Dan Heng was still reading.
Although the library in his small hometown didn't have many books, he often bought books from traveling merchants.
As a result, he had a broad range of reading experience.
In the Blue Tyrant Academy library, he had already read seventy to eighty percent of the books.
As for the ones he hadn't read, they would probably last him two to three more months.
After all, he didn't read every book word for word.
Many authors were prone to excessive padding, and the truly valuable content in a book might only be a few pages.
He closed the book in his hand—another one finished.
Looking up, he saw Jiangzhu standing beside him, looking delicate and reserved.
"Hmm?"
Jiangzhu gave an apologetic smile and softly said, "Mr. Dan Heng, I came to apologize…"
"Apologize?" Dan Heng was slightly surprised.
Jiangzhu nodded earnestly. "Yes, Mr. Dan Heng, I received your guidance, but without your permission, I told Dean Liu, which has caused you trouble…"
As she spoke, Jiangzhu felt even more ashamed, feeling that she had wronged Dan Heng.
She even felt as though she had repaid kindness with betrayal.
Seeing Jiangzhu's guilty expression, as if she were about to cry, Dan Heng shook his head and said gently:
"You don't need to worry about it—I didn't take it to heart."
Dan Heng understood very well that, under normal circumstances, most people would welcome such recognition since it brought both fame and fortune.
It was only because he was different that Jiangzhu's well-intended actions had unintended consequences.
Jiangzhu bit her lip, looking at Dan Heng, unsure of what else to say.
"Mr. Dan Heng, my old man—that brute—didn't hurt you, did he?"
A loud voice suddenly rang from outside.
Then came the sound of hurried footsteps as Tai Long's sturdy figure squeezed into the library.
He quickly ran to the counter and, upon seeing Jiangzhu, was momentarily startled.
Jiangzhu frowned. "Tai Long, what are you doing here? Don't disturb Mr. Dan Heng!"
Tai Long immediately protested, "How am I disturbing him? I have the utmost respect for Mr. Dan Heng! And, Jiangzhu, I need to tell you something right now!"
"Tell me what?" Jiangzhu looked at him in confusion.
Tai Long grinned proudly. "From now on, I'm telling you—I won't be pursuing you anymore! Instead, I'm going to follow Mr. Dan Heng. I won't be like I was before—I want to be a man of principle!"
"???" Jiangzhu was completely baffled.
What was this guy talking about?
She couldn't understand at all.
Tai Long then respectfully turned to Dan Heng and asked with concern, "Mr. Dan Heng, don't mind my old man—he's just a brute. I already taught him a lesson!"
As he grinned widely, both Jiangzhu and Dan Heng noticed his face.
His eyes were swollen black and blue, his mouth was bruised, and his entire face looked as if someone had splattered ink all over it.
He looked utterly miserable, and as he spoke, two thin streams of blood trickled from his nose.
Tai Long wiped his nose and scratched his head with a foolish grin.
Dan Heng sighed helplessly.
He was supposed to be just an "ordinary person," so why was he constantly dealing with trouble?
He had originally thought that the greatest danger in Heaven Dou City was Gu Yue Na.
Instead, it turned out to be himself!
"Tai Long, you don't need to take this matter to heart…"
"No way! I, Tai Long, swore that if someone ever saved my life, then my life would belong to them!"
Tai Long straightened his neck and declared proudly.
Jiangzhu couldn't help but giggle—Tai Long's bruised face combined with his serious expression was simply too funny.
Tai Long glared at her, but now that he was committed to following Dan Heng, he didn't care anymore.
Dan Heng frowned slightly.
Tai Long wasn't like Liu Erlong—if Dan Heng didn't come up with a strategy, this guy might follow him around endlessly, refusing to be shaken off.
And unlike Liu Erlong, he couldn't use threats on Tai Long.
There was a real chance that this guy would stake out Dan Heng's home, waiting outside day and night.
Dan Heng thought for a moment, then said, "You say you want to follow me and listen to my words?"
"Yes! Mr. Dan Heng, I can even call you my master!"
Tai Long eagerly expressed his loyalty.
"!!!" Jiangzhu was dumbfounded. Wasn't this a bit too much?
Dan Heng nodded. "That won't be necessary. But if you want to follow me, you'll have to pass a test first…"
"Alright!!!" Tai Long responded immediately.
"The Black Zone's century-old collection…"
Dan Heng rattled off over three hundred book titles, then said to Tai Long:
"If you can read all of these and pass my test, then I'll agree. Until then, don't come looking for me."
"Ah???"
Tai Long was utterly dumbfounded.
Inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had rushed back at full speed and now waited outside the grand hall.
At this moment, they were both anxious because they had failed to complete Bibi Dong's task.
"Old Ghost, tell me—why did we give up?"
Only now did Chrysanthemum Douluo finally ask the question that had been nagging at him.
Earlier, because he himself had wanted to abandon the task, he had been relieved to hear Ghost Douluo's decision and hadn't thought to question it.
But now, as they were about to face their fate, he couldn't help but ask.
Ghost Douluo's eyes flickered with a trace of terror, and he swallowed nervously before transmitting his voice:
"Old Chrysanthemum, you are my best brother. We've known each other our whole lives. I can tell you, but you must never tell anyone else!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded repeatedly.
"That household… is not simple. I never saw Dan Heng, but I saw his sister-in-law—and she's no ordinary person! She's a savage beast!"
"The moment I entered, she grabbed my head and threw me out. Then…"
Ghost Douluo recounted the events of that night, his face deathly pale.
Chrysanthemum Douluo listened, his lips twitching violently.
His longtime confidant, Dan Heng—his wife was actually a savage beast?!
And even Ghost Douluo, Sword Douluo, and Yu Yuanzhen together were no match for her?
So it wasn't that Ghost Douluo had spared Dan Heng—it was that he had spared himself!
If they had launched an attack, they would have ended up beheaded!
Both men shuddered with lingering fear.
Just then, a voice came from inside.
"Elders Chrysanthemum and Ghost, enter."
Hu Liena opened the doors for them.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stepped inside to find that only Bibi Dong was present in the grand hall, sitting high upon the throne.
They immediately lowered their heads.
"Did you find the person I sent you to look for?"
Bibi Dong asked directly.
Ghost Douluo kept his head down like an ostrich, saying nothing.
Chrysanthemum Douluo shot him a glare before speaking:
"Apologies, Your Holiness. We did not find him. We searched Heaven Dou City and confirmed that he is not within the royal family either…"
After speaking, Chrysanthemum Douluo also lowered his head, awaiting judgment.
Bibi Dong was silent for a moment before letting out a cold snort. "Useless."
Both Douluos trembled.
"Forget it. If he isn't there, we'll put it aside for now. The Spirit Hall's preparations are complete… You two, follow me to Heaven Dou Empire. We will meet with Emperor Xue Ye first."
Bibi Dong cast them an irritated look, her flawless face filled with disdain.
She clearly had little regard for these two titled Douluos.
"Yes, Your Holiness!!!"