Chapter 295: Returning to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Liu Erlong’s Embarrassment
Chapter 295: Returning to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Liu Erlong’s Embarrassment
The evening sun sank toward the west.
Carriage wheels rolled over the smooth bluestone slabs, making a rhythmic, light sound.
The wooden carriage swayed slightly as it followed the undulations of the road.
Looking into the distance, the towering city walls of Heaven Dou City had already come into view.
The dark green-black walls stretched for dozens of miles, a barrier of brick and stone that was thick and solid.
Embrasures were neatly arranged atop the walls, casting long shadows under the setting sun.
The unique majesty of the Empire’s capital city deterred the travelers passing to and fro.
The carriage slowly came to a stop at a post station beside the official road.
This place was not far from Heaven Dou City.
The lights of the tea stall next to the post station were still lit, with a few scattered travelers resting and drinking tea.
The driver bowed and asked for instructions, waiting for the next command.
Lin Qingmo lifted the carriage curtain and gazed at Heaven Dou City in the distance.
The wind carried the warmth of the setting sun, brushing past the tips of his hair.
He then turned back around, facing Bibi Dong at his side.
"Sister Donghuang, we’re about to reach Heaven Dou City. Where do you plan to go after this?"
Bibi Dong’s fingers, which were fiddling with the fabric of her clothes, paused slightly.
A trace of complex and indistinguishable emotion flickered through her purple pupils.
Naturally, she wanted to stay by Lin Qingmo’s side.
During these days and nights of traveling together, she had become addicted to this rare sense of relaxation and warmth.
She didn’t have to bear the heavy shackles of the Supreme Pontiff, didn’t have to face dark and private schemes, and didn’t have to be trapped in a cage woven from hatred.
But she couldn’t.
She was the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, the woman who held the highest power on the entire continent.
Her every move affected the balance of power between the two great Empires and Spirit Hall.
She could not willfully linger in Heaven Dou City, nor could she bring disaster upon Lin Qingmo.
"I cannot stay in Heaven Dou City."
Bibi Dong’s voice was very soft, yet it carried a determination that allowed for no change.
"Regarding matters related to the Four Single-Attribute Clans, I need to go back and handle them personally to ensure nothing goes wrong."
If these hidden dangers were not removed, she would be unable to step away with peace of mind.
Lin Qingmo’s brow furrowed slightly.
His tone carried an undisguisable disappointment: "I see."
He had originally thought that Sister Donghuang would stay in Heaven Dou City for a period of time.
The path they had traveled together was too short.
Bibi Dong’s heart suddenly tightened.
How could she not want to accept this invitation?
But in the end, reason overrode her surging emotions.
"Once I have handled the matters at hand properly, I will come to Heaven Dou City to find you again."
Bibi Dong’s voice softened considerably.
Her fingertips lightly brushed across Lin Qingmo’s cheek.
It brought a slightly cool sensation, like a clear spring flowing through a mountain stream.
"Take good care of yourself, and don’t try to shoulder everything alone."
"When things happen, don’t always rush forward by yourself; look out for yourself more."
"If anything happens, use the exclusive Transmission Token I gave you. No matter where I am, I will come at the first possible moment."
Her sleeves rose with the evening breeze, tracing a purple-gold arc as Bibi Dong transformed into a streak of purple-black light, vanishing into the afterglow of the setting sun.
In the enclosed carriage, a faint, cold fragrance from her body still lingered.
Lin Qingmo gazed in the direction she had disappeared for a long time before withdrawing his gaze.
...
Half an hour later.
The setting sun had completely sunk below the horizon, leaving only a pale orange-red glow in the sky.
The evening breeze carried several hints of the night’s chill.
Lin Qingmo’s figure appeared before the main gate of Heaven Dou Academy.
The academy gates, crafted from white marble, stood tall and majestic, their gilded plaque shimmering slightly in the twilight.
Seeing him approach, the guards at the gate bowed one after another, their eyes filled with awe.
The badge pinned to his chest proclaimed his identity—the captain of the Heaven Dou Academy’s Royal Fighting Team, and also the most dazzling Genius in the entire Heaven Dou Academy.
Lin Qing stepped directly into the academy.
He walked through the tree-lined paths on both sides.
The vegetation by the road swayed gently in the evening breeze, bringing a faint scent of greenery.
The chirping of insects rose and fell among the grass, making the academy in the twilight seem exceptionally quiet.
Without stopping his pace, he headed straight for the independent courtyard on the academy’s back mountain.
That was Liu Erlong’s residence.
The back mountain was lush with trees, far from the academy’s hustle and bustle, and was exceptionally peaceful.
Having been away from the academy for a long time, the ones most concerned about his safety, besides Xiao Wu, should be Liu Erlong.
After all, he had only left a letter for Teacher Erlong before quietly leaving the academy that day, without leaving behind even a single extra explanation.
Liu Erlong’s personality had always been fiery; she must have been worried sick about him for a long time.
The first thing to do upon returning was naturally to come and report that he was safe, lest she continue to worry day and night.
Lin Qingmo walked to the courtyard entrance and raised his hand to knock on the door.
The sound of knocking was exceptionally clear in the quiet back mountain.
"Who is it?"
Liu Erlong’s voice came from the courtyard, carrying a hint of laziness.
"Teacher Erlong, it’s me, Lin Qingmo."
Lin Qingmo replied.
Soon, hurried footsteps were heard from inside the courtyard.
Shoes stepped across the stone path, the sound getting closer and closer.
In just a moment, the courtyard door was pulled open.
Liu Erlong stood inside the door, wearing a loose white bathrobe.
Her wine-red long hair was still damp, with water droplets hanging from the tips.
The droplets slid down her hair, wetting the fabric on her shoulders and creating faint damp patches.
She had clearly just finished bathing and hadn’t had time to change into proper clothes yet.
She looked at Lin Qingmo, and her originally somewhat lazy expression was immediately replaced by complete pleasant surprise.
"A-Qing? You’re back!"
Liu Erlong’s voice carried obvious joy, along with a trace of uncontrollable worry.
She went forward directly and pulled Lin Qingmo into the courtyard.
She then closed the courtyard door behind her, cutting off the sound of the wind outside.
She reached out to grab Lin Qingmo’s arm, her fingertips brushing over his arm, shoulder, and back.
She checked his body very carefully, for fear that he had been injured while away.
Before Lin Qingmo could even react, the temperature of her fingertips had already transmitted through his clothes to his skin, a warm sensation coming from his arm.
The fresh fragrance of Liu Erlong after her bath lingered at the tip of his nose.
Mixed with her unique scent that carried a hint of fire, it drifted into his nasal cavity.
The bathrobe she was wearing was already loose, and with the slightly large range of her movements, the full lines of her figure were revealed.
The collar was slightly open, revealing her delicate collarbones.
"!!!"
Seeing this scene, Lin Qingmo’s body immediately tensed up, and his whole person became constrained.
For a moment, he didn’t know where to put his hands and feet, so he could only subconsciously avert his gaze, not daring to look any longer.
The tips of his ears flushed with a faint heat uncontrollably.
"You brat, you ran off for so long without saying a word."
Liu Erlong’s tone carried reproach, along with deep worry.
"I thought something had happened to you. If I hadn’t known you mentioned in your letter that you had a master protecting you, I would have taken people out to find you long ago!"
"Do you know how worried Xiao Wu and the others have been these past few days?"
She checked repeatedly for a long time, confirming that there were no wounds on Lin Qingmo’s body, nor any traces of internal injuries.
Only then did her tense shoulders and back finally relax, and she let out a sigh of relief.
The heart that had been hanging for a long time finally settled back into place.
It was only then that she noticed Lin Qingmo, who had remained silent, was acting constrained.
She looked up and noticed his deliberately averted gaze.
Liu Erlong then lowered her head to look at herself.
"..."
Her cheeks burned, and her ears also turned slightly red.
She hurriedly took two steps back, reaching out to pull the collar of her bathrobe together, tightening the open fabric.
Her fingertips trembled slightly, her movements carrying a bit of fluster.
For a moment, the scene was slightly embarrassing.
The evening breeze passed through the branches and leaves in the courtyard, making a light rustling sound.
Between the two of them, there was silence for a while.
(End of Chapter)
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