The Emperor Calls Him Brother

The Star Luo Emperor was helpless too. When he learned that Bai Ye intended to bring Dai Mubai to the palace to demand an accounting, his first thought was to seize the opportunity to capture Bai Ye and eliminate the threat once and for all.

But who could have imagined that Xue Ye would suddenly pass away?

Not only had the newly enthroned Emperor Qinghe shown no inclination to draw closer to him, he had instead issued a series of policies favoring Spirit Hall. It left him feeling as sick as if he had swallowed a dead fly.

At the time, he could not help cursing Xue Ye outright.

"Look at your successor! What the hell did you pick?!"

With matters having come to this, he naturally abandoned his earlier plan. After all, the Star Luo Empire could barely handle Spirit Hall alone, and now Heaven Dou was drawing closer to Spirit Hall as well.

He was certain that the moment the Star Luo Empire captured Bai Ye, the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall would launch an attack.

There would even be unrest within the Star Luo Empire. Bai Ye had not been active as the Spirit Hall Holy Son for long, yet for some inexplicable reason, his prestige was sky-high. Never mind elsewhere-even some of the Soul Masters within the palace looked up to him immensely.

That was only natural. After all, who would not want to receive Bai Ye's support just once?

By now, he believed he had guessed Emperor Qinghe's intentions.

It was nothing more than leaving the Star Luo Empire to bear Spirit Hall's wrath alone, allowing the Heaven Dou Empire to reap the fisherman's reward while the others fought.

Had it been the real Xue Qinghe, the Star Luo Emperor might have guessed correctly. But this so-called Emperor Qinghe was Qian Renxue, daughter of Spirit Hall's Supreme Pontiff.

Although Qian Renxue did not regard Bibi Dong as her mother, she did regard Qian Daoliu as her grandfather. Her grandfather wanted her to unify the continent, so naturally, she would devote herself to making that happen.

"Greetings, Star Luo Emperor."

Bai Ye smiled as he addressed the Star Luo Emperor. He neither bowed in greeting nor knelt in homage, simply standing where he was.

The three women behind him instinctively moved to kneel, but Bai Ye stopped them with his immense spiritual power.

They would all be his women in the future. Wouldn't having them kneel before an emperor be a slap to his face?

As for Ma Hongjun and Oscar, who were escorting Dai Mubai, he did not stop them.

"Greetings, Holy Son." The Star Luo Emperor was not annoyed in the slightest and smiled in return.

After all, he had already come out of the palace to welcome him. Why fuss over this little bit of etiquette?

Besides, if they really compared their standing, was the Spirit Hall Holy Son inferior to an emperor?

In the past, the Star Luo Empire would have said without hesitation, "The Spirit Hall Holy Son? Just a little scumbag."

But now, he did not dare say such a thing.

The sight left Dai Weisi, Zhu Zhuyun, and the other imperial relatives dumbfounded.

Before they could recover, the Star Luo Emperor made another move that struck them as utterly outrageous.

"Holy Son, why don't we address each other as brothers? Although I'm much older than you, I feel as though we've been old friends from our very first meeting."

"Of course, Brother Dai."

"Brother Bai."

The two exchanged cupped-hand salutes and addressed each other warmly. Anyone who did not know better would truly have thought they were friends whose bond transcended age.

Yet everyone else's expression froze at that moment.

Dai Mubai's feelings were even more complicated. It was bad enough that his fiancée had gotten together with another man, and that they had done it right before his eyes. But now his own imperial father was calling that man Brother Bai. What was going on?

Overwhelmed by anguish, Dai Mubai spat out a great mouthful of blood.

At the same time, he realized that he might truly lose his life here.

"Hmm?"

Only then did the Star Luo Emperor notice his good-for-nothing son. As if attempting to rape his fiancée had not been enough, he was now making a spectacle of himself.

The Star Luo Emperor gave Dai Mubai a cold look, and the latter instantly felt as though he had plunged into an ice cellar. Ma Hongjun and Oscar also realized that Dai Mubai's father was not particularly attached to him. This time, he would probably be unable to escape his doom.

Zhu Zhuqing felt pleased, and Dai Weisi felt much the same. Zhu Zhuyun, meanwhile, looked at Zhu Zhuqing with envy and jealousy.

The family's discarded pawn had somehow transformed into the Spirit Hall Holy Son's woman.

At that thought, she glanced at Dai Mubai, her eyes filled with sympathy and rueful emotion.

Of course, most of the time, her gaze remained on Bai Ye, the Spirit Hall Holy Son.

Although Zhu Zhuyun was more mature than Zhu Zhuqing and older than Bai Ye, his looks still left her momentarily dazed, making her even more envious and jealous of Zhu Zhuqing.

At the same time, she felt some fear. After all, she and Zhu Zhuqing were not on good terms. If Zhu Zhuqing whispered into his ear, her fate might be little different from Dai Mubai's.

Dai Weisi noticed his fiancée's unease. He took Zhu Zhuyun's hand and gave her a resolute look.

It was as though he were saying, With me here, no one can touch you.

Zhu Zhuyun immediately felt reassured, but when her eyes met Zhu Zhuqing's, she grew uneasy again.

Fortunately, Bai Ye and the Star Luo Emperor did not exchange pleasantries for long, and the order to return to the palace soon followed.

Inside the palace's main hall, the Star Luo Emperor arranged for Bai Ye to sit beside him.

Dai Mubai, the offender, knelt on the floor.

"Brother Bai, I already know what happened. Although Zhu Zhuqing is his fiancée, he had no right to force her. Could you spare his life? After all, he is still my son." The Star Luo Emperor looked at Bai Ye. It was not that he could not abandon Dai Mubai, but blood was thicker than water. If his life could be spared, naturally, he wanted to spare it. Besides, Dai Mubai was still a member of the Star Luo Imperial Family.

"Since you've put it that way, Brother Dai, I can hardly insist. Still, he may escape death, but he cannot escape punishment. I hope you understand." Bai Ye had never intended to kill Dai Mubai, because he wanted to make his life worse than death.

"I understand, I understand." The Star Luo Emperor breathed a sigh of relief.

"Oh? You certainly live up to your title, Brother Dai. I haven't even named the punishment yet, and you already say you understand." Bai Ye wore an ambiguous smile.

The Star Luo Emperor's expression stiffened. He cursed inwardly, thinking Bai Ye intended to bleed him dry.

Yet he had guessed wrong. Bai Ye did not intend to make him bleed, but rather his son.

"I wonder what you intend to..."

"Castrate him." Bai Ye looked at Dai Mubai.

The entire hall fell silent at those words.

That included Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, and Ning Rongrong.

Bai Ye had not told them beforehand.

The Star Luo Emperor's expression darkened, while Dai Weisi secretly rejoiced.

My foolish little brother, you let desire blind you. Don't you understand that a blade hangs over the head of lust? How could someone like you deserve to compete with me for the throne?

Dai Mubai felt cold all over, especially in his five limbs. Although the punishment had not yet been carried out, the cold had already robbed them of sensation, as though they no longer existed.

"Isn't that punishment a little too harsh?" Ma Hongjun stepped forward and spoke hesitantly. As someone who regularly went out to vent his Evil Fire, he knew very well that Dai Mubai could never accept such a punishment. It would be worse than killing him.

"Yes, that doesn't seem right." Oscar also spoke up for Dai Mubai. After all, Dai Mubai had often shared with him and Ma Hongjun. As men who had gone into battle together, they stood on the same side now.

Bai Ye ignored them and simply turned to the Star Luo Emperor.

"Brother Dai, what do you think?"

The Star Luo Emperor did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked at Zhu Zhuqing. After all, Bai Ye was seeking redress for her. As long as Zhu Zhuqing spoke up, Dai Mubai would not be castrated.

After all, actually castrating Dai Mubai would have far worse repercussions than executing him.

Feeling the Star Luo Emperor's gaze on her, Zhu Zhuqing instinctively lowered her head.

"Brother Dai," Bai Ye said, narrowing his eyes. "Why put pressure on her? After all, I'm the one who proposed it."

The Star Luo Emperor gave Bai Ye a long look, then glanced at Dai Mubai and fell silent.

For a time, the entire hall went quiet. No one spoke as they waited silently for the Star Luo Emperor's answer.

Bai Ye was in no hurry either. He merely watched with interest while sweeping his gaze over everyone in the hall. The moment his eyes met Zhu Zhuyun's, his spiritual power clearly detected her bashfulness.

Hmm? Bai Ye was delighted. After all, Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing were twins.

As for Dai Weisi?

He did not mind.

No wonder Dai Mubai liked seeking out twins. So he had a nasty little taste for fantasies too. Did he imagine himself as Dai Weisi, conquering Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun?

Hajimi, you really are something.

What a pity, though...

At that thought, Bai Ye looked at Dai Mubai with pity filling his eyes.

Dai Mubai noticed Bai Ye's gaze and instinctively met it. One look was enough to make him feel that his little brother could no longer be saved.

Just then, the Star Luo Emperor made his decision.

"Agreed."