Douluo, my clone Groudon

Chapter 362 Dai Huabin is crippled

“An evil spirit master…and someone from the Star Luo Empire?!” He recognized the decorative style, his eyes flashing with cold light. His powerful mental energy swept across the surroundings in an instant, but apart from the lingering death aura, there was no trace of the murderer.
"Somebody come!"

Yan Shaozhe flew back to Shrek Academy, holding Huo Yuhao who was in a semi-comatose state and still trembling from the intense pain and psychological shock. His voice was icy cold: "Seal off the scene, thoroughly investigate this corpse, find out his identity, and get to the bottom of it."

……

Shrek Academy, Medical Room.

Huo Yuhao lay on the hospital bed, his face as pale as paper, his eyes vacant and lifeless as he stared at the ceiling.

The excruciating physical pain had been relieved by Yan Shaozhe's powerful spiritual energy, but the indescribable emptiness and shame of having his life essence stripped away gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

The Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm remained silent within his sea of ​​consciousness, the atmosphere terrifyingly oppressive.

“Brother Tianmeng…I…” Huo Yuhao’s voice was hoarse and dry, filled with endless despair and confusion.

“Yuhao…” Tianmeng Bingcan’s voice was more solemn and angry than ever before, “He’s an evil soul master, and definitely a top-tier evil soul master among humans! That aura of death… it’s too pure and too terrifying.”

Huo Yuhao's eyes turned ashen, instantly filled with boundless hatred, and his words were filled with chilling killing intent, "Brother Tianmeng, I want revenge!"

Tianmeng Ice Silkworm nodded emphatically. As a fellow male, he empathized with her. "I will definitely help you!"

"I found it."

Yan Shaozhe walked into the ward with a livid face, holding a report in his hand. "The Soul Emperor who was frozen into an ice sculpture is a captain of the direct guard under Dai Hao of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion. His identity has been confirmed."

Huo Yuhao's empty eyes instantly focused, bursting with terrifying resentment and hatred. The Duke's Mansion still wouldn't let him go!

And then there's Dai Huabin. He's the only person I've ever offended at Shrek Academy. Just because I beat him, just because I called him a coward?!
"Dean...I want him to pay the price!" Huo Yuhao's voice was like a cold wind blowing from the deepest hell, carrying a deep-seated hatred and a hint of chilling madness.

Yan Shaozhe felt a chill run down his spine as he looked at the almost tangible hatred in Huo Yuhao's eyes. He said in a deep voice:
"The evidence is conclusive, and the Dai family must give Shrek an explanation. I have already sent the most severe interrogation letter to Duke Dai Hao of the White Tiger in the name of the academy. At the same time, the academy will do everything in its power to track down the whereabouts of that evil soul master."

But Huo Yuhao knew that this was the end of it. Given his status and position, the academy would not risk offending the leader of the Star Luo Empire's most powerful military nobles for his sake.

He thought to himself, "Brother Tianmeng, I want to go to the far north ahead of schedule."

"Alright, I didn't expect human society to be so dangerous. I'm not good at fighting, but once you obtain your second martial soul, someone will protect you."

……

Sun and Moon Mountains, military camp and command tent.

A letter of inquiry from Shrek Academy, with unprecedentedly harsh wording and detailed evidence, was slammed onto Dai Hao's desk.

Dai Hao's face was so dark it could drip water. As he looked at the accusations in the interrogation letter about his son Dai Huabin hiring someone to commit murder, colluding with evil spirit masters to harm Shrek Academy students, and especially the horrific harm suffered by the victim Huo Yuhao, an uncontrollable rage and overwhelming sense of shame instantly overwhelmed his reason.

"Rebel!"

Dai Hao's roar was like that of a wounded lion, shaking the entire command tent. He suddenly stood up, and his violent soul power overflowed uncontrollably, cracking even the sturdy desk.

"Send word! Bring that beast here immediately! As fast as possible!!" Dai Hao roared at the tent entrance, his eyes bloodshot.

For Dai Hao, who was truly facing the Sun Moon Empire's army, no one understood better than him the importance of Shrek Academy to the Douluo Three Kingdoms. If it weren't for the deterrent effect of Shrek Academy, the Sun Moon Empire would probably have already started a war, and the Douluo Three Kingdoms would have had no chance of resisting it.

Now his son has actually assassinated a classmate over a trivial conflict; he's a classic example of being both wicked and stupid!
A few days later, Shrek Academy, Outer Courtyard Square.

The atmosphere was somber and heavy. All students from the outer academy were summoned, and senior students, teachers, and even high-ranking officials like Yan Shaozhe all arrived with grave expressions.

In the center of the square, Dai Huabin was forced to kneel on the ground by two White Tiger Guards, his face deathly pale, his eyes filled with fear and disbelief. He hadn't expected the truth to be exposed so quickly and so thoroughly, and he certainly hadn't expected his father to punish him in this way!
Dai Hao's envoy, dressed in military uniform, stood before Dai Huabin. Looking at the son on whom the marshal had once placed such high hopes, his eyes held no warmth, only extreme coldness and utterly disdainful humiliation.

While the soldiers on the front lines were fighting desperately against the evil spirit masters, he colluded with them to harm his classmates, using such despicable and insidious methods. This completely trampled on the honor of the White Tiger family and the bottom line of the Star Luo Empire's army.

"Dai Huabin, son of Dai Hao of the White Tiger Duke's Mansion." The envoy's voice, like thunder, resounded throughout the entire square, carrying an unquestionable iron-blooded authority, "Colluding with evil soul masters, hiring thugs to harm fellow students, his methods are despicable and abhorrent to both gods and men. His actions have tarnished the glory of our ancestors! His crimes are beyond redemption even by a hundred deaths!"

He suddenly drew the White Tiger Blazing Light Blade from his waist, a weapon that only his personal guards were allowed to wear; the blade gleamed coldly.

"Today, I, the envoy, will carry out the family discipline on behalf of the Marshal to serve as a warning to others! I will also demonstrate the Marshal's stance to Shrek Academy and to the world!"

Before he finished speaking, the envoy flicked his wrist, and the long sword transformed into a sharp, cold light.

Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!Snapped!
The heavy, resounding thud struck everyone's heart like a whip.

The messenger did not use the blade, but rather the heavy back of the blade, yet with his Contra power, each strike contained terrifying force.

The back of the blade, like an iron whip, lashed fiercely at Dai Huabin's back, shoulder blades, and thighs. Each strike was accompanied by a clear cracking sound of bones breaking and Dai Huabin's agonizing screams.

Blood instantly stained his luxurious clothes, his skin torn open, revealing the bone.

Ten lashes! Twenty lashes! Thirty lashes!

The messenger showed no mercy. He and Dai Hao had a life-or-death bond, having saved each other four or five times. That was why he was able to come in Dai Hao's place and carry out the family discipline on his behalf. Each lash represented the White Tiger Duke's wrath and his determination to be irreconcilable with the evil spirit masters.

They must win back Shrek Academy's favor and prevent the world from believing that the White Tiger Duke's Mansion has ties with evil spirit masters.

Dai Huabin's screams, which started out shrill, gradually became hoarse and weak, until finally only painful spasms and groans remained.

He collapsed to the ground like a lump of mud, his back and thighs a bloody mess, countless bones broken, completely unconscious and barely breathing.

The entire square fell silent; everyone was stunned by the iron-fisted and cruel family discipline. Some timid girls even covered their eyes.

The messenger sheathed his sword, not even glancing at Dai Huabin lying on the ground like a dead dog. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Yan Shaozhe and the Shrek Seven Devils, his voice heavy with sorrow and chilling:

"The Marshal asked me to apologize on his behalf, saying that he had failed in his duty to raise his son, leading the son to commit heinous crimes. Today, the family law will be applied to punish only the crime. This son is now crippled. From this day forward, he will have no further connection with the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, and his life and death will be left to fate. As for that evil soul master, the Duke's Mansion will fight him to the death."

Yan Shaozhe looked at Dai Huabin, who lay on the ground, his life hanging in the balance, then at Dai Hao's resolute and unwavering stance, and finally nodded slowly:
"The Duke's act of sacrificing family for the greater good will be remembered by Shrek Academy. We hope the Dai family will honor their promise and do everything in their power to track down the evil spirit master."

Dai Hao bowed deeply, ordered his men to drag the unconscious Dai Huabin away like a dead dog, and then, with his personal guards, left Shrek Academy without looking back, his back view heavy and decisive.

Behind the crowd, Huo Yuhao, who was being supported by Wang Yan and Wang Dong and could barely stand, was still pale. But his eyes were fixed on the direction where Dai Huabin was being dragged away. Deep in his empty eyes, there was a resentment more piercing than the cold wind of the far north and... a twisted pleasure.

However, this pleasure was quickly overwhelmed by the deeper despair brought about by the inescapable emptiness and excruciating pain in his lower body.

"Dai Huabin... is he crippled?" Huo Yuhao's voice was hoarse and dry, like sandpaper rubbing. "Heh... heh... not enough... this is still not enough..." His voice was barely audible, yet it carried a chilling coldness that sent shivers down one's spine.

Not far away, Gula watched all this quietly, like an observer detached from the situation. He looked at the resolute attitude of Dai Hao's envoy, at Dai Huabin's miserable state, and at the unfathomable hatred and despair in Huo Yuhao's eyes, and a barely perceptible, cold smile appeared on his lips.

"It seems the situation at the front is very bad," Gula murmured to himself. "Dai Hao has even ruined his son, who has top-notch talent. Even if he goes back to invite Saint Healing Douluo Wang Xian'er, it's impossible for him to avoid any aftereffects."

"Moreover, Wang Xian'er, as a royal retainer, has little time left to live, and it's uncertain whether she will even make a move. It seems that Dai Hao is prepared to lose a son."

“That’s true. He doesn’t lack sons, and he hasn’t been home for over ten years. It’s hard to say how important his sons are to him. After all, Dai Huabin and Huo Yuhao are about the same age, and Dai Hao may not have even met them many times.”

His gaze seemed to pierce through space, reaching the border between the sun, moon, stars, and rivers, where he saw the marshal with great talent and ambition, pondering whether the relationship with Shrek Academy could be restored to its former state.

(End of this chapter)