Escape from the Duke's Estate

Smack! A slap jolted Dai Yuhao awake. He struggled to lift his head. Through his blurred vision, he made out his mother lying unconscious on the ground, pinned down by two burly men. Bruises covered her arms, and dried blood stained the corner of her mouth.

Then he remembered. After he had awakened Innate Full Soul Power, the Duchess who had oppressed him and his mother for four years had reluctantly returned the small courtyard where they once lived, and only because the elders had demanded it.

But on their way to the courtyard, Dai Huabin had blocked their path. The Duchess's second son was Dai Yuhao's older half-brother.

Dai Huabin had planted himself in their way looking for trouble. Simply because they had not bowed to him, he ordered his guards to beat them both unconscious.

"Mom, are you all right?"

At the sight of his mother, Dai Yuhao tried to struggle free, only to discover two burly men standing behind him. They held his arms fast, leaving him unable to move.

Dai Huabin approached at his leisure and seized Dai Yuhao's short blue hair. A cruel smile spread across his face as he yanked Dai Yuhao's head upward.

"Hiss!"

Pain tore across Dai Yuhao's scalp. The pull tugged at the other wounds on his face, sending fresh stabs of pain through each one.

Dai Yuhao gritted his teeth against the pain and opened his mouth. His voice came out hoarse with fury.

"Why? I'm the Duke's son too! I have Innate Full Soul Power too! Why? Why are you treating me like this?"

Smack!

Another slap struck Dai Yuhao's face. A large handprint appeared on his fair cheek, and fresh blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Dai Huabin stood over him, looking down at him as the guards held him in place. A contemptuous smile curled his lips.

He grabbed Dai Yuhao's hair again and slowly pulled his face up until they were nearly eye to eye. Then he spoke, every unhurried word dripping with arrogance.

"A bastard born to a maid dares to shout at me? You don't even have the White Tiger Martial Soul, yet you dare call yourself a member of the Duke's Estate. Don't think Innate Full Soul Power makes you special. You'd better know your place here. You were born a bastard, and you'll always be one. Next time you see me, remember to bow."

Dai Huabin let go of his hair. The two guards behind Dai Yuhao had already released him when Dai Huabin grabbed it, so Dai Yuhao, drained of strength, crashed to the ground once more.

"You think you deserve the name Dai? Remember to keep your tail between your legs at the Duke's Estate."

With that, Dai Huabin turned to leave. Just then, Huo Yun'er began to stir.

"Yuhao! My Yuhao!"

Dai Huabin stopped. A vicious idea occurred to him, and he shot a look at one of the guards. Understanding at once, the guard hauled the newly awakened Huo Yun'er off the ground and dragged her before Dai Yuhao.

Dai Huabin crouched in front of Dai Yuhao. Seeing him held helplessly by the guards filled Dai Huabin with satisfaction.

He leaned close to Dai Yuhao's ear and spoke in an unhurried voice.

"Beg me. Beg me, and I'll let your mother go."

Humiliation surged through Dai Yuhao, flooding every part of him before settling across his young face.

The sight of Dai Yuhao's humiliated expression—and his reluctance to move while his mother was in Dai Huabin's hands—only deepened Dai Huabin's satisfaction.

"Well? Fair trade, isn't it? Beg for mercy, and I'll release this woman."

Dai Yuhao looked up at Dai Huabin's haughty face, then turned toward Huo Yun'er. She was covered in injuries and looked terribly weak. If he did not find a doctor soon, her life might be in danger.

At that thought, Dai Yuhao could only lower his head. But just as he was about to give in, a voice sounded inside his mind.

"Little one, do you want to take your mother away?"

Dai Yuhao flinched and was about to speak, but the voice sounded in his mind again.

"Don't speak aloud. Just think the words. This old man can hear you."

It sounded like an old man's voice.

Can you really take my mother and me away? Dai Yuhao asked in disbelief.

"Of course. This old man keeps his word. If you don't believe me, I can take you both away right now."

Wait, senior! Just a moment. Dai Yuhao looked at Dai Huabin, who had bullied him and his mother for no reason. He could not swallow his anger. Before leaving, he decided to give Dai Huabin a farewell gift he would never forget.

At that moment, Dai Huabin's arrogant, impatient voice came from above him.

"Hey! Have you decided yet? My kindness has its limits!"

At Dai Huabin's words, Dai Yuhao's rigid body went limp, as though the last of his strength had left him. He seemed to have surrendered.

Seeing this, the guards holding him eased their grip a little.

Dai Yuhao parted his lips as if to speak, but his voice was too faint for Dai Huabin to hear.

Dai Huabin leaned down, bringing his ear close to Dai Yuhao's mouth to catch his plea for mercy.

As Dai Huabin's ear came within reach, a fierce glint flashed in Dai Yuhao's eyes.

With a sudden roar, Dai Yuhao lunged at him. He opened his mouth and bit hard into Dai Huabin's right ear.

"Ah!" Dai Huabin screamed and thrashed. The guards rushed forward, struggling to pull them apart.

But they were too late. Blood covered Dai Huabin's face, and a large piece was missing from his right ear. Blood still poured from the wound.

Silence fell over everyone. Dai Huabin shakily raised a hand to his ear and felt only warm blood and what remained of it.

He let out another piercing scream. "My ear!"

The guards abandoned Dai Yuhao and Huo Yun'er and crowded around Dai Huabin.

Dai Yuhao seized the chance to help his mother to her feet.

The guards managed to stop Dai Huabin's bleeding. Red-faced and breathing hard, he glared at Dai Yuhao and Huo Yun'er.

"Beat them to death! I want them dead!"

The guards exchanged glances, none daring to step forward. They could blame Dai Huabin for ordering them to beat the pair, but killing them was another matter. Dai Yuhao was still the Duke's son, even if he was born to a concubine and had never been favored. Now that he had awakened Innate Full Soul Power, they dared even less to kill him.

"What are you waiting for? I want them dead!"

Then an aged voice rang out.

"Enough!"

A tall, elderly man suddenly appeared before them.

The sight of him only agitated Dai Huabin further. His face twisted as he gritted out his words.

"Third Grandfather, you came just in time. That bastard bit my ear! Hurry and kill him!"

The newcomer was one of the elders who had appeared in the hall earlier. He was the former Duke's younger brother, Dai Xing, the White Tiger Family's second elder and a rank-eighty-four Soul Douluo.

Dai Xing's expression darkened as his gaze swept over them. When it reached Dai Yuhao, his displeasure deepened.

He rebuked him at once. "Dai Yuhao, what have you done? To injure your own brother so badly—you're turning on your own flesh and blood. Apologize to your second brother."

A mocking smile touched Dai Yuhao's lips. "Why should I? Where were you when he bullied me? Where were all your warnings about turning on family then? Where were you when that vicious woman oppressed my mother and me? Why do you old men only show up when I fight back?"

Dai Xing showed no trace of guilt. A concubine-born son would be overlooked in any family. All he felt was anger at being challenged by a junior.

"Dai Yuhao, do not make this old man say it twice. Apologize to your second brother, or I'll punish you under the family rules."

Mockery flashed in Dai Yuhao's eyes. The old man wanted to force him to bow, but Dai Yuhao refused to give him that satisfaction. Under everyone's horrified gaze, he steeled himself, spat out the piece of ear, and stamped on it until it was crushed to bits.

Then he moved his foot aside for everyone to see.

Dai Huabin was so furious at the sight that he fainted. His ear could never be restored. From now on, he would have to live with only one whole ear.

Dai Xing, who had witnessed it all, flew into a rage.

"You wretched beast! You're beyond reason. Today, I'll deal with you for Huabin's sake!"

He gathered Soul Power into a massive hand and brought it crashing down toward Dai Yuhao and Huo Yun'er.

Dai Yuhao showed no panic as the enormous palm descended. He simply watched it fall.

"Senior, sorry for the trouble."

Boom!

The giant palm struck the ground, leaving a crater several yards across.

"Hm? Where did they go?"

To Dai Xing's surprise, neither Dai Yuhao nor Huo Yun'er was in the crater.

"Fine! So that's why you dared go so far. You had this planned all along!"

Dai Xing laughed bitterly in his fury. He picked up the unconscious Dai Huabin and headed for the residence of the estate's retainers to find him a doctor.

Before leaving, he gave the stunned guards an order.

"Spread the word. Those two can't have gone far. Send people after them. If you find them, bring them back to me. If you can't bring them back alive, bring back their bodies."

"Yes, Second Elder."