"Dai Lingfeng?"
Long Aotian clenched his fists.
I'm looking forward to meeting a genius like you!
I want to see the gap between myself and a true genius!
"Ah!!"
At the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
An unbearably shrill scream suddenly rang out.
When Xuan Zi woke up, his whole body ached. It felt as though every bone in his body had been smashed apart.
Tang Hao had nearly beaten him into a beef ball!
Xuan Zi was furious, humiliated, and aggrieved.
When had he ever suffered like this?
"Shut up!"
"Behave yourself!"
"Make another sound, and I have plenty of ways to shut you up."
Tang Hao had been keeping watch over Xuan Zi. When he heard Xuan Zi wailing, he immediately warned him impatiently.
The Clear Sky Hammer slammed into the ground.
Xuan Zi shuddered all over in fright and hurriedly shut his mouth.
After being hammered, he had learned to behave. For Tang Hao to abuse him so badly, he had to be a level 99 Limit Douluo!
And looking closely at that hammer,
it seemed a little familiar. He felt like he had seen it somewhere before...
The Clear Sky Hammer!
That was right, the Clear Sky Sect's Clear Sky Hammer!
Xuan Zi's eyes immediately cleared.
A wave of regret washed over him.
Tang Hao's Martial Soul was the Clear Sky Hammer, and he had decisively taken Xuan Zi down in a single move. Was there any need to guess his identity?
He had to be the master of the Clear Sky Sect!
And with Soul Power as high as level 99, he was also a Limit Douluo.
He was not afraid of Shrek at all!
Xuan Zi's position as deputy pavilion master of the Sea God Pavilion counted for nothing.
If he had known, he would never have pressured Dai Lingfeng. He had not known that the man who took Dai Lingfeng as a disciple was a Limit Douluo.
Xuan Zi bullied the weak and feared the strong. He immediately behaved himself and waited for Mu En to rescue him.
This matter could only be discussed between the Limit Douluo of both sides.
He had no say in it.
"Hmph, at least you know what's good for you."
"Behave yourself, and you'll be released when the time comes."
Tang Hao gave a cold snort.
"Yes, senior!"
"Xuan Zi failed to recognize Mount Tai and offended you, senior. Please forgive me!"
When Xuan Zi heard that Tang Hao would release him, his eyes lit up with delighted surprise.
It seemed this senior was still willing to give Shrek Academy face.
The Clear Sky Sect and Shrek were on good terms,
so Tang Hao surely would not kill him. Xuan Zi could rest easy.
This matter probably would not be much of a problem. At most, he would be punished.
"Mm, you know how to behave, kid. In that case, I can't be bothered with you. You can eat and drink as you please in the White Tiger Duke's Mansion."
"But you can't leave."
"When I let you go, I'll naturally let you go. If I haven't let you go and you run off on your own..."
"You can think about the consequences."
Tang Hao leisurely took a sip of wine.
Things were easier than he had expected. Xuan Zi was a coward; there was no need to keep watching him. A little scare was enough.
"Yes, senior, I understand."
Xuan Zi forced a bitter smile.
Having offended a Limit Douluo,
he was like a monk who could run away but could not take his temple with him. He could run, but could he really never return to Shrek?
With Tang Hao threatening him, Xuan Zi had no way out.
"Good, as long as you understand."
After warning Xuan Zi, Tang Hao paid him no more attention. He stood up and wandered around the White Tiger Duke's Mansion.
The White Tiger Duke's Mansion was magnificent and imposing,
but Tang Hao was not interested in its superficial splendor. He preferred slipping into quiet courtyards and along secluded paths, finding a quiet corner to drink by himself.
He loved wine.
Especially since coming to the Duke's Mansion, where he had an unlimited supply of fine wine and had gained such a good disciple, Tang Hao was in a fine mood and decided to enjoy himself.
The reason he had not appeared in time before was that he had been drunk.
Tang Hao drank as he staggered along the paths of the Duke's Mansion.
Suddenly,
a small, thin figure emerged from the bushes and clung to Tang Hao's leg.
"Grandpa!"
"Help! Please save my mother!"
Tears streamed down Huo Yuhao's face as he clung tightly to Tang Hao, as though grasping his last lifesaving straw.
He had already begged everyone he could for help.
No one was willing to help him and his mother.
Even Dai Luoli and his mother, who often helped them in the past, were in a difficult position.
News that Dai Lingfeng disliked them had spread throughout the Duke's Mansion.
At a time like this, no one dared speak against Dai Lingfeng.
With no other choice, Huo Yuhao could only grab hold of Tang Hao as he passed by.
But Tang Hao was drunk.
"Hm?"
Tang Hao narrowed his eyes and glanced dazedly at Huo Yuhao.
"Get out of my way."
Then he sent him flying with a kick.
What was that?
It was getting in the way of his drinking!
As the major powers waited in anticipation, the one-month deadline finally arrived.
On the night before the engagement banquet,
at the White Tiger Duke's Mansion,
Dai Hao and the Duchess brought Dai Lingfeng and Dai Huabin with them as they prepared to head to the imperial palace.
Tang Hao came along as well, bringing Xuan Zi.
Xuan Zi kept his head bowed low, but he followed Tang Hao closely.
Over the past month,
Xuan Zi and Tang Hao had become drinking and feasting buddies.
One loved wine and the other loved meat. They had somehow found each other's tastes congenial and grown a little closer.
After stabilizing the various energies remaining in his body, Dai Lingfeng's cultivation had also reached level 16.
"Lingfeng, when you see your elder brother later, you two should have a good talk. Brothers fight tigers together, and fathers and sons march into battle side by side."
"Yueheng and Huabin are your most dependable support."
"When you conquer the world in the future, they'll be your right and left arms, your own family."
"Your elder brother studies at Shrek Academy, so he's bound to have seen more. If you have any questions about cultivation, you can ask him."
The Duchess enthusiastically told Dai Lingfeng about Dai Yueheng.
Dai Yueheng had stayed in touch with the family throughout the month, but he had not returned. Instead, he planned to attend the engagement banquet with his classmates on the day itself, making it easier for him to win people over.
By now, though, Ma Xiaotao and the others had already settled into a hotel in Star Luo City, so Dai Yueheng would certainly come by.
"Don't worry, Mother. I understand."
Dai Lingfeng nodded slightly.
It was good that the Duchess showed him such filial devotion.
Dai Yueheng could indeed be used as a henchman, but Dai Huabin was far too green. There was no real need for him.
"Lingfeng really is clever."
The Duchess was pleasantly surprised.
She and Dai Huabin still had some stains on their record, but Dai Yueheng had never dealt with Dai Lingfeng before. He could certainly build a good relationship with him.
Dai Yueheng and Dai Lingfeng were blood brothers.
As long as Dai Yueheng assisted him wholeheartedly and remained utterly loyal, how could he fail to earn Dai Lingfeng's trust?
With Dai Yueheng there,
Dai Lingfeng presumably would not hold the Duchess and Dai Huabin to account in the future, either.
Perfect!
"Lingfeng, your mother may be long-winded, but she's right. There's no harm in building a good relationship with your elder brother."
Dai Hao spoke up as well.
As for Dai Huabin,
he followed carefully behind Dai Lingfeng, looking every bit like a lackey. Yet there was not the slightest trace of displeasure on his face. Instead, he felt it was only natural.
Their White Tiger Lineage was counting on Dai Lingfeng now,
and so was he.
"Father, I understand."
"Father, Mother, tomorrow will be the day the White Tiger Lineage shakes the world and soars into the sky!"
"I'll make the White Tiger Lineage great again!"
Dai Lingfeng had heard so many lectures that he turned around and painted them a grand pie of his own.
He knew what these people liked to hear.
While Dai Lingfeng was full of spirit and the White Tiger Lineage was delighted and proud,
Huo Yuhao suffered a terrible calamity.
"Dead..."
"Mom is dead..."
Huo Yuhao knelt motionless beside the sickbed, his eyes vacant, unable even to shed a tear.