A Debate on Women, Hand of Death

A section of rope was tossed to Mu Xuanheng. Wang Yan said, "Tie it around your waist."

Mu Xuanheng knew what it was: a connector that let a high-tier Flying Soul Tool carry a low-tier one.

"So it's not like there's no demand for airplanes."

Gu Yuena was right beside him and heard his mutter. "What did you say?"

Mu Xuanheng panicked for a moment. Some concepts simply didn't exist in the Douluo World. "Nothing. I just thought of something else that's more effective."

He took out another connector and called to Xuan Zi. "Second Old Man, want to use this? It works much better than a rope." He hadn't made many Soul Tools meant for combat; most of them were for civilian use. Of course, that was only how he saw it.

"You little brat. You've got good stuff and didn't bring it out sooner." Xuan Zi drew the connector over with his Soul Power. "How do you use it?"

Xuan Zi saw the blue button in the middle and pressed it. Fifteen small components flew out.

Mu Xuanheng said, "One for each person. Just keep it on you."

A rope wasn't rigid, after all, and could easily sway in the air. It wasn't all that comfortable to use.

"Get ready. We're leaving."

Xuan Zi took off at once. As a Titled Douluo, he was naturally the fastest person there.

As soon as he took off, his Soul Power connected to the fifteen of them, forming something like a protective barrier.

The barrier could partially shield them from the airflow.

The connection was rigid, too, so there wouldn't be any bizarre spinning or anything like that.

Xuan Zi saw how useful it was and sped up again.

A streak of white light cut across the sky, trailing flames behind it.

They reached their landing site several hours earlier than expected.

"Ugh..."

More than ten people couldn't help vomiting. Even Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng, who had the highest cultivation, were no exception.

Only Gu Yuena was doing somewhat better, but since she wasn't controlling the flight herself, she still felt a little sick.

"Dai. The military will be here soon."

Dai Yueheng immediately fired a signal flare.

Then Durex led them back to the military camp.

When they arrived at the camp, Dai Yueheng seemed to be home. Everything around him was familiar.

"After I graduate, I'll join the army. I'll temper myself on the battlefield. I want to be as great as my father." Dai Yueheng's eyes brimmed with admiration for Dai Hao.

It was clear that, as the eldest son, he had received Dai Hao's guidance.

Everyone could sense Dai Yueheng's resolve to become a soldier.

Mu Xuanheng couldn't help glancing at Huo Yuhao. The difference between the fathers was just too great. Then he thought of Dai Huabin, who was an utter fool. He couldn't help shaking his head. The Duke of White Tiger's family had some serious problems with how they raised their children.

Huo Yuhao clenched his fists. The others assumed he'd been moved by Dai Yueheng's words. Only a few knew that he was filled with hatred.

He thought of how deeply his mother had loved Dai Hao. For the first time, he looked up and asked his "older brother" about Dai Hao. "I—I mean, what kind of person is your father, the Duke of White Tiger?"

Dai Yueheng recited his father's accomplishments as if he were listing treasures. "Father is forty-three this year. His talent rivals that of our ancestors. He's fought countless battles, both large and small, and the western border of the Star Luo Empire, which he guards, is as impregnable as a fortress. He's kept the Sun Moon Empire from advancing even a single step."

His admiration was genuine, and so were Dai Hao's achievements.

"Oh, so your father's a hero." Ma Xiaotao jumped in.

"Of course. My father is the only person in the Star Luo Empire who can be called a hero."

"Your dad looks pretty handsome. How many wives does he have? I don't think the Star Luo Empire requires monogamy."

She was just asking out of idle curiosity, but Huo Yuhao paid close attention. He desperately wanted to know what Dai Hao thought of his mother.

Dai Yueheng froze. He hadn't expected Ma Xiaotao to ask that. "He has only my mother, and his only children are Huabin and me. Father is very disciplined when it comes to women."

Huo Yuhao dug his fingers fiercely into the flesh of his thigh. He couldn't hold back his rage. He wanted so badly to roar at Dai Hao and Dai Yueheng, to ask what his mother—and he himself—were supposed to be.

A hand settled on his shoulder. When he looked up, he saw Mu Xuanheng. "Senior Brother Xuanheng?"

A faint chill flowed from Mu Xuanheng's hand, calming Huo Yuhao. "You've held it in pretty well. Fine. I'll have to face this sooner or later, too. I'll ask."

He didn't lower his voice. Instead, he spoke in the most matter-of-fact tone. "Senior Dai Yueheng, it's been a while since you went home, hasn't it? You may not know your own family that well. It's possible you already have a younger half-brother at the Duke's Mansion."

"Absolutely impossible!" Dai Yueheng retorted at once. In his heart, Dai Hao was perfect.

"For certain reasons, I've been keeping an eye on Xingluo City lately. As unlikely as it sounds, what I just said may well be true. And you may have more than one younger brother."

Mu Xuanheng's words made Huo Yuhao's face change. He was afraid, yet he wanted someone else to say it for him: that he was Dai Hao's son.

But Mu Xuanheng wasn't going to overstep. "I haven't looked into his name or Martial Soul, because it has nothing to do with me. But I can say for certain that there is someone, and that your father definitely has more than one woman. You don't even need to investigate. Just go home and ask around. Take a look for yourself. He's still at the Duke's Mansion."

At that last sentence, Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's eyes widened. Mu Xuanheng hadn't been talking about Huo Yuhao?

"Then I'll thank you, junior. I'll make sure to get to the bottom of this when I get home." Dai Yueheng clenched his fists in anger. The Duke of White Tiger's succession wasn't determined by age alone. Another person meant another contender.

Huo Yuhao finally understood completely: to the Duke of White Tiger, he and his mother truly meant nothing. He gave a foolish laugh, bitterly lamenting his mother's devoted wait.

Drawn by his laughter, everyone turned to look.

Mu Xuanheng said, "The heroes of the Star Luo Empire are all like that. I'm no devoted lover who'll remain faithful to one person for my whole life, either. But I wouldn't be like him and refuse to even give someone a proper place."

"So are you planning on one husband and one wife with several concubines, or one husband with several wives?" a cool voice came from behind Mu Xuanheng.

The peerless beauty smiled at him. "I recommend one husband and one wife with several concubines. And I certainly don't plan to be a concubine." At the same time, Gu Yuena had no intention of becoming his wife, either. Their intimacy was only meant to draw each other in. This was no different.

But an inexplicable feeling had begun to stir in her heart. When two people kept tempting each other, they couldn't simply decide not to fall in love. All those days they'd spent side by side had never been entirely an act.

She waited for Mu Xuanheng to answer. He was trying to figure out how to placate her.

Someone in his Spiritual Sea was already hissing.

Snow Empress said, "Tsk, tsk. I really underestimated you. I didn't even know who the second person was. I thought you'd only jumped into this one fire." She had even changed how she referred to herself, from "this Empress" to "I." She'd begun to consider Mu Xuanheng her equal.

"The Flame Phoenix? That girl who uses ice, the one who cultivated with Xiao Ding, the one with Twin Martial Souls? Or the one who dresses as a boy? Mu Xuanheng, there are a lot of people you could make a move on."

Mu Xuanheng said, "Why leave one option out? What about my Xue Nu?"

Snow Empress kept a straight face. "I—I only went through life-and-death situations with you once, endured that unbearable pain once, and stayed by your side for a year and a half. Why would you think I'd like you?"

It was meant to sound resistant, but came out utterly bashful.

This was the perfect moment to make a move. Before he could, Snow Empress shoved him out of his Spiritual Sea.

They were already at the military camp, and Dai Hao had come to greet them in person.

By sheer coincidence, the earlier topic was dropped and left unresolved.

"Welcome, students of Shrek. Why not join me at the camp and let me play host?"

Wang Yan handled the conversation with Dai Hao, and the two shook hands. "Duke, we're only here to complete our mission. We won't take up any more of your time. We'd just appreciate it if you could send someone to provide us with information."

Before they parted, Dai Hao tried to win them over as well.

But no one paid attention except Huo Yuhao.

"Rest up and wait for the intelligence to arrive."

Intelligence about Evil Soul Masters was rarely detailed, since they seldom left anyone alive.

The one they would be facing was the Corpse Explosion Soul King, Hand of Death.

With all the restrictions in place, they would have to move out themselves in the end.

Ma Xiaotao said, "Dai Yueheng and I will lead. Chen Zifeng and Bei Bei will guard the rear. Everyone else stays in the middle. Huo Yuhao, stay behind me."

Mu Xuanheng said, "I'll go up front, too."

In terms of strength, even Ma Xiaotao couldn't refuse Mu Xuanheng's request.

"Evil Soul Masters have strange methods. Be careful."

Mu Xuanheng didn't know what to say. None of them seemed like the cautious type.

With Spiritual Detection, the journey went smoothly.

But a smooth journey didn't mean a safe one. He was beginning to feel excited. Knowing it was dangerous and still stepping into it—that was Chaofeng's nature. His Martial Soul had already begun to influence him.

The group changed into armor and other clothes. Bei Bei and Gongyang Mo stayed behind to protect the reserve team.

In exchange, Mu Xuanheng joined the main team.

Even Spiritual Detection couldn't keep up with them.

Before long, they smelled the thick stench of blood.

Seven or eight bandits stood guard in front of a cave entrance.

It was obvious they'd found Hand of Death's hideout.

"Should we leave a couple for them to practice on?" Dai Yueheng asked Ma Xiaotao. They hadn't brought the reserve team along just to let them stand around. They needed training, too.

Mu Xuanheng said, "Once we go inside, we can let a few out for them to deal with. Let's kill these first, then regroup. With Gu Yuena here, we can let out some Soul King-level ones, too. She's strong enough to protect the others."

More people agreed with his suggestion. Xixi's advantage as an agility-type Soul Master was on full display as she killed four bandits in an instant.

Chen Zifeng easily killed one with his Soul Chasing Sword. Dai Yueheng ripped one bandit apart, while Ma Xiaotao immediately pierced another's heart with a burst of flame.

"Amateurs."

He formed a clod of earth to plug the bandit's mouth, then immediately crushed the man's head with a dragon claw.

The area in front of the cave was safe now.

Once everyone had regrouped, they activated one-way Spiritual Detection.

The bloody scene was revealed before their eyes.

Heads hung suspended, and every so often one fell when its scalp could no longer hold it. Human skin covered the cave walls, stained with blood. Mutilated bodies lay scattered everywhere, impossible to identify as young or old, male or female. Only the tiny corpses could be recognized as infants.

Their eyes reddened with blood, their fury blazing.

Evil Soul Masters should never have existed. Death was the only fate awaiting them.

Ma Xiaotao said, "Use the same formation as before. Mu Xuanheng, come with us. Gongyang Mo, stay behind. We'll go in first, and you can follow later. Don't let a single one escape."