117: A Qualified Wingman
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Flender cleared his throat awkwardly as he locked eyes with Liu Erlong.
"That, Erlong—"
"Did I ask you?"
Flender quickly retracted the words he had intended to utter.
He had initially intended to protect Ma Hongjun, preventing his disciple from getting hurt. Now, it appeared that his intervention was probably unnecessary. It was becoming apparent that this was about him.
While Liu Erlong posed the question to Ma Hongjun, her gaze remained fixed on Flender.
It all became clear.
Witnessing the return of Liu Erlong's "kind" gaze, Ma Hongjun felt like crying without tears.
Based on the available information, along with the fabricated details that weren't "that" important, he believed he could pull off this bluff in a short period of time.
After all... Compared to most people, Ma Hongjun knew Flender quite well.
And as for the aftermath... The responsibility could be shared.
He had received a signal from the boss, who had communicated this to give him the go-ahead. So, whether it was holding the boss accountable after the event or answering his master's questions, he could pass it all on to the boss without a heavy conscience.
Moreover, when the boss returned to school, he could team up with Mr. Zhao. At that point, it would be anyone's guess who would bear the blame.
Of course, Ma Hongjun realized that pushing the blame onto the boss at this moment was out of the question.
His role was to be a wingman, not a scapegoat.
If Lu Yuan could hear Ma Hongjun's thoughts, he might well retort, "I might not be human, but you're turning out to be quite the canine!"
In the span of a second, countless thoughts raced through Ma Hongjun's mind.
Observing the fierce Liu Erlong, a deep-seated survival instinct was triggered within Ma Hongjun. Summoning his courage, he spoke up:
"Nobody taught me. I just heard your name and subconsciously linked it to my teacher."
Pausing, he glanced at Flender with a hint of fear.
Liu Erlong snorted, casting a threatening glare over Flender, who looked quite helpless. Without turning her head, she gave Ma Hongjun a little shake.
"Go on, little fatty."
Ma Hongjun took a deep breath.
In an instant, his mind cleared, and a slew of words lined up in his head.
The next portion was crucial.
Unless an unforeseen interruption occurred, he had only one chance.
A single opportunity to deliver a speech from start to finish.
To truly lend a helping hand.
Fight!
Roaring inwardly, Ma Hongjun began his oration:
"I instinctively think of my teacher, Flender. Every night, when he gazes at the night sky alone, sipping on a drink, tears welling up in his eyes, I often hear him talk. He says he'll never forget you!"
"He said he likes you, really likes you. He can't sleep at night without you. Eating and drinking mean nothing to him. However, it seems that due to reasons unknown to me, he didn't get a favorable outcome with you. He's filled with regret, deep regret!"
"But he doesn't dare to confess his feelings to you. He doesn't dare to express his love. He doesn't even dare to approach you. He can only remain alone in his cold chamber, silently observing you day after day. Maybe he fears rejection, maybe he fears making you uncomfortable!"
"But as his disciple, I believe it's necessary to bring this to your attention. Though I'm young, I understand that matters of the heart shouldn't be put off. I don't want my master to continue carrying this regret in his heart into his old age or even to the brink of death."
"Disciple Ma Hongjun implores you to give my master a chance, Mistress."
"Disciple Ma Hongjun humbly requests your forgiveness, Master, for my audacity. I've shared the long-concealed emotions from your heart with the world, without your consent."
A remarkable literary talent indeed.
Sincere emotions, honest words, and skillful use of parallel sentences—all combined with the "gutsy" approach—crafted a vivid depiction of an unrequited love.
This was Lu Yuan's comment on Ma Hongjun's performance.
Of course, one other trait of an impressive literary talent was...
Regardless of success or failure, upon returning home, Ma Hongjun would likely be subjected to a rigorous "teaching" session by Flender.
No doubt about that.
One could easily gauge this from the twitching of Flender's cheek muscles.
Frankly, Flender was feeling quite flustered right now.
In this moment, Flender had an urge to rush over, grab his disciple, interrogate Ma Hongjun intensely, and maybe even give him a good scolding for being a traitor.
When had he ever gazed at the night sky alone in the middle of the night?
His Spirit was an owl, not himself. Sure, meditation was necessary, but so was sleep and rest. When had he started crying while drunk, sharing emotional stories about Liu Erlong with this kid?
He was a Soul Sage; did that mean he couldn't control his words when he was drunk?
Soul power even had the effect of sobering up; was this something Ma Hongjun didn't know, or had he just disregarded that fact?
There was something irrefutable in Ma Hongjun's narrative: Liu Erlong's liking. But when had he become unable to sleep at night or think about food and drink?
Why was he unaware of this?
Moreover, if he had been like that every day, he probably wouldn't even be alive now.
Furthermore, when had he been "silently observing Liu Erlong day after day"?
And then there's the contradiction: it sounds logical between the prelude and the afterword. The relationship over many years was left deliberately alive in the story. Ma Hongjun had skillfully sealed Flender's likely retorts. False lies are easy to spot, but distinguishing between truth and lies can be tricky.
After Ma Hongjun rattled off a lot in one breath, he took a moment to catch his breath, spreading his hands as if to admit guilt. Avoiding Flender's gaze, he said, "Okay, I'm done. Master, please give my master a chance."
After Ma Hongjun stopped struggling, silence fell over the woods.
Many complicated gazes focused on Liu Erlong and Flender, including those of Chen Xin and Gu Rong, two individuals who typically did not partake in such spectacles.
Ma Hongjun had executed his task flawlessly, perhaps even excessively.
The power he generated surpassed that of a typical wingman.
The subtle twitches of Flender's facial muscles did not escape Liu Erlong's notice.
This small gesture, at this juncture, further validated Ma Hongjun's words. When had a Soul Sage ever lost control over his muscles?
The answer: when his emotions were running amok.
Liu Erlong gazed at Ma Hongjun's fearful eyes, released him, and hesitated in her response.
Being liked by someone is typically a source of happiness. However, receiving a deep-seated love that has been suppressed for many years, particularly when you harbor affection for someone else, evokes a sense of guilt even more profound than joy.
In Liu Erlong's case, she liked Yu Xiaogang, who didn't reciprocate her feelings. But in this awkward moment and place, Ma Hongjun's unexpected confession caused her to realize that Flender, whom she hadn't seen in many years, still carried a lingering love.
She didn't know how to react.
She even found it difficult to face Flender at that moment. Her fiery temper and impulsive nature were of no use to her now.
"Erlong, don't listen to this kid, he—"
"Is he telling the truth?"
As Flender tried to explain while carrying Ma Hongjun away, Liu Erlong's gaze turned complex. After some contemplation, she managed to articulate her thoughts, getting straight to the heart of the matter in one sentence.
Flender opened his mouth, but hesitated and then closed it.
He neither affirmed nor denied. Instead, he chose to evade the matter and remained silent.
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