Yu Xiaogang

Watching Yu Xiaogang fall apart, Yu Yuanzhen felt remarkably refreshed. He felt neither pity nor heartache.

That bastard! He dared defy me? An old hand still knows a trick or two!

As Yu Xiaogang raved, Yu Yuanzhen sat down with the smug air of a victor. Around him, some covered their mouths and chuckled, some shook their heads, some pondered in silence, and some could barely contain their excitement at the scandal.

"Ahem. Quiet!" Qian Xunji fought back a laugh.

"I'm right! That's sophistry! I'm not a worthless soul master! I—"

"Quiet!"

"I'm not—"

"Quiet!" Fed up, Qian Xunji pressed down on him with Soul Power, finally silencing Yu Xiaogang.

Qian Xunji had originally planned to humiliate Yu Yuanzhen a little, then personally refute Yu Xiaogang's theories before sending him to prison for a couple of years for fraud and publishing worthless papers. Now, it seemed, none of that was necessary.

Seeing Yu Xiaogang slumped in his chair gave Yu Yuanzhen some satisfaction. But with a clearer head, he realized that failing to handle this properly could deal a fatal blow to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Fortunately, he had prepared for everything the night before!

"Ahem! Your Excellency, Eighth Worshipper, forgive me. There is one more thing I wish to say."

"Oh? What else does Clan Leader Yu wish to say? Your son doesn't seem to be in a good state of mind. I hope you won't press him any further."

"I wish it hadn't come to this either. Who could have known that bastard would go so mad? He's like a rabid dog!

"But for the sake of the clan's reputation, I must announce that Yu Xiaogang was expelled from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan long ago. He is no longer a member. His actions have nothing to do with our clan, and he alone bears responsibility for them.

"For various reasons, we simply had not made this public before. I am taking this opportunity to inform you all today.

"And because of what happened today, I, Yu Yuanzhen, have decided to sever all ties with Yu Xiaogang as his father! From this day forward, whatever Yu Xiaogang does has nothing whatsoever to do with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan or with me!"

Yu Yuanzhen's words left everyone impressed by his decisiveness. He was a leader of one of the Upper Three Sects, after all. He had not let family ties cloud his judgment.

Even Qian Xunji, standing nearby, could not help admiring him.

Yu Xiaogang had been sitting there as though his soul had left him, muttering under his breath. But at those words, he found strength from somewhere, slammed the table, and rose again.

"Yu Yuanzhen! What is this supposed to mean? Are you trying to cut ties with me? I'm the one who will lead the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan back to greatness! You dare expel me? You've turned everything on its head!

"Fine, fine! If you're going to be heartless, don't blame me for doing the same! One day, I'll prove it to you!"

With that, Yu Xiaogang turned back for one last lingering look at Bibi Dong, then walked away.

Bibi Dong felt sickened, but Qian Xunji was in charge of the proceedings, so she kept her reaction to herself.

Qian Xunji merely smiled and quietly sent a message to a bishop beside him.

After a little more empty talk to soothe the various factions and a summary of the proceedings, the meeting finally ended.

Yu Yuanzhen left the hall and found Yu Luomian waiting outside. He said furiously:

"Where's Xiao Gang? Where did he go? Get him back to the clan and confine him! He won't be leaving again. He can stay put and give me grandchildren! As far as I'm concerned, I never raised this son!"

Yu Luomian froze. He had seen Yu Xiaogang storm out earlier and tried to question him, but Xiao Gang had refused to answer. Since Yu Yuanzhen was still inside, Yu Luomian had thought nothing of it and let him leave.

He acknowledged the order and turned to search for Yu Xiaogang.

In a side room off the hall, Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji discussed the day's meeting and made plans for the future.

Naturally, they were not going to leave Yu Xiaogang out of the conversation.

"You were vicious today. Why insist on toying with someone like him? Doesn't he disgust you?"

"What? Feeling sorry for your old flame?"

"Get lost! Don't make me sick!"

"So what are you planning to do next? If Yu Yuanzhen catches him and takes him back, how is he supposed to become Tang San's teacher?"

"Don't worry. I've arranged everything..."

After leaving the hall and brushing off Yu Luomian's questions, Yu Xiaogang hurried toward his lodgings.

Damn it! Fa—no! Yu Yuanzhen dared treat me like that! From now on, Yu Yuanzhen is my greatest enemy! The Qian Family comes second!

Just wait. One day I'll make you regret this!

I only hope what happened today hasn't damaged my standing in Dong'er's heart or left her with a bad impression of me.

What if Dong'er stops loving me because of this? Then I won't have a chance to get revenge!

No. No, Dong'er will still love me.

But I have to run first. I can't let Yu Yuanzhen catch me. If he takes me back, I'll have no chance at all!

Dong'er may have forgotten to protect me for now because she's angry. Yes, that's it. I need to run!

He rushed back to his lodgings to pack.

But the instant he stepped through the door, a hand chopped down on the back of his neck...

"Huh? Where's Xiao Gang? Did he run away?"

Yu Luomian hurried to Yu Xiaogang's lodgings. Seeing that nothing in the room had been disturbed, he realized Xiao Gang had probably fled. He immediately sent people to search everywhere. He and Yu Yuanzhen joined the search themselves...

But by late that night, they had found nothing.

"That wretch certainly ran fast!"

"Spirit City isn't our territory, and we brought too few people. It's no surprise we couldn't find him."

"Forget him for now. He's been expelled from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and I've severed our father-son ties. Whatever trouble he causes from now on can't be laid at my door."

"He got off too lightly! Brother, you've cared for him all these years, and that ungrateful wretch actually... Ah..."

"Let's go home. The whole continent may soon be thrown into upheaval. We need to prepare."

As Yu Yuanzhen said this, almost all his usual authority and imposing presence had vanished. He seemed to have aged decades.

Anyone dealt such a blow by a beloved son would have been bitterly disappointed, perhaps even driven to despair.

Meanwhile, outside Spirit City, in an underground chamber...

A basin of cold water woke the sleeping Yu Xiaogang. No, it wasn't cold water. It felt rather warm.

Whatever it was, the liquid woke him, and it had a faint rank smell.

"Ugh! Who's there?!" The warm, pungent liquid drenched him, its stench rushing into his nose. Yu Xiaogang's eyes flew open.

Three bald men stood before him. One of them was still holding a hose.

The sight nearly made Yu Xiaogang vomit. Fear seized him.

"Who are you? How dare you kidnap me! I'm a member of the Blue— I'm the Grandmaster! Yu Xiaogang, the Grandmaster renowned across the continent!"

"Heh. We know. You're exactly who we came to entertain, Yu Xiaogang."

"Do you want money? Or are you trying to make a name for yourselves by kidnapping me? Well, you've succeeded. Now let me go! Whatever you want, I'll pay it."

"Heh. Money isn't what we want..."

"If you don't want money, then you want..."

The scarred man swallowed. Yu Xiaogang wasn't particularly handsome, but his features were decent. With long hair, he would be just his type.

Seeing the strange look in the three men's eyes, Yu Xiaogang instinctively pressed his legs together.

"You'd better let me go, or you'll pay for this! I'll have you know that the current Pope, Bibi Dong, is my friend, and the Eighth Worshipper is a close friend too. Once they realize I'm missing, they'll come looking for me!"

"Hmph! You think we're afraid of the mere Spirit Hall? The clan leader said to teach you a lesson..."

"Aah!"