On another front, Liu Erlong, seeing Su Ming mention the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in his diary, felt a pang of worry. With her unique insights from the diary, she hoped that Su Ming wouldn't end up as an enemy of her clan. Unfortunately, things already seemed to be heading in that direction due to Yu Tianheng's actions.
However, she saw a glimmer of hope. Back when Yu Tianheng informed Yu Yuanzhen, he'd only taken his most trusted followers, without involving Yu Luomian. Her father had no idea what Yu Yuanzhen was up to; he only knew it was something important.
It was during her recent visit to the clan that she managed to confirm this. It was her first time returning in years, surprising her father, who hadn't expected it. She cautiously probed him, and while Yu Luomian wasn't sure why she was asking, he divulged the little he knew. He hadn't been involved and wasn't privy to the details but recalled that Yu Yuanzhen had returned in a dark mood with everyone else in tow.
Liu Erlong breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, her father, whose power was lower, had not been involved. While Yu Yuanzhen and her father were brothers, they each had their own faction, making them more rivals than allies in the clan.
She shared her discoveries with her father, albeit selectively, hoping to prevent him from harboring any ill intentions toward Su Ming. To ensure he wouldn't take things the wrong way, she even claimed a friendship with Su Ming, saying they'd met by chance and become friends.
Though Yu Luomian was initially intrigued by the treasures Su Ming possessed, especially given Su Ming's young age and Soul Ancestor status, he reconsidered. After all, Su Ming had escaped his brother's blockade unscathed. Power and resources belong to those capable of wielding them; he recognized his limits and noted that Erlong claimed a connection with Su Ming. Whether it was true or not, he resolved to make it a reality.
To reinforce her point, Liu Erlong revealed her Soul Douluo-level strength, explaining that she owed her progress to Su Ming's help. Seeing his daughter reach this level so quickly astonished Yu Luomian. He'd expected her to be a high-level Soul Sage, not a Soul Douluo.
For all his adherence to clan laws that had kept Liu Erlong isolated for so long, Yu Luomian had quietly kept tabs on her, even blocking her potential marriage to Yu Xiaogang. He'd felt she was doing well enough from afar. Uniting with her cousin, Yu Xiaogang, would have been disastrous!
A mixture of guilt over the past and clear-headed logic steeled Yu Luomian against the lure of Su Ming's treasures.
With this mindset, he told Liu Erlong, "Erlong, even if I wasn't directly involved, I'm still part of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. While you say Su Ming is trustworthy, we should still act with caution. Find a chance to reconnect with Su Ming and convey our sincerity."
Liu Erlong nodded; she'd planned to do so anyway. But her father's initiative surprised her. "But father," she hesitated, "Su Ming is already closely aligned with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is likely investing resources in him. What could we possibly offer?"
The question gave Yu Luomian pause. Erlong was right; Su Ming wanted for nothing. Then he thought of something he'd recently acquired, initially intended as a gesture of reparation for Liu Erlong.
He turned to her, his tone serious. "Erlong, are you confident you can foster a connection with Su Ming, or better yet, become part of his circle?"
Liu Erlong didn't fully understand his gravity, but she responded firmly, "I'm confident. I can integrate myself into his circle." Pausing, she added, "Father, I vouch for Su Ming. He's absolutely reliable, and his talent is unmatched. He's twelve and already a Soul Ancestor, and he managed to escape from the clan leader himself. If you trust me, let's take a chance on Su Ming and show him our goodwill. I believe we won't regret it."
Yu Luomian listened to her impassioned words and, after a long silence, made up his mind. "Alright. Wait here a moment." He went back to his room, unlocked a hidden compartment, and took out a precious treasure he'd kept stored away.