Chapter 54: Tang San

However, to Yu Tianyun's surprise, Yu Yuanzhen did not reach out to take the jade box he handed over.

Yu Tianyun looked at Yu Yuanzhen, full of confusion, the meaning in his gaze was self‑evident.

Cough—cough!

Seeing the doubt in Yu Tianyun's eyes, Yu Yuanzhen's expression became slightly unnatural, and he let out a light cough, saying:

"Tianyun! You don't understand your second uncle's temperament; his nature is extremely stubborn."

"Stubborn?"

Yu Tianyun raised an eyebrow and said:

"Grandpa, no matter how stubborn Uncle Xiao Gang is, could he still defy you?"

Yu Yuanzhen's expression instantly stiffened, as if recalling something unpleasant, and he said awkwardly:

"Your second uncle's temperament is indeed overly stubborn, and I'm reluctant to strike him, just as I'm reluctant to strike you. Grandfather, I truly have no way to handle him! He once said he would only return after proving himself, so in these thirteen years he has never come back, let alone accept the sect's assistance."

Regarding the first half of Yu Yuanzhen's words, Yu Tianyun couldn't help feeling speechless, thinking to himself: "Reluctant to hit me? Last time I said 'old man' and almost got beaten."

As for the latter half, Yu Tianyun wore a face of disbelief and internally complained:

"We're hurrying to give Yu Xiao Gang the medicinal herbs, yet he might still refuse? How is that possible? If we give him herbs to help his breakthrough, could he still turn it down? Then he'd be stuck as a Level 29 Great Soul Master his whole life, never getting ahead! Could he really refuse? Could he be that stubborn?"

Yu Yuanzhen naturally saw the expression on Yu Tianyun's face, nodded and said: "Don't doubt it; your second uncle is indeed that stubborn!"

Since Yu Xiao Gang has such backbone, what more is there to say!

Yu Tianyun put away the herbs and prepared to leave; after all, he had been missing for two years and still had many matters to attend to, saying:

"Grandpa, if you have nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

"Don't be so quick to leave!"

Yu Yuanzhen's hand shot out at lightning speed; the hand speed of a Level 98 Title Douluo was something Yu Tianyun couldn't possibly react to, and his shoulder was instantly pinned.

Grandpa wouldn't let him go, so Yu Tianyun turned back and said: "Grandpa, didn't you say Uncle would definitely refuse our help? Then why are we still wasting effort here?"

"Who said Xiao Gang would definitely refuse?"

Yu Yuanzhen grew a bit impatient, raising his voice low: "I only said your second uncle might refuse, not that he definitely will. After all, he's not a fool; when a rare chance to break through a bottleneck and continue cultivation appears, how could he stubbornly choose to refuse and willingly spend his life as a Level 29 waste!"

Yu Tianyun, bewildered by the old man's maneuver, said bluntly: "Sir! What exactly are you planning? Speak plainly! I still need to hurry and find your granddaughter‑in‑law!"

Seeing the conversation reach this point, Yu Yuanzhen stopped rambling and laid his cards on the table: "I intend for you to make a trip, deliver the herbs to him, and get him back to the sect. Only Xiao Feng and I know about the herbs you carry, and they're not sect resources, so consider it a gift from nephew to uncle!"

Yu Tianyun was stunned: send him to find Yu Xiao Gang? He isn't close to Yu Xiao Gang, he has no reason to go. What would he say there? A grand reunion? Too awkward!

Yu Tianyun couldn't help but say:

"Grandpa, you could personally take the herbs and bring Uncle back! Or let my father go, Uncle will definitely return!"

Yu Yuanzhen's voice deepened:

"No. If Xiao Feng and I go, your uncle will definitely refuse; the one he most doesn't want to see is me and your father." Yu Tianyun's expression instantly turned speechless; he didn't know what to say. How could his uncle, already fifty, still be as rebellious as a teenage boy? Could he withstand Yu Yuanzhen's 'fatherly love as a mountain'?

But when he saw Yu Yuanzhen's tightly knit brows and helpless eyes, Yu Tianyun understood that his second uncle might indeed be like that.

Yu Tianyun still didn't want to make the trip; his plan was simple: head to Suotuo City's Shilake Xueyuan, lie in wait for Ning Rongrong, then bring his wife back; he didn't want to be stuck there waiting for Yu Xiao Gang.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up; he recalled that Yu Xiao Gang went to the Shilake Xueyuan after Tang San.

Near Nuoding City, where Yu Xiao Gang is now, there is a great opportunity! — Tang San's mother's soul bone!

And Tang Hao must be by Tang San's side, offering plenty of leeway! Consider it on the way: first go to Nuoding City to find the soul bone, then deliver the herbs to Yu Xiao Gang, and quickly bring Rongrong back!

Alright! That's the decision.

Just as Yu Tianyun decided to answer his grandfather, Yu Yuanzhen pressed both hands firmly on his shoulder, eyes pleading: "Tianyun, consider this a request from your grandfather!"

Yu Yuanzhen perhaps thought that, as Yu Tianyun's grandfather, lowering his status and showing a pitiful expression to plead, Yu Tianyun would certainly be unable to resist.

But in fact, Yu Tianyun truly couldn't resist; however, he was already about to agree, so it wasn't Yu Yuanzhen's moral blackmail.

Seeing Yu Yuanzhen's face full of wrinkles still acting cute, Yu Tianyun's goosebumps rose; he couldn't stand it and quickly agreed:

"Alright, Grandpa, I agree. Please don't act like that; I'll set out tomorrow, give the herbs to Uncle, and persuade him to return to the sect."

"But if Uncle is set on refusing, should I, Grandpa, knock him out and carry him back?"

Upon hearing the first half of Yu Tianyun's words, Yu Yuanzhen's expression instantly shifted from gloom to bright, but hearing the latter half, he pretended to be angry and said:

"You brat, no big or small—he's your uncle! Rest assured, he won't refuse you. During the time you were born, Xiao Gang went through something unknown, becoming quite gloomy, but every time he sees you he smiles; he clearly likes you. If you bring him back, he certainly won't refuse."

Yu Yuanzhen's words made Yu Tianyun involuntarily recall his childhood, but he truly had no clear memory.

Enough, no more overthinking; after all, they're his own kin, and he plans to go there anyway, both to gain an opportunity and to please his grandfather. With that in mind, Yu Tianyun asked directly: "Grandpa, Uncle Xiao Gang is still in Nuoding City, right?"

Yu Yuanzhen hurriedly replied:

"Hmm, Xiao Gang is indeed in Nuoding City now, but you must go quickly; as far as I know, he may leave Nuoding City soon, his disciple is about to enter the Advanced Soul Master Academy, and he'll likely go with him."

Yu Tianyun stroked his chin, "Tang San? I have no idea how much strength I'd need to strike him now." On the way back, his mind kept fantasizing about the upcoming tasks:

"Tang San! I don't want to either!"

"I just helped your teacher a huge favor; shouldn't you thank me at least!"

"Then I'll shamelessly take your mother's soul bone!"

"Don't worry, I'll take very gentle care of your mother!"

"I guarantee it with my own character!"

(End of chapter)