socalfunplaces Chapter 181 Long-Standing Feelings: Xu Jiawei's Countermeasure
Chapter 181 Long-Standing Feelings: Xu Jiawei's Countermeasure
Chapter 181 Long-Standing Feelings: Xu Jiawei's Countermeasure
"So we're just going to let them slander us? Or even hand Youheng over?" Xu Jiujiu asked anxiously, unwilling to accept this outcome.
"Hand him over? Absolutely not!" Xu Jiawei categorically rejected the idea, his eyes flashing with the decisiveness of an emperor. "Dai Youheng is not only key to counterbalancing the Dai family, but his talent and value far exceed our imagination. Moreover, if we compromise with Shrek Academy this time, what will become of the dignity of the Star Luo Royal Family? Won't we become Shrek Academy's yes-men in the future?"
He stopped and pondered, "Now that Mu En is dead, Shrek Academy's absolute deterrent power has diminished. Xuanzi is strong, but I don't believe they would dare to completely antagonize my Star Luo Empire over a fabricated charge! They are testing our limits!"
"So what should we do now?" Xu Jiujiu asked.
"Delay it!" Xu Jiawei said. "Reply to Shrek Academy that Dai Youheng's whereabouts are currently unknown, and the Empire is searching for him with all its might. Once he is found, his actions will be thoroughly investigated. If he is indeed an evil soul master, the Star Luo Empire will not tolerate it, but how to deal with him must also follow the Imperial Law. In short, use every excuse to buy time!"
A glint of light flashed in his eyes. "At the same time, send more men to secretly search for Youheng's whereabouts! We must find him alive, or dead—we must find his remains. If Dai Youheng has truly met with misfortune," the emperor's voice turned icy, "then I will settle this score with Shrek Academy sooner or later!"
After a long pause, she nodded heavily; this was exactly the result she wanted. Just as she was about to make the arrangements immediately, a palace guard rushed in to report, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, the Ice Sky Douluo has returned. There is an extremely urgent matter that must be reported to Your Highness in person."
"Mr. Lingya!" Xu Jiujiu's eyes suddenly lit up. "He's back? Summon him immediately! No, I'll go pick him up myself!"
She instantly realized that Ling Ya's return likely brought crucial information about Dai Youheng! This might be the most important step in breaking the current deadlock!
Xu Jiawei's spirits lifted. "Go immediately! I will await news here!"
Xu Jiujiu immediately lifted her skirt and rushed out of the imperial study, her heart filled with anxiety and anticipation.
She practically ran out of the palace, and from afar she saw Lingya, travel-worn but still standing ramrod straight. Forgetting all about princess decorum, she rushed forward, her voice trembling slightly with urgency, "Your Majesty Lingya! Where is Youheng? How is he?"
Where is he? Is he injured?
She fired off a barrage of questions, her beautiful eyes filled with undisguised anxiety and worry, and the concern deep in her gaze was so genuine and touching.
Seeing her flustered state, Ling Ya felt a slight stirring in his heart. This princess's concern for his young master seemed to have long since transcended the boundaries of political alliance; it was clear that she had unknowingly fallen in love.
He quickly bowed respectfully and reassured her, "Your Highness, please rest assured, Youheng is perfectly fine and unharmed."
He explained according to what Dai Youheng had instructed him to say, "However, Shrek Academy has now deeply misunderstood him and labeled him an evil soul master. The wanted notice will probably spread throughout the continent soon. Youheng knows that this matter is sensitive and does not want to implicate the empire. Therefore, he has temporarily found a secluded place to cultivate in seclusion. He will return after the storm has passed or he has found a way to prove his innocence."
Hearing that Dai Youheng was safe and sound, the heart that had been hanging in suspense for a hundred days finally settled down, and he breathed a long sigh of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.
She then realized her earlier lapse in composure, her cheeks flushing slightly as she regained some of her princess-like dignity, but her tone remained urgent, "It's good that he's alright—it's good that he's alright—"
Ling Ya took out a sealed letter from his bosom and presented it with both hands. "Your Highness, this is a letter that You Heng asked me to deliver to you personally."
Xu Jiujiu immediately took the letter and carefully opened it. On the letter was Dai Youheng's familiar yet slightly unruly handwriting. The letter didn't describe the perilous situation in detail, but was instead filled with comfort, longing, and concern for her. Tenderness permeated the words, and at the end, he solemnly promised: he would definitely return within three months!
Looking at the letter, she felt a slight sting in her nose, her heart filled with a bittersweet mix of sweetness and sorrow. She carefully put the letter away, placing it close to her body, before saying to Ling Ya, "Your Majesty Ling Ya, you must be tired from your journey. Please come with me to see my brother and explain the situation in detail."
Inside the Imperial Study, Xu Jiawei had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Ling Ya, he immediately inquired about the details.
Ling Ya then began to recount his prepared explanation, “Your Majesty, the matter is as follows: You Heng and I were originally searching for a suitable sixth spirit ring for him in the Star Dou Great Forest. By chance, we encountered an extremely rare and powerful 100,000-year-old tiger-type spirit beast. You Heng, being young and impetuous, believed that this beast was extremely compatible with his spirit and insisted on absorbing its spirit ring despite being of a higher level.”
He described a process of "two months of arduous pursuit", "fierce battle", and "Dai Youheng's amazing perseverance brought him back from the brink of death and finally succeeded in absorbing the essence", which made Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu's hearts pound with fear.
"After successfully absorbing it, Youheng's soul power increased to level sixty-four, and—" Lingya emphasized, "his Evil Shadow Demon Tiger Martial Soul, perhaps stimulated by the bloodline of that 100,000-year-old tiger-type soul beast, underwent an astonishing second awakening, evolving into an even more powerful Abyss Demon Tiger!"
"Martial Soul Evolution? Abyss Demon Tiger?" Xu Jiawei and Xu Jiujiu exclaimed simultaneously, their eyes filled with disbelief and shock!
Absorbing a 100,000-year-old spirit ring at the sixth level was already inconceivable, but to trigger a positive evolution of the martial soul? What an incredible opportunity and talent!
After a moment of excitement, Xu Jiujiu was also filled with lingering fear; her palms were sweating profusely. "He—he was so reckless! How could he take such a risk! If something had happened, I—"
Ling Ya continued, "The evolved Abyss Demon Tiger Martial Soul is far more powerful than before, but its original aura has also become more profound and domineering. In Dean Yan Shaozhe's words, it is full of evil energy. This is why a huge misunderstanding arose, and it was identified as an evil soul master, which led to the subsequent conflict."
He then changed the subject, stating definitively, "But I guarantee with my life that Youheng is absolutely not an evil soul master! That's merely a manifestation of his power not being fully controlled after his martial soul's evolution. Youheng is currently in seclusion, and he has absolute confidence that within two or three months, he will be able to completely control this power. At that time, his aura will be restrained, completely different from the violent and chaotic aura of an evil soul master, and the light attribute will be difficult to suppress!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Jiawei's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He astutely grasped the key point: "Your Majesty Bingkong, are you sure Youheng can completely control that so-called evil energy in just two or three months?"
"Absolutely true!" Ling Ya replied confidently. "I saw it with my own eyes. You Heng has already found a way to control it, and the progress is extremely rapid."
"Great! Excellent!" Xu Jiawei clapped his hands, a shrewd smile of a politician on his face. "If that's the case, we might not only be able to resolve the crisis this time, but also turn the tables and make Shrek suffer in silence."
He immediately ordered Xu Jiujiu, "Jiujiu, immediately issue a formal reply to Shrek Academy in the name of the Empire."
His voice became steady and powerful, "Tell them that after extensive investigation by the Empire, Dai Youheng is indeed currently missing. However, my Star Luo Empire has increased its manpower to search for him with all its might. We will definitely find him within three months. I request that they send a sufficiently distinguished person to my Star Luo Imperial City in three months! At that time, I will give them, and the whole world, a clear explanation!"
Xu Jiawei's eyes gleamed with confidence. "If Dai Youheng is indeed an evil soul master, and the evidence is irrefutable, my Star Luo Empire will not tolerate him and will execute him without mercy to uphold the law! But if he is innocent—"
His tone suddenly hardened, "Then my Star Luo Empire will never allow its people to be falsely accused, and we will certainly seek justice from Shrek Academy!"
This move was not only to buy time, but also to lure the enemy into a trap, and to prepare to put Shrek in a difficult position in front of the whole world!