Douluo: Starting with an Engagement to Zhu Zhuqing

Chapter 51: The Night Visitor, Dai Mubai

Dai Hengyu understood Dai Yao's situation well, and in just a moment, he realized that this was merely an excuse Dai Yao had made. He sighed quietly and understood Dai Yao's choice, feeling some disappointment, but more so a disdain for the family rules.

With a long exhale, he leaned weakly against his chair and warned Dai Yao:

"Dai Yao, you need to understand that there are some things you cannot do. Once you do them, there's no turning back."

Dai Yao and Dai Hengyu exchanged a glance, both understanding what the other was thinking.

Dai Hengyu fidgeted with his lips, his eyes shifting as he looked at Dai Yao and then fell silent, unwilling to accept the situation. He asked stubbornly:

"Have you really decided?"

Dai Yao nodded firmly.

Dai Hengyu closed his eyes in resignation and slowly exhaled, as if trying to release years of frustration.

The two of them didn't speak anymore, and the air seemed to freeze.

Dai Yao knew that this moment was crucial, a moment that would decide his fate.

In Dai Hengyu's heart, the weight of his feelings for him versus the family's rules was being tested.

If the family's rules took precedence, Dai Yao wouldn't be able to leave the room today. Perhaps, in the future, he'd even be confined or directly executed.

But if his feelings for Dai Yao were more important, then Dai Hengyu would overlook his decision to betray the family and leave the Star Luo Empire. He might even subtly encourage it.

After a long silence, Dai Hengyu broke the suffocating atmosphere.

He gave Dai Yao a complex look and said:

"Go. Leave Star Luo. I can only buy you seven days' time."

"After seven days, your trip to the Spirit Hall will no longer be concealed. After that, I will no longer be responsible for your life or death."

He waved his hand, signaling Dai Yao to leave.

"Thank you, Uncle," Dai Yao slowly kneeled, solemnly bowing three times, and then turned to leave without looking back.

He understood how much Dai Hengyu had sacrificed to make this decision.

As the Prince of Star Luo, the family rules had been the foundation of his life. Letting Dai Yao go meant that Dai Hengyu was abandoning something he had believed in for most of his life.

The affection Dai Hengyu felt for him had surpassed his devotion to the family.

In fact, compared to his nominal father, the Emperor of Star Luo, Dai Hengyu was more like a true father to him.

"Thank you, Uncle." Dai Yao looked at the plaque on the Vice Principal's door and felt warmth in his heart.

Six years of cold palace life had taught him one thing: caution.

In truth, he had also prepared for the worst.

That is, after Dai Hengyu understood his determination, he might confine him and hand him over to the Elder Hall for punishment.

If such a scenario occurred, Dai Yao would proactively reveal his twin martial souls secret.

First, with such talent, even the White Tiger family wouldn't easily kill him, ensuring his survival.

Second, the Spirit Hall would spare no effort to rescue him.

In the age when gods had not descended, possessing twin martial souls and reaching the rank of Title Douluo meant being one of the top experts in Douluo Continent. Even the Spirit Hall wouldn't easily abandon him.

At the same time, this also meant that Dai Hengyu would completely abandon him. In the Star Luo Empire, he would have no family left.

Alone in the vast world, with no worries.

"At least there's no one left to stop me from causing chaos," he thought grimly.

Fortunately, Dai Hengyu had not chosen this path.

Vice Principal's Office.

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the wall behind Dai Hengyu. A person in gray robes appeared in the room and knelt in front of Dai Hengyu.

"Did you hear everything?" Dai Hengyu no longer wore a gentle expression. His face was cold.

"I heard everything," the figure in gray lowered his head and replied flatly.

The Star Luo royal family had many types of guards, but the highest was the legendary Shadow Guards—the Emperor's personal guards.

Within the Shadow Guards, each member was a top-tier expert, and some were even at the Soul Saint level.

The person kneeling in front of Dai Hengyu was none other than a Soul Douluo-level Shadow Guard.

"Handle anyone who knows about the Fourth Prince's visit to the Spirit Hall. Be careful not to leave any traces," Dai Hengyu coldly instructed.

A simple sentence decided the fate of hundreds of people. In Douluo Continent, commoners were like ants.

"Yes," the Shadow Guard responded, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished into a puff of black mist.

"Dai Yao, because of my mistakes, you lost your mother. This time, let it be my atonement," Dai Hengyu murmured as he looked out the window, gazing at the bright landscape outside.

The silence in the Vice Principal's office seemed to hold a tinge of sorrow.

The day before the duel.

Dai Yao rarely took a break from training today. He sat on the shore with Zhu Zhuqing, enjoying the beauty of the waterfall.

Under the night sky, the waterfall shimmered like a white satin ribbon, outlining the black night. The sounds of animals echoed through the surrounding forest.

For the first time in three years, he saw how beautiful the waterfall was.

"You're such a training addict!" Zhu Zhuqing poked him in the face with her finger, teasing him.

Dai Yao chuckled without explaining.

After all, in the White Tiger family, not taking training seriously was like choosing slow death.

With the duel tomorrow, there was no point in further training. The most important thing now was to calm his mind, so he could perform at his best in the duel.

Suddenly, he felt a sharp sense of unease.

"What's wrong?" Zhu Zhuqing noticed his abnormality and asked with concern.

"Nothing, just go rest in your room," Dai Yao said gently, looking at her beautiful face.

Though Zhu Zhuqing didn't understand, she obediently went back to her room.

Once he saw that Zhu Zhuqing was safely inside, Dai Yao walked slowly into the forest, following the shoreline.

"Come out," he called into the dark woods.

"How did you find me?" A white figure emerged slowly, disheveled but with piercing, determined eyes.

It was none other than the second "useless" student in the academy—Dai Mubai.

"It seems your disheveled look is just a disguise. You've never stopped training," Dai Yao said coldly, looking at Dai Mubai's unwavering gaze.

"You're no different. Enduring humiliation and focusing on your cultivation," Dai Mubai shrugged slightly.

Dai Yao was surprised. For three years, he had no interaction with Dai Mubai. He had assumed that Dai Mubai, after failing, would have given up on everything. But it turned out that his failure had been part of his disguise.

"Why are you here today?" Dai Yao asked.

"I'm leaving Star Luo Empire tomorrow," Dai Mubai said with some hesitation.

For him, leaving Star Luo was the best news. The past few years in Star Luo Royal Academy had been suffocating. But there was no one with whom to share his happiness. He and Dai Yao were in similar situations—although he had a mother and a brother, they all felt like strangers to him.

Ironically, Dai Yao, the one who had once defeated him, held a different kind of feeling in his heart. Perhaps it was because they both shared the experience of being looked down upon, and there was a sense of camaraderie.

"Congratulations," Dai Yao said with a smile. "You're finally ready to leave this suffocating family."

Dai Yao couldn't help but feel sentimental. Even though he wouldn't have Zhu Zhuqing by his side, Dai Mubai had decided to leave the Star Luo Empire.

"You should also make some plans. Star Luo Empire isn't a place for us. Since Davis became the captain of Star Luo Royal Academy's team, he's already preparing to make a move against you," Dai Mubai kindly reminded.

"Thanks, but I'm not planning on that yet," Dai Yao replied.

Dai Yao, being cautious by nature, wouldn't reveal his plans to leave the Star Luo Empire in a few days.

Dai Mubai shook his head, thinking to himself that Dai Yao was still too young. He would only change his path after suffering.

He looked at the dimly lit small house by the pond, a silhouette framed by the light from the window.

With a hint of envy, he said to Dai Yao: "Take good care of her."

"No need to tell me. I will," Dai Yao replied.

Under the dark night sky, the two brothers, though on different paths, were destined to walk the same road.

(End of Chapter)

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