"Damn it—have they found out who did it?" Dai Huabin asked through gritted teeth, clenching his fists.
The Duchess shook her head. "Your father has already reported it to His Majesty. The Emperor has ordered an investigation. I believe that as long as the perpetrator is still within the borders of the Star Luo Empire, they won't get away."
"Those damned scoundrels!" Dai Huabin cursed.
"Sigh… Your father has led the empire's armies for so many years. No doubt some people have held grudges in secret. That's why they chose this critical moment—during the Soul Master Tournament—to launch a surprise attack on the Duke's Mansion," the Duchess said, sighing as she spoke to him.
Dai Huabin was still fuming, but her words suddenly sparked a thought in his mind.
That's right!
Why didn't the attackers strike earlier? Or later? Why choose the exact moment when his father had returned to Star Luo City for the tournament?
The Soul Master Tournament…
The Sun Moon Empire! It must have been the Sun Moon Empire's doing!
The realization hit Dai Huabin like lightning.
Dai Hao had spent years commanding troops on the Mingdou Mountain Range, resisting the Sun Moon Empire. If anyone bore a grudge against the White Tiger Duke, it would be them!
The Duchess noticed the change in his expression and asked, "Huabin, what is it?"
"Nothing, Mother. Please go rest for now—we still have some matters to attend to," Dai Huabin replied, glancing toward the others standing behind him.
She nodded. "Alright, then I won't disturb you."
After giving Xuanzi a courteous bow, the Duchess left with her attendants.
—
Back upstairs, Dai Huabin turned to Xuanzi. "Elder Xuan, there's something I need to take care of."
"Something related to your family?" Xuanzi had overheard the earlier conversation between him and the Duchess. It wasn't hard to guess what this was about.
Dai Huabin nodded. "Yes."
"You suspect the Sun Moon team is behind the attack on the White Tiger Duke's Mansion?" Xuanzi asked again.
"That's right! Choosing to strike during the Soul Master Tournament—and having a grudge against our family—it has to be someone from the Sun Moon Empire!" Dai Huabin said with conviction.
"I'm from the Sun Moon Empire," Jiang Qingtong said coolly from the side.
Dai Huabin's expression turned awkward. He forced a smile and replied, "I meant those stubborn bastards from the Sun Moon Empire."
Xuanzi said calmly, "Go ahead—but you understand, this is the middle of the Soul Master Tournament. Be mindful of your actions. And what you just said is based only on speculation, not solid evidence. You can't accuse anyone on that basis."
"Yes, Elder Xuan!"
Dai Huabin gave a respectful nod and took his leave, heading toward the floor where Jiang Shengyu and the others were staying.
—
Meanwhile, in the Sun Moon team's lounge, Meng Hongchen, Tang Ya, and Nana were all comforting Huo Yuhao. Among the girls, all three took on the role of the caring older sister toward the youngest member of their team.
Jiang Shengyu nudged Xiao Hongchen's shoulder and said, "Someone's about to come stir up trouble."
"Huh? Who?" Xiao Hongchen looked at him in surprise.
"Dai Huabin," Jiang Shengyu replied.
"Him? Why?" Xiao Hongchen asked, puzzled. "Did he figure out it was us who torched the White Tiger Duke's Mansion?"
"You guys torched the White Tiger Duke's Mansion?" the teacher-in-charge suddenly stood up with a jolt, staring at the two in disbelief.
The rest of the official team turned to look as well. Even Meng Hongchen and the others paused their conversation with Huo Yuhao and turned to stare at her brother.
Suddenly the center of attention, Xiao Hongchen blinked a few times, visibly flustered.
But Jiang Shengyu remained calm and casually pointed at him. "It was his idea. I was just the accomplice."
With everyone's gaze now fixed squarely on him, Xiao Hongchen shouted, "You little brat—you're selling me out!"
Meng Hongchen stormed up to her brother, hands on her hips. "Brother, did you really burn down the Duke's Mansion?"
"I only suggested it, okay? The actual arsonist wasn't me—it was him," Xiao Hongchen pointed right back at Jiang Shengyu.
Jiang Shengyu shrugged. "He made me do it."
Xiao Hongchen: "…"
Their teacher walked over and stared at Xiao Hongchen. After a long pause, she finally said, "Well done!"
"Eh?" Both Xiao Hongchen and Jiang Shengyu were stunned, staring at her in disbelief.
She went on to ask, "Did you leave behind any evidence?"
"No real evidence," Jiang Shengyu replied. "But Dai Huabin just spoke with his mother, so he might have guessed it was us."
"That's fine—as long as there's no proof. Let them guess all they want. It doesn't matter without evidence," the teacher said, waving it off and signaling that they didn't need to worry.
Just then, Huo Yuhao walked over and bowed deeply to Jiang Shengyu and Xiao Hongchen. "Thank you, Cousin. Thank you, Senior Hongchen."
Xiao Hongchen waved it off with a smile. "Come on, no need to be polite—we're brothers."
—
Moments later, a loud knock echoed from the door to their lounge. Meng Hongchen went to open it, and there stood Dai Huabin, his face dark and cold.
"Was it you?" he said grimly. "Did you burn down my home?"
Hearing his voice, Jiang Shengyu stepped out from behind Meng Hongchen and motioned for her to sit back down.
He crossed his arms and stared at Dai Huabin. "Are you crazy or something?"
"You filthy bastards from the Sun Moon Empire!" Dai Huabin roared, fists clenched. "You couldn't defeat my father on the battlefield, so you stooped to this—burning down the White Tiger Duke's Mansion during the Soul Master Tournament! Hand over the culprit! Or the Star Luo Empire will not let this go!"
"You came alone to threaten us?" Jiang Shengyu blinked, surprised. "Are you even aware of the situation you're in?"
Xiao Hongchen stepped forward. "Kid, you've got some nerve coming here to accuse us. Do you even know whose territory this is? You're just a Soul Elder with three rings—how dare you walk in here alone?"
"If you've got guts, then fight me one-on-one!" Dai Huabin said, staring down both of them. "If I win, you admit you burned down the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. If I lose, I'll leave!"
Jiang Shengyu laughed.
Typical. With an ancestor like Tang San, the first thing this guy thought of was a duel to settle it.
Before Xiao Hongchen could refuse, Huo Yuhao stood up.
"I'll fight you."
Everyone turned to Huo Yuhao. None of them believed he would lose, though some wondered if it was even worth engaging Dai Huabin at all.
"You?" Dai Huabin glanced at him and scoffed. "You're just a two-ring Soul Grandmaster. One of your rings is even a ten-year soul ring. How do you expect to fight me? Get someone with three rings—I don't bully trash."
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