Yu Tianheng Returns, A New Round of Training

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Yu Tianheng had been confined by his clan for nearly a month.

Today, he had taken the initiative to request an audience with Yu Yuanzhen.

"Grandfather."

Yu Tianheng met his grandfather Yu Yuanzhen's gaze, his expression solemn.

"Your grandson knows his mistake. I was thoughtless before and failed to understand the deeper intentions of the clan and Grandfather."

Yu Yuanzhen nodded slightly, signaling for him to continue.

Yu Tianheng continued in a sincere tone.

"I understand that my future is inseparably tied to the clan."

"You ordered me to cut off contact with Dugu Yan for the sake of the clan as a whole. I understand your painstaking intentions, Grandfather."

"I will obey your command and no longer associate with her."

Yu Tianheng abruptly changed tack, his gaze becoming resolute.

"But Grandfather, I am the captain of the Imperial Dou Team, and one of the heirs of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"I cannot flee before battle and bear the reputation of retreating without a fight or shirking responsibility."

"The All Continent Advanced Soul Master Elite Competition four years from now concerns not only my personal honor, but is also an excellent opportunity to display the strength of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's younger generation."

"Please allow me to return to the academy and win honor for the clan, rather than being confined at home like a deserter."

"Your grandson promises that from now on, cultivation and preparing for the competition will be my foremost priorities."

Yu Yuanzhen gazed at Yu Tianheng, his sharp eyes lingering on his face for a long while.

He could see the sincerity in Yu Tianheng's words, as well as his sense of responsibility toward the competition and the team.

As the head of the clan, he too valued the clan's honor and prestige.

An heir who shone brilliantly in the Soul Master Competition would undoubtedly bring immense renown to the clan.

It would also benefit him in his future bid for the position of clan head.

Looking across the entire Heaven Dou Empire, aside from the Five Element Academies, only Imperial Dou Team One had the strength to contend in the competition.

However, Yu Tianxin was already at Lightning Academy, and the other four elemental academies were unsuitable for Yu Tianheng.

At last, Yu Yuanzhen slowly spoke.

"Remember what you said today. Prioritize the competition and cultivation. Do not disgrace the name of the world's number one Beast Martial Soul."

"Your grandson will remember!"

Yu Tianheng forcibly suppressed the excitement in his heart and bowed respectfully.

"Go."

Yu Yuanzhen waved a hand.

Yu Tianheng immediately turned and left the room. Only after he had completely departed the clan grounds did he let out a long breath.

Then, without further hesitation, he hurried toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

After disappearing without a word for so long, he did not dare imagine how Dugu Yan was doing now.

Yu Yuanzhen walked out of the room and instructed the guard beside him.

"Send someone to follow the Young Master in secret."

"Yes, Clan Head."

The night deepened.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was shrouded in silence.

Yu Tianheng returned to the academy dormitory.

The Imperial Dou Team's dormitory was a three-story building. The girls lived on the top floor, while the boys lived on the second floor.

At this moment, all the team members were in the dormitory.

Yu Tianheng stood in the first-floor hall and looked up toward the third floor. Taking a deep breath, he headed upstairs.

Dugu Yan had not yet gone to rest.

She held a somewhat worn little doll in her hands, a birthday gift her grandfather had given her when she was young.

"Knock, knock, knock..."

She was absentmindedly stroking the doll with her head lowered when a knock suddenly sounded at the door.

"Who is it?"

Dugu Yan frowned slightly. Who would come at such a late hour?

She got up and opened the door. When she saw who it was...

Dugu Yan felt surprise and grievance, but even more anger.

"Yu Tianheng?!" Dugu Yan's brows furrowed tightly, her voice cold. "Why have you come back?"

"Yanzi, let's go inside first."

Yu Tianheng stepped into the room and shut the door.

"Yanzi, I'm sorry."

Yu Tianheng's voice was filled with remorse as he explained.

"My grandfather confined me at home and cut off my contact with the outside world. I only managed to persuade him to let me return today."

"So what?" Dugu Yan's voice remained cold. "Did you come to say goodbye to me for the last time?"

"No!"

Yu Tianheng tightly clasped Dugu Yan's hand.

"Yanzi, I admit that when I first approached you, it truly was because of your grandfather."

"But... after spending so much time together, I had long since truly fallen in love with you."

Dugu Yan's heart shook as she looked into Yu Tianheng's sincere eyes.

Her attitude softened slightly as she spoke.

"What's the point of saying that now?"

"My grandfather is already gone. Your clan will never agree to us being together."

Yu Tianheng replied firmly.

"Yanzi, I will never give you up."

"I cannot defy Grandfather's orders right now."

"But please believe me. Once I have a say in the future, I will marry you. No one will dare object."

Yu Tianheng paused briefly before continuing.

"For now, though, we can only keep our distance publicly and act as ordinary captain and teammate."

"Otherwise, I will immediately be taken back to the clan, and you may even be implicated."

"Yanzi, are you willing to believe me?"

Dugu Yan looked at his resolute eyes, and the ice in her heart gradually melted away.

"Tianheng... is what you said true? I'm afraid you'll abandon me again and suddenly disappear..."

Dugu Yan's eyes reddened. The strength she had forced herself to maintain all this time was about to collapse at this moment.

Yu Tianheng raised a hand. "I, Yu Tianheng, swear upon my Martial Soul that I will never betray you in this life."

Yu Tianheng's oath completely shattered Dugu Yan's final psychological defenses.

"Tianheng..."

Dugu Yan threw herself into Yu Tianheng's arms, tears streaming from her eyes as her voice choked.

Yu Tianheng tightened his arms around her.

"I'm sorry..."

A long while later, the front of Yu Tianheng's clothes had been soaked through by Dugu Yan's tears.

Yu Tianheng released Dugu Yan and raised a hand to gently wipe the tear tracks from her cheeks.

"Yanzi, get some rest early. I'll go back downstairs first."

"Mm."

The next morning.

The members of the Imperial Dou Team gathered in the first-floor hall.

Yu Tianheng came down from the second floor.

His appearance surprised every team member except Dugu Yan.

"Captain? You're back!"

Yu Feng spoke in surprise.

"I came back last night."

Yu Tianheng nodded to everyone, his calm gaze sweeping over the room before finally settling on Dugu Yan.

"I was absent for some time due to urgent clan matters. Thank you for your hard work."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"Taking this opportunity, I also have something to announce."

The hall immediately fell silent, and everyone's eyes focused on him.

"Yanzi and I have reached an agreement. From today onward, we will end our relationship as lovers and return to being purely teammates."

Yu Feng and the others could not help showing stunned expressions.

Dugu Yan slowly rose to her feet, her face calm.

"Everyone, there is no need to worry. This was a decision we made together."

Yu Tianheng took over.

"That's right. The competition four years from now is our most important goal at present."

"Starting today, I will prepare for it with all of you at full strength."

Although the team members still had their doubts, seeing how candid the two involved parties were, they gradually accepted the outcome.

At that moment, their mentor Qin Ming walked in.

Qin Ming asked in surprise, "Tianheng, you're back?"

"Teacher Qin Ming, I'm sorry. An urgent matter came up at home, and I was unable to inform you in time."

"It's fine. Now that you're back, train properly."

Qin Ming inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

Yu Tianheng had suddenly disappeared and had not returned for so long.

If some more time had passed, he would have begun looking for a new team member.

Yet throughout the entire academy, he could not find anyone capable of replacing Yu Tianheng.

His return was the best possible outcome.

"Perfect," Qin Ming said as he looked around at everyone. "Since Tianheng has returned, we'll begin the next stage of training."

"Teacher Qin Ming, what kind of training is it?" everyone asked in confusion.

"Just follow me and you'll find out." Qin Ming said no more.

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.