A Pair of Partners in Crime

"Brother Li, here's the thing!"

"I want to discuss something with you. When we enter Suotuo City and find Dai Mubai to demand the ransom, could you raise the price a little above one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins?"

"As far as I know, the nobles of the Star Luo Empire have been secretly giving Dai Mubai no small amount of support. His birth mother's family in particular has immense wealth and has been supplying him with resources without end. Dai Mubai has far more than one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins at his disposal."

When Zhu Zhuqing finished, she looked at Li Wuyou expectantly.

She had now fallen out with the Nether Duke's Mansion, and Li Wuyou had taken the few thousand Gold Soul Coins she had on her. She had to find a way to get a share for herself, so she could prepare for her future living expenses and cultivation resources.

"Oh! Dai Mubai's birth mother's family?"

"From what you're saying, Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai aren't full brothers with the same mother and father?"

"Interesting. Tell me about it!"

Li Wuyou stroked his chin, lost in thought.

Hearing that there was gossip to be had, his love of a good spectacle instantly flared up.

"Brother Li, what are you thinking? How could Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai possibly be full brothers? They have the same father but different mothers, though their relationship isn't much better for it!"

"If Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai were full brothers, how could the empress of the Star Luo Empire allow her own flesh and blood to slaughter each other? Only princes born to different mothers fit the Star Luo Empire's bloody and brutal rules for succession."

Zhu Zhuqing looked indifferent as she spoke of the Star Luo Imperial Family's secrets, but her eyes were full of coldness.

"Since ancient times, the Star Luo Imperial Family has chosen its crown prince through this kind of survival of the fittest. His Majesty grew up the same way. There is no familial affection between princes, only a struggle for power and position. Dai Weisi, the empress's eldest son, has her family behind him. His influence is vast, and his position as heir is secure."

"Dai Mubai, on the other hand, was born to a noble consort. Back then, he only had the means to contend with Dai Weisi because his birth mother's family supported him in secret. Unfortunately, Dai Mubai was too cowardly and fled the Star Luo Empire overnight."

"Precisely because their birth mothers' families opposed each other and their statuses were so unequal, the struggle for succession only grew more intense, with no room for reconciliation whatsoever. Dai Mubai was able to flee the Star Luo Empire overnight back then in no small part because his birth mother's family helped him in secret."

"His birth mother's family doesn't command troops, but it controls wealth. His maternal grandfather is the Star Luo Empire's minister of revenue, and the family is also a long-established Soul Master clan that has endured in the empire for over a hundred years. Its foundation runs exceptionally deep. The family controls a great many thriving shops and rare mineral veins in the Star Luo Empire, and has long monopolized more than half of the supplies needed for people's daily lives."

"So even after Dai Mubai fled to Suotuo City, his birth mother's family kept sending him large amounts of Gold Soul Coins and cultivation resources every month. One hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins really is an enormous fortune to other people, but to his birth mother's family, it's nothing more than a single hair from nine oxen."

After hearing Zhu Zhuqing reveal all this, Li Wuyou could not help stroking his chin, lost in thought. He seemed to understand what she meant.

"In that case, let's work together!"

"Once we find Dai Mubai, I'll multiply your ransom of one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins several times over. We'll split the extra Gold Soul Coins fifty-fifty."

"Little milk kitten, what do you think of my plan?"

Hearing that he could make another fortune, Li Wuyou treated Zhu Zhuqing a little better. At least he no longer addressed her by name, and even brought out the nickname "little milk kitten" again.

It had to be said, when it came to screwing someone over, it took one of their own!

Just look-Zhu Zhuqing had not only exposed the details of Dai Mubai's birth mother's family, but even knew exactly how much support he received each month.

Jie jie jie, in that case, I won't stand on ceremony!

Dai Mubai, oh Dai Mubai, if you want to blame someone, blame your fiancée in name, Zhu Zhuqing!

"Fine! We'll do as you say, Brother Li!"

"If possible, I hope you can squeeze Dai Mubai for a hefty sum and help me vent some of my anger while you're at it."

Hearing Li Wuyou propose an even split, Zhu Zhuqing's big eyes lit up. Even most of the exhaustion from being pursued by Zhu Zhuyun over this period faded away.

She immediately nodded emphatically, a trace of barely perceptible cunning hidden in her expression as she secretly began working out the numbers.

How much support had Dai Mubai received over the years?

Roughly how much had he spent over those years?

Roughly how many resources had his cultivation consumed?

How much of that support did Dai Mubai have left now?

How much ransom should Li Wuyou demand from Dai Mubai?

How much of a share would she get?

Ten minutes later, the two set off again, leaving the deserted little forest. Looking completely relaxed, Li Wuyou led Zhu Zhuqing straight toward the gates of Suotuo City.

At this point, someone might ask-why didn't the soldiers at Suotuo City's gates arrest Zhu Zhuqing, a spy who was an important figure from the Star Luo Empire?

What a joke! Did you really expect a group of ordinary people to catch a level twenty-seven Soul Grandmaster?

Besides, Soul Masters were the noblest profession on the Douluo Continent. All a Soul Master had to do was release their Soul Rings and Soul Power, and the soldiers at the city gates would not only be too afraid to come forward and question them, but even to collect the entry fee.

And so, Li Wuyou and Zhu Zhuqing swaggered through the gates and headed straight into the bustling, prosperous Suotuo City.

"Brother Li, this is my first time in Suotuo City, and I'm not familiar with the place. I can only rely on you to help me find Dai Mubai!"

At the sight of the bustling streets and the crowds coming and going, Zhu Zhuqing was at a loss for a moment. She had no idea where to begin her search, much less where Dai Mubai was staying.

Before fleeing the Star Luo Empire, she had only managed to gather a few scraps of information. All she knew was that Dai Mubai was hiding in Suotuo City and had joined a Soul Master Academy called Shrek.

But Suotuo City was neither particularly large nor small. Its streets and alleys crisscrossed one another, shops lined the roads, and streams of people came and went without end.

Finding an obscure Shrek Academy and locating Dai Mubai amid this vast sea of people and countless Soul Master Academies would be no different from looking for a needle in the ocean.

Zhu Zhuqing frowned, a hint of helplessness in her eyes as she turned to look at Li Wuyou beside her, placing all her hopes on him.

"Don't worry!"

"I know where Dai Mubai is!"

"Just follow me!"

Li Wuyou nodded and walked ahead to lead the way.

When it came to Dai Mubai and Shrek Academy, he could hardly have been more familiar with them.

In his first fight after arriving in Suotuo City, he had chopped off one of Flender's arms. Later, he felt that he had not been ruthless enough because he lacked combat experience, so he went out of his way to spar at the Great Soul Arena, where he had then given Dai Mubai a series of brutal beatings.