Aunt is Your Eternal Backing

"We should be safe now."

Liu Erlong also breathed a sigh of relief, patting Yu Tiancheng on the shoulder. "Come on, let's find a carriage first and head back to the academy. Get some good rest."

Soon, they hired a spacious and comfortable carriage at a roadside post station.

The driver cracked his whip, and the carriage rolled unhurriedly along the smooth official road toward Heaven Dou City.

Inside the carriage, they finally had a safe, private space and a relatively leisurely moment.

Liu Erlong looked at her nephew across from her—though he had recovered somewhat, traces of exhaustion and lingering shock still marked his brow. A complex surge of emotions welled up in her heart.

She knew exactly what had happened.

Being tracked by the Ghost Douluo, forced to join Hu Liena's team, narrowly escaping death in the chaos caused by the Titan Giant Ape... every single incident had made her heart race, wishing she could fly to her nephew's side to protect him.

So she came.

She searched all the way, and after that roar of the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, she followed the direction and found him.

Now, watching Yu Tiancheng force himself to stay calm, trying to downplay those harrowing experiences, Liu Erlong felt both heartache and bitterness.

This child, after enduring so much, still had to put up a strong front in front of her.

She chose her words carefully, her tone gentler than usual, with a barely perceptible hint of probing:

"Tiancheng, you're safe now. You can relax a little. Tell your aunt... how was the journey? Did anything special happen?"

She asked tactfully, leaving Yu Tiancheng plenty of room—he could choose to speak or not.

Yu Tiancheng leaned against the soft cushion, staring out the window at the rapidly receding scenery, silent for a moment.

He knew his aunt cared about him, but he couldn't tell the truth. The pursuit by Martial Soul Hall, the existence of the Diary... these secrets he had to keep locked in his heart.

"It went pretty smoothly," he finally chose a vague answer. "The Star Dou Great Forest was more dangerous than I imagined. I ran into some powerful soul beasts and had to put in some effort to shake them off."

He paused, then added, "But I gained a lot too. My practical combat experience improved significantly."

Liu Erlong listened quietly, not interrupting. She could hear the reservation in her nephew's words and feel his reluctance to discuss it further.

She sighed softly inside, both relieved by his caution and saddened that he had to bear it all alone.

"Running into powerful soul beasts is unavoidable," Liu Erlong followed his lead, her tone calm. "The fact that you came out safely means you did well. But..."

She shifted the conversation, her gaze sharpening slightly: "Besides soul beasts, did you run into... any people? Like other Spirit Master teams?"

The question was skillfully posed—not too direct, yet giving Yu Tiancheng a chance to reveal part of the truth.

Yu Tiancheng's heart stirred. Why would his aunt ask that? Had she sensed something, or... was it just ordinary concern?

He hesitated, then decided to reveal a portion, but it had to be vague.

"I did run into a Spirit Master team," he said slowly.

"They were very strong and looked well-trained. We... had a minor scuffle, but we parted ways quickly."

He deliberately downplayed the severity of the conflict and didn't mention Martial Soul Hall's identity.

Liu Erlong nodded, not pressing for details, but said meaningfully:

"The Star Dou Great Forest is a mixed bag. It's not strange to run into all kinds of teams. Some teams have complicated backgrounds—best not to provoke them if you can avoid it. But if anyone dares to bully you..."

Her voice suddenly turned icy, a fierce flame flashing in her eyes: "No matter what background they have, your aunt won't let them off."

The words were resolute, carrying an overbearing protectiveness.

A warmth spread through Yu Tiancheng's heart. He could feel the unreserved support in his aunt's words.

But at the same time, he grew more puzzled—his aunt seemed to be implying something? Did she know something?

"Thank you, Aunt," he said sincerely. "I'll be careful."

Liu Erlong looked at her nephew's clear eyes, tinged with a hint of confusion, and felt an urge surge within her—she wanted to tell him that she knew everything, that he didn't have to carry it all alone, that no matter what happened, his aunt would stand behind him.

But she couldn't.

The rules of the Diary were like invisible shackles, locking her words.

She could only express it in another way.

"Tiancheng," Liu Erlong's voice became exceptionally soft, even carrying a rare touch of emotion, "remember this: no matter what happens to you, no matter what choices you make, your aunt will support you. Blue Tyrant Academy is your home, and your aunt is your backup."

She reached out and gently patted the back of Yu Tiancheng's hand: "So, you don't have to shoulder everything alone. If you're tired, if you run into trouble you can't solve, come find your aunt. I may not be some peerless Strong Person, but protecting my own nephew—that I can do."

These words were spoken with genuine feeling, almost an open hint—I know you're in trouble, I know you're hiding something, but I won't force you to talk. I'm just telling you, I'm here.

Yu Tiancheng stared blankly at Liu Erlong, an indescribable warmth surging through his heart. His aunt's words were like a key, gently unlocking a tightly shut door within him.

He suddenly felt that maybe... he could trust his aunt a little more.

Not revealing all the secrets, but at least he didn't have to pretend so hard in front of her.

"Aunt..." He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to start.

Liu Erlong smiled, a warm and tolerant smile. "Alright, let's not talk about that. You're tired. Get some rest. There's still a way to go before we reach the academy. Recharge your energy."

She stopped probing and instead shifted to lighter topics—the situation at Blue Tyrant Academy, interesting news from Heaven Dou City, a few students she'd recently taken on...

Yu Tiancheng gradually relaxed, occasionally responding. The atmosphere in the carriage became warm and peaceful.

He leaned against the carriage wall, closing his eyes to feign sleep, but his mind was churning with thoughts.

His aunt's appearance was too coincidental. Her words, too meaningful.

Could it be... that Aunt had truly sensed something? Or was this just the unique intuition and concern between family members?

And then there was Yue Guan's threat, still unresolved. Once he arrived at Blue Tyrant Academy, how should he handle it? Continue to hide, or...

One question after another circled in his mind, but this time, he no longer felt so alone and helpless.

Because his aunt was right by his side.

No matter what lay ahead, at least in this moment, he was not alone.

The carriage continued forward, carrying the aunt and nephew, each with their own thoughts, toward Heaven Dou City, toward Blue Tyrant Academy, and toward the unknown tomorrow.

And Liu Erlong, gazing at her nephew's peaceful sleeping face, silently swore in her heart:

No matter how many storms the future held, she would protect this child.

Unless she was no longer there.