False Affection

"Oh?"

Hearing Porcupinefish Douluo's words, Qian Renxue let out a surprised little gasp.

She knew Porcupinefish Douluo's character.

He would never joke about her grandfather, Qian Daoliu.

If he said this, then he must have truly sensed a threat from the woman in white that was no weaker than her grandfather's.

So...

Could that stunning woman in white really be a Limit Douluo as well?

Qian Renxue's delicate brows drew together slightly.

She couldn't recall any female powerhouse like that.

She had never heard of one before.

She had no idea where the woman had come from.

This was getting more and more interesting.

Qian Renxue's red lips curved upward, her interest thoroughly piqued.

Her golden phoenix eyes looked down through the one-way glass.

Yu Yuanzhen and the others had already reached the table where Yu Shuangbai and the others sat.

"Yu Tianheng?"

Noticing Yu Tianheng's arrival, Dugu Yan furrowed her brows.

Sensing that he wasn't exactly friendly, Yu Tianheng gave a bitter smile.

"What do you want?"

Yu Shuangbai spoke coolly, his tone far from friendly.

He didn't even bother paying attention to the two elderly men who had come with the Yu brothers.

In Yu Shuangbai's eyes, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had never been one of the Upper Three Sects.

It was merely a sect he'd once had ties to, but with which he now had nothing to do.

He didn't want to get involved with them again.

Yu Yuanzhen had already anticipated Yu Shuangbai's coolness after hearing what had happened to him in the clan.

He didn't let it change his expression.

A kindly smile appeared on Yu Yuanzhen's resolute face.

"Child."

"I am Yu Yuanzhen, sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

Yu Yuanzhen introduced himself.

He lifted his chin slightly, his words filled with pride.

The name Thunder Douluo was renowned throughout the Soul Master World.

He thought that as soon as he revealed his title as sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Shuangbai would be overwhelmed with honor.

What a privilege it was for the sect master himself to seek out a junior!

However...

Yu Yuanzhen had clearly thought too much of it.

"Oh."

Yu Shuangbai responded with complete indifference, showing not the slightest emotional stir at Yu Yuanzhen's identity.

The utter calm of his reaction was clearly beyond Yu Yuanzhen's expectations, leaving him at a loss for a moment.

But he was an old fox who'd spent many years in the Soul Master World.

Though Yu Yuanzhen was baffled by Yu Shuangbai's reaction, he quickly regained his composure.

He assumed Yu Shuangbai was still angry about what had happened back then.

That was why he was deliberately acting so indifferent.

In truth, he must already be thrilled beyond words.

That had to be it!

Thinking this, Yu Yuanzhen's confidence returned.

He stroked his snow-white beard.

Then, deliberately sounding regretful, he said:

"Child, the clan wronged you back then."

"I apologize to you here on behalf of the clan."

Yu Tianheng and Yu Tianxin exchanged disbelieving glances at Yu Yuanzhen's words.

They even wondered if they'd misheard.

The sect master they'd always looked up to had actually apologized to a junior of his own accord?

Beneath Yu Yuanzhen's contrite expression lay a sense of smugness.

He, the dignified sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, had lowered himself to apologize to a junior like Yu Shuangbai. Surely Yu Shuangbai would be overcome with gratitude now?

A little more coaxing, and getting him to return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan shouldn't be a problem.

Then the dream of having three Titled Douluo in one clan would be within reach!

For the sake of the clan's future,

even if apologizing to a junior of his own accord cost him some dignity, it was worth it!

Yu Yuanzhen thought smugly.

But things didn't go as he'd expected.

"Oh, I see."

The gratitude Yu Shuangbai was supposed to show never came.

His expression remained as calm as before.

Like a still lake, not a ripple on its surface.

Although Yu Shuangbai was only twelve, as a transmigrator, his mental age was far beyond that.

He saw things clearly.

Yu Yuanzhen wasn't apologizing because the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had been heartless back then.

He was doing it because Yu Shuangbai now seemed worth recruiting.

If Yu Shuangbai hadn't completed the transformation of his Martial Soul in that frozen wasteland—

if he still had his Ice Lizard Martial Soul—

then even if Yu Yuanzhen had learned what happened, he would surely have ignored it.

So, moved?

Not a chance.

Flattered?

Even less likely.

Yu Shuangbai's reaction froze the smile on Yu Yuanzhen's face.

The speech he'd been preparing died on his lips.

His eyelid twitched.

Yu Yuanzhen's expression grew somewhat ugly.

He, the dignified sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, had gone out of his way to make concessions, yet Yu Shuangbai still treated him with such cool indifference.

The arrogant Thunder Douluo felt his face burning.

The Yu brothers exchanged another glance, both shocked by how Yu Shuangbai could remain unfazed even with Mount Tai collapsing before him.

"Child, is that any way to speak to the sect master?"

"The sect master came here with the best of intentions, even lowering himself to apologize to you. Is this how you respond?"

The elderly man Yu Yuanzhen had invited to confirm Yu Shuangbai's identity spoke up, scolding him.

Yu Shuangbai raised his eyes slightly, but before he could say anything, a sharp shout rang out.

"Smack!"

Dugu Yan slammed her palm down on the table.

Listening to their conversation, she'd pieced together roughly what had happened.

Yu Shuangbai really did seem to come from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

But for some reason, the clan had wronged him, so he'd left.

Now Yu Yuanzhen had seen Yu Shuangbai's talent and wanted to bring him back into the clan.

That was probably the gist of it.

Dugu Yan didn't know the details.

But she didn't need to.

All she knew was that Yu Shuangbai, her savior, had no interest in Yu Yuanzhen and the others.

And that old man from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, talking down to people just because he was older, made her see red.

As the cherished jewel whom Poison Douluo had doted on since she was little,

Dugu Yan didn't care about any of that. She'd never had a particularly good temper.

Now she let it all out.

"Our Shuangbai can act however he likes!"

"Who do you think you are? Do you live by the sea or something? Why are you sticking your nose into everything?"

"If you don't like it, then get the hell out!"

"Stop ruining our meal!"

Dugu Yan's rapid-fire tirade left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan elder speechless.

He recognized Dugu Yan.

So although anger smoldered inside him, he couldn't let it out.

Poison Douluo Dugu Bo's influence was no small thing.

Yu Yuanzhen might not take Dugu Bo too seriously.

But a mere elder like him couldn't afford to do that.