Yu Tianheng, Like a Clown

After a moment of silence, Yu Luomian spoke.

"Hmph, I never expected an old poison like you to have a day when you'd stand up for someone else. Fine, I'll give you this much face. Erlong, since you're Xiao Yu's teacher, teach him well and give him the best resources. If there's something you don't have but he needs, come find me anytime! I'll help you immediately!"

Yu Luomian, who had always yielded to softness but not force, had actually relented. Both Liu Erlong and Dugu Bo were inwardly astonished.

Liu Erlong even instinctively wanted to say something, but forcibly held herself back.

Dugu Bo merely watched Yu Luomian in silence. Experienced as he was, he knew that anything abnormal had to have a reason. But where was the catch?!

For a moment, Dugu Bo could not see through Yu Luomian's intentions. He inwardly sighed, having never expected Yu Luomian, who always presented himself as hot-tempered, to possess such a sly old fox's side.

Taking in the subtle expressions on Dugu Bo and Liu Erlong's faces, Yu Luomian gave a faint laugh before turning to Yu Tianheng.

"Let's go, Tianheng. We're heading back."

Yu Luomian looked at Yu Tianheng and spoke calmly.

But Yu Tianheng stared fixedly at Xiao Yu before slowly speaking.

"Second Grandfather, can I fight him?!"

Hearing Yu Tianheng's words, Yu Luomian asked in surprise.

"Why?"

"Because I want to prove that I'm more suited for Yan Yan!"

Now that Yu Tianheng had completely fallen for Dugu Yan, how could he possibly watch helplessly as someone stole the girl he loved?

Besides, this was a task his clan had given him. He could not let it fail just like that.

Want to take Yan Yan from him?! Fine—settle it like men and fight!

Hearing that, Yu Luomian was delighted inside.

Not bad. He dared to love and hate—he had a bit of his elder brother's bearing when he was young.

"What do you say, Xiao Yu? Do you dare accept the challenge?! It's fine if you don't. After all, you're only a Soul Master, while Tianheng has already obtained his second soul ring."

Out of consideration for Liu Erlong, Yu Luomian did not dare press Xiao Yu too hard.

Thus, he only asked symbolically.

Yet when they heard that Yu Tianheng wanted to duel Xiao Yu, before Xiao Yu could speak, Dugu Yan and Liu Erlong could no longer hold back.

"Yu Tianheng, I have nothing to do with you, so stop pestering me! If you want to fight, fight me! Xiao Yu, don't listen to him. He's a madman!!"

"Tianheng, you've gone too far. Xiao Yu is only a Soul Master, and his martial soul isn't even as strong as yours. How can he fight you?"

Yu Tianheng gave no response to their questioning. He only looked at Xiao Yu, staring at him intently.

At that moment, he was waiting only for Xiao Yu's answer.

At the same time, he was also seeking an answer for himself. As long as Xiao Yu dared refuse, that would be enough.

Born into the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, everything Yu Tianheng possessed and obtained far surpassed those of his peers. He had also received endless praise, admiration, and trust. This had given the young Yu Tianheng a belief: as long as he wanted something, he could achieve it! Among those his age, absolutely no one could compare to him.

But when he saw that his aunt, the girl he loved, and even the grandfather of that girl—the grandfather he did not even dare meet—all showered such praise upon someone younger than himself, he felt jealousy, envy, resentment, and, above all, refusal to accept it!

Especially when he saw that even his Second Grandfather had changed his opinion of Xiao Yu, that unwillingness only grew stronger.

Therefore, he simply wanted to see what Xiao Yu looked like when he admitted defeat.

He wanted to see what this boy, who had been praised to the heavens, looked like after falling from the clouds.

Faced with this situation, Xiao Yu slowly stepped forward and spoke with a cold expression.

"I accept your challenge. But let me make this clear first: the reason I'm accepting this utterly meaningless challenge is not because I want to compete for Sister Yan Yan's hand in something as ridiculous as this.

"Sister Yan Yan is a person, not a commodity. No matter which of us wins today, her future will be decided by herself, not by this laughable duel.

"The main reason I chose to accept this match is simple. If I win today, then stop pestering Sister Yan Yan in the future. Whatever she wants to do and whoever she likes have nothing to do with you.

"Unless Sister Yan Yan truly falls for you someday, please stop disrupting her life whenever you please. That would be better for you, for your sect, for Sister Yan Yan, for His Excellency Dugu, for Teacher Erlong, and for your Second Grandfather.

"The martial world is not simply about victory or defeat, nor is it purely black and white. Refusing to let go will only backfire. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is indeed powerful, but the greater one's reputation, the heavier one's shackles. Don't let a moment of youthful impulsiveness leave you spending the rest of your life in regret and remorse."

"..."

After Xiao Yu finished speaking, everyone present fell silent.

Though their ages and perspectives differed, everyone who heard his words nevertheless sank into thought.

Dugu Yan looked at Xiao Yu with eyes full of tenderness and delight. His reason for stepping forward had actually been to stop Yu Tianheng from bothering her. Those words had directly captured Dugu Yan's heart.

That was right. She was not a commodity; she was a person. What she hated most was a life controlled by others, yet aside from her grandfather, Xiao Yu—whom she had only known for one day—had actually understood that.

After hearing those words, Liu Erlong, Yu Luomian, and Dugu Bo all looked at Xiao Yu with grave, earnest expressions.

They had not expected Xiao Yu to speak such words at such a young age.

Yu Luomian in particular, after hearing words like martial world, shackles, and reputation,

could not help repeatedly savoring Xiao Yu's words in his heart.

Xiao Yu was right. The greater one's reputation, the heavier one's shackles.

As the second-in-command of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he felt that deeply.

Not to mention Spirit Hall, which had the most Soul Masters—just Clear Sky Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were both considerably stronger than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Even though Clear Sky Sect had sealed itself away, they had merely expelled Tang Hao.

Expulsion did not mean death.

At that moment, Yu Luomian could not help sighing inwardly.

Why wasn't this kid a disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? If he were, then with those words and his talent combined, he would absolutely be a strong contender for the next sect master!

Tianheng and Yu Tianxin were simply worlds apart despite being the same age.

Yu Luomian then looked at Yu Tianheng with a complicated expression.

Just from those words alone,

that boy Tianheng had already lost before even making a move.

Yu Tianheng was completely stunned after hearing those words.

He had never expected Xiao Yu to say something like that.

As a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he naturally possessed some insight.

Thus, after hearing words that so thoroughly defied the ideas of this era,

he did not know how to respond.

Compared to Xiao Yu, everything he had just thought and wanted seemed like the behavior of a clown unfit for the stage.

Could he force the fight? He could, but did he still have the confidence to strike now, when he himself was like a clown?