Uncle and Nephew Meet

"I think there has been some misunderstanding between us." Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, his lips twitching into a stiff, awkward smile as he softened his tone.

"I forgot to introduce us earlier. I am from Shrek Academy. This is our Dean, Flender, a level 78 agility-attack system Battle Soul Saint. This is our teacher, Zhao Wuji, a level 76 power-attack system Battle Soul Saint. This is my disciple, the Thousand-Hand Asura Tang San, a level 33 control system Battle Soul Grandmaster. As for me, I am the Vice Dean of Shrek Academy, Yu Xiaogang, and the teacher of these little monsters," Yu Xiaogang said with a hint of pride.

"And what is your soul power level?" Qingxi asked with a touch of mockery in her tone; she could naturally see exactly how strong this man was.

Yu Xiaogang froze for a moment, a flash of shame and anger crossing his eyes as he clenched his hands into tight fists.

"If you continue to be disrespectful to my teacher, don't blame me for teaching you a lesson," Tang San said, his expression cold as he stepped in front of Yu Xiaogang.

With a soul that had lived for over forty years, how could he fail to see the contempt in this girl's words?

"What? Is stalking me outside the Great Soul Fighting Arena not enough? Are you planning to start a fight inside now? Friendly reminder: you'll be fined if you break anything." Qingxi spread her hands; the last time they broke the floor, they had to pay a thousand Gold Soul Coins.

Just then, Supervisor Ao drifted by, watching the group.

"Xiao San," Yu Xiaogang scolded in a low voice before looking at Qingxi. "We came here today to invite you to a wager match."

Since she had already broken through level 30, it wouldn't be considered Xiao San bullying someone.

"Wager on what?" Qingxi's lips curled up, her interest piqued.

"1v1. If you lose, you join our Shrek Academy. I know you have twin martial souls; I have a way to help you discover something and resolve the drawbacks of having twin martial souls." Yu Xiaogang's gaze was deep as he carefully observed Qingxi's expression, hoping to glean something from it.

"And what if you lose?" Qingxi blinked, looking curiously at the Grandmaster before her, wondering what else he could possibly make up.

Twin martial souls, indeed?

"This..." Flender and the others were momentarily choked; they clearly hadn't considered that outcome.

"If I lose, provided it doesn't violate my morals or principles, I am willing to do one thing for you unconditionally," Tang San said, patting his chest as he stepped forward.

"You?" Qingxi looked Tang San up and down, then shook her head. "No thanks, go away!"

If this group hadn't been blocking her path, she wouldn't have wanted to say a single word to them.

"Hey! You little girl, don't think I don't know you bet on the Shrek Team to win every day. This is an opportunity for you; you should know that not just anyone can join us," Flender said, rubbing his palms together with a wicked grin.

Such a young girl would be a perfect addition to their Shrek Academy.

"Just because I bet on you to win doesn't mean I like you! If you're so capable, why don't you try losing!" Qingxi held up her middle finger at Flender, her expression highly provocative.

What a nagging, ugly old man—he just wouldn't quit.

"You!!" Flender lost his composure instantly; this girl had absolutely no manners!

"Little Qingxi? What are you doing here?" Just then, Yu Tianheng and Yu Feng walked over, carrying several bags.

They had just happened to pass by and, seeing the little girl surrounded by several tall, burly men, they assumed she was being harassed and came over to back her up.

"Hey! Are you guys bullying our little sister?" Yu Feng stood with his hands on his hips, still holding several paper bags, and puffed out his chest as he stepped in front of Qingxi, clearly ready to stand up for her.

"Where did these kids come from? Don't disturb us while we're talking to Qiankun," Flender said, looking displeased. He used his level 78 soul power, intending to push the arrogant boy aside.

"Ahem!" Supervisor Ao drifted by at the perfect moment, muttering, "There will be a fine..."

"Flender." Yu Xiaogang pressed down on Flender's hand, signaling him not to let go, his deep, dark eyes fixed on the young man behind Yu Feng.

"Are you hurt?" Yu Tianheng looked the girl over.

"They threatened me, demanding I join their academy, but I've already joined the Heaven Dou Royal Academy," Qingxi said, seizing the chance to have someone back her up as she squeezed out two tears.

"There, there, don't cry." Yu Tianheng placed his bags on the ground, took out a lollipop, unwrapped it, and handed it to Qingxi.

"What!! You actually dare to snatch people from our Heaven Dou Royal Academy! Do you even want to keep living in the Heaven Dou Empire!" Yu Feng's eyes blazed with fire, and like a lit firecracker, he pointed at Flender and the others, launching into a tirade.

"Where did this wild chicken academy come from? Look at the clothes you're wearing—they look like they were fished out of a latrine! And you threatened little sister Yanzi? Be careful or Yanzi will poison you all to death! I think you don't know the height of the sky or the depth of the earth; you're just looking to die..."

"Hey, hey, kid, watch your mouth." A string of insults poured out of Yu Feng's mouth. With Supervisor Ao watching from the side, ready to issue a ticket at any moment, Flender was furious.

"Shut up!" Yu Xiaogang suddenly shouted, his voice carrying an irresistible authority.

His gaze landed on Yu Tianheng, his eyes filled with unreadable emotions. "Tianheng, do you still recognize me?"

Yu Tianheng finished comforting Qingxi and looked at the middle-aged man with the buzz cut, frowning slightly as he hesitated. "Un... Uncle, why are you here?"

The middle-aged man before him was none other than Yu Xiaogang, who had left home and eventually severed ties with the family because he looked down on his own "useless" martial soul.

Yu Xiaogang walked up to Yu Tianheng and patted his shoulder. "Let's step aside and talk."

Yu Tianheng was silent for a moment, then gave Yu Feng a look and followed him.

He wanted to see what his uncle had to say for himself.

Tang San watched the young man following his teacher, surprised to find he was an acquaintance of the Grandmaster.

"This..." Flender's eyes darted around as he said to Yu Feng, "Brother, it's all a misunderstanding."

Since he was Xiaogang's nephew, there might be a chance to turn things around.

"Hmph, I'm telling you, this isn't over." Yu Feng kept a cold face, hands on his hips. He didn't soften his attitude just because of Yu Tianheng's word "uncle," and he kept Qingxi shielded behind him the entire time.

On the other side, Yu Xiaogang led Yu Tianheng to a deserted corner.

Yu Xiaogang stopped and turned to look at the young man, who was nearly as tall as he was, a soft light flashing in his eyes. "It seems you've been doing well these years; you're almost as tall as your uncle."

Yu Tianheng frowned, his expression complex. "Uncle, if you have something to say, just say it. Where have you been all these years? Father... and Grandfather have been very worried about you."

He didn't mention himself at all.

Yu Tianheng's feelings toward this uncle of his were complicated.

When he was a child, his father was always busy as the heir to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, and only this uncle had stayed by his side.

Compared to his grandfather and father, who only valued his schoolwork and cultivation, his uncle had treated him more like his own son, buying him all sorts of delicious treats and fun toys. He would tell him that as a child of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, there was no need to work so hard, and that his childhood should be a happy one.

For a very long time, Yu Tianheng had treated the man before him as his own father.

That was until he met Yanzi, and until he could no longer keep up with her.

Yet, clearly, in the beginning, his soul power had been even higher than Yanzi's.

It was not until many years later that Yu Tianheng understood a truth.

To spoil someone is to ruin them.

After all, if he had truly cared about his nephew, how could he have told him not to work so hard on his cultivation?

Noticing Yu Tianheng's detachment, Yu Xiaogang was slightly taken aback and couldn't help but sigh, patting him on the shoulder. "Is Xiao Heng blaming me? I had no choice back then; I was afraid of implicating you all, so I had to leave the family."

Yu Tianheng did not speak, his gaze fixed directly upon him.

Seeing Yu Tianheng so cold, Yu Xiaogang's face turned bitter. "Xiao Heng, don't resent your uncle. Back then, due to certain reasons, I offended Spirit Hall, so I left the sect in hopes of protecting you all."

Glancing at Yu Tianheng from the corner of his eye, the youth remained indifferent and distant.

Yu Xiaogang frowned slightly. He clearly remembered that when he left the family, this child had clung to his legs, crying and begging to go with him.

Tianheng had always been the most attached to him since he was small; how could it be...

"Does Uncle mean the time you abducted the Saintess of Spirit Hall, or the affair you had with her?" Yu Tianheng's face showed mockery.

Despised by the world.

Even if hidden well, there was no such thing as a secret that never leaked.

"Does Uncle know how much ridicule the family has suffered because of this over the years?"

"Tianheng, where did you hear these things..." Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but take a few steps back, his face turning pale.

How could Tianheng know about these matters?

Seeing his expression, there was nothing Yu Tianheng didn't understand. He lowered his head and sneered repeatedly, his tone filled with unspeakable sarcasm.

Looking up again, the youth's eyes were cold and distant as he said with disgust, "I will pretend today's encounter never happened. I don't know what scheme you are plotting again, but I advise you: stay away from Qingxi. The person behind her is not someone a 'useless spirit' like you can afford to offend."

Yu Tianheng turned to leave, but after a few steps, he felt it was inappropriate; his uncle had always been full of tricks.

"A friendly reminder: her surname is Dugu, and her family specializes in poison." Yu Tianheng paused his steps and spoke.

The surname Dugu? Specializing in poison?

Yu Xiaogang was slightly stunned. As the two facts combined, an incredible figure flashed through his mind.

He couldn't help but shiver. If it truly was that temperamental Poison Douluo, it was certainly not someone they could afford to provoke right now.