Yu Yuanzhen's arrival quickly drew the attention of everyone at Shrek Academy. However, since family matters were still unresolved, Flender sent the children back to their rooms.
Only Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong remained in the room, standing obediently before Yu Yuanzhen like two children who had done something wrong.
"Erlong, it's been so many years since you left home. You should find time to go back and visit. Luo Mian often thinks of you," Yu Yuanzhen said with a gentle smile as he looked at Liu Erlong.
Hearing Yu Yuanzhen mention her first, Liu Erlong's heart trembled.
But the resentment accumulated over the years wasn't so easily dispelled. Suppressing her discomfort, she lowered her head and softly replied, "Thank you for your concern, Uncle. But Erlong has grown accustomed to her current life and doesn't wish to trouble Father by returning."
"Ah, you child!"
Yu Yuanzhen's smile faded slightly as he shook his head. "I've watched you grow up since you were young, and I know your temperament. But you and Xiaogang are no longer children. It's time to change and stop acting so willfully."
"Is that all you came here to say, Uncle?"
Liu Erlong raised her eyebrows and suddenly looked up at Yu Yuanzhen. "You know that Xiaogang and I are not children anymore. Why can't you let us live according to our own wishes?"
"Erlong!" Yu Xiaogang glanced at Yu Yuanzhen, whose expression was gradually changing, and quickly turned to scold Liu Erlong.
Then he addressed Yu Yuanzhen, "Father, Tianheng must have already told you about our current situation. Your coming here means you've already made up your mind. Why must you make things difficult for Erlong?"
"Am I making things difficult for her? I'm doing this for her own good! You always think you've suffered so much, but have you ever considered how we, as fathers, feel?"
Seeing that Yu Xiaogang seemed to be speaking up for Liu Erlong but was actually defending himself, Yu Yuanzhen's anger flared. He slammed the table and said, "Do you know how people have been whispering about your uncle and me all these years?"
"In-laws!"
"Listen to these two affectionate words. How do you feel about that?" Yu Yuanzhen finished, his sharp gaze fixed on Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong.
Upon hearing the word "in-laws," both Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong turned pale.
Especially Yu Xiaogang, who valued his pride. Being humiliated so directly by his father's words, he wished he could disappear into the ground.
The air in the room seemed to freeze.
After a long while, Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and said, "I understand. From now on, I will keep my distance from Erlong. If there's nothing else, you should go back."
"Xiaogang!"
Liu Erlong panicked and grabbed Yu Xiaogang's arm. "Let them say what they want. Can't we just live our own lives? Why should we care about their opinions?"
Yu Xiaogang seemed not to hear her, his gaze fixed on Yu Yuanzhen. "If there's nothing else, Father, I'll take my leave."
"Stop right there!" Yu Yuanzhen's eyes flashed like lightning, momentarily freezing Yu Xiaogang in place, unable to move.
"Tianheng told me about what you've been through. On my way here, I also learned about the recent changes in Heavenly Dou City."
Yu Yuanzhen looked at his son and niece, ultimately unable to harden his heart: "Actually, as your friend Flender said, leaving Heavenly Dou now is the wise choice.
But I know you're unwilling to give up, and I know you've always wanted to prove yourself. Fine, even if it costs me my old life, I'll help you this once."
Yu Yuanzhen paused slightly here, not speaking harshly but stopping at just the right point: "However, you must also consider the dignity of the sect."
"I understand," Yu Xiaogang nodded stiffly, ignoring Liu Erlong's attempts to stop him, and walked out of the room without looking back.
"Uncle, are you really here to help us?" Liu Erlong asked, tears in her eyes, her voice choked with emotion.
"Who else can help him but me?" Yu Yuanzhen sighed. "Erlong, if you were a branch family member, no matter how close our blood ties, I wouldn't stand in your way. But you're Luo Mian's daughter."
Yu Yuanzhen sighed with a hint of emotion: "You know Xiaogang's situation. Not only is he unwilling to accept it, but I've also been unable to swallow this grievance all these years!"
"Now he wants to prove himself, and isn't that exactly what I've hoped to see?"
Yu Yuanzhen stood up and walked over to Liu Erlong, patting her shoulder: "Erlong, if you truly wish for Xiaogang's well-being, then stay away from him."
As she was left alone in the room, Liu Erlong could no longer hold back her tears and broke down sobbing.
...…
"Uncle, where are we going?"
At midnight, three extremely ordinary carriages quietly left Heavenly Dou City.
Inside one of the carriages, Xue Beng looked out at the scenery with confusion.
"Your father's illness came too suddenly and too strangely. In just three days, he's already lost the ability to speak. I suspect this might be the Crown Prince's doing."
Prince Xue Xing, reading a letter, didn't look up as he spoke: "We'll go to the Kingdom of Balak to lay low for now. If we confirm there's no danger, we'll return."
Xue Beng shivered at the thought of Xue Qinghe's methods. He suddenly recalled how the second and third princes had died under mysterious circumstances.
Xue Beng swallowed hard. "Uncle, what if my father suddenly... passes during this time?"
"Don't worry, I've already contacted other important officials. If your father's death is indeed suspicious, they'll support you just as I will," Prince Xue Xing said, gathering the letters and storing them in his Soul Guiding Device.
Hearing this, Xue Beng's anxious heart calmed somewhat. Over the years, Prince Xue Xing's support had given him more confidence in the future.
"Uncle, are we almost there?" Xue Beng regained his confidence, his spirits lifting as he looked out at the scenery receding into the night.
"What?" Prince Xue Xing was startled, then glanced out the window, his expression changing abruptly: "Guards! Guards!"
Prince Xue Xing's repeated calls received no response, and the carriage slowly came to a halt.
"I wonder who you are, sir. Do we have any grievances?"
Hearing no response from the other carriages or his own driver, Prince Xue Xing's face turned pale.
He forced a calm demeanor and spoke to the window: "If you're willing to let us go, I'm willing to offer you twenty million Gold Soul Coins as a tribute, and from now on, I'll provide you with a substantial annual sum for your enjoyment."
Over the years, Prince Xue Xing had secretly gathered many skilled individuals, including numerous experts at levels fifty to sixty. Although the departure from the city was rushed, he had brought along everyone he could.
The coachman of his carriage had a Soul Power of level sixty-nine, just one step away from becoming a Soul Saint.
Now, in the dead of night, all these people suddenly fell silent. Prince Xue Xing knew that his and Xue Beng's lives were hanging by a thread, at the mercy of the other party's whim.
"Alas..."
For a long time, there was no response in the darkness. Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng were extremely tense, until their eyelids suddenly grew heavier and heavier. As they closed their eyes, they faintly heard a sigh.
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