Chapter 102: Qian Renxue Sheds "Little Pearls," The Struggle Among Princes, Has Always Been This Way

Recalling the last time he had disguised himself as Dai Mubai to meet Qian Renxue, and what she had said about the actions of the Spirit Hall and her plans—

A shadow of gloom flickered across Dai Chengfeng's eyes.

'If it's the former, it's fine. But if it's the latter…'

With this thought, Dai Chengfeng quickly stepped forward and helped Li Zhizhao up from the ground. "Li Zhizhao, why have you come from Wu'an City?"

"Has something happened in Wu'an City?"

Dai Chengfeng asked seriously, his golden-blue eyes flashing with a sudden glow as he activated the Mustard Seed Realm.

The next second, the appearance of the person before him changed. Instead of Li Zhizhao, there stood a breathtakingly beautiful woman with cascading golden hair, noble bearing, and delicate, fair skin.

'Little Angel! Qian Renxue! It's you again!'

Looking at the woman before him, Dai Chengfeng couldn't help but feel both amused and exasperated…

Coming and going in disguise, treating him like some kind of pawn—what did she think of him?

He wanted to confront her, but he couldn't.

After all, she had two Title Douluo by her side—Dugu Bo wouldn't stand a chance. Even in a one-on-one fight, he wasn't strong enough to defeat her unless she let him drag her into a life-or-death arena.

But if he killed her, then Dai Chengfeng would truly explode.

Who could stop Elder Qian Dao when he was determined to kill someone?

'However, her aura today is so strange—it really feels like Li Zhizhao. Did she use a soul bone skill or a soul-guided artifact?'

For a moment, Dai Chengfeng felt an immense sense of relief.

'Thankfully, this trip to Sunset Forest allowed my Innate Technique and spiritual power to advance further, enabling me to activate the Mustard Seed Realm, which sees through all illusions.'

'Otherwise, I might have been deceived by Qian Renxue, who clearly came prepared. If any confidential information about the Immortal herbs were exposed, it would've been truly dangerous!'

'The Mustard Seed Realm is truly an incredible ability!'

While Dai Chengfeng marveled and pondered—

Qian Renxue, seeing that she hadn't been "exposed," flashed a look of smug satisfaction. She then retrieved a letter from her chest and handed it to Dai Chengfeng.

Next, she began to sob softly, pretending to be deeply wronged.

Her voice was hoarse as she said, "Your Highness, Wu'an City… it's gone!"

"Your personal guard… they're gone too!"

"I've failed you—I'm guilty!"

"This is a letter from Lord Zhu Yan for you…"

As she spoke, crystalline tears rolled down her beautiful cheeks, her eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings. She truly looked pitiful, evoking sympathy even from Dai Chengfeng.

Even Dai Chengfeng was momentarily stunned.

After all, he had seen Qian Renxue angry, triumphant, happy, and furious—but this was the first time he had seen the "little angel" shedding "little pearls."

'This pitiful expression of hers is truly…'

However, he quickly snapped out of it. On one hand, he admired Qian Renxue's acting skills, understanding now why she had once managed to deceive Xue Qinghe. On the other hand, he feigned a grave and anxious tone as he asked:

"What do you mean?"

"Wu'an City is gone, and my personal guard is gone too?!"

"What exactly happened?"

As he spoke, Dai Chengfeng casually took the letter from Qian Renxue's hand.

After all, "Li Zhizhao" was fake—so naturally, the letter couldn't be real either.

Or so he thought. However, Dai Chengfeng couldn't shake the feeling that the letter carried a faint scent of milk…

With that thought, he opened the envelope.

But the next second, his pupils contracted sharply.

To his astonishment, the handwriting in the letter was unmistakably Zhu Yan's.

Moreover, at the very beginning of the letter, there was a set of ancient traditional Chinese characters that Dai Chengfeng had specifically taught Zhu Yan—a secret code that no one else on the Douluo Continent should recognize.

'The person is fake, but the letter is real…'

'Could Li Zhizhao have really come to deliver this letter, only to be intercepted beforehand by Qian Renxue?'

At this thought, a flicker of seriousness passed through Dai Chengfeng's eyes—this time, not an act.

After all, if Zhu Yan had risked sending Li Zhizhao all the way to the Tian Dou Empire to find him, then whatever was written in the letter must be significant!

Meanwhile, Qian Renxue slowly raised her fair hand and gently wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes.

'I never went to such lengths to deceive Xue Qinghe. I refuse to believe you, Dai Chengfeng, won't fall for this!'

But soon, seeing Dai Chengfeng's grave expression, a playful smile tugged at Qian Renxue's lips. 'Betrayed by your own people, stabbed in the back, and robbed of Wu'an City—the foundation of your power.'

'Even the personal guard you painstakingly built over years has been forcibly conscripted… All your years of planning have been turned into a gift for someone else!'

'Little Tiger, what will you do?'

'Will you fear Duke Dai Tian and the vast power behind him, choosing to silently endure and swallow this humiliation…'

'Or will you fly into a rage, losing your temper completely?'

'No matter what choice you make…'

Thinking about how she would soon see Dai Chengfeng lose his composure, Qian Renxue couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction. 'This trip was truly worth it!'

'Hmph, serves you right for deliberately humiliating me in Wu'an City back then!'

Instinctively, Qian Renxue reached into her chest, touching the smoke bomb shell she had kept close to her body ever since. A flicker of complex emotion passed through her eyes.

At this moment, Dai Chengfeng had already begun reading the letter from Zhu Yan.

The content wasn't long…

The most important part described how, a month ago, Duke Dai Tian of the Star Luo Empire suddenly arrived in Wu'an City, accompanied by his nephew Dai Xuan and an official transfer order for Zhu Yan.

At this point, Dai Chengfeng frowned slightly.

'Dai Tian?'

It was well known that the Evil Eye White Tiger clan of the Star Luo Empire had two branches. One branch was the royal family—

That is, Dai An, Dai Chengfeng, Dai Mubai, and Dai Weisi's lineage.

The other branch was known as the Overseers.

Though the Overseers were powerful, they usually remained hidden within the Star Luo Empire, avoiding direct involvement in the power struggles of the royal family.

Their duty was primarily to oversee and protect the actions and safety of Dai Chengfeng's branch.

And Duke Dai Tian of the Star Luo Empire belonged to the Overseers' branch—he was even their leader.

'Why did he come to Wu'an City?'

A shadow of gloom flickered in Dai Chengfeng's eyes. After all, Dai Tian was different from ordinary overseers—he was a staunch supporter of Dai Chengfeng's older brother, Dai Weisi.

With this thought, Dai Chengfeng continued reading.

But soon—

Bam—!

The letter in Dai Chengfeng's hand was suddenly crushed, the joints of his fingers creaking audibly.

It wasn't hard to tell just how much force he had used.

Because what followed in the letter was…

The current lord of Wu'an City was now Dai Xuan.

And the former lord of Wu'an City, Zhu Yan, had been deliberately demoted by Dai Xuan and reassigned to Wu Ping City as a mere centurion…

'Damn you, Dai Tian and Dai Xuan!!!'

Dai Chengfeng's heart burned with anger. After all his hard work and careful planning in Wu'an City over the years, just as things were about to bear fruit, someone had come along to snatch the rewards?!

Even worse, what Dai Chengfeng found hardest to accept was…

The thousand-strong personal guard he had ordered Zhu Yan to train had been forcibly disbanded and conscripted as the lowest-ranking laborers.

'All my years of effort have been trampled upon!'

This was nothing short of a blatant provocation, showing complete disregard for him, Dai Chengfeng.

However, Dai Chengfeng understood that Dai Tian had always openly supported his older brother Dai Weisi's succession to the throne… And the struggle among princes had always been like this.

Moreover, it was likely that the young Pope of the Spirit Hall had secretly orchestrated this behind the scenes…

But!

Understanding didn't mean Dai Chengfeng was willing to accept it!

'It seems I've been too merciful until now!'

A cold smile curled at the corners of Dai Chengfeng's lips, his heterochromatic golden-blue eyes brimming with murderous intent. 'Three days for Elder Ye is still too long!'

'Sigh!'

But soon, Dai Chengfeng took a deep breath and regained his composure.

After all, the person before him was Qian Renxue, not the real Li Zhizhao. Therefore, Dai Chengfeng suppressed his anger and calmly said:

"I understand. Go back and inform Zhu Yan—I'll return soon."

With that, Dai Chengfeng turned and walked toward the Ye Family Clinic.

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