all aware of it now, I'll take care of them tonight."
Bibi Dong gave him a sharp look. "Don't get cocky, Zhao Ling," she said, though her tone lacked any real scolding.
Zhao Ling raised his hands in mock surrender before wrapping an arm around Ah Yin's waist. "Fine, fine," he said, grinning. "After dinner, Ah Yin and I will head to the night market. You and the others can return to the hotel. Without the Spirit Hall group around, they'll feel confident enough to make a move. That's when I'll deal with them."
Bibi Dong nodded in agreement. "That works." Without hesitation, she leaned forward and kissed Zhao Ling on the lips.
Ju Douluo sighed heavily but said nothing.
---
Ju Douluo had initially found Bibi Dong's public displays of affection unthinkable, but Qian Xunji's recent letter changed his perspective. The Pope's instructions were clear: invite Zhao Ling to Spirit City and assess him personally.
This ambiguity made Ju Douluo uneasy. If Zhao Ling didn't meet Qian Xunji's expectations, their budding relationship could be doomed.
What bothered Ju Douluo even more was Zhao Ling's closeness with Ah Yin. He couldn't help but wonder: would Qian Xunji tolerate such a dynamic?
The young lady might be willing to share Zhao Ling's affections, but would her teacher?
Ju Douluo shook his head. 'It's not my place to interfere. If Miss Dong'er doesn't mind, then why should I?'
---
Bibi Dong, oblivious to Ju Douluo's internal musings, was more focused on her own strategy. She had grown increasingly comfortable expressing her feelings for Zhao Ling in public.
'If Ah Yin can kiss him, so can I,' she thought.
What's more, Bibi Dong had no intention of relinquishing her claim on Zhao Ling. While she might tolerate Ah Yin, she was determined to be his first and most important partner.
Had she known Ju Douluo's thoughts, she would have laughed bitterly. 'Elder Ju, you have no idea how hard it is dealing with this man. Do you really think being his first woman is all sunshine and roses?'
She suppressed a shudder, recalling Ah Yin's daily complaints about Zhao Ling's endless energy. 'I'd better pace myself,' she thought with a wry smile.
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(End of Chapter)