Duke Spirit Cat froze for a moment. His body unconsciously shifted half an inch forward in his chair, and he fixed his burning gaze on Dai Mobai.
"Your Highness, I'd be glad to hear the details."
The Star Luo Emperor said nothing, merely setting his teacup down on the table.
He, too, looked at Dai Mobai with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
Dai Mobai was in no hurry.
He lifted his teacup and took another sip, wetting his throat before speaking at an unhurried pace.
"Back then, that Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor left Tang Hao with a child."
Zhu Song raised an eyebrow slightly.
He had heard vague rumors about this, but no one had ever confirmed them.
Tang Hao had vanished so completely that the entire Soul Master World believed he had died in some unknown corner.
"And I discovered that this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone is located in a mountain range about fifty miles south of Nuoding City."
Dai Mobai set his teacup back on the table and lightly traced a finger around its rim.
"At the foot of that mountain range lies a village called Holy Soul Village. As it happens, there's a blacksmith in the village named Tang Hao. He has a son named Tang San."
"Holy Soul Village? Tang Hao?"
Zhu Song repeated the two names, his expression shifting from puzzlement to contemplation.
"And what's more..."
Dai Mobai calmly delivered the final blow.
"The first time he appeared in Holy Soul Village was twelve years ago."
The Imperial Study fell silent for a moment.
The Star Luo Emperor's pupils contracted slightly, and his finger rapped soundlessly against the tabletop.
"The time Tang Hao vanished from the Soul Master World was twelve years ago."
The Star Luo Emperor spoke in a low voice, with an indescribable note in his tone.
Twelve years ago, Qian Xunji had died of his wounds, the Spirit Hall had erupted in fury, and Tang Hao had fled for his life, vanishing without a trace.
Who could have imagined he was right beside Nuoding City, hammering iron for twelve years in an unremarkable little village?
"So you're saying this Tang San is Tang Hao's child?"
Zhu Song couldn't help interrupting, his voice full of disbelief.
"Exactly."
Dai Mobai smiled and nodded.
"If Tang Hao were still alone, then with his strength as a Titled Douluo, the Spirit Hall really wouldn't have much of a way to deal with him."
"But things are different now. He has a child, which means he has someone to worry about."
Dai Mobai's voice was quiet, yet every word was clear.
"He can flee, but Tang San may not be able to. Could a twelve-year-old child hide with him in the deep mountains and forests for the rest of his life?"
"So as long as we keep track of Tang San, Tang Hao will remain on the back foot, our bait to lure the Spirit Hall—the big fish."
Zhu Song drew in a sharp breath.
The Star Luo Emperor's expression shifted slightly, too.
He fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
The plan's every link fit perfectly, each step laid out with meticulous precision.
He had considered using Tang Hao to restrain the Spirit Hall, but had never found a practical opening.
Dai Mobai, however, had already paved the way.
"Then how do we keep track of Tang San?"
Zhu Song glanced at the Star Luo Emperor and voiced the question they both shared.
Tang San's whereabouts were the key to the entire plan. If they couldn't hold on to that thread, then the fishing rod that was Tang Hao would be left dangling uselessly.
Dai Mobai only smiled, saying nothing.
He dipped a finger into his teacup, gathered a little tea, then slowly wrote a character on the polished tabletop.
The Star Luo Emperor and Zhu Song looked at it at the same time.
A clear, unmistakable "Three" appeared before them.
The tea spread across the dark tabletop, the strokes simple and easy to read.
"Three?"
Zhu Song furrowed his brow. He stared at the character for a long while, turning the thought over in his head from every angle, but still couldn't figure it out.
"Your Highness, what do you mean? Are you referring to Tang San himself?"
Dai Mobai shook his head.
"Do you mean three steps?"
Zhu Song tried again.
Dai Mobai shook his head once more.
Zhu Song was completely stumped. At his wits' end, he could only smile bitterly and cup his hands toward Dai Mobai.
"I beg Your Highness to enlighten me."
"This 'three' refers both to Tang San and to Dai Mubai."
Dai Mobai tapped the character on the tabletop, his voice even.
Dai Mubai.
The name had barely left his lips when the atmosphere in the Imperial Study subtly tightened.
Zhu Song instinctively looked toward the Star Luo Emperor.
As a minister, he knew better than anyone what the name Dai Mubai meant to the emperor.
It was a disgrace, a forbidden topic that could not be spoken aloud.
But the Star Luo Emperor's expression remained calm, unmoved by the name.
He lifted his teacup and took a sip, as if listening to a complete stranger.
Perhaps once he had felt a trace of disappointment toward Dai Mubai for failing to live up to his expectations. But in the face of Dai Mobai, this fleeing, battle-shy child had long since been erased from his heart.
There was no hatred, no disappointment—only utter indifference.
It wasn't even close to familial affection.
"What does he have to do with this?"
The Star Luo Emperor's voice was calm, as if he were asking about a complete stranger with no connection to him.
"After fleeing the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai went to the Heaven Dou Empire."
Dai Mobai spoke at an unhurried pace.
"He joined a Soul Master Academy there called Shrek, and Tang San was his classmate at Shrek."
Zhu Song froze for a moment, then suddenly understood.
Dai Mubai and Tang San were classmates, which meant Dai Mobai could indirectly keep track of Tang San's movements by monitoring Dai Mubai.
The groundwork for this move had been laid three years ago, when Dai Mubai fled. Only today had it finally been brought into play.
Three years ago, how old had His Highness been? Twelve? A twelve-year-old boy had already begun making plans?
Zhu Song couldn't help taking another look at Dai Mobai.
A faint smile still rested on that youthful face, gentle and harmless, as pure as jade.
But behind that smile was a vast web spun over three years.
"I didn't realize you'd made so many preparations."
The Star Luo Emperor looked at Dai Mobai, his tone carrying admiration, satisfaction, and a trace of respect he himself had not even noticed.
"Since you know Dai Mubai's whereabouts so well, I'll leave this hidden piece, Tang San, in your hands."
He was decisive, entrusting the matter entirely to Dai Mobai without asking another question.
What the Star Luo Emperor didn't know was that Dai Mobai's knowledge had nothing to do with placing spies near Dai Mubai, much less with years of meticulous intelligence work.
He didn't need any of that.
He had been born with an omniscient perspective. The fates of everyone in this world lay before him like an open book.
"Understood, Father."
Dai Mobai nodded, calm as a cloud, then changed the subject.
"The first move has landed perfectly. Now it's time to make the second."