My Future Father-in-Law, Please Have a Seat

Before Yu Yuanzhen could carry out his plan to visit Spirit Hall, the reason for Yu Xiaogang's injuries arrived.

?

Yu Yuanzhen frowned. Even with all he had seen, learning what Yu Xiaogang had done made his toes curl with embarrassment and left him uncomfortable all over.

"Xiaogang actually did that?" Yu Yuanzhen hesitated, but things had already come to this. He could only shake his head and clear the stray thoughts from his mind.

At this point, whether Yu Xiaogang had been wronged no longer mattered.

What the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect needed now was an apology from Spirit Hall.

The pride of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect could not be trampled.

Yu Xiaogang? He was merely incidental.

Spirit Hall's power was growing by the day.

It had more than twenty Titled Douluo on record alone.

How could sects and clans like the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, or even the imperial dynasties, not feel fear and unease?

A colossal behemoth stood before every sect and clan.

That giant beast did its utmost to show its kindness and goodwill.

But a giant beast was still a giant beast. Its fangs, sharp claws, and massive body all proclaimed its danger.

Those outside our faction must harbor different intentions.

As the head of a great clan, he knew that allowing Spirit Hall to continue growing would deal a fatal blow to people like them.

The interests, status, and privileges of the nobility would be destroyed.

Spirit Hall stood on a road diametrically opposed to theirs.

The signs were already showing as the number of high-level Soul Masters continued to rise.

The standing of the great clans grew ever more precarious.

After all, any high-level Soul Master could establish a new family or faction.

And the reason so many high-level Soul Masters had emerged was Spirit Hall's comprehensive support.

They built Spirit Halls in every city and village, then sent Soul Masters with Awakening Stones across every corner of Douluo Continent each year to awaken the Martial Souls of commoner children.

With awakening so widespread, more talented commoners were bound to join the ranks of Soul Masters, a nobility that had once stood far above them.

The realm of Soul Masters, once forever beyond their reach, was now readily attainable.

Once those commoners escaped the oppression of the nobles, equality and freedom would naturally take root and sprout in the hearts of commoner Soul Masters.

From then on, the nobles would no longer stand above everyone else.

The commoners knew their own descendants might also become Soul Masters.

Once something was within reach, its mystique would fade.

And as the force behind this policy, Spirit Hall would naturally become the institution that commoners and Soul Masters truly believed in and trusted.

As long as the nobles existed, they would forever stand opposed to Spirit Hall.

They would become obstacles Spirit Hall was bound to clear from its path of future growth.

"Xiaogang, don't blame your father. Everything is for the interests of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, for the glory of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect."

Yu Yuanzhen circulated his Soul Power and pulverized the report in his hand.

As though that alone could erase the ugliness of what Yu Xiaogang had done.

"Xiaogang, Xiaogang... From now on, stay with the sect. Only the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect is truly your home."

Yu Yuanzhen gazed toward Spirit City as he spoke. After a long while, he slowly rose into the air and flew swiftly in its direction.

Spirit City, the Papal Hall.

Bibi Dong had also received a report written personally by Deacon Huisinuo.

It recorded everything that had happened when Yu Xiaogang threatened the students.

It dwelt in particular on the words Yu Xiaogang had used to sully the Pope of Spirit Hall's reputation.

It also described how Deacon Huisinuo had dealt with Yu Xiaogang.

Every detail was laid out meticulously and clearly.

Ordinarily, there would have been nothing wrong with such a report.

But Bibi Dong had once been Yu Xiaogang's lover.

Seeing her former beloved boyfriend suffer such injury and humiliation, Bibi Dong slammed her palm down and split the desk in two.

"How dare he hurt Xiaogang like this! Unforgivable! The Spirit Hall in Nuoding City! Huisinuo! You've gone too far, Huisinuo!"

"Guards!"

"Pass down my order. Recall Huisinuo from the Spirit Hall in Nuoding City!"

At Bibi Dong's command, the two guards on duty in the Papal Hall hurried over to receive their orders.

"Yes!"

The two guards had only just straightened up and had yet to turn away when a voice rang out: "Wait!"

An overwhelming pressure bore down on Bibi Dong.

The two guards could not lift their heads beneath it.

Bibi Dong's heart went cold. The aura of death enveloped her.

It was Qian Daoliu.

Bibi Dong panicked for an instant, then quickly calmed herself.

I can't let Qian Daoliu find out about Xiaogang.

Otherwise, Xiaogang will be in danger.

Without betraying anything, Bibi Dong set the report in her hand back on the desk.

Then she dismissed the two guards and met Qian Daoliu's scrutinizing gaze.

"Great Enshrined, what are your instructions?"

Bibi Dong looked composed, without a ripple of emotion or a crack in her defenses. Nothing about her betrayed how furious she had been moments before.

"..."

Qian Daoliu simply watched Bibi Dong in silence.

Time slipped by.

At last, after an unknown length of time, Qian Daoliu spoke.

"Huisinuo is under my protection."

His tone was flat, as if he were remarking on the pleasant weather.

Yet Bibi Dong felt pressure unlike anything she had ever known.

Does Qian Daoliu know?

Impossible!

Qian Daoliu couldn't possibly know about Xiaogang and me.

Bibi Dong forced down her pounding heart. She made herself calm down and steadied her emotions, keeping her voice as even as she could.

"Bishop Huisinuo?" Bibi Dong feigned surprise.

"Great Enshrined, are you referring to the dispute between Bishop Huisinuo and Yu Xiaogang, son of Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect?"

"Yes. That's right."

"Rest assured, Great Enshrined. I will punish the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect severely! I won't disappoint you!"

Bibi Dong spoke with righteous indignation.

Qian Daoliu gave her an odd look but said nothing more.

He turned and left.

Once Qian Daoliu had gone, Bibi Dong let out a breath.

A thin sheen of sweat had soaked the clothes on her back.

If she had not feared that exposing her relationship with Yu Xiaogang would put him in danger, she would not have been so nervous.

Bibi Dong gazed into the distance. Huisinuo had said he had sent Yu Xiaogang back to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

I only hope Xiaogang recovers soon.

With Yu Yuanzhen there, Xiaogang surely won't be hurt again at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.

Perhaps it's for the best. It's all Yu Yuanzhen's fault for being so poor at fathering children. Xiaogang was born with only half a level of innate Soul Power. If he'd had level-nine innate Soul Power—no, even level eight—perhaps we wouldn't have had to hide our love.

Perhaps Qian Xunji wouldn't have... in that secret chamber...

Yes, it's all Yu Yuanzhen's fault.

Speak of the devil.

Yu Yuanzhen had arrived.

A Titled Douluo did not have to go through much ceremony to see the Pope at Spirit Hall.

That was true even of a Titled Douluo who did not belong to Spirit Hall or maintain friendly ties with it.

Once Bibi Dong gave her consent, Yu Yuanzhen strode into the Papal Hall with measured steps.

"Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect pays his respects to His Holiness the Pope," he said casually, his tone haughty.

"Sect Master Yu, it's good to see you again. Please, have a seat."

Bibi Dong smiled warmly. Unlike her deliberately practiced smiles of the past, this one was sincere.

After all, Yu Yuanzhen was the father of Xiaogang, the man she loved.

He was also the person Xiaogang admired most.

Naturally, Bibi Dong could not treat him lightly.

Even if she had been blaming Yu Yuanzhen only moments before.