[Drag Him Out and Behead Him!]

"Enough!"

Xue Ye thundered.

Losing the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud had already infuriated him, and now Ge Long had made a complete mess of the annual celebration.

What had happened was perfectly clear: Ge Long had failed in his duties and mistaken Wei Fan for a thief.

Anyone with eyes could see that!

"Ge Long, you've gone too far!"

"Wei Fan already let you search his Soul Tool, yet you still refuse to let it go. Just what are you after?"

"And this nonsense about a Soul King with five Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings-I think your old eyes are failing you."

"You're a Soul Douluo, for goodness' sake. Don't you know what a Soul Master's Soul Ring configuration should be?"

"Don't deny it when we call you a senile old fool. Wei Fan won the last Elite Tournament. Anyone who knows anything knows his martial soul is water. It has absolutely nothing to do with that trident you mentioned-they're poles apart."

"Besides, Wei Fan isn't even remotely a Soul King!"

"If you're going to frame someone, at least make up a believable excuse."

"Give Wei Fan three years of your stipend as compensation!"

"..."

Some of the nobles began furiously condemning Ge Long's actions. If they had merely been flattering Xue Ye earlier, now they were genuinely enraged.

That bastard Ge Long had gone far too far!

There was nothing there, and that was that. Yet he still insisted on making Wei Fan summon his martial soul.

"I suggest confining Ge Long to his residence for three months so he can reflect on his behavior."

"Make him apologize to Wei Fan!"

"..."

"Just drag him out and behead him!"

"Uh..."

Who said that?

They only wanted to trample Ge Long a little, not trample him to death.

If Xue Ye really had Ge Long executed, who would defend the nation afterward?

Ge Long was equally startled. Which bastard wants me dead?

All I did was fail to find the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud on Wei Fan!

That hardly warrants death, does it?

"Rongrong, stop this nonsense!"

Ning Fengzhi rebuked her.

This was an internal struggle within the Heaven Dou Empire. It had nothing to do with them.

Had the girl taken the wrong medicine today?

Ning Rongrong pouted her rosy lips. She didn't think she had done anything wrong.

Whenever she thought of that old bastard Ge Long sniffing at her atop the Swan Tower, her anger surged.

Even beheading him would be letting him off lightly!

"Ge Long, return Wei Fan's Soul Tool and apologize to him."

"Then compensate Wei Fan with three years of your salary."

Xue Ye issued his orders.

"Yes!"

Ge Long had wanted to refuse to apologize. He commanded all three armies of the Heaven Dou Empire. How could he apologize to some wet-behind-the-ears brat?

But when he saw the anger in Xue Ye's eyes, he could only obediently accept the order.

Especially when he thought of handing three years of his salary to that brat Wei Fan for nothing.

His heart ached!

How am I supposed to get by with no income for three years?

I'll have to go back and buy enoki mushrooms with whatever money I have left!

Where on earth did this brat hide the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud?

"I'm sorry!"

Ge Long reluctantly returned the Soul Tool to Wei Fan.

Could he really not be the thief?

No!

He still trusted his judgment. He simply didn't know where this man had hidden the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

"Marshal Ge Long only wanted to earn merit before His Majesty, gain a promotion, and get rich. There's nothing wrong with that."

Wei Fan spoke casually as he took back the Soul Tool.

The moment those words left his mouth...

Xue Ye's expression changed!

Ge Long seeking promotion and wealth was absolutely not something Xue Ye wanted to see. If a military commander began scheming within the imperial court like the civil officials, who would command the armies?

The other nobles and ministers' expressions changed too!

So that was the old bastard's game. He intended to fight them to the bitter end.

The next time an opportunity like this arose, they would make sure to bring that old bastard down for good.

Ge Long's expression changed even more dramatically!

That brat Wei Fan did this on purpose. With a single sentence, he had practically made Ge Long the target of every arrow.

Qian Renxue's gaze had remained fixed on Wei Fan.

When Ge Long had failed to find anything inside the Soul Tool earlier, she had thought she was overthinking things.

But the exchange just now had reminded her of something.

A trident, five Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings...

There was another possibility: Wei Fan had twin martial souls!

As far as she knew, this man's martial soul was water. She hadn't seen him use any other martial soul during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament two years ago.

If he also had a trident martial soul, he would be terrifying!

The imperial celebration ended...

Ge Long kept his eyes fixed on Wei Fan. Since the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud hadn't been found in the Soul Tool, it had to be hidden somewhere in the imperial palace.

He would watch Wei Fan like a hawk. If the brat dared to retrieve it...

He would catch him red-handed with the stolen goods!

Then he would get those three years of salary back and slap the faces of those dogs who had trampled him earlier.

"Wei Fan, don't be upset about what happened today."

Xue Ke spoke.

"Why would I be upset?"

Wei Fan was in a wonderful mood.

Not only had he obtained the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud, but he had also squeezed three years of salary out of Ge Long and received Gold Soul Coins as a reward from Xue Ye.

He had made quite a haul that day!

He felt so good he could fly!

Upset?

Not a chance!

"Don't worry. I'll make sure to get even for you."

"I'll have Father give Ge Long a proper punishment."

Xue Ke raised her delicate little fist.

That Ge Long had actually called Wei Fan a thief. He had gone too far!

Wei Fan was so handsome. How could he possibly steal anything?

The other noble students from Moonlight Pavilion saw the adorable side of Xue Ke that she only ever showed in front of Wei Fan.

Their tears of jealousy were practically dripping from the corners of their mouths!

Although Wei Fan had led them to receive rewards from Xue Ye, they still hated the fellow.

Why was Princess Xue Ke so nice to Wei Fan when she wouldn't even spare them a proper glance?

It was infuriating!

"Wei Fan, this is as far as I can see you off."

Xue Ke stopped at the palace gates.

"All right!"

Watching Wei Fan swagger out of the palace...

Ge Long, who was hiding behind them, was utterly dumbfounded!

He's just leaving?

He doesn't want the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud anymore?

Although he was surprised, wasn't this good news for him?

"Guards!"

"First squad, second squad, there's an azure treasure hidden inside the palace. It's triangular."

"Find it!"

Ge Long was certain the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud was still somewhere inside the palace.

"Wei Fan, wait for me."

Tang Yuehua jogged a few steps to catch up.

"What's wrong, Sister Yuehua?"

Wei Fan noticed that Tang Yuehua's expression seemed a little off.

"This is yours!"

Tang Yuehua handed over the reward Xue Ye had given her.

Although she had received a commendation, she knew that day's Square Dance had nothing whatsoever to do with her.

"That's yours!"

"If you don't want it, consider it my tuition. Who knows? I might return to Moonlight Pavilion someday."

Wei Fan spoke lightly.

"You're leaving?"

A trace of disappointment stirred in Tang Yuehua's heart.

With Xue Ye having praised the Square Dance, it was certain to sweep through the imperial court.

She had been hoping Wei Fan would teach her.

"Yes!"

His purpose in going to Moonlight Pavilion had been to get close to the nobles, learn about the Heaven Dou Empire's arrangements, and then steal the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud.

Now that he had achieved his goal, he naturally had no intention of remaining at Moonlight Pavilion.

"All right!"