Chapter 120: The Missing Corpse
Davis left the academy, but not far. He and his companions took residence nearby, unwilling to leave until Dai Mubai's death was properly investigated.
Zhu Zhuqing's refusal to return was irrelevant, but the death of a Xingluo royal prince could not remain unresolved.
Regardless of Dai Mubai's exile, he was still a prince of the empire.
If a royal heir died abroad without a clear explanation, what face would the Xingluo Empire have left?
As Davis and his group departed, everyone at Shrek sighed with relief—everyone except Yu Xiaogang, whose face had turned pale.
Dai Mubai was indeed dead, but his body had been offered to the Primordial God.
If the Xingluo royals came looking for his corpse, there would be no way to explain its absence.
"Teacher, what's wrong?" Tang San asked, noticing his teacher's sudden discomfort.
Yu Xiaogang tensed, then quickly forced a casual smile. "Nothing… I just think the Xingluo royals are far too cold-hearted. Dai Mubai is dead, and yet his brother only cared about taking Zhu Zhuqing away."
Tang San frowned, nodding in agreement. "That does sound heartless."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke softly. "Davis doesn't care about Dai Mubai's death. He probably wanted it. The sooner Dai Mubai died, the sooner Davis would have the throne."
Everyone turned to look at her as she continued.
"That's how Xingluo's succession works. A brutal struggle—life or death between heirs. The winner becomes emperor. The loser dies or is imprisoned for life."
Silence fell over the group.
Luo Ling's gaze drifted toward Yu Xiaogang. The so-called master didn't seem to hear a word, lost in his own troubled thoughts.
…
The next day, Davis returned to Shrek Academy with Zhu Zhuyun and the middle-aged attendant.
Flender and the students tensed. No one knew whether the prince had come to fight again.
Davis's cold eyes swept over the crowd and settled briefly on Luo Ling.
"Since Zhu Zhuqing has joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, we won't force her. However, Dai Mubai's death must be investigated. The dignity of the Xingluo royal family demands it."
Flender exhaled slightly in relief but quickly put on a troubled expression.
"Prince Davis, we only know that he was slain by a cloaked man in black. We truly don't know who he was."
Davis frowned, turning his gaze away from Luo Ling and toward Flender.
"Dai Mubai is dead. Then where is his body?"
"I buried him behind the mountain," Flender said immediately.
"Take me there," Davis said coldly.
Flender hesitated but nodded, leading the three guests toward the back mountain.
The rest of the academy followed—Yu Xiaogang trailing behind with a dark expression.
He knew what was coming. Once they discovered the empty grave, suspicion would fall immediately on them.
After all, Dai Mubai had been sacrificed to the Primordial God; not even ashes had remained.
When they reached the burial site, Flender knelt and began to dig. Within moments, his hands froze.
The pit was empty.
Flender stared at the hollow ground, utterly at a loss.
"Headmaster Flender," Davis said, his tone icy, anger flashing in his eyes. "Is this where you claimed to have buried my brother?"
"How… how could this be? I buried him here myself!" Flender stammered, voice trembling.
Davis's patience snapped. "Do you take the Xingluo royal family for fools?"
His spirit erupted. White Tiger martial spirit manifested, and behind him, Zhu Zhuyun and the Soul Saint attendant also released their spirits.
Flender's face drained of color. He truly had buried the body here, yet it was gone. The situation could not be explained no matter what he said.
"Prince Davis! I swear, I buried him right here!"
Davis's expression grew colder. In his mind, it was now obvious—someone from Shrek had murdered Dai Mubai and hidden the evidence.
"Perhaps you should calm down," a languid voice interrupted.
Luo Ling stepped forward, his tone unhurried. "Dai Mubai's death was indeed the work of a mysterious man in black. It had nothing to do with Shrek Academy."
"You don't have to believe me. But if you choose to attack here, then the Xingluo Empire may soon need a new heir."
Davis froze midstep, eyes narrowing. "Is that a threat?"
"No." Luo Ling shook his head. "Just the truth."
"You're a Spirit King. That woman is a Spirit Elder, and the man behind you is a Soul Saint."
He gestured casually toward Flender and Zhao Wouji nearby.
"We have two Soul Saints here. If a fight breaks out now, you won't even have the chance to defend yourselves."
Davis's expression shifted from fury to unease. "Aren't you afraid of the Xingluo royal family's revenge?"
"Revenge?" Luo Ling smiled faintly. "You think you can make it out of Shrek to warn anyone?"
He took a small step forward. "Tell me, Prince Davis—did anyone else know you came here?"
The prince went silent. He realized bitterly that no one else knew they had traveled to Soto City—this visit had been secret.
And the academy was both remote and isolated. If they vanished here, there would be no trace left behind.
"So," Luo Ling continued smoothly, "let's talk calmly. We all saw Dai Mubai's death firsthand. The murderer was a black-cloaked man."
Davis's brow furrowed. "You seem… rather certain. Do you know who this man was?"
Luo Ling smiled faintly. "Before, I didn't. But after witnessing the Warlock's battle at the Great Spirit Arena…"
He paused intentionally, letting anticipation hang in the air.
"You mean to say the Warlock did it?" Davis asked sharply.
Luo Ling shook his head slowly. "Not the Warlock—Tang Hao. The Haotian Douluo himself."
His words hung heavy in the air.
Around them, faces turned pale with shock.
Flender and Yu Xiaogang exchanged uneasy glances, both startled that Luo Ling knew the truth.
Tang San froze. The moment the name left Luo Ling's lips, his mind went blank.
His father's name… Haotian Douluo—Tang Hao.
He'd heard rumors of a Titled Douluo slaughtering countless soul masters at the Great Spirit Arena, but no one had said the name aloud.
Now that he had, Tang San's heart pounded, caught between disbelief and dread.
(END CHAPTER)
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