As soon as those words were spoken, Ah Zhu's attention turned to Yu Luomian. She asked, "How come I've never heard that the Grand Elder has a daughter?"
Ordinary maidservants naturally wouldn't dare to speak out, but Ah Zhu was different. She was someone the sect had cultivated with priority and was the personal attendant of the young sect master.
Her status was similar to Ah Zhu from Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils, who served Murong Fu. Naturally, she had the right to converse with someone like Yu Luomian.
However, Yu Luomian was now drenched in cold sweat—how did this brat know he had a daughter with a woman of the red-light district?
Still, Yu Luomian was over seventy years old. After a brief moment of panic, he quickly calmed down.
Looking at the curious gazes of the two, he let out a long sigh and said, "You want to ask why I had a daughter out of wedlock and didn't bring her back to the sect, even though she has good talent, right?"
Although Yu Tianming already knew the story, he nodded along with Ah Zhu.
Yu Luomian's old face turned red. After pausing for a moment, he said quietly, "Don't be fooled by me still being a Soul Saint at seventy. Back when I was thirty, I was already a Soul King. I was young and reckless then. Aside from cultivation, I spent my time in Heaven Dou City chasing women."
"I frequently saw a courtesan surnamed Liu. When I returned to Heaven Dou after some travels, I found she was pregnant with my child."
"Since I was second-born, my childhood name was Erlong. She used that to name the child 'Erlong.' I was the son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's patriarch, yet I had a child with a courtesan. I was afraid this would bring shame to the clan, so I didn't dare bring her back. I let the child take her mother's surname and supported them secretly outside the sect for years."
Yu Luomian glanced at Yu Tianming again and said, "Just like you, Liu Erlong awakened a mutated martial soul. The Lightning element mutated into something similar to flame, though it still bore the bloodline of the dragon. It's not as powerful as yours, but it's far from weak. She has outstanding talent—reached Soul Emperor before she was forty. Honestly, she's my most gifted child."
"I planned to bring her back to the sect once she reached the Soul Emperor rank. But two years ago, she sent me word that she was getting married. I rushed over to attend the wedding—only to find the man she was marrying was that useless Yu Xiaogang!"
Yu Luomian wasn't upset because the two were cousins. In large clans like theirs, marriages between cousins were common to preserve martial soul inheritance. What angered him was that Yu Xiaogang, a waste with innate soul power of only half a rank, was unworthy of his precious daughter.
At the mention of Yu Xiaogang, Yu Luomian clenched his fists tightly, eyes blazing with rage. "Of course I couldn't allow their marriage. But when I brought Erlong back to the sect, she threatened to die if she couldn't be with that trash. So, hardly anyone in the clan even knows she's my daughter."
"That Yu Xiaogang—good-for-nothing smooth-talker! I treated him so well, and he had the nerve to deceive my daughter!"
Yu Luomian had always treated Yu Xiaogang well. Even when the entire sect looked down on him, Yu Luomian remained one of his closest supporters (as Yu Xiaogang himself admitted in Chapter 229 of the original novel).
The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. He roared, "It's lucky that Yu Xiaogang vanished—if I ever see him again, I'll skin him alive!"
Seeing Yu Luomian so furious, Yu Tianming didn't dare mention that Yu Xiaogang was currently in Nuoding City. Not out of concern for Yu Xiaogang, but because without that scammer teacher, Tang San might never get his beast-type spirit ring boost.
When Yu Luomian finally relaxed his clenched fists, Yu Tianming asked, "Our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is short on core strength right now. What if I ask Great-Grandfather to bring Aunt Erlong back into the sect?"
"Big Brother might not agree... Erlong doesn't come from a good background, and she doesn't have a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul," Yu Luomian replied with hesitation.
"It's okay. I'll convince Great-Grandfather. Aunt's cultivation is impressive—he'll definitely agree."
Yu Luomian added, "Many of our sect's disciples go to Thunderclap Academy for training. I recently helped Erlong establish a new academy—Blue Tyrant Academy. It could become directly managed by our sect. But the academy was just founded, so she can't leave right now."
Yu Tianming finally saw through him. This old man clearly wasn't in a rush to reveal Liu Erlong's identity. But he still wanted to meet her—maybe check out the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well near Heaven Dou City while he was at it.
So he pressed on, "Whether it's now or later, this has to be faced eventually. Better to act decisively and settle it now. Once you recognize her, she can also manage the academy openly. Hardly anyone knows she's your daughter right now. If word gets out and you admit it later, it'll be embarrassing."
Hearing this, Yu Luomian fell silent for a while before saying, "I don't even know if Erlong is willing to come back with me."
That was all Yu Tianming needed to hear. With a smile, he comforted him, "Then I'll bring Great-Grandfather with me to speak with Aunt. If she's unwilling, we won't force her."
Yu Luomian, filled with worry, nodded. The carriage then fell into a long silence.
…
The group traveled for several days and finally neared the Star Dou Great Forest. Seeing that night was approaching and a small town was just ahead, Yu Luomian ordered everyone to rest.
Upon entering the town, Yu Tianming was surprised to find it much livelier than expected. It was almost the size of a small city, with shops lining the streets, selling all sorts of goods.
On closer inspection, most of the shops catered to soul masters—weapon stores, armor shops, antidote and recovery potion sellers, and even clothing stores offering specialized outfits with numerous pockets, ideal for soul master expeditions.
He couldn't help but sigh, "So this is what they mean by living off the mountain or water. This town clearly relies on the Star Dou Great Forest. I imagine there are many such towns around the forest."
Ah Zhu looked surprised. "But isn't it still nearly a hundred kilometers from the Star Dou Great Forest? Isn't that kind of far?"
Yu Luomian explained, "You've only been to forests with captive soul beasts. Those beasts are docile and rarely attack humans. The Star Dou Great Forest is different—its beasts are wild and aggressive. Some even venture beyond the forest's borders. If towns were too close, they'd constantly be in danger from beast hordes."
Yu Tianming nodded with a smile. Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. He'd spent nearly a decade in the sect—it was about time he got out to see the world. Not only could he admire different landscapes, he could also learn many useful things.
At that moment, Yu Luomian pointed to a fine-looking hotel in the town center. "Let's stay here for the night. We'll head out again early tomorrow."
(End of Chapter)
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