What Exactly Is Your Relationship with Him?

"Mm, it was time to set out for Spirit City." Yu Xiaogang heard Yu Yuanzhen bring it up.

It truly was time to leave.

He did not know about anyone else, but Bibi Dong was surely getting anxious by now.

Two months? Ha~ Knowing Bibi Dong, once she had something on her mind, she could not even wait a week.

The fact that she had waited two months without coming to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to press them was truly asking a lot of her.

Of course, that was the Bibi Dong he remembered from his previous life.

But Bibi Dong in this life should have some similar traits in her personality as well.

As for exactly what she was like, he would have to visit Spirit Hall to find out.

"Xiao Gang, are you sure it's all right?" Yu Yuanzhen was still worried.

He could not shake the feeling of unease. If Xiao Gang had not said that going to Spirit Hall would definitely be fine, he would never have agreed to it.

"Don't worry, Father. Even in the worst-case scenario, it'll be fine."

"If I want to leave, no one but Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu can stop me."

"But it's unlikely Qian Daoliu would stop me, and Bibi Dong is even less likely to do so."

"I believe you have that strength, but using those methods from your previous life with your current cultivation must come at no small cost, right?" Yu Yuanzhen could still guess that much.

Level twenty-two, yet forcibly using the foundations that had belonged to a Peerless Douluo in his previous life—how could there be no cost?

"There will be some cost, but it's still within an acceptable range." Yu Xiaogang had never intended to hide it from Yu Yuanzhen.

Whether in his previous life or this one, Yu Yuanzhen was his father.

This old man had truly worried himself sick over him.

In his previous life, Yu Xiaogang had been unwilling to give up, and Yu Yuanzhen had likewise refused to give up on his son.

So long as there was even the slightest resource or opportunity that might help him break through, Yu Yuanzhen would do everything he could to obtain it for him.

It could be said that, starting with only half a rank of innate Soul Power in his previous life, he could never have cultivated to level ninety-nine without Yu Yuanzhen.

What could he not tell his own father?

"How about... I accompany you as your guardian?" Yu Yuanzhen truly could not bear to part with his precious son now.

"Don't worry, Father." Yu Xiaogang could not help but laugh. "Your son isn't as weak as you think."

"When I awakened the Golden Sacred Dragon earlier, I used up most of my Divine Power. But the remaining Divine Power is still enough to support one use of the Secret Techniques and methods from my previous life."

"It won't leave any aftereffects?"

"No. At most, I'll need two or three months to recuperate."

Only then was Yu Yuanzhen reassured.

Yu Xiaogang possessed Divine Power and Divine Sense. Even though his cultivation was only level twenty-two now, those were things only gods possessed!

They were simply not something ordinary Titled Douluo could contend against.

As he led Yu Xiaogang back to pack his things, he took out a token. "All right, take this token with you."

"If you run into villains, crush it immediately. Don't talk about being reluctant to use it or about troubling me."

"I'm your father! Understand? This kind of thing isn't that precious. I can make a whole pile of them."

It was best not to use one's reserves unless necessary.

Yu Xiaogang's reserves would only grow stronger with the passage of time.

During the early stages, he could simply come to him whenever there was trouble.

How did that saying go again?

I raise my son when he is young; my son will care for me when I am old.

"Mm." Yu Xiaogang's heart warmed.

He said no more and returned to the clan with Yu Yuanzhen to pack his things.

At the entrance to Spirit City.

"All right, Father, this is far enough." Yu Xiaogang looked into the distance.

"Hm?"

After a short while, Yu Yuanzhen finally sensed the approaching person. "Mm, I truly don't need to escort you any farther."

"You two have finally arrived." Yue Guan's figure approached from afar, his trademark smile still on his face.

"Sect Master Yu, won't you come in and take a look around with me?"

Yu Yuanzhen waved a hand. "No, I'll pass. Xiao Gang will be in your care, Yue Guan."

"There are still clan matters to handle, so I'll be leaving first."

"Of course." After seeing Yu Yuanzhen off, Yue Guan turned to Yu Xiaogang. "Young Sect Master Yu, I'll take you to complete your enrollment procedures first."

"Sorry for the trouble, Your Excellency."

"It's nothing, just a small favor." Yue Guan did not mind this assignment. It was practically a day off for him to stroll around Spirit City.

Once he took Yu Xiaogang to complete his enrollment, he could drop him off at the Papal Palace and be done with it.

Then he could go enjoy his "day off" to the fullest.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing I should mention. Her Holiness wants to see you." As Yue Guan spoke, he watched Yu Xiaogang's expression.

Yet he could not read anything from it.

Yu Xiaogang's expression remained as calm as water, neither servile nor overbearing. Even his tone was as polite as usual. "Naturally. Sorry for the trouble, Your Excellency Yue Guan."

Yue Guan was naturally somewhat disappointed.

Who did not want gossip?

Unfortunately, he had learned nothing at all.

People like Yu Xiaogang, who remained calm and spoke so politely, were the most ruthless.

From his many years of experience, the most troublesome and difficult people were not the hot-tempered powder kegs, but those whose thoughts you could not see through.

"Come on. I'll show you around first."

"All right. Do we need to buy some daily necessities on the way?"

Naturally, Yu Xiaogang would not say that he was already thoroughly familiar with Spirit City's layout.

Although the era was different, at most only some of the shops would have changed.

It was still good to stroll around with Yue Guan and familiarize himself with the shops.

It would make things more convenient when he needed to buy something later.

"That won't be necessary. The academy provides supplies, though you can purchase additional items if you're not satisfied."

Yue Guan appeared to be in quite a good mood.

After taking Yu Xiaogang through the procedures, Yue Guan brought him to the front of the Papal Palace, exchanged a brief greeting, and left.

Yu Xiaogang nodded to the guards at the entrance.

The guards did not waste any words and directly went to report his arrival.

Soon afterward, he received a summons from Pope Bibi Dong.

"This way." A guard came to lead him.

Yu Xiaogang followed him into the Papal Palace.

"Your Holiness, he has arrived."

"Mm. You may leave."

"Yes!"

Bibi Dong's gaze met Yu Xiaogang's directly.

In her eyes, he saw hesitation, longing, uncertainty, conflict, and a trace of helplessness.

And in his eyes, she did not see the usual doubt, incomprehension, and resentment, but nostalgia—and a look that only came after the passage of time had transformed all things.

The two merely stared at each other, neither speaking first.

Until Bibi Dong's voice, cool yet hesitant and carrying a hint of probing, broke the stillness in the hall. "You came."

Yu Xiaogang naturally understood every emotion in her words and answered without hesitation, "Mm, I came."

It was as though he were speaking to an old friend, without any unpleasant feelings mixed in.

"You..."

The words reached Bibi Dong's lips, but she no longer knew how to say them.

Another long silence passed.

"What exactly is your relationship with him?"