Call Me Brother Outside, Uncle Inside

"Little Uncle, congratulations on recovering your cultivation talent!"

Once Qin Ming had stepped aside, Yu Tianheng finally found the opportunity to crowd over, his face beaming with a wide smile as he offered his congratulations.

He and Yu Tianjiao had a rather good relationship.

Although they were uncle and nephew in name, they got along more like brothers.

The difference was that Yu Tianjiao was more mature than him, acting more like the elder brother, while he—a six-foot-three giant four years older than Yu Tianjiao—had always been the one being looked after.

Yu Tianheng had been held to strict standards since childhood; Yu Yuanzhen only ever cared about his cultivation and rarely asked about anything else.

For a child starved of affection like this, anyone who treated him well would be remembered for a lifetime.

Therefore, when Yu Tianjiao, as a peer-aged elder, not only avoided being a spoiled brat but often took him out to play and train together, he had already accepted this precocious, talented little uncle.

In truth, Yu Xiaogang had treated him quite well when he was very young.

But Yu Tianjiao, a transmigrator of the same age, found it effortless to hoodwink a child with his worldly knowledge.

He would recount various folk tales and web novels he had read, and the mere mention of them would excite the boy so much that he longed to become a protagonist like Xiao Yan, Ye Fan, or Shi Hao.

Of course, Yu Tianjiao would never tell him stories about the Douluo Continent.

Beyond that, simple little toys and the like were also quite effective at capturing a child's interest.

On top of that, Yu Tianjiao had specifically taken Yu Tianheng to find Yu Yuanzhen, urging the old man to show more concern for his grandson instead of constantly fixating on martial soul cultivation, which had helped the grandfather and grandson grow much closer.

Since children have poor memories at a young age, Yu Xiaogang gradually faded into nothing more than an unfamiliar second uncle in Yu Tianheng's mind.

Yu Tianjiao, meanwhile, became his closest little uncle and best big brother.

"Alright, we're out in public, so just call me brother. You can call me uncle when we get home."

Hearing this, Yu Tianheng nodded heavily, his six-foot-three frame causing his eyes to turn slightly red.

Seeing that dazzling little uncle of his fully recovered at last, Yu Tianheng felt deeply moved.

Even though his little uncle hadn't been by his side to look after or guide him for the past three years, he had grown significantly, and he was now an outstanding student capable of holding his own within the academy.

For the past year, under Qin Ming's arrangements, he had been leading a group of classmates to engage in soul fighting within Heaven Dou City, honing his practical combat experience while accumulating a great deal of self-confidence.

He desperately wanted to show his little uncle what he had achieved over the last three years.

To him, his little uncle's praise was the highest form of validation he could ever hope to receive.

Even his own father couldn't compare in that regard.

After all, they rarely saw each other.

"I know you've got plenty to tell me, kid. Let's go, let's head to your dorm and sit for a while."

Yu Tianjiao saw right through what his little nephew was thinking, raising a hand to pat his shoulder with a smile.

"Yes, brother, follow me!"

Yu Tianheng flashed a joyful smile at these words and hurried to lead the way.

Along the way, many classmates he knew well greeted Yu Tianjiao, and Yu Tianjiao responded to each one without a hint of impatience.

To be honest, he quite enjoyed the feeling of being the center of attention.

After all, he had been quite ordinary in his past life, and transmigrating here had truly given him a taste of the high life.

It was just a pity that he was still young, and the beautiful ladies were all "look but don't touch," which left him feeling slightly regretful.

Once they reached Yu Tianheng's dormitory, the uncle and nephew had a good long chat. Yu Tianheng hadn't returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in the past year, focusing entirely on his cultivation with the intention of becoming strong enough to protect his favorite little uncle.

Although Yu Tianheng had received word from the clan a few days prior that his little uncle had recovered, it wasn't until he saw him in person and sensed the much stronger fluctuations of soul power that he finally felt truly at ease.

Previously, to spare his little uncle's feelings, Yu Tianheng hadn't talked much about academy life, but now he could finally speak freely.

He simply gave Yu Tianjiao a detailed account of everything that had happened at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy over the past three years, including his own experiences.

He even threw in some details about Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling; when mentioning the two girls, Yu Tianheng winked at Yu Tianjiao with a teasing glint in his eyes.

After all, he wasn't a child anymore, and he could naturally sense the special feelings those two classmates held for his little uncle—it was clearly more than just a normal relationship between peers.

"By the way, I notice your soul power is fluctuating a bit. Are you about to break through?"

Yu Tianjiao didn't mind his little nephew's teasing; he was confident enough in his own thick skin to embrace beauties in front of a crowd.

If you aren't thick-skinned, how do you expect to find a girlfriend?

You might as well go home and cry into your pillow!

Maybe you'll pass out from crying and have a dream where you actually have a girlfriend!

"Brother, your eye for detail is as sharp as ever. I am indeed close to breaking through to level forty!"

Yu Tianheng nodded with a smile.

"Not bad, but you must keep working hard. I intend to take the championship at the Soul Master Tournament in two years, and you'll need to help me out when the time comes—don't you dare drop the ball!"

Yu Tianjiao nodded slightly, his tone turning a bit more serious.

"Take the championship? That wouldn't be Grandfather's requirement, would it?"

Yu Tianheng guessed the truth in a heartbeat.

After all, ever since Yu Tianjiao had made a suggestion to the Old Master, Yu Yuanzhen, on his behalf, the strict requirements that were originally meant for him had been imposed upon Yu Tianjiao with even greater severity.

However, Yu Tianjiao was truly a super genius; even under those conditions, he still managed to balance his cultivation and his play perfectly.

"Hmm, the Old Master said that if I win, the clan's heirloom spirit bone will be handed over to me. If it were any other reward, I might have hesitated, but I really can't refuse a spirit bone."

Yu Tianjiao said with a smile.

"Hiss, he even brought out a spirit bone? But is two years really enough time?"

Yu Tianheng first drew a sharp breath, but quickly asked with concern.

"Rest assured, believe in your brother's talent. These past three years of silence weren't for nothing. My cultivation speed is even faster now than it was before. In two years, even if I don't reach level fifty, I'll be close to returning to the peak level I was at three years ago."

Yu Tianjiao patted Yu Tianheng on the shoulder and smiled confidently.

Seeing that familiar, incredibly confident smile appear on his uncle's face, Yu Tianheng also nodded with a smile.

His uncle wouldn't lie to him; if he said it could be done, then it would definitely be no problem!

"Alright, it's getting late. I need to hurry over to Teacher Qin's side, and then have a chat with Yanzi and Lingling."

Yu Tianjiao waved his hand with a smile and rose to leave.

Yu Tianheng walked him to the door, and just before he left, he added:

"Brother, you must be careful!"

Yu Tianjiao, who had already taken two steps into the corridor, didn't even turn his head as he raised his middle finger, his laughing curse drifting back lightly:

"You brat, get lost!"