Bonus chapter for 50 powerstones
.....
"Hmm? Boss Dai, what do you mean by that?"
Ma Hongjun frowned, confused by Dai Mubai's strange tone.
"Nothing…"
Dai Mubai glanced at the fox-eared girl lying in a pool of blood. He wanted to approach, but fear held him back.
"Don't follow me. And don't go back to Blue Tyrant Academy. Run."
With that, Dai Mubai turned and ran out of the alley, leaving Ma Hongjun behind without another word.
"What? Boss Dai, what the hell do you mean? Wait for me!"
Ma Hongjun shouted, exasperated, and chased after him.
Dai Mubai hadn't explained anything clearly…
What did he mean by "don't go back"?
Was it just because of that fox-eared girl who died to preserve her purity?
The teachers were all Soul Saints, and they'd said just last night that unless they provoked a Titled Douluo, there was nowhere in the Heaven Dou Empire they couldn't go.
Even if she was the crown prince's maid, at most they'd get a scolding. Why was Boss Dai treating this so seriously?
...
At a stall, the vendor was shaping a small clay figurine.
Suddenly, sunlight dimmed as shadows fell over him. He looked up to see several familiar figures. Instantly, he put down the figurine and bowed respectfully.
"Your Highness."
"Have you seen a girl in a pale blue dress with fox ears on her head?"
Xue Qinghe glanced around and asked.
"Yes, yes, I have."
The vendor seemed to recall something. He carefully pulled a handkerchief from his chest and unfolded it, revealing a smooth, watery jade pendant.
"Your Highness, the young lady left this jade pendant here. She…"
He recounted everything that happened when Yu Keke came to speak with him and trade.
"Hmm. Take this, and give me the pendant."
Xue Qinghe's furrowed brow relaxed slightly upon hearing news of Yu Keke. He accepted the jade and handed the vendor a bag of soul coins from his sleeve.
"Your Highness, I can't accept this—"
"It's nothing. Consider it thanks. Take it."
Xue Qinghe's voice was calm and cold.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Seeing the prince's demeanor, the vendor dared not argue. The prince's imposing presence was far more intimidating than the kind girl from before.
"Brother, Keke probably returned home already. She should be there by now. Let's head ba—"
"Let's go."
Aether stared at the elemental traces Keke had left behind and, with a frown, followed the trail.
"Traveler, what's wrong?"
Paimon noticed something was off and asked gently.
"Keke hasn't gone home. She went this way."
Aether answered while staring toward a nearby alley.
"Huh? Why would she come through here?"
Xue Qinghe was puzzled.
This was one of the poorer districts of Heaven Dou City. The houses were short and the alleys were a confusing maze.
Even he could get lost here without using soul power.
Aether didn't reply. He kept walking into the alley.
"What a poor child… This is tragic…"
"She doesn't look like a local. Which heartless bastard did this to her?"
"Xiao Tao already went to get the guards. They should be here any moment."
"Tsk… poor girl…"
"Out of the way!"
A squad of four Heaven Dou guards arrived. Seeing the gathered crowd, their leader barked an order.
As the onlookers parted, the gruesome scene came into full view.
"Sixth, Er Zhu, take the body back."
The captain frowned and ordered.
"Sir, she… looks kind of familiar."
One guard, named Sixth, pointed uncertainly at the body.
"Hmm?"
Just as the captain bent down for a closer look, a loud chorus of voices startled him.
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness—"
Xue Qinghe didn't reply. He only looked silently at Aether, whose expression had turned to stone.
"Keke! Traveler, it's Keke!"
Paimon burst into tears and flew to Yu Keke's side, lifting her head and crying out,
"Keke, what happened? Wake up! Please… wake up!"
"Brother…"
Xue Qinghe swallowed hard, voice trembling as he turned to Aether.
"Keke… I failed you. I didn't protect you."
Aether walked to Yu Keke's side, knelt, and gently caressed her cheek, trying to wipe away the dried blood.
But no matter how he wiped, the pallor of her face only grew more distorted…
Boom!
Everyone in the alley—excluding Paimon and Xue Qinghe—was suddenly crushed to the ground by an overwhelming pressure emanating from Aether. Even breathing became a struggle.
A world-shattering aura exploded from the alley, rippling out like a tidal wave and engulfing all of Heaven Dou City.
"That aura… it's him!"
In a quiet courtyard, a green-robed figure shot up from his rocking chair, his eyes filled with shock before his body vanished—only the chair creaked in his wake.
"Hmm? Investigate immediately! If the person Prince Qinghe is hosting is this furious…"
In the imperial palace's main hall, Emperor Xue Ye coughed lightly. Several wisps of wind swirled in response to his words.
"Fengzhi, that's his aura. I'm going!"
Inside an inn belonging to a powerful sect, Ning Fengzhi stared at his quivering teacup. Chen Xin's words still echoed in his ears, but Ning was already gone.
"Who in Heaven Dou City could provoke that man?"
Unless some blind fool had dared enrage him…
Ning Fengzhi's brow furrowed as he suddenly remembered a report from his spies: his daughter had entered Heaven Dou City days ago…
"Damn it!"
Goosebumps broke out across his skin as he collapsed from his chair.
He knew his daughter's personality well. If anyone could stir up trouble in Heaven Dou, she was definitely a candidate…
My little daughter, please don't let it be you!!!
Ning Fengzhi scrambled to his feet and dashed out, racing toward the source of the aura.
If it was her who caused this, and that man was enraged because of her… their entire sect might be dragged to the grave with her!
...
"Traveler… what happened to Keke? I want her to wake up…"
Paimon sobbed uncontrollably, her tears falling onto Keke's cold face.
Aether raised his hand, and from Xue Qinghe's sleeve, the jade pendant flew into his palm.
He gently picked Yu Keke up. Two small clay figurines tumbled from her arms.
Paimon quickly caught them.
"Traveler… Keke made these…"
"She made these for us… look, they're smiling… she made them so well… wuaah…"
_
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