Beyond the grand walls of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Flender, Liu Erlong, Zhao Wuji, Qin Ming, and several other Shrek Academy teachers gathered anxiously at the edge of the wide, solemn square in front of the gates.
That morning, Yu Xiaogang had learned of the total purge of Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and was instantly consumed with righteous fury. He condemned the new Xue Qinghe as "brutal and cruel," harming the innocent; as a marquis and recognized theorist of the soul master world, he declared he could not stay silent. He was determined to seek an audience with the Crown Prince to petition for justice for the Sect, and at least, to protect the innocent children.
Despite Flender and the others' earnest attempts to dissuade him, Yu Xiaogang would not waver. With no choice, the others followed him, hoping to meet him again outside the palace gates.
As expected, upon arrival, Yu Xiaogang was granted entry after presenting his marquis seal—but Flender and the rest were left politely, but firmly, at the wall.
As time dragged on, Flender paced to and fro, arms clasped behind his back, brow deeply furrowed as ominous premonitions gnawed at him. Zhao Wuji leaned against the wall in shadow, gazing grimly at the palace gates, occasionally glancing up at the tightly shut doors.
Only Liu Erlong, though her face was clouded by worry, exuded a certain odd confidence.
Seeing Flender's anxiety, she comforted him,
"Boss Flender, please don't worry too much. You know, Xiaogang has always been a strategist who can win battles from afar.
Since he dared to go in, he must have confidence. With the Crown Prince's wisdom and stature, surely he'll allow Xiaogang some dignity. Nothing too serious will happen."
There was the faintest trace of pride on Liu Erlong's face when it came to the matter of intelligence.
"You wouldn't know this, but Xiaogang once told me—back then, Emperor Xue Ye did everything possible to invite him from seclusion, persuading him with utmost sincerity.
Only after many invitations did he reluctantly accept the Marquisate of Blue Lightning. That's why Xue Qinghe can't ignore him so easily."
Zhao Wuji nodded grimly,
"Yes, Flender. Our Grandmaster is, after all, the son of Thunder Douluo Yu Yuanzhen and now an honorary elder of the Blue Lightning clan.
Even if he isn't considering the marquis's dignity, he should at least consider the reputation of Thunder Douluo. Even if the Crown Prince is young and impatient, he shouldn't cross the line, right?"
Yet in his final words, a clear undercurrent of uneasiness betrayed his own lack of confidence.
Flender paused with a wry smile, adjusting his crystal-framed glasses.
"I hope you're right."
In his heart, though, he suspected that Liu Erlong was blinded by love and cared nothing for noble titles. Could she really be unaware how the marquisate was acquired? The Heaven Dou royal family already resented this, and Xue Qinghe might not accommodate it either.
Screech…
Amid the ever-thickening air of tension, the palace's heavy twin gates cracked open a sliver.
Everyone straightened expectantly.
The first to emerge were several palace guards in bright golden armor, their faces utterly blank. Their steps were orderly, and in their hands, they carried something bundled messily in a filthy, coarse sackcloth—inside, there was the unmistakable shape of a person.
Flender's heart sank.
Next emerged a figure in the uniform of a palace officer—it was the same officer who had earlier led Yu Xiaogang into the palace.
With a chilly glare, the officer gazed at the people waiting outside.
Suppressing his anxiety, Flender stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute.
"Commander, might I ask—where is the Marquis of Blue Lightning...?"
Before he could finish, the lead officer impatiently waved him off and signaled the guards to step forward.
Four guards bore the bundle up to the group and, as if discarding refuse, hurled it at their feet.
The sack's contents hit the stone with a dull, heavy slam.
The coarse sack was torn open, revealing a blurred lump of blood and flesh underneath.
"Take this trash away from here!"
"Trash?"
The sudden insult left Flender and the others momentarily stunned.
Keen-eyed Qin Ming peered closer and realized—it was not an object, but a person.
"Grandmaster…?!"
Immediately all rushed forward, and Liu Erlong tore off the filthy sackcloth, exposing the horrible truth.
It was, indeed, not a thing, but hardly recognizable as a human.
He was completely naked, covered in bruises and dried blood—especially around his knees, where two horrifying craters clearly showed the bones had been cruelly gouged away.
Worst of all was his face, twisted and covered in deep, dark-red holes gouged straight into the flesh.
"Xiaogang—!"
Liu Erlong gave a heart-wrenching scream, hands shaking as she gingerly touched his mutilated face.
The touch only aggravated his wounds. Yu Xiaogang, unconscious, convulsed and let out a muffled moan, yet never woke.
Flender's gaze quickly moved lower, landing on Yu Xiaogang's knees.
A chill shot up from his soles to his scalp, then turned to blazing fury.
Spinning around, Flender unleashed his powerful Soul Saint aura like a hurricane toward the guards.
His normally sly merchant's smile was now twisted in rage, his eyes crimson behind his spectacles.
"Who?! Who on earth did this!? How could anyone torture an imperial marquis like this?!"
Liu Erlong shook off her initial shock and hurt, to find nothing left but burning anger and murderous intent.
Her soul power erupted, a raging flame leaping up behind her as her eyes went wild with hatred, lunging at the guards without hesitation.
"Erlong! Calm down!" cried Flender, his own vision clouding with fury.
Facing the raging pressure of two Soul Sages about to attack, the leader of the imperial guards simply sneered, taking a single half-step, and, with but a hint of his own vast power, instantly dispersed their soul force.
At the same time, eight perfect spirit rings manifested around him: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black.
A Soul Douluo Master! And not a newly advanced one at that!
"Want to die, do you?"
The officer gave a cold snort, his gaze piercing them like icy daggers. The malicious killing intent dropped the surrounding temperature several degrees.
A Soul Douluo!?
Since when had the Heaven Dou royal guards hidden such monstrous experts!?
"If you cause trouble here in the Forbidden Zone of the palace, you will all be arrested immediately and punished for rebellion!"
Unbeknownst to the Shrek crowd, this officer was not trained by the Heaven Dou royal family, but secretly deployed here by the Spirit Hall to support Qian Renxue in handling matters. He had no fear of a handful of Soul Sages.
Flender was stunned. Overwhelmed by such power, his rage was instantly snuffed out, leaving only chilling sobriety.
He reached out suddenly and pinned down the nearly uncontrollable Liu Erlong.
"Erlong! Don't be reckless!"
His voice pressed with urgency as he turned to the spirit master guardian, forcibly suppressing his humiliation and anger.
"Your Excellency, please calm your anger! We only wish to know: what kind of monstrous crime could Blue Lightning Marquis possibly have committed, to deserve such atrocious torture? Even Your Majesty should have the right to an explanation!"
"Explanation?"
The officer sneered, pinching his ear as if hearing something utterly ridiculous, and cast a glance of disgust at Yu Xiaogang lying unconscious.
"This useless wretch spouted nonsense before His Majesty, insulted the late emperor, and showed contempt for his ruler. His Majesty was merciful, sparing his life for the sake of the mourning period.
Only a light punishment was given. Any objections?"
"Nonsense!" Liu Erlong shouted as she struggled against Flender. "Xiaogang would never do such a thing!
You must've set him up!"
"Ah—!"
Just then, Zhao Wuji, who had squatted down beside Yu Xiaogang to check his injuries, suddenly let out a short, weird yelp of surprise.
The sound immediately drew everyone's attention—even the furious Liu Erlong looked up reflexively.
Zhao Wuji's face was twisted in the strangest way, as if he'd just seen something so horrific it defied words.
It seemed he'd just lifted the last bloodstained remnant of flesh and peaked beneath it—
Suddenly, as if scalded, he let go, dropping the undergarments and subconsciously wiping his fingers on his pants.
"Old Zhao, what's wrong?"
Flender's heart clenched, fearing Yu Xiaogang had suffered some even graver internal wound.
Liu Erlong, just as worried, shook off Flender's hand, rushing up to lift aside one final barrier herself.
"Don't! Erlong, stop!"
Zhao Wuji, nearly frantic with fear, stepped forward to block her, stuttering, "I… this…"
Sensing something terribly wrong, Flender crouched, held his breath, and carefully peeked under the edge.
With only a glance, his pupils shrank and his face went ashen. He suddenly fixed his trembling finger on the leading officer.
"You… you all…"
The officer, at first surprised, caught Flender's eyes, Zhao Wuji and Flender's odd expressions, then glanced at Yu Xiaogang's lower body—comprehension suddenly dawning.
A guilty smile flickered on his lips.
"Ah, so that's what you're worried about?"
"Forgive me, it was an inexperienced novice who handled that."
"There was… well, there was some 'debris' left over. The kid was a bit reckless and accidentally tore it off—half of it."
Worried they might think him too brutal, he added quickly,
"Don't worry, after, we checked with the imperial physician on duty. Only one piece was lost; theoretically, the main body is still intact...
Yes, there may be some impact, but it should still be usable."
"Usable!?" Flender was livid, shouting.
Just one piece? No, it wasn't just one—it'd been torn in half!
Utterly inhumane!
This cruelty and humiliation surpassed all human limits!
Flender stared at the officer and muttered in a low, cold voice.
"Give it back! That piece you tore off—the kneecap too! Give it back!"
He knew that if the remains were intact, a very high-level healing soul master, together with rare and precious materials, might be able to repair even lost limbs and organs. If only he could find Yu Xiaogang's kneecaps and torn-off remains…
The officer, seeing Flender's outstretched hand, let the last hint of "apology" vanish from his face. Instead, a cat-and-mouse sneer danced on his lips.
Casually, he spread his hands and shrugged,
"Fed it to the dogs."
"What did you say—?!"
Liu Erlong's shriek rose to an inhuman pitch, her eyes reddening with fury, soul power on the verge of again boiling out of control.
"Quick, save him," the commander urged, ignoring Liu Erlong's rage and glancing at Yu Xiaogang, whose breathing grew weaker. "If you don't, he'll really die."
That did it.
Those words doused Liu Erlong's rage in an instant; concern for Yu Xiaogang crushed even her most destroying fury.
"That's right! Save Xiaogang first! Hurry!"
Like snapping out of a dream, Liu Erlong bent down and ever so carefully picked up the miserable Yu Xiaogang in her trembling arms.
"To the best clinic in Heaven Dou City! Find the best healing-type soul master!"
Clutching him, she raced through the streets, vanishing almost at once around a corner.
Flender, Zhao Wuji, Qin Ming, and the others, suppressing their endless grief and hatred, gave a searing glare to the assembled guards, then spun and chased after Liu Erlong.
For now, rescuing Yu Xiaogang's life mattered most of all.
Watching the Shrek party hurry away, the lead guard's mask of indifference finally faded into a contemptuous sneer.
He waved to his subordinates.
"Let's go, brothers. This misfortune is finally over."
He paused, meaningfully smiling,
"You've all worked hard today—I'll treat everyone to something good. Let's go eat... and cheer up."
...