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Zhu Yan, seeing Dai Chengfeng's puzzled expression, continued:
"Young Master, after Yin Xu and Yin Ming died, only their elderly mother and younger sister remained."
"I had been treating them well, as per your orders."
"But who would have thought that their house, being too close to the governor's mansion, caught the eyes of those soldiers, who wanted to seize it?"
"Of course, the Yin family refused. After all, that house was their ancestral home, filled with memories of their family."
"But that night, the house 'mysteriously' caught fire..."
"Fortunately, following your instructions, I managed to save the Yin family in time. However, the shock caused Madam Yin to become... mentally unstable. She now spends her days calling out for Ming and Xu."
After finishing, Zhu Yan shamefully lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Young Master. I've failed you!"
"Mysteriously... on fire?!"
Dai Chengfeng's eyes instantly blazed with murderous intent, his voice hoarse. "Are you certain those ten thousand men were part of our Star Luo Empire army and not bandits?"
"They were soldiers, Young Master."
Dai Chengfeng took several deep breaths. "Xu Guotao!"
Turning to Ye Renxin, he asked, "Master Ye, what do you think about Madam Yin…?"
Ye Renxin nodded directly. "Don't worry, Young Master. It's likely just grief combined with a temporary shock—it's not serious."
"That's good…"
Dai Chengfeng exhaled in relief, then turned his icy gaze toward Zhu Yan. "Useless coward!"
"What the hell were you enduring for?"
"Why didn't you dare kill them?"
"Thankfully, nothing happened to them. Otherwise, I'd make you personally go down there and apologize to Yin Xu and Yin Ming!"
Even Dugu Bo, who had seen much bloodshed and death, couldn't suppress a flicker of uncontrollable anger in his eyes.
After all, two sons of the family had consecutively died fighting for the Star Luo Empire, and then their mother and sister nearly burned to death, while their ancestral home was seized…
"Animals!"
Zhu Fan clenched his teeth and slammed his fist onto the table, causing several cracks to appear on its surface.
"Young Master, I, Zhu Yan, am no coward!"
Zhu Yan quickly continued: "That very day, I led my men to arrest those scoundrels and prepared to execute them!"
"But when Dai Xuan learned of this, he secretly released them that night. He accused me of disregarding military discipline and sabotaging relations with allied forces. Then, he began finding excuses to strip me of my command, transferring away my trusted subordinates until finally demoting me to a centurion in Wuping City."
"And after I was demoted, that so-called army simply left without a trace—there was no retaliation from the Tian Dou Empire at all."
"Now that I think about it carefully, it was all part of Dai Xuan's meticulously crafted, vicious plot from the very beginning!"
As he spoke, Zhu Yan's eyes brimmed with regret.
"After my demotion, Dai Xuan halted the Dujiangyan project. He either disbanded or forcibly conscripted the personal guard you had trained, and stopped the subsidies for the widows of fallen warriors..."
"Then, Young Master, you already know what came next—the various unjust taxes..."
Dai Chengfeng listened silently, the howling wind outside the window rattling the branches violently.
"Yes, I know it all!"
His face grew darker, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists, an icy, bone-chilling aura emanating from him. "Allowing soldiers to oppress the weak, beat civilians, and plunder goods..."
"Dai Xuan!"
Crack—
Dai Chengfeng suddenly crushed the teacup in his hand, abruptly standing up, his eyes suffused with crimson killing intent.
"Follow me to Wu'an!"
"To kill!"
Hearing Dai Chengfeng's words, Zhu Yan's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Young Master, my brothers have waited for this day for so long!"
"I'll gather the troops right now!"
"No need!"
Dai Chengfeng waved dismissively, already striding out of the tent. "A mere Dai Xuan—I've never given him a second thought."
---
Wu'an City
Compared to its simple grandeur three years ago, the governor's mansion—now expanded and lavishly renovated multiple times—was a sight of opulence.
Pavilions, terraces, and intricately carved beams adorned the structure. Glazed tiles shimmered brilliantly under the sun, radiating dazzling gold and emerald brilliance.
Inside the mansion, within a luxurious hall, a chubby blond-haired youth sat in the main seat, surrounded by large wooden chests.
At this moment, his cheeks were flushed with excitement, his small eyes wide and fixed greedily on the piles of golden spirit coins inside the chests.
"The monthly dues have arrived again—it's my favorite time to count money, hehe~"
Dai Xuan chuckled smugly.
His pudgy little hands darted quickly through the golden coins, counting ceaselessly.
He even weighed each coin in his hand repeatedly, his face glowing with satisfaction.
Knock, knock, knock—
Just as Dai Xuan was immersed in the joy of counting, the door was suddenly knocked upon.
Dai Xuan frowned slightly—he hated being interrupted during his counting.
"The servants here are all old-timers; they know today is the day the ship delivers the monthly dues, and they know I dislike interruptions. Yet someone still dares to disturb me at this time…"
Suppressing his anger, Dai Xuan softly called out, "Enter!"
Upon hearing this, a servant pushed open the door and nervously approached Dai Xuan.
"Speak. What is it?"
"You'd better pray you have a reason important enough to disturb me. Otherwise, I can't guarantee…"
"That you'll live to see tomorrow's sunrise."
Dai Xuan held up a golden coin, inhaling deeply as he gazed at the servant with narrowed eyes, smiling sinisterly.
The servant "thud"-ed to his knees, trembling like a leaf, his head bowed almost to the ground, his voice quivering:
"G... Great Lord, a spy stationed in Wuping City just reported that the person you've been waiting for has appeared!"
"I... I didn't dare act on my own, so I had to disturb you."
As he spoke, he stole a glance at Dai Xuan, who looked increasingly grim, and quickly lowered his head again.
Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, soaking the floor.
Clang—
Dai Xuan slowly stood up, carelessly tossing the golden coin in his hand back into the chest. The coins clinked together, producing a crisp yet icy sound.
He swiftly turned his head toward the shadows at the side of the hall, his face instantly plastered with an ingratiating smile.
"Master, it seems your information was accurate—he truly has returned!"
At this moment, a man wearing a black hood slowly emerged from the shadows, his piercing eyes the only visible feature.
"Since he's returned, let's begin."
The man's voice was low and raspy, each word dripping with bone-chilling coldness.
Hearing this, Dai Xuan nodded rapidly, his movements resembling a pecking chicken, his face full of fawning deference.
"Don't worry, Master!"
"Everything has been meticulously prepared—we're just waiting for the prey to walk into our trap!"
The hooded man's eyes gleamed with depth. "If you fail, you'll lose your value…"
"Prove to us whether you're the hunter or the prey!"
Dai Xuan smiled faintly, nodding slightly, but his eyes flashed with a surge of malice.
However, the flash quickly subsided.
He turned and said indifferently toward the door, "Go!"
"To eliminate the traitor and restore order—today is the day! Or do you want your old mother to continue suffering?!"
"Yes!"
The guards outside the door acknowledged the order and quickly turned to leave.
"Dai Chengfeng, oh Dai Chengfeng!"
"How will you handle your former 'comrades-in-arms'?"
Dai Xuan clasped his hands behind his back, a cruel smile curling his lips. "This will surely be interesting, hahaha…"
Throwing his head back, he laughed sharply and piercingly.
Shlunk—
The next second, blood splattered as his hand transformed into a tiger claw, piercing through the heart of the kneeling servant before him.
Looking at the still-beating heart in his hand, meeting the servant's terrified, resentful gaze, Dai Xuan sneered.
"Sorry about that~"
"It's your fault—you knew too much…"
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