Father and Daughter Reunite

Xuan Xiao looked at the worried Zhu Lu and casually asked, "What? Regretting it?"

Zhu Lu shook her head, though her brows remained tightly furrowed. "No. I just haven't figured out how to face my father tomorrow. I'm afraid he'll be angry, and I'm afraid he'll be put in a difficult position."

Xuan Xiao sneered, his tone carrying a hint of disdain. "House Dai is just a Soul Douluo family. They don't even have a Titled Douluo. What's there to be afraid of? As long as your father isn't an idiot, he should know who the real golden thigh is."

"Follow me, and the Nether Duke's Estate will still have a chance to rise again. Follow House Dai, and you'll only keep sinking, with no hope of ever getting ahead."

Zhu Lu looked at Xuan Xiao, who had sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and entered cultivation, and could not help shaking her head.

What exactly was she worrying about?

Even Shrek Academy could not stop him. Even Mu En, an Ultimate Douluo, had been angered half to death by him. Her father was merely a peak Soul Sage—what waves could he possibly stir up?

With that thought, her heart settled considerably. She then lay on the bed, closed her eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

Early the next morning, just as the two of them descended the stairs, they saw Xu Jiujiu already waiting in the main hall.

Today, she had changed into a crisp white martial outfit, with a slender sword hanging at her waist. She looked valiant and heroic, carrying an air that rivaled any man.

Two middle-aged men were also seated on the sofas in the hall.

One wore a bright yellow dragon robe and a golden crown. His face was imposing, and his bearing extraordinary. At a glance, he was clearly someone long accustomed to power.

The other wore a purple brocade robe. His features were refined, but his brows carried traces of sorrow and weariness, as though he were burdened with concerns.

Xuan Xiao yawned, then waved at Xu Jiujiu. "Your Highness, you're up pretty early."

Xu Jiujiu smiled faintly and stepped forward. "This concerns the marriage alliance between two ducal estates. Naturally, the imperial family must send someone to bear witness, lest anyone accuse us of handling matters unfairly in the future."

Naturally, that was only an excuse. What did a marriage alliance between ducal estates have to do with the imperial family?

But since Xu Jiawei had decided to intervene, he needed a proper reason. He could not let outsiders gossip.

Xuan Xiao nodded, then turned his gaze toward the two middle-aged men. "And these two are?"

Xu Jiujiu turned slightly and first pointed to the man in dragon robes. "This is my imperial brother, and also the ruler of the Star Luo Empire, Xu Jiawei."

Xuan Xiao cupped his hands and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This junior is Xuan Xiao. Greetings, Your Majesty."

Xu Jiawei studied him, his eyes carrying traces of scrutiny and curiosity. Then he nodded and revealed a gentle smile. "No need for such formalities. Sit."

As for this one...

She looked at Zhu Lu, her eyes carrying a complicated meaning.

Zhu Lu followed her gaze. When she clearly saw the purple-robed middle-aged man's face, her entire body instantly stiffened. Her face went pale in an instant, her lips trembling slightly, as though she had seen something that terrified her.

The purple-robed middle-aged man rose to his feet and looked at Zhu Lu, a complicated smile appearing on his face.

That smile held longing, guilt, relief, and several emotions too difficult to put into words. He softly called out, "Lu'er."

Zhu Lu's eyes instantly reddened, tears welling within them. She opened her mouth, her voice choked and trembling. "Father..."

Father and daughter stood several steps apart, staring at one another. For a moment, countless words were lodged in their throats, and neither knew where to begin.

Xuan Xiao looked at Zhu Lu, then at her father, and rubbed his chin. He roughly guessed what had happened.

Xu Jiujiu must have gone back and told Xu Jiawei about it last night. Xu Jiawei had thought it was a good opportunity, so he had directly sent people to invite the Nether Duke over, hoping to facilitate the breaking of this engagement.

That way, the imperial family could both do Xuan Xiao a favor and disgust the White Tiger Duke's Estate. Killing two birds with one stone—why not?

Watching the scene, Xu Jiawei spoke at the right moment and broke the silence.

"Duke Zhu, I have already given you a general explanation regarding your daughter's situation."

"I invited you here today so that we could make everything clear face-to-face, lest misunderstandings arise later. We are all sensible people. Laying everything out in the open is good for everyone."

The Nether Duke drew a deep breath and suppressed the agitation in his heart. He walked over to Zhu Lu, extended his hand, and gently stroked her head. The gesture was tender and cautious, as though he were touching a fragile treasure.

Zhu Lu could no longer hold back her tears. They streamed down her face as she threw herself into her father's arms, hugged him, and burst into loud sobs.

The Nether Duke patted her back and comforted her softly, but his gaze passed over Zhu Lu's shoulder and landed on Xuan Xiao.

That gaze held scrutiny and wariness.

Xuan Xiao walked over and sat before Xu Jiawei, crossing one leg over the other. He shrugged and spoke casually.

"Don't look at me. If Dai Huabin had really treated her that well, do you think I could have stolen her away with just a few words? I'm not some great romantic. I don't have that much charm."

Xu Jiujiu and Xu Jiawei covered their faces at once. This man truly had no emotional intelligence at all. He was far too blunt.

The Nether Duke sensed an implication in his words. He held Zhu Lu by the shoulders and had her stand properly, then looked into her eyes and asked seriously.

"Lu'er, what exactly happened between you two? Tell me honestly. Don't hide anything."

For the present-day Nether Duke's Estate, following House Dai or following the imperial family did not actually make much difference.

After all, he was a duke in name only now. He had no real say on either side and was nothing more than an empty figurehead.

But his daughter could not simply be bullied by others. That was the final line he would uphold as her father.

Xuan Xiao picked up a teacup from the table, took a sip, and then spoke slowly.

"It wasn't anything major. I beat Dai Huabin up, and he couldn't swallow it, so he shoved Zhu Lu to the ground."

The Nether Duke's face instantly darkened, but he said nothing and waited for Xuan Xiao to continue.

Seeing the Nether Duke's face gradually turn darker, Xuan Xiao added the deadliest blow.

"Oh, right. He also called Zhu Lu trash, then turned around and left without looking back. He left her crying on the ground alone. You could say he didn't treat her like a person at all."

The Nether Duke's face instantly turned livid. His fists clenched tightly, his knuckles cracking, and the veins on his forehead throbbed. He was like a volcano on the verge of erupting.

He gritted his teeth, barely restrained fury in his voice. "That little bastard dared treat my daughter like that? House Dai has gone too far!"

Zhu Lu tugged at her father's sleeve and said quietly, "Father, forget it. I don't want anything to do with him anymore."

"Let's break off the engagement. From now on, we'll go our separate ways and never have anything to do with each other again. Just consider your daughter blind for having mistaken him for someone worthy."

The Nether Duke took a deep breath and suppressed his anger. He looked at Zhu Lu and said seriously.

"Fine, we'll break off the engagement! Today! My daughter has no need for House Dai! What is Dai Huabin, anyway? Is he worthy of marrying my daughter?"

Xu Jiujiu looked at Xuan Xiao and asked curiously, "Xuan Xiao, how did you make Zhu Lu willingly follow you? Don't tell me you merely comforted her a few times. She isn't stupid. She couldn't possibly give up Dai Huabin and leave with a stranger like you just because of a few words."

Zhu Lu raised her head, wiped away her tears, and said, "He... he gave too much."

The others froze for a moment, thinking they had misheard, and all rubbed at their ears.

Zhu Lu had no intention of hiding it. She directly took out the soul bone Xuan Xiao had given her from her storage bracelet and placed it on the table.

The Nether Duke's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. His mouth fell open, and it took him a long while to close it. Even his voice changed pitch. "Fi... fifty-thousand-year soul bone?"

Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu also sucked in sharp breaths, exchanging glances and seeing shock in each other's eyes.

A fifty-thousand-year soul bone—there were not many even in the imperial treasury, and every single one was a priceless treasure.

Yet this young man had casually given one to a maid he had known for less than a day?

That was far too extravagant!