Dai Hao? Nothing but a Coward

His tone was calm as still water, yet it sent chills down one's spine.

"The two foulest-mouthed ones are already dead. The head matron is dead too."

"Now, it's your turn."

First Madam's expression changed. She instinctively took half a step back before quickly steadying herself.

"You wouldn't dare! This is the White Tiger Duke Mansion! My husband is Dai Hao, the White Tiger Duke, the pillar holding up the Star Luo Empire!"

"Lay a finger on me, and the Duke will never let you off!"

"Dai Hao?"

Shen Zhou gave a soft laugh, but there was not the slightest trace of amusement in his eyes.

"A coward who doesn't even dare acknowledge his own biological son thinks he can threaten me?"

"You—!"

First Madam trembled with rage and pointed at Shen Zhou's nose as she cursed.

"What are you supposed to be? Does that bastard Yu Hao deserve to be the Duke's son?"

"He's nothing but the spawn of a lowly maid! The Duke has never acknowledged him!"

"Let me make this clear today: Huo Yun'er and her son are servants of the Duke Mansion in life and slaves of the Duke Mansion in death!"

"They will never take a single step out of the Duke Mansion for the rest of their lives! And they can forget about receiving even a scrap of the family estate!"

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, her voice sharp and piercing.

"So what if you can fight? Do you dare kill me? Kill me, and the White Tiger Duke Mansion will pursue you to the bitter end! The Star Luo Empire will pursue you to the bitter end!"

Shen Zhou listened quietly until she finished, then shook his head.

"First, I have never cared about dividing up the Dai Family's estate. My Martial Soul Academy is rich enough to rival a nation."

"Second, I did not come today to fight for Yu Hao's inheritance. I came to seek justice for him."

"Third..."

His gaze suddenly turned icy.

"Who gave you the nerve to call him a 'bastard' and his mother a 'lowly maid'?"

Before his words had even faded, Shen Zhou raised his right hand and curled his five fingers in the air.

The Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear appeared in his palm out of thin air. Nine Soul Rings lit up at once—a terrifying configuration of one yellow, two purple, four black, and two red. The glow of the two red Soul Rings instantly dyed the entire courtyard blood-red.

A pressure powerful enough to crush souls erupted with a thunderous boom!

The color drained from First Madam's face in an instant. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the steps.

The maids and servants behind her were sprawled across the ground, too terrified even to raise their heads.

"A Titled Douluo!"

"No... don't..."

First Madam's teeth chattered, and even her voice had gone shrill.

Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings...

Two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings!

This young man was actually a Titled Douluo!

And one of the most powerful Titled Douluo at that!

Shen Zhou stood with his spear in hand, looking down at First Madam, who was sprawled on the ground.

"You just said that they are servants of the Duke Mansion in life and slaves of the Duke Mansion in death?"

"I am telling you now: from this day forth, Huo Yun'er and Huo Yuhao have nothing whatsoever to do with the White Tiger Duke Mansion."

"They belong to my Martial Soul Academy. They are my disciples."

"Bullying them is bullying me."

"Insulting them is insulting me."

"Harming them..."

Shen Zhou flicked his wrist, and the spearhead pointed straight at First Madam's throat. The icy killing intent seemed to freeze the very air.

"I will make your entire family accompany them to the grave."

First Madam's pupils dilated. A rattling sound came from her throat, but she could not utter a single word.

"Stop!"

A deep, urgent voice exploded from outside the courtyard gate.

Immediately afterward, a tall figure charged in.

The man was around forty years old, with tiger-like eyes, thick brows, and a resolute face. He wore a black cloak, with a longsword hanging at his waist.

Though he had not released his Martial Soul, he radiated the presence of someone long hardened on the battlefield. He was clearly an eight-ring Soul Douluo-level powerhouse.

He was none other than the White Tiger Duke—Dai Hao.

He had originally returned to the mansion that day. The moment he reached the main gate, servants reported that something serious had happened within the estate: someone was causing trouble and killing people, and his wife was trapped in the main courtyard.

He had rushed over immediately, only to see Shen Zhou holding a spear at his wife the instant he entered the courtyard.

And those nine Soul Rings—especially the two red ones...

Dai Hao's heart sank sharply.

A Titled Douluo.

And one of the most terrifying Titled Douluo.

Yet he was a duke who had galloped across battlefields for many years. He quickly calmed himself, strode to the bottom of the steps, and met Shen Zhou's gaze.

"This... senior."

Dai Hao cupped his hands, lowering his stance considerably. "If my wife has offended you in any way, Dai offers his apologies here."

"I ask that you show mercy, Senior, and spare her life."

He addressed Shen Zhou as "Senior." Though Shen Zhou appeared much younger than him, the Soul Master world revered strength above all else. A Titled Douluo deserved such a form of address.

Shen Zhou glanced at him without lowering his spear.

"You are Dai Hao, the White Tiger Duke?"

"That is correct."

"Do you know what she has done?"

Dai Hao looked at his wife, who was slumped on the ground with a deathly pale face, then at Huo Yuhao and Huo Yun'er behind Shen Zhou. A complicated look flashed through his eyes.

Of course he recognized Huo Yun'er, and of course he knew Huo Yuhao was his son.

It was just that, over the years, pressured by his wife's family and constrained by the court, he had never acknowledged this son. He had rarely even gone to see him.

He had thought that giving the mother and son enough food to survive was already the height of benevolence.

But today...

"You did not even dare acknowledge your own biological son. You allowed servants to insult him as a 'bastard' and allowed his mother to wait for death in the woodshed."

Shen Zhou's voice carried no emotion, yet it was like a dull blade carving into Dai Hao's heart again and again.

"Dai Hao, are you worthy of being a father?"

Dai Hao fell silent.

The courtyard was silent for a moment. Only the cold wind swept remnants of snow past the eaves, producing a faint, mournful whine.

Shen Zhou stood with his spear in hand. The cold gleam of the Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear reflected across his face, while the two red Soul Rings continued rotating slowly around him, releasing suffocating pressure.

He neither lowered his spear nor spoke again. He merely looked calmly at Dai Hao, waiting for his answer.

Behind Dai Hao, more than a dozen Soul Master guards from the Duke Mansion arrived one after another. Leading them were two six-ring Soul Emperors.

But when they saw the configuration of nine Soul Rings around Shen Zhou, every one of them froze in place, their faces turning pale. Forget attacking—none even had the courage to approach.

Two red Soul Rings represented Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings.

In this era, where Titled Douluo were not considered rare, a Titled Douluo with two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings could almost slaughter an entire city alone.

If people like them rushed forward, they would merely be throwing away their lives.

Dai Hao took a deep breath and raised a hand, signaling for the guards behind him to withdraw.

"All of you, stand down. Without my orders, no one is to make a move."

The guards felt as though they had received a pardon and hurriedly retreated outside the courtyard gate, watching from afar.

Dai Hao turned toward Shen Zhou, then looked at Huo Yuhao and Huo Yun'er behind him.

His gaze lingered on Huo Yuhao's face for a long time.

That was his son.

Of course he knew.

Thirteen years ago, on that night, he had gotten drunk, passed by the maids' quarters, and taken Huo Yun'er by force.

Afterward, he had settled the matter with a sum of money, thinking there would be no further ties between them. Yet Huo Yun'er had become pregnant and given birth to this child.

He had not wanted to acknowledge him, but blood was blood, and he could never stop himself from secretly going to see him.

The boy's features had grown increasingly similar to his own, especially those eyes, which were almost exactly like his when he was young.

But he could not acknowledge him.