Under Qian Renxue's lead, the two passed through streets and alleys until they reached an academy.
At the sight of it, Yu Tianlong seemed to think of something. He simply looked at Qian Renxue without speaking.
Qian Renxue smiled, then reached out and took Yu Tianlong's hand.
"What, scared?"
Yu Tianlong still said nothing. It was not fear or anything like that; he simply did not want to see anyone connected to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan right now!
Qian Renxue naturally noticed his reluctance.
"Actually, I didn't want to bring you here either, but there's something I want you to know."
At those words, Yu Tianlong was a little puzzled.
"What is it?"
"Actually, your aunt Liu Erlong has been searching for you ever since she learned you were driven out of the clan."
"She caused quite a stir in Heaven Dou City back then. It only stopped when your second grandfather, Yu Luomian, stepped in."
Yu Tianlong took a deep breath and looked at Qian Renxue with utter seriousness.
"Aren't you afraid that doing this will make me return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"
Qian Renxue smiled.
"No, because you're not the sort of person who could suffer such humiliation and still not care."
"We haven't spent much time together, but I can tell you have a lot of pride. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been so decisive about severing ties with the clan back then!"
"Besides, aren't I your big sister? Naturally, I should tell you about things that concern you!"
After hearing Qian Renxue's explanation, Yu Tianlong felt a little more at ease.
To be honest, it would have been a lie to say he did not care. After all, he knew Liu Erlong did not really count as a member of the clan either.
However, Liu Erlong's relationship with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was very delicate, the sort where even a broken leg still had bones connecting it.
But his situation was different.
He had completely cut off those family ties. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had treated him that way and erased his parents' and grandfather's contributions.
Heh.
But then he thought of Liu Erlong's reaction after he went missing. Although he had barely interacted with her, he recalled that she had been on fairly good terms with his father and mother.
After hesitating for a moment, Yu Tianlong decided to see her.
However, if she tried to persuade him to return, that was absolutely out of the question.
"Fine, I'll go see her with you. Satisfied now?"
Qian Renxue sighed. This little brother she had taken as her own was good in every way, except that he was a little too clever.
It seemed as though he could tell whatever she was thinking.
Still, Qian Renxue wanted to make certain one last time.
Her secret was far too important. Although Qian Renxue treated Yu Tianlong very well, there were still things she did not dare let him know without first clearing certain matters up.
Most importantly, Qian Renxue feared that this was a smokescreen or bait put out by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
But now, it seemed that was probably not the case.
"Little Brother Xiaolong, I admit I have some other considerations, but what I said is true too. Your aunt Liu Erlong really has been looking for you all this time."
Yu Tianlong nodded. In fact, if he were in her place, he would not trust someone else completely either.
He could understand Qian Renxue.
Not wanting to dwell on the matter any longer, Yu Tianlong walked up to the academy entrance and examined it carefully.
Blue Tyrant Academy's gatehouse actually looked much like Heaven Dou City's city gate. Although it was much less substantial, the entrance beneath it was indeed ten meters high.
The gatehouse, carved from white marble, could not be called lavish, but it was imposing. Eight large gilded characters adorned it: Blue Tyrant Advanced Soul Master Academy.
At the sight of it, Yu Tianlong gave a self-mocking smile.
"Once a person dies, their lamp goes out; once a tree falls, the monkeys scatter. They really are masters of treating people differently!"
Double standards!
Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang had done something that disgraced the family, yet it could simply be let go because one was the clan leader's son and the other was his younger brother's illegitimate daughter.
But what about him?
A single shop?
What a joke!
Seeing Yu Tianlong like this, Qian Renxue said nothing more. She merely stayed silently beside him as they walked into the academy together.
When the academy's gatekeeper saw that it was "Xue Qinghe," he did not stop them, though he still made a routine inquiry.
"May I ask what brings Your Highness the Crown Prince to Blue Tyrant Academy?"
Qian Renxue answered with a smile.
"I have important matters to discuss with your dean. Lead the way!"
The gatekeeper did not dare refuse. After giving his colleague beside him a few instructions, he immediately stepped in front of Yu Tianlong and Qian Renxue and respectfully led the way.
Once inside Blue Tyrant Academy, everything gave an impression of grandeur.
A broad path led straight into the grounds, with stretches of woodland on either side. At its end, they could see a large sports field over two hundred meters in diameter, surrounded by a ring of three-story buildings.
In a fawning manner, the gatekeeper also introduced the facilities to "Xue Qinghe" and Yu Tianlong, explaining that these three-story buildings included mimicry cultivation environments, student dormitories, and teaching buildings.
Blue Tyrant Academy had been built in the middle of a forest.
Beyond the teaching buildings, all the remaining grounds were forest.
It was said to be the largest expanse of vegetation in all of Heaven Dou City.
With a forest like this inside the capital, who would dare say Blue Tyrant Academy had no backing?
The gatekeeper led them all into a building with a pointed roof. It looked sturdier than any other building in the academy, and inside was a spacious, empty hall.
There were actually no partitions dividing it into rooms.
Light streamed through the windows on every side, making the interior exceptionally bright.
The floor was paved with granite, while the walls were merely whitewashed, without any decoration.
After entering, the gatekeeper found a teacher and spoke directly to him.
"Teacher Yin Shu, His Highness the Crown Prince wishes to see the dean. Please lead the way!"
Seeing that it was Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, Yin Shu naturally did not dare neglect him.
He immediately stepped forward and came up to the two of them.
"Your Highness, allow me to lead the way from here!"
Qian Renxue nodded.
Leaving the pointed-roof building, they followed a small path beside it toward the rear of the academy.
Soon, they entered the forest beyond the main campus.
After walking for about ten minutes, the three were making their way through the fresh forest air when a faint strand of singing suddenly drifted from ahead.
The voice was melodious and moving, lingering with sorrow and longing, like weeping and pleading, making the listener's heart ache.
The melody wound back upon itself, incomparably gentle and beautiful.
"Unable to sleep at night, what can numb me?
My heart is in such turmoil, afraid of love's betrayal.
On the verge of tears, I'm like a child who's lost the way.
A child who's lost the way."
The singing quietly faded. Upon hearing it, Yu Tianlong nearly laughed aloud.
It was not for any other reason. He simply felt that the women on the Douluo Continent really were so easy to fool!
Was every last one of them really love-brained?
Could they not live without a woman or a man?