Yan Shaozhe followed the White Tiger Duke's gaze and saw Huo Yuhao standing behind the group, immediately understanding the implication.
Yan Shaozhe smiled and said, "Then we'll accept without hesitation. However, I'm afraid we can't stay any longer. His Excellency the Duke probably also wants to have a heart-to-heart talk with the child."
Dai Hao withdrew his gaze and replied with a smile, "Then you all can rest here for a while and organize the clues."
Then Dai Hao beckoned to the guards beside him, leaned over, and whispered a few instructions.
The guards then led the group toward another tent outside.
Huo Yuhao was about to leave as well, but Yan Shaozhe stopped him.
Yan Shaozhe said in a low voice, " Yuhao, it seems your father wants to see you. Why don't you stay and have a good talk with him? We can set off as soon as you return."
Huo Yuhao couldn't refuse, so he nodded and stayed where he was, watching the Shrek Academy members leave the tent.
Only when Dai Yueheng was leaving did he turn back and take a deep look at Huo Yuhao and Dai Hao, then with a relaxed smile, he pulled down the curtain at the entrance of the main tent.
For a moment, peace returned to the tent.
Dai Hao stood there quietly, the dim lighting from the surrounding Soul Tool casting a long shadow of his tall and imposing figure, giving off an inexplicable sense of intimidation.
Dai Hao didn't speak, but waved his hand again at the guards in the tent.
After bowing respectfully, the guards carefully withdrew from the tent.
After confirming that only Huo Yuhao and himself remained in the tent, Dai Hao turned around.
His originally serious face instantly softened into one of tenderness upon seeing Huo Yuhao, completely devoid of the majesty befitting a great marshal.
"Son, I've missed you so much! Let me see how you're doing at the academy!"
Dai Hao enthusiastically reached out to hug Huo Yuhao.
Huo Yuhao frowned, walked straight to the side, pulled over a stool, and sat down.
With his two arms awkwardly suspended in mid-air, Dai Hao was momentarily at a loss.
However, he quickly recovered, scratched his head somewhat awkwardly, and shamelessly sat down next to Huo Yuhao.
If outsiders were here, they would probably be utterly astonished. The dignified Grand Marshal of the Star Luo Empire, Duke White Tiger Duke, was actually behaving so servilely in front of his own son. It was truly shocking.
Looking at Huo Yuhao beside him, Dai Hao asked with concern, "How's life at the academy? If you really don't like it, Yuhao, you can come back anytime."
"I'm fine. I bet my mom's been nagging you every day." Huo Yuhao chuckled, picked up the tea on the table, and took a sip.
Dai Hao quickly nodded and said, "Yes, yes, your mother is still angry with me because I let you go to the Shrek Academy alone."
Dai Hao then pointed to the large tent overhead and said with a hint of grievance, "Look, I've been forced to come here now. I finally have a day off, but your mother won't see me."
Huo Yuhao let out a soft breath and blew the tea leaves in his cup away a little. "Your relationship problems are your own to solve; talking to me won't help."
Dai Hao patted his thigh, his eyes slightly curved, revealing crow's feet at the corners, conveying a faint sense of helplessness.
"Son, why don't you change your surname back? The old guard in the army really respects you. When you come of age, you can take my place. Wouldn't that be what everyone wants?"
Dai Hao looked at Huo Yuhao with anticipation in his eyes, yearning in his heart, and nodded in agreement.
Huo Yuhao was an illegitimate son. Due to the background of the first wife, all he could do in the past was to ensure that the mother and son could live a stable life.
Logically speaking, it shouldn't be Huo Yuhao's turn to inherit the title, but when he was young, in order to protect his mother and son from the so-called Crown Prince's harm.
He took him with him in the army, and it was during those years that Dai Hao saw a different kind of brilliance in his son.
Even when the Emperor and Princess were inspecting the area to boost morale, Huo Yuhao won the Princess's favor on his own and secured a marriage agreement through his own efforts.
At that time, Dai Hao was convinced that Huo Yuhao was his successor, but in order to protect him, Dai Hao did not tell anyone about it.
She only mentions it when she's alone with Huo Yuhao.
However, what frustrated him the most was that Huo Yuhao wouldn't agree!
As expected, the expectation did not materialize. Huo Yuhao shook his head and refused, saying, "I'm not interested in this. If you want to retire, you don't lack someone to inherit your position."
Dai Hao didn't give up, and used his prepared words, " Yuhao, you know that our Duke's Mansion's Mansion is very powerful now, even..."
Dai Hao looked around, then lowered his voice again and said, "It can even hold the emperor hostage to command the feudal lords! Therefore, the king is very wary of your father, me."
"If it weren't for your betrothal to the princess, the king would probably have wanted to get rid of me long ago."
"However, he is still very wary of me. The best solution is for me to pass the throne to you, and then you can marry the princess."
"Only in this way can our whole family truly emerge unscathed and avoid unnecessary conflict!"
Dai Hao spoke earnestly, his eyes full of sincerity.
Huo Yuhao did indeed roll his eyes at him; he had no way to deal with his dramatic father.
This wasn't the first or second time they'd tricked him into inheriting the title; their methods were certainly more sophisticated now.
This time, it's even turned into a power struggle.
Huo Yuhao didn't mince words, directly exposing his words, "Please, don't you know how many troops you command? Isn't it only natural to be wary of you?"
"And if you really want to withdraw unscathed, it would be better if you relinquished some of your military power; that would be much easier to negotiate."
Dai Hao's face stiffened for a moment, then he quickly put on a kind smile, vehemently denying it, "Hahaha... that's not true."
Dai Hao felt uneasy under Huo Yuhao's gaze and subconsciously changed the subject.
"By the way, how long has it been since you last saw Jiujiu? That little girl talks about you every day. The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Fighting Tournament is about to begin."
"Besides rescuing your companions, you'll be heading to Star Luo City for the competition, right? This is a good opportunity to meet up with Jiujiu."
Upon hearing this, Huo Yuhao put down his tea and looked at Dai Hao.
"Don't worry about your love life, old man. You haven't even handled it well yourself, so just let it go."
Dai Hao felt a little embarrassed by what he was said, but then he thought of something else and asked, "By the way, if you're not feeling well at the academy, you can have Xuan'er come and take care of you."
Huo Yuhao waved his hand, stood up, and walked out of the tent. "That's enough. Xuan'er is from my courtyard. You can't say what she wants to do, so don't interfere."
As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Yuhao's figure disappeared into the tent.
Dai Hao smiled helplessly, and finally had no choice but to sit back in the main seat, regaining his usual dignified demeanor.