novel-bin Chapter 154 Killing someone by destroying their spirit: an eye for an eye
Chapter 154 Killing someone by destroying their spirit: an eye for an eye
Chapter 154 Killing someone by destroying their spirit: an eye for an eye
"Your Highness, please rest assured," Dai Youheng stood up, a cold smile playing on her lips. "Dai Hao and Zhu Shu will arrive soon. They won't let her really go crazy here. Today, I just need to deny everything, and she won't be able to cause any trouble. Let's go, let's go and greet this duchess who has lost her beloved son."
As soon as the two stepped out of the side hall where they had been dining and into the front yard, they saw that the once elegant and beautiful garden was now a mess. With each step Zhu Man took, uncontrolled surges of soul power erupted, crushing delicate flowers into mud, shattering jagged rock formations, and leaving exquisite stone tables and benches overturned.
She was shrouded in a visible black aura of resentment, like a vengeful demon crawling out of hell.
The moment Zhu Man saw Dai Youheng appear, her blood-red eyes locked onto him, and her endless resentment almost materialized!
"Dai Youheng, you will pay for my son Huabin's life!" She let out a shrill scream, and lunged forward without regard for anything else, her withered fingers curling into sharp claws, aiming straight for Dai Youheng's throat.
At this critical moment, Nebula Douluo Manyi appeared in front of Dai Youheng as if by teleportation.
Her expression was solemn, and the seemingly ancient Nebula Fan in her hand suddenly unfolded, and she vigorously fanned it at Zhu Man who was rushing towards her!
A gentle yet immense stellar power surged forth, like an invisible wall, striking Zhu Man precisely.
Zhu Man's forward momentum came to an abrupt halt. With a muffled groan, she was forcefully thrown back and landed unsteadily.
No matter how furious Contra gets, he's no match for a Title Douluo.
Almost simultaneously, Dai Hao and Zhu Shu rushed into the courtyard, one on each side supporting the man whose breathing was disordered.
Zhu Man was on the verge of madness.
"Man'er, calm down!" Dai Hao hissed, his gaze sharp as a knife as he glared at Dai Youheng, his voice filled with pain and anger, "Youheng, you—did you kill Hua Bin?"
Dai Youheng's face showed just the right amount of surprise and innocence. "What do you mean? Is Hua Bin dead?"
"I was so heartbroken last night because of what happened to my mother and brother that I went to bed early and knew nothing about it." He spoke calmly, his eyes pure, as if he had just heard the bad news.
Zhu Shu's face was cold, her voice icy and chilling, "Hua Bin died from the Tyrant Tiger Soul Refining Blade. The fatal wound was the Tyrant Tiger Annihilation Slash that severed his head. In this world, besides you, who else could use this move? The evidence is conclusive, and you still want to deny it?"
"The Tyrant Tiger Soul-Refining Blade? The Tyrant Tiger Annihilation Slash?" Dai Youheng frowned, his expression a mixture of deep thought, realization, and indignation. "This is clearly a frame-up! Someone is definitely framing me! Think about it, if I really wanted to kill him, why would I use such an obvious method, one that would make the killer instantly recognizable? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"
He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze fixed intently on Dai Hao, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Your Grace, didn't you just say yesterday that even though the whole city has seen the photographs of Zhu Man plotting against my mother and brother, and the evidence is irrefutable, things may not be as they seem on the surface? Could it be that someone is sowing discord and framing me?"
"What? Now that the same framing tactic has been used on me, you and the Zhu family patriarch are denying it? Just because I had a motive, the ability, the murder weapon was mine, and the soul skill characteristics match, does that mean it must be me? Then, according to that logic, when the evidence pointed directly to Zhu Man yesterday, why were you so sure it was a frame-up?"
He spread his hands, his face filled with helplessness and indignation. "In the end, it's just a matter of who you choose to believe. You're convinced it was me, so no matter how I try to explain, it's futile. Just like yesterday I believed Zhu Man was the one who harmed my mother!"
This combination of offense and defense, using their own methods against them, left Dai Hao and Zhu Shu speechless, their faces turning extremely ugly.
After standing aside for a long time, he finally understood Dai Youheng's intentions completely. This was not just killing, but destroying his spirit. He used Dai Hao's own words to personally block any possibility of holding him accountable.
She stepped forward, her princess-like demeanor radiating naturally. Her voice was clear and cold, carrying an undeniable authority. "Duke Baihu, Chief Zhu, since you cannot produce conclusive evidence proving You Heng's involvement, please leave my princess residence immediately! I will temporarily waive the charges of trespassing and disturbing the royal family, considering the Duke's past military achievements. However, if you persist in your actions, do not blame me for acting according to the law!"
Zhu Shu was unwilling to give up and said sharply, "Your Highness! The marks on the Tyrant Tiger Soul Refining Blade are irrefutable proof—"
"Ironclad evidence?" Xu Jiu interrupted her, his phoenix eyes filled with sternness. "If a knife mark is enough to settle a case, then why isn't that photograph recording how Madam Zhu Man plotted to persecute You Heng's mother and brother considered ironclad evidence? Can I now, based on that ironclad evidence, request His Majesty to issue an edict to deal with Madam Zhu Man and Dai Yueheng first, and then discuss Dai Huabin's matter?"
Zhu Shu was speechless, unable to utter a single word. The law, the evidence, and even the logic they had previously articulated had now become weapons in the hands of the other side.
Looking at Dai Youheng, whose eyes were cold and whose lips held a mocking smile, and then at Zhu Man, who looked like a madwoman and was barely breathing, Dai Hao felt a great sense of powerlessness and sorrow welling up in his heart.
He sighed deeply, as if he had aged considerably in an instant, and said in a hoarse voice, "Youheng—let this matter—end here. Stop making a scene."
"Is this the end?" Dai Youheng chuckled as if he'd heard the biggest joke in the world. His laughter was icy cold, devoid of any warmth. "The injustice remains unavenged, the great revenge remains unavenged—how can this end?"
His gaze swept lightly over Zhu Shu, finally landing on Dai Hao and Zhu Man's faces. His tone became deep and dangerous, "Today someone can frame me for killing Dai Huabin, who knows if someone will frame me for killing Dai Yueheng tomorrow? Your Grace, Zhu Man, you'd better protect this last legitimate son well."
"You!" Dai Hao was both shocked and furious, his finger trembling as he pointed at him. Dai Youheng's words were clearly a threat.
"Dai Youheng, if you dare to lay a hand on Yueheng, I..." Upon hearing this, Zhu Man was overcome with rage and coughed up a mouthful of blood. Her breath instantly weakened, and if Zhu Shu hadn't supported her, she would have collapsed to the ground. She had been forcibly gathering her strength to pursue him, and was already at her limit. Now, with this further provocation, she was on the verge of exhaustion.
"Looking at you, you should worry about how long you'll live first." Dai Youheng glanced at her disdainfully, as if looking at a pile of filth, and waved her hand casually. "Get lost. Protect your only remaining son, or someone will actually use his head to frame me."
"Let's go!" Dai Hao's face was ashen. He knew that as long as Dai Youheng refused to admit it, there was no way he could get an explanation today. Staying any longer would only bring him more humiliation. He forcibly suppressed his anger, half-supporting and half-carrying the almost unconscious Zhu Man, and quickly left the princess's residence, which had made them feel so humiliated, along with the gloomy-faced Zhu Shu.
In Dai Hao's mind, Dai Youheng at this moment had become someone completely consumed by hatred, acting without any moral compass.
A dangerous and crazed avenger. He could only bide his time, waiting for the other party to calm down before making further plans.
Watching their disheveled figures leave, the madness and coldness in Dai Youheng's eyes gradually faded, returning to a bottomless calm.
After a long while, she walked to his side and gently took his hand.
Dai Youheng glanced at her, then gripped her soft hand tightly in return, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Duke's mansion, deep and unfathomable.