Soul Land: Legend of Saint Seiya

Chapter 224: Zhu Zhuqing's Sorrowful Departure

"I..."

Caught red-handed by Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Mubai was momentarily at a loss for words.

Zhu Zhuqing could no longer hide her disappointment in him. Frustrated, she exclaimed, "Dai Mubai, have you forgotten the burden we carry? The Clear Sky Clan can protect us for a while, but not forever. The Star Luo royal family will not endlessly bow to their will. Moreover, the Clear Sky Clan supports us only because they see an opportunity to reemerge in the Star Luo Empire. They chose you because of your connection to Tang San. But if we can't surpass Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun in strength, the Clear Sky Clan will eventually lose faith in us. When that happens, who will protect us?"

The more Zhu Zhuqing spoke, the more emotional she became, pointing at Dai Mubai as she continued to reprimand him.

"Enough!"

Dai Mubai, known for his temper, was not one to tolerate being lectured. At first, he felt guilty and kept his head down without arguing back. But Zhu Zhuqing's relentless tirade pushed him to his limit.

With a glare, Dai Mubai impatiently said, "What would a woman know? Those people I entertain are influential ministers. Hosting banquets and building connections are part of vying for the throne. Do you think it's just about improving one's strength?"

As he finished, he swung his hand dismissively, not sparing Zhu Zhuqing another glance, and stormed out of the room.

"Dai Mubai, you're beyond saving!"

Zhu Zhuqing closed her eyes, a single tear sliding down her face.

She was no less intelligent than Zhu Zhuyun and had seen through her sister's schemes with ease. Yet, the arrogant and self-indulgent Dai Mubai had fallen headlong into Zhu Zhuyun's trap of debauchery and indulgence, unable to extricate himself.

Now utterly disillusioned with Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing felt no reason to stay. She had always yearned for freedom and had little regard for power or the title of empress. Her willingness to stand by Dai Mubai against Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun stemmed only from the responsibility imposed by their arranged marriage.

But Dai Mubai's behavior had chilled her to the core, and she decided he was unworthy of her sacrifices.

Meanwhile, at the residence of the Crown Prince, Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun were in a private meeting.

"Your Highness, Princess Consort!"

A man in black bowed respectfully and reported, "Half an hour ago, Miss Zhuqing returned to the Third Prince's mansion. She and the Third Prince had a fierce argument and parted on bad terms. Shortly after returning to the Duke's residence, Miss Zhuqing left the city. It appears she took all her savings with her."

Hearing this, Dai Weisi chuckled. "Zhuyun, it seems your little sister has completely given up on my foolish brother!"

Zhu Zhuyun's face showed disdain. "That fool Dai Mubai isn't worthy of my sister."

A sinister light flashed in Dai Weisi's eyes as he said coldly, "The world of soul masters is fraught with danger. A newly advanced Soul Ancestor could easily meet with an unfortunate 'accident.' What do you think, Zhuyun?"

For a moment, Zhu Zhuyun's expression turned unreadable. She and Zhu Zhuqing were full-blooded sisters who had once been close during childhood. But everything changed the day Zhu Zhuqing awakened her martial soul.

"Let her go," Zhu Zhuyun said, exhaling deeply. "I know my sister well. If she's truly lost faith in Dai Mubai, she will never return. Let her live the rest of her life anonymously as a free soul master."

"Fine."

Dai Weisi, though bound to Zhu Zhuyun by an arranged marriage, had grown fond of her over the years. Given her recent successes in strategy, he decided to grant her this favor. Smirking, he added, "This time, it's Zhuqing. If my foolish brother continues to sink into indulgence, even the Clear Sky Clan will lose patience with him."

"The Clear Sky Clan isn't a charity," Zhu Zhuyun replied with a cold smile. "They only chose Dai Mubai because his relationship with Tang San makes it easier to form an alliance. But if Dai Mubai wastes time on wine and women and shows no hope of succeeding, even if Tang Hao supports him for his son's sake, the elders of the Clear Sky Clan won't agree."

"True, true. And once the Clear Sky Clan loses faith in him, that will be the end of him!"

After laughing heartily for a moment, Dai Weisi suddenly recalled something. "By the way, not long ago, two elders from the Clear Sky Clan brought several dozen disciples to the imperial capital. They exchanged a large amount of gold soul coins and left quickly. Do you know where they went?"

"They went to Gengxin City," Zhu Zhuyun replied. "The Clear Sky Clan has been in seclusion for many years. Now that they wish to reemerge in the empire, they need significant financial resources to sustain themselves. The Clear Sky Clan's Disorder Wind Hammer Technique is the most powerful forging method of its time. They plan to purchase a batch of metals from the City of Metals, recruit skilled craftsmen, and produce weapons and armor as a new source of income for the clan."

"Gengxin City, huh?"

Dai Weisi gazed northward. Gengxin City was not only the City of Metals but also the northern gateway to the Star Luo Empire, a location of immense strategic importance.

Though the Blacksmith Association had joined the Nine Star Hall over a decade ago, blacksmiths were still regarded with low status across the continent. Neither of the two great empires, the Spirit Hall, nor the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan paid much attention to the matter, let alone the Clear Sky Clan, which had been in hiding for over twenty years.

The two elders leading the Clear Sky Clan's journey to Gengxin City were the Fifth Elder, Tang Zhen, a 93rd-level Titled Douluo with the title Shocking Sky Douluo, and the Seventh Elder, Tang Lie, a 92nd-level Titled Douluo with the title Blazing Sun Douluo.

Initially, they believed the mission would be straightforward. With the Clear Sky Clan's former prestige, merely revealing their name discreetly should have attracted blacksmiths eager to join, possibly even accompanied by rare metals. Given that the Clear Sky Clan's finances relied solely on Tang Yuehua's income from Moon Pavilion, they were keen to save as much as possible.

However, reality was far from their expectations. After nearly ten days in Gengxin City, not only had they failed to recruit skilled craftsmen, but even the metal trade seemed to be secretly monopolized. The disciples sent out to make purchases returned with only low-quality, common metals.

"This won't do!"

Tang Lie, known for his fiery temper, could no longer hold back. "Fifth Brother, I say we head straight to the Blacksmith Association. They have everything we need—skilled craftsmen and rare metals alike!"

"But doing so will expose our whereabouts. The Blacksmith Association is a major force in Gengxin City, and the Spirit Hall surely monitors their activities closely. If word gets out, the Spirit Hall may ambush us on our way back."

Tang Zhen frowned, his cautious nature evident. He had been chosen by Tang Xiao to lead this mission precisely because of his steadiness.

"Then let's go all the way—wipe out the Spirit Hall's sub-branch in Gengxin City first! That will not only eliminate the immediate threat but also intimidate the Blacksmith Association into submission. They'll have no choice but to comply."

A chilling killing intent flashed across Tang Lie's face. His hatred for the Spirit Hall ran deep, as his son had been killed by them. "If we destroy their sub-branch, even if a few survivors escape, the chaos will disrupt their operations. They won't have the capacity to keep an eye on the Blacksmith Association."

"Very well."

Tang Zhen hesitated briefly. He knew Tang Lie's suggestion was partially driven by personal grievances. Still, with no better alternative, he agreed. "When we make our move, ensure no one is left alive. For now, the clan must avoid exposing itself to the Spirit Hall."

(End of Chapter)

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