Chapter 92 The Impotent Yu Xiaogang
From a distance, Luo Ling and Ghost Douluo watched the pitiful sight of Yu Xiaogang.
Even the usually stern Ghost Douluo couldn't suppress the strange smirk tugging at his lips.
Luo Ling, however, remained expressionless. To him, this wasn't anything noteworthy—merely physical suffering, insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
"Let's go, Uncle Ghost," Luo Ling said quietly, turning away from the nauseating scene.
Ghost Douluo nodded, and the two disappeared into the forest.
…
Half an hour later, Flender finally gathered his courage to drag Yu Xiaogang out of the mess, half‑carrying, half‑pulling him to a nearby pond where he forcibly washed the man clean.
Yu Xiaogang regained consciousness amidst the icy water.
He opened his eyes, seeing Flender scrubbing in the pond.
He tried to speak—but the moment he opened his mouth, a searing pain flared from his lower body.
"Ahhh!" he screamed, collapsing flat on the ground and arching his back in agony.
Startled, Flender turned just in time to see Yu Xiaogang sprawled on his stomach, backside lifted, and his expression immediately changed.
Without even grabbing his clothes, he leapt clear of the pond in pure alarm.
"Xiaogang, you—?" Flender asked nervously, half‑expecting another… eruption.
But Yu Xiaogang remained motionless, pale-faced and limp.
Only after a cautious moment did Flender approach again.
"Flender… did that place get badly hurt?" Yu Xiaogang asked, too desperate to care about shame.
Flender grimaced and nodded awkwardly. "It seems so. When Luo Sanpao released that last attack, the poison must've backfired and—uh—affected your linked body through resonance."
Yu Xiaogang's face turned ashen. He lay down again, utterly deflated like a broken balloon, silent.
"Xiaogang," Flender sighed, "your third ability packs power, sure—but the side effects are far too dangerous. Better never to use it again."
Indeed, this disastrous outcome was the price of his reckless experiment.
Fusing poison with Luo Sanpao had seemed brilliant in theory… but the consequences were catastrophic.
Yu Xiaogang said nothing. His "perfect theory" had betrayed him, and the blow was crushing.
But then, his eyes refocused with manic determination.
No—his theory couldn't be wrong!
Luo Sanpao had indeed gained great power. The problem wasn't with his theory; it was with the side effects. If he could just overcome those, everything would be fine!
He muttered feverishly to himself, sounding nearly deranged.
Flender sighed, shaking his head. He assumed Yu Xiaogang had simply gone into shock from the ordeal. Words would be useless now.
…
The next morning, Flender brought Yu Xiaogang back to the nearest outpost for healing.
Specialized recovery‑type soul masters tended to him. Though far from fully recovered, Yu Xiaogang could at least walk normally again.
Seated in a private room, Flender studied his longtime friend with mixed feelings, thinking back to the horrific scene from the day before.
His companion—one of the famed Golden Iron Triangle—had become a eunuch.
The thought was nearly impossible to process.
"Xiaogang," he ventured carefully, "you always loved Nuoding Academy… what happened back then? Why—well, you know…?"
He trailed off awkwardly, unable to say the words outright.
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened—his expression turning pale then blue—before he forced a faint, bitter smile.
"Cough… If it's painful, we can skip the subject," Flender said quickly, embarrassed.
After a long silence, Yu Xiaogang steadied himself and gritted out between clenched teeth, "There's nothing unspeakable. I was framed!"
"Framed?" Flender's brow furrowed, his expression turning grim. "Who did it?"
Seeing Flender's anger on his behalf, a faint warmth touched Yu Xiaogang amid his bitterness. But his smile remained hollow.
"I don't know. Six years ago, someone accused me of cultivating evil arts. I noticed nothing wrong at the time—but when I woke up the next day…" His voice trembled in hatred.
Flender frowned deeper. "No enemies at all? No suspicions?"
Yu Xiaogang shook his head wearily. "I don't know…"
Flender sighed. "We'll go to Soto City. Let the best healing soul masters take a look—maybe there's still hope."
Then, as if recalling something, he added suddenly, "But… what about Erlong?"
Yu Xiaogang froze. The name conjured an image—Liu Erlong, the woman he once loved.
Years ago, they were to marry. But at the wedding, he learned she was his cousin.
Overwhelmed, he fled that day and never saw her again.
Now hearing her name after so many years stirred a mixture of nostalgia and irritation within him.
"Erlong? We're blood relatives. It could never work between us. I have no plans to find her," Yu Xiaogang said coldly.
Flender glanced at him, his eyes flickering before lowering his head.
He, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong—three members of the Golden Iron Triangle.
She was their only female member—beautiful, powerful, and kind. Naturally, Flender had feelings for her too.
But she had chosen Yu Xiaogang.
Flender had long accepted it, willing to step aside for his friend. Yet that fateful wedding stripped everything away when the truth of their kinship was exposed. Even so, Flender had never pursued her, out of respect for them both.
Now…
Yu Xiaogang was ruined—incapable of ever giving her happiness.
Perhaps it was finally his turn to act.
You wouldn't dare take advantage of your friend's tragedy, would you, Flender? That's shameless!
His thoughts battled within—angel and devil clashing in his heart.
"Let's not talk about her. We're returning to Shrek," Yu Xiaogang said abruptly, unwilling to continue the topic.
Flender lifted his head again, gaze cooling as subtle anger burned in his chest.
That woman? He'd called Erlong that woman?
Flender's jaw tightened. He knew all too well—after Yu Xiaogang fled, Liu Erlong had remained alone, waiting for him faithfully. But Yu Xiaogang…?
The inner demon won.
Xiaogang… since you're no longer a man, don't blame me for claiming Erlong for myself.
Flender exhaled slowly, his mind made up.
Oblivious, Yu Xiaogang waved dismissively. "Let's go, Flender. I still need to prepare new training plans for Tang San and the others."
Flender said nothing—only followed quietly as Yu Xiaogang left the inn.
…
Soto City.
Luo Ling had already returned to Shrek Academy ahead of them. He purposely hadn't told Ning Rongrong of his trip; the little witch would be furious.
And indeed, as soon as he arrived at the academy gates, he saw Ning Rongrong waiting—arms crossed, cheeks puffed.
The moment she spotted him, she stormed forward. After glaring for several seconds, she forced a bright smile.
"Brother Ling, where did you go? Not even a word before disappearing—you had me worried sick!"
Luo Ling sighed. "I went to get my new spirit ring."
"Spirit ring?" she blinked, stunned. Several seconds passed before her eyes widened. "You—you're a Soul King already?"
He nodded. She stared at him in awe, mouth slightly open.
Luo Ling flicked her forehead lightly. "Stop staring. Someone will come soon—don't let them notice I've broken through."
Ning Rongrong snapped to attention, nodding quickly, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
(END CHAPTER)
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