When No One's Around, Call Me Uncle!

"Good lad, you finally came back!"

Seeing Li Yun again, Zhang Cong was clearly delighted. He directly pulled Li Yun over to sit down and even poured him a cup of tea himself.

"Here, have a taste."

"I just got hold of some Biliu Needle!"

Li Yun felt somewhat flattered. He raised the teacup and took a slight sniff. Sure enough, a faint fragrance rushed into his nostrils, making him unable to resist swallowing.

Taking a small sip, he found the tea even sweeter. After swallowing it, its fragrance lingered between his lips and teeth.

"Delicious!"

"Thank you for Elder Zhang's hospitality..."

"Tch, cut it out. I heard from Ruohan that you were quite the oddball in that valley. Why are you acting all restrained in front of me instead?"

"Hehe... You're an elder, after all!"

"What elder nonsense? There are no outsiders here. From now on, just call me Uncle Zhang..."

Zhang Cong said heartily.

At those words, a strange look immediately appeared on Li Yun's face.

Good grief, he was trying to take advantage of seniority!

Besides.

According to the Zhang Family's hierarchy, Zhang Cong still had to call Zhang Ruohan Auntie. Li Yun called Zhang Ruohan Senior Sister, and if he then called Zhang Cong Uncle... wouldn't that make a complete mess of things?

"What? You look down on me? Am I not worthy of being called Uncle?"

Seeing Li Yun hesitate, Zhang Cong's face darkened.

Li Yun was helpless and hurriedly said, "No, Elder Zhang has misunderstood. I was only wondering whether this might violate sect rules..."

"How does that violate sect rules?"

"I may be an Outer Sect Elder, but can't I acknowledge a nephew in my personal capacity?"

"It's settled, then. Whenever there's no one around, call me Uncle Zhang."

The matter had already been put this plainly.

If Li Yun kept making excuses, he would truly be slapping Zhang Cong in the face. There was no need for that.

Besides, Zhang Cong was already quite advanced in years, at least over sixty. For a sixteen-year-old like him to call the man Uncle Zhang was hardly a loss.

He would just consider it promoting civility and fostering new virtues.

Thus, Li Yun set down his teacup, rose to his feet, and respectfully called Zhang Cong Uncle Zhang.

Zhang Cong immediately beamed.

In his view, he had scored a tremendous bargain.

Over the past few days.

After analyzing the information Zhang Ruohan had brought back, he had become increasingly certain that Li Yun's future was bound to be exceptionally bright. As long as Li Yun was properly protected, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple would be nothing at all; even advancing to True Disciple would be well within reach.

So far, the Zhang Family faction had no True Disciples within the Celestial Martial Sect.

There was not even one closely affiliated with them.

This undoubtedly affected the Zhang Family faction's development within the Celestial Martial Sect.

Though Li Yun did not bear the Zhang surname and could not be considered a member of the Zhang Family, factions had never relied on blood ties as their sole standard. What mattered more was shared interest.

As long as both sides' interests aligned and they could piss into the same pot, that was enough.

Of course, it would be even better if they could forge a closer relationship.

Regarding this matter.

The Zhang Family had already begun considering it internally.

They were selecting from among the direct and collateral branches, intending to choose a woman whose looks and figure, personality and bearing, even talent... were all a suitable match for Li Yun, then introduce her to him.

It was simply that they had not yet found a suitable candidate. They were also afraid of scaring Li Yun off, so they did not dare reveal a word of it.

But before that.

Acknowledging Li Yun as a nephew first was certainly not a bad idea.

"I know all about what happened to you in that valley. Being able to comprehend the Sorrowful Wind Swordplay in only two days is truly impressive!"

"I would have supported you if you wanted to continue your secluded cultivation there."

"A martial artist who can endure loneliness and devote himself wholeheartedly to the Martial Dao has taken the first step toward becoming strong. However, we have formally petitioned the Outer Sect Elder Hall to appoint you as the Renzi Head Disciple. You cannot be absent for this, so we had no choice but to call you back first."

At the mention of this matter.

Li Yun's heart stirred slightly.

"Uncle Zhang, I heard that someone in the Elder Hall opposes me becoming the Renzi Head Disciple?"

"Ruohan told you, did she? What do you think? Are you angry?"

Zhang Cong deliberately threw the question back at Li Yun, wanting to see his reaction.

Generally speaking, blocking someone's advancement was like murdering their parents. Upon hearing such news, most people would likely be furious.

"Angry?"

"To be honest, not at all!"

To Zhang Cong's surprise, Li Yun merely smiled faintly, without the slightest trace of anger on his face.

This made Zhang Cong somewhat unwilling to believe it.

He suspected that Li Yun was pretending.

Although Li Yun was young, only sixteen this year, there was no shortage of people in this world who were born deeply calculating. Even at a young age, they were skilled at controlling their emotions, never letting joy or anger show on their faces.

Once such people grew up, they were practically born overlords!

But Li Yun swiftly gave his explanation.

"First, anger is useless. Since they can oppose my appointment as the Renzi Head Disciple in the Elder Hall, they must have put forward legitimate reasons. That is not something anger can change."

"Rather than indulge in meaningless anger and throw my mind into disorder, I might as well use my strength to shatter every excuse for opposition."

"Second, I do not actually know who is opposing me becoming the Renzi Head Disciple. Who exactly should I direct my anger at? At myself? Uncle Zhang, do you think that would be appropriate?"

Zhang Cong was instantly left speechless. "..."

Yet he was even more delighted.

Li Yun had only given two reasons, yet he had already fully displayed his calmness.

A disciple with outstanding talent, who knew when to be humble, could also keep a cool head, and was handsome to boot—Zhang Cong no longer knew how to gauge Li Yun's future.

"Perhaps this is the fortune of our Zhang Clan's branch."

"When fortune arrived, it happened to let Zhang Ruohan meet Li Yun. Then, by sheer coincidence, they came to know each other because Li Yun and Zhang Chu were both disciples of Rank 95 Academy..."

"Such a pity. If Zhang Ruohan had not already been betrothed, then the two of them would have been just right... Sigh!"

Zhang Cong suddenly felt a little regretful.

However, he did not dare express it. Many people were dissatisfied with Zhang Ruohan's betrothal, but they had no choice but to accept it.

He did not dwell on it further.

After chatting with Li Yun for a while, he instructed Li Yun to come again the next day. Early tomorrow morning, he would take Li Yun directly to the Elder Hall and strike while the iron was hot, securing the title of Renzi Head Disciple in one go.

Li Yun also asked about going to the Martial Armory to collect martial arts manuals.

Zhang Cong said that they should settle the matter of the Renzi Head Disciple first, because after obtaining that title, Li Yun would have a privilege in the Martial Armory that ordinary disciples did not possess.

Not only could he select two additional martial arts manuals, but the upper limit of their grades would also be higher.

Since they were going to make a move, naturally they had to maximize the benefits.

Naturally, Li Yun did not object.

After drinking tea for a while longer at Azure Cloud Residence, he left and returned directly to Rank 95 Academy. He had been working hard outside for several days, focusing only on cultivation and accumulating Cognition Points, with barely any rest.

Tonight, he decided to wash up and go to bed early, giving himself a proper rest.

Martial Dao cultivation could not always be like a tightly drawn bowstring. It was too easy to snap that way; one had to know how to balance tension and relaxation.