Chapter 398: The Battle Begins
Seated on the ruins of the collapsed building, Dai Hengyu stared blankly in the direction Dai Yao had departed, his expression vacant and troubled. Dai Yao's departure marked a total severance with the Xingluo Dai family—a fight to the death between the two. Dai Hengyu was caught in the middle, unsure of what to do.
"Take care of yourself, Hengyu," the Grand Elder said with a faint glance at him before disappearing into the distance.
With Dai Yao gone, now preparing his plans for revenge, the Grand Elder had to report back to the Emperor promptly to arrange a defense. For the Spirit Masters who had previously been celebrating Dugu Bo's arrival, his sudden departure was baffling. But under the influence of a mysterious force, the commotion soon calmed as if Dugu Bo had never arrived.
Xingluo City, at a Tea House
"How did it go, my lord?"
Upon Dai Yao's return, the three elders immediately gathered around him, eager for his report. Dugu Yan and Feng Wutong also approached from either side, gazing at him with concern.
Dai Yao settled into a chair, his expression dark and his tone grave.
"Everyone, Prince Hengyu's life isn't in immediate danger. The news of his execution was spread to draw me back here in hopes of reconciliation."
"What was the result?"
Zhu Zhuqing fixed her gaze on him. His decision would directly impact her family's ties to the Zhu Clan. Though she was resolved to stand by Dai Yao, she still felt a complex attachment to the family she had once called home.
Dai Yao offered her an apologetic look before shaking his head, a sneer twisting his lips.
"The Dai family fools are still living in a dream. They thought they could offer me 'a chance' and that I'd be weeping with joy at the idea of returning home."
The elders exchanged incredulous glances, shaken by the Dai family's arrogance. It was as though the family believed Dai Yao desperately wanted to return. Yet, Dai Yao had come to Xingluo precisely to confront the family. Still, they were deluded enough to think he'd gratefully accept an invitation back?
"The Dai family is beyond conceited," Yang Wudi exclaimed, slamming his hand on the table.
"My lord, whatever you decide, the Medical Division will stand firmly behind you!"
A fierce advocate for justice, Yang Wudi harbored deep-seated resentment toward the Xingluo royal family due to past injustices against his Po Clan. Dai Yao's struggles only deepened his disdain, fueling his resolve to support Dai Yao in an all-out confrontation with the Dai family.
Seeing Yang Wudi's firm stance, Niu Gao and Bai He exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.
"The Construction Division supports you as well," Niu Gao affirmed.
"Our Information Division stands with you, Lord," Bai He added resolutely.
Hearing these declarations, Dai Yao felt a surge of confidence. Smiling, he said,
"Thank you all for your loyalty. The one who killed my mother must pay! As they say, an arrow set cannot be undone. The Green Lotus Sect has already reached Xingluo City, and we may not get another opportunity like this. We strike soon. Xingluo will bleed."
"Understood!" the elders answered in unison.
Shortly after, dozens of people left the tea house, scattering throughout Xingluo City.
Within nobles' estates, inside the modest rooms of ordinary citizens, and other varied quarters across the city, each faction received Dai Yao's signal. Spirits rose, anticipation in the air. Dai Yao had promised rewards coveted by all; if they succeeded, they would gain lifelong honor and prosperity for their descendants, making them willing to risk their lives.
"Zhuqing, Wutong, come with me. There's somewhere I want to go."
Despite the impending battle and its uncertain outcome, Dai Yao felt a strange calm settle over him. Gazing out at the snow swirling outside, he let out a long sigh.
Zhu Zhuqing leaned against him, puzzled at his request.
"Where are we going?" she asked softly.
Dai Yao didn't answer directly. Instead, he signaled to Feng Wutong to follow him, saying only,
"Come with me."
Pulling up the hood of his cloak, he stepped into the snow-covered streets, the swirling snowflakes blurring their surroundings. The visibility was low, and only a few people braved the streets, making it easy for Dai Yao and the two women to leave Xingluo City through a gate where the guards had been bribed.
The thick blanket of snow transformed the world into a vast white expanse. After a short walk, Xingluo City was barely a silhouette, with only a strip of its wall visible. Ahead, bare trees and the gray mountain loomed starkly against the white landscape, stripped of all foliage.
As they trudged through the deep snow, the sound of their footsteps was muffled, each footprint quickly erased by falling snow. The sun began to dip, casting a somber shadow across the land. Feng Wutong, perplexed, finally asked,
"Dai Yao, where are we going?"
"It's not far now," Dai Yao replied.
They pressed onward, the sun setting completely, leaving the mountain shrouded in a heavy silence under the freezing night. At last, Dai Yao halted on the path, his expression somber as he said quietly,
"We're here."
Following his gaze, the two women saw a flat clearing ahead, an unusual sight on this rugged mountainside. In the middle of the clearing was a small, raised mound that immediately caught their attention.
Dai Yao stepped forward and began to brush the snow from the mound with his hands, using no soul power. Sensing the gravity of his movements, Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong moved to help him.
Together, they cleared the snow, revealing what lay beneath—a solitary grave, overgrown with wild grass. The headstone bore no name, an anonymous resting place seemingly forgotten by the world.
"Is this…?" Feng Wutong's eyes widened, unable to believe what she was seeing. Though she suspected the truth, she was reluctant to accept it.
Dai Yao nodded, his hand trembling slightly as it brushed the blank headstone. He had learned of his mother's burial place from Dai Hengyu. She had not been laid to rest in the family's imperial mausoleum beside the Emperor, but instead here, on a desolate mountain.
Standing before her nameless, solitary grave, his heart ached. A noble consort in life, yet she had known no joy, and even in death, she had no peace. As if she were a shameful secret, her headstone didn't dare display her name. Forgotten by her kin and ignored by her husband, all that remained was this anonymous grave.
"Mother, forgive me. I've come too late."
Dai Yao fell to his knees before the nameless stone, his voice choked with emotion. He bowed his head, striking the cold ground with a dull thud.
From his earliest memory, he had never been able to come here. Even attempting to leave the palace or Xingluo Royal Academy would have prompted the Empress to ensure that he met the same fate as his mother.
It had taken over twenty years for him to finally come here and pay his respects. Though he had only met his mother once, her gentle face was seared into his memory, unforgettable. His mother had known no happiness, but in those brief moments with him, she had shown him boundless love.
He couldn't imagine how lonely his mother's spirit must feel, resting in solitude on this desolate mountain.
Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong exchanged a glance, then knelt beside Dai Yao without hesitation. As Dai Yao's wives, they too were daughters-in-law to the mother who lay here.
Dai Yao came back to himself and, facing the unmarked gravestone, introduced the two women, "Mother, these are your daughters-in-law. The one on my left is named Zhu Zhuqing, and on my right, this is Feng Wutong. I have two other wives who couldn't be here today. Their names are Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan. I'll make sure to bring them here to meet you as soon as there's a chance."
As the two women gazed at the lonely grave, it was as though they could see a beautiful woman looking back at them, her gaze filled with love and approval.
They quickly bowed their heads, just as Dai Yao had, paying their respects as his true wives. Dai Yao then took some prepared fruits and vegetables from his spatial pouch and placed them before the tombstone. He planted a luminous herb that emitted a soft glow in front of the grave.
"Mother, this plant is called Crystal Orchid, and it glows like a lantern. When I'm not here, it'll light up this place for you, as if I were here with you," he murmured.
When everything was ready, Dai Yao returned to his spot, and, gazing at the barren, snow-covered grave, he spoke slowly: "Mother, I have returned. I won't let you suffer this injustice any longer. Those who hurt you, I'll make sure none of them are left. Wait just a little longer. I'll send them to you soon to atone for their sins. The Empress, her servants who were complicit in your suffering... and the Xingluo Emperor himself."
Snow whirled around them, and the trees shuddered in the gusty wind. Moments later, as the snow reclaimed the grave, the three figures standing before it had disappeared.
Xingluo Palace
"Grand Elder, it seems your attempt has failed," the Xingluo Emperor remarked from his throne, addressing the Grand Elder who had just returned.
In fact, it hadn't been only the Grand Elder trying to reconcile with Dai Yao but also the entire Xingluo Empire. Dai Yao's unparalleled talent and determination were enough to tempt any power. Bringing Dai Yao into the fold would mean securing the loyalty of a future peerless Douluo. They'd even been willing to sacrifice the Empress's life if it meant earning his forgiveness.
The Grand Elder looked up at the Emperor, meeting his gaze, and sighed deeply without responding.
The Xingluo Emperor was intrigued and asked, "Grand Elder, I offered him exceedingly favorable terms. Why did the boy still refuse?"
The Grand Elder looked pensively at the swirling snow outside the hall. "What you offered wasn't enough. He not only demands the Empress's death but also the execution of the Second Elder. And most importantly, he wants you to join his mother in the afterlife."
The hall fell into a dead silence.
The Xingluo Emperor stared at the Grand Elder in disbelief. It was the Empress who had harmed Dai Yao's mother; how had he ended up being blamed? He asked, incredulous, "Are you serious?"
"I wouldn't lie to you, Your Majesty," the Grand Elder replied gravely. "Dai Yao believes that if it hadn't been for your disregard for Bai Su's wishes and your insistence on marrying her, both mother and son would have been spared their fate. To him, the one who truly caused his mother's death is you."
The Emperor was taken aback, struggling to understand Dai Yao's perspective. In his mind, any woman he chose should consider it an honor—how could she even think of refusing him? As the saying went, 'both wrath and favor are imperial grace.' Bringing Bai Su into the palace had been her good fortune. That she treated him so coldly after their marriage meant that, even if he'd had her executed, no one would have questioned him. In fact, sparing her life had been an act of benevolence.
Yet Dai Yao saw this as his fault.
This wasn't about right or wrong; it was a matter of perspective. From Dai Yao's point of view, his interpretation of the events was completely different.
The Emperor's face turned cold, his expression darkening. "If that brat wants my life, then let him come and try! If I can't handle a mere traitor, how could I possibly rule this empire? I'll be waiting for him in the palace!"
"When do you think he'll come, Grand Elder?"
The Grand Elder shook his head. Dai Yao hadn't mentioned a time, but he speculated, "Perhaps he won't come at all? Surely, knowing that the royal family has already prepared a trap, he won't willingly walk into his own death?"
The Emperor thought for a moment before shaking his head. "No, he'll come. That boy never lets a grudge go, especially for his mother. Now that he's here in Xingluo City, he'll seize the opportunity, even if it's a slim chance."
The Grand Elder shuddered slightly. It was clear now that reconciliation was impossible. If he had a few more decades of life left, perhaps he wouldn't worry so much. Another ten years would have been enough time for the family to nurture a new Titled Douluo.
Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he asked, "Your Majesty, do you know when Dai Yao's birthday is?"
The Xingluo Emperor hesitated, then suddenly understood Dai Yao's intentions. Gazing at the snow outside, realization dawned on him.
"So that's it... If I remember correctly, the Empress killed Bai Su on his birthday. That brat must want to settle the score with us on the same day!"
The wind and snow grew fiercer, and the chilling wind howled as if echoing the murderous intent filling the air.
Two Days Later
Today was Dai Yao's birthday.
Snow still blanketed the city, covering the streets in a thick, frozen layer.
"Is everything ready?"
Inside a hidden chamber, the elders nodded, their faces resolute.
"Yes, my lord, we're ready. But your plan...," Niu Gao ventured, concern lacing his tone.
"Don't worry. I wouldn't act if I wasn't confident. Senior Dugu, I'll leave this to you." Dai Yao turned to Dugu Bo, his tone sincere.
Dugu Bo looked deeply into Dai Yao's eyes, then sighed in resignation. "Don't call me 'Senior'; just call me 'Grandfather.' This time, I'm really putting everything on the line. If anything happens to me, I'll leave Yan Yan in your hands."
For the first time, Dugu Bo showed a hint of vulnerability, revealing his worry over Dai Yao's bold plan.
Dai Yao was moved, then nodded with a slight smile. "Don't worry, Grandfather. You'll be fine. Yan Yan is waiting for you to come back."
Glancing over his gathered allies, Dai Yao's gaze lingered on Zhu Zhuqing and Feng Wutong's worried faces. He gently touched their heads, offering reassurance.
Then, with a final nod to his followers, Dai Yao turned and strode forward. His companions followed, moving along the city streets toward the Xingluo Palace. As they went, disciples from the Green Lotus Sect quietly joined the procession, hundreds of figures dressed in green merging into a single, powerful wave—a green dragon advancing toward the palace.
Soon, the towering, majestic palace loomed before them.
Gazing up at the ancient stronghold that had stood for millennia, Dai Yao felt an unprecedented calm settle over him.
"More than twenty years of grievances. Today, it all comes to an end."
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