[DD2]: 149

Even Xu Jiawei probably didn't expect that his words would work so well.

Niu Tian had some brains, but Taitan? That guy was all brute force.

And yet, this brute had the strength to back it up. When that fist came down, there were few in the world who could take it.

"This Dai Hao is so weak. Can't even handle a hit. Boring."

Taitan curled his lip. He had thought that the descendant of the Dai family would at least put up some kind of fight.

But who could've imagined that Dai Hào was so useless? That White Tiger Martial Soul of his was weaker than a sickly kitten. He couldn't even withstand a single punch.

"White Tiger? Hah, might as well call him a sick cat," Taitan scoffed before his figure flickered and disappeared into the vast darkness of the night.

...

The Next Day

"What?"

"Brother Dai Hao was attacked? And now he's bedridden?"

"Who on earth is so brazen, so reckless, as to lay such a heavy hand on Brother Dai Hao?!"

Xu Jiawei wore an expression of utter shock. He slammed the table and appeared furious.

The news had just arrived: Dai Hao was assaulted on his way home and suffered severe injuries.

Xu Jiawei's heart surged with outrage (read: delight).

He didn't even need to guess who was responsible.

Dai Hao, after all, was a Soul Douluo with the White Tiger Martial Soul. It wouldn't be so easy to beat him into such a miserable state.

Other than the Clear Sky Sect, who else could it have been?

Honestly, Xu Jiawei was secretly quite pleased.

Let Dai Hao stir up trouble and try to manipulate others. Now he'd finally been dealt with.

If it weren't for the fact that they were in public, Xu Jiawei might've burst out laughing.

Misfortune works like this: if you're the only one unlucky, it's unbearable. But when someone else has it worse, your troubles don't seem as bad.

After all, happiness is often a matter of comparison.

Still, with so many people watching, Xu Jiawei couldn't show his glee.

He put on a righteous and concerned façade, looking like a wise ruler deeply worried for his subordinate.

"Your Majesty, we've found no trace of the attacker at the scene," reported a minister tasked with investigating.

"Moreover, the darkness at the time made it impossible for anyone to see what the assailant looked like. The only thing we can confirm is that the culprit must be a Titled Douluo."

Xu Jiawei nodded.

"How is Brother Dai Hao's condition now?"

The minister replied, "The White Tiger Duke is gravely injured. Reports say more than a dozen ribs are broken, and his internal organs suffered severe trauma. When he was found, he was already unconscious."

"Have we sent someone to treat him?" Xu Jiawei inquired.

"The White Tiger Duchess has already summoned healers, but their efforts have been largely ineffective. She has requested that Your Majesty ask the Imperial Healer to assist."

"Granted!" Xu Jiawei declared.

At a time like this, he couldn't possibly refuse.

Even if he secretly wished for Dai Hao's death, it couldn't happen like this—not so blatantly.

"Take my decree to summon the Imperial Healer to tend to Brother Dai Hao. He is a pillar of our Star Luo Empire and must not be lost under any circumstances!"

Xu Jiawei looked anxious, his words brimming with apparent concern for Dai Hao's well-being.

The surrounding ministers were all deeply moved, repeatedly praising his wisdom and compassion.

After the court session, Xu Jiawei maintained his image as a caring ruler and rushed to the White Tiger Duke's estate, bringing his entourage along.

To those unaware of the situation, it might even seem like Xu Jiawei and Dai Hao were the closest of brothers.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

At the White Tiger Duke's residence, the Duchess and others quickly bowed to Xu Jiawei.

"Royal Sister, no need for formalities. How is Brother Dai Hao doing?" Xu Jiawei asked, his face full of concern.

The White Tiger Duchess was no ordinary woman. She was also part of the royal family. By seniority, she would count as Xu Jiawei's younger sister, though not from the same mother.

Her elegant face showed a mix of grief and anger as she replied, "My husband's injuries are severe, even his foundation is damaged. I can't imagine who would be so ruthless as to attack him like this."

Her eyes flashed with resentment. Despite everything, her relationship with Dai Hao was genuinely affectionate. She had borne him two legitimate sons, Dai Yaoheng and Dai Huabin.

Dai Hao, in turn, had always treated her with respect and care.

As a member of the royal family, the Duchess was naturally a stunning beauty. Even in her late thirties, she retained her charm and elegance, with no sign of aging.

Her figure was voluptuous, her legs long and graceful, her curves exquisite—a woman of mature allure. It was no wonder Dai Hao had doted on her for so many years, entrusting the entire Duke's estate to her.

If Dai Hao had truly loved Hou Yun'er, he wouldn't have ignored her for so many years. He didn't even react much to her death.

All Hou Yun'er received from him was a White Tiger Dagger.

And yet, she remained obsessed with him. Truly, in the world of Soul Land, there was never a shortage of hopeless romantics.

As for Dai Hao's later performance of undying love for Hou Yun'er—it was nauseating.

How much of it was real, and how much was an act? Those who know, know.

If he truly loved her, would he have stayed away for over a decade?

If he truly loved her, would he not even know his own son's identity?

Whether it was real love or just a show, no comment.

But purely in terms of appearance, the Duchess was undoubtedly more beautiful than Hou Yun'er.

Dai Huabin and Dai Yaoheng might not be likable, but they were undeniably handsome.

Meanwhile, Hou Yuhao's looks were merely delicate.

Since their father was the same, it was clear that the Duchess far outshone Hou Yun'er in beauty.

"Brother Dai Hao's foundation is damaged?"

Xu Jiawei feigned shock, though his heart leaped with joy.

Dai Hao's foundation damaged?

That couldn't be better.

The Dai Hao he wanted was precisely one who was weakened.

If Dai Hao were perfectly fine, Xu Jiawei wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

In his heart, Xu Jiawei was secretly pleased, but he spoke with a resolute tone, "Royal Sister, rest assured, I will find the perpetrator and seek justice for Brother Dai Hao."

"Even if it's a Title Douluo, I will ensure they pay the price."

Xu Jiawei spoke with righteousness, perfectly embodying the role of a caring elder brother.

The Duchess of the White Tiger bent slightly in a gesture of respect, showing gratitude on her face. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"There's no need to be so formal. Brother Dai Hao and I are as close as brothers. This is what I should do," Xu Jiawei replied with a sigh.

"Your Majesty, this is not a suitable place to discuss further. Please, come inside," the duchess suggested.

"Very well, I also want to see for myself how Brother Dai Hao is faring," Xu Jiawei said as the group entered the duke's mansion.

Inside the White Tiger Duke's residence.

The Healing Douluo had just finished treating Dai Hao, who had fallen into a deep sleep. After packing up his tools, the Healing Douluo exited the room.

"Senior Healing Douluo, how is my husband doing?" the duchess asked immediately as he stepped out.

Xu Jiawei nodded in agreement and added, "Senior, how is Brother Dai Hao's condition?"

The Healing Douluo sighed. "The White Tiger Duke's injuries are very severe, particularly his internal injuries. The assailant wasn't just powerful—they had extraordinarily domineering soul power.

"Their soul power caused massive internal damage, and because of its intensity, it's extremely difficult to remove. The White Tiger Duke's internal organs have all been severely impacted. Although he can recover to some extent, there will be lasting repercussions."

"The injuries have significantly damaged his foundation. In the future, it's unlikely that the White Tiger Duke will ever reach the level of a Title Douluo."

"What?"

The duchess's face turned pale with shock. "My husband can no longer reach the Title Douluo rank?"

She found it hard to believe. She had known Dai Hao's foundation was damaged, but she didn't expect it to be so severe. Not even the Healing Douluo could restore it.

Without the ability to break through to Title Douluo, Dai Hao's future was effectively over.

Dai Hao's talent wasn't low—he was already close to Title Douluo at just over forty years old. There had even been a chance he could ascend to the rank of a Super Douluo.

But now, with the Healing Douluo's words, it was as if a thunderbolt had struck her. Her mind buzzed, and she felt utterly devastated.

"This… is it that serious?" Xu Jiawei's face was filled with shock, though his heart was brimming with joy.

Dai Hao unable to reach the Title Douluo rank? That couldn't be better.

A White Tiger Duke stuck at the Soul Douluo level was far easier to control than one at the Title Douluo level.

Xu Jiawei had always been wary of Dai Hao because of his considerable talent. Even if Dai Hao wasn't an exceptional prodigy, he had the potential to break through to Super Douluo, which was enough to make him a threat.

But now, with his foundation damaged, Dai Hao's path to Title Douluo was forever cut off. Xu Jiawei couldn't be happier; he might even laugh in his dreams.

"The main issue is that the assailant's soul power was far too domineering. The one responsible must be incredibly powerful," the Healing Douluo explained, though he already had a good idea who had attacked.

However, he couldn't voice it because the individual in question was someone they couldn't afford to provoke.

"No matter who it is, I will make them pay," the duchess said with venomous determination, her beautiful eyes burning with hatred.

To ruin someone's future was no different from murdering their parents. Dai Hao's path had been destroyed, and to her, this was a hatred as deep as the ocean.

As Dai Hao's wife, her anger burned fiercely.

Xu Jiawei sighed. "Royal Sister, I will do my best to find another solution. For now, you should focus on taking good care of Brother Dai Hao."

"When I return to the palace, I will send some rare treasures to help Brother Dai Hao recover."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

The duchess's eyes reddened as she expressed her gratitude, though the hatred on her face didn't diminish.

Xu Jiawei sighed again. "I'll take my leave for now. Let Brother Dai Hao rest and recover properly."

"Safe travels, Your Majesty."

With everyone watching, Xu Jiawei departed from the White Tiger Duke's residence.

Once outside, Xu Jiawei's mood brightened considerably.

Dai Hao injured and unable to reach the Title Douluo level? That was excellent news.

A Soul Douluo-level Dai Hao was far easier to manipulate than a Title Douluo-level one. Moreover, news of Dai Hao's damaged foundation would undoubtedly harm his reputation, weakening his influence.

This was advantageous to the royal family.

The more Xu Jiawei thought about it, the happier he became. His lips curled into a smirk.

"Dai Hao, Dai Hao… so even you have your bad days," Xu Jiawei thought gleefully as he headed back to the Star Luo Imperial Palace.

...

Meanwhile, at the Star Emperor Hotel.

After finishing their match and returning to their room, Su Yu and his companions unexpectedly encountered Xu Jiujiu and her entourage.

Today, Xu Jiujiu was dressed in an elegant glass-embroidered palace gown, exuding celestial beauty.

Her skin was as fair as snow, her swan-like neck long and graceful. She had an air of nobility, her features delicate and refined.

She smiled faintly, her beautiful eyes radiating warmth. Standing there quietly, she was like a picturesque scene.

"What are you doing here again?"

 Wang Dong'er, who had been chatting with Su Yu, immediately frowned at the sight of Xu Jiujiu.

She didn't like her—she simply couldn't.

"Wang Dong, please don't misunderstand. I've come today to offer my apologies."

"Su Yu, Wang Dong, may I have a word with you two?" Xu Jiujiu asked courteously, her tone warm and her demeanor devoid of arrogance. She was like a gentle spring breeze.

Wang Dong'er instinctively glanced at Su Yu, her brow slightly furrowed.

Su Yu raised an eyebrow. This time, Xu Jiujiu truly didn't seem to have any ill intentions. His ability to sense emotions was rarely wrong.

Looking at Meng Hongchen beside him, Su Yu said, "Meng'er, you and Brother Xiao go ahead. Wang Dong and I have something to take care of."

Meng Hongchen gave Su Yu a curious look but nodded obediently.

Xiao Hongchen, however, glanced skeptically at Su Yu. "What are you two planning?"

"Su Yu, don't you dare do anything to betray Meng!"

Xu Jiujiu's beauty and proactive approach made the brother-in-law deeply suspicious and worried for his younger sister.

"Brother Xiao, what nonsense are you talking about?" Su Yu glared at him, exasperated.

Xu Jiujiu wasn't his type at all—not that she wasn't beautiful, but because a scheming royal woman like her didn't appeal to him.

Moreover, she wasn't just looking for him; she wanted to talk to Wang Dong'er too. What romance could be involved?

This brother-in-law of his was becoming more and more ridiculous.

Xiao Hongchen pouted but didn't argue further, leading the others away.

Meng Hongchen shot Su Yu a glance but followed along, not overly concerned. She trusted Su Yu and knew his preferences better than anyone.