Chapter 7: Interrogation, Punishment (1 / 1)
Lin Yu looked down at Dai Hao, who was kneeling at his feet as if nailed to the ground. The playful smile on his face had completely faded, replaced by cold indifference—like a god overlooking mortals.
His voice was not loud, but it carried absolute authority that reached everyone's ears:
"You want to speak?"
"Fine."
"But you will speak while kneeling."
"Otherwise…" Lin Yu's tone turned icy, like a blade of polar wind, "get lost. Do you understand?"
Dai Hao suddenly raised his head. Humiliation, anger, fear—and a faint instinctive reverence under absolute suppression—flickered wildly in his eyes.
He looked at the unfathomable young man, at the mother and son behind him, and at the overwhelming pressure like the collapse of the heavens.
All resistance was crushed instantly.
His lips moved. A hoarse, meaningless sound escaped.
Finally, under those cold dragon-like eyes, he nodded with extreme difficulty.
"…Understood…"
His voice was dry and low, carrying humiliation a Soul Douluo had never experienced.
The Duchess collapsed to the ground, unable even to maintain her kneeling posture. Her eyes were filled with pure terror, like she was looking at an ancient demon.
The remaining Soul Saint protector had already turned pale, wishing he could hide inside a wall.
Lin Yu showed no surprise at Dai Hao's submission.
He slowly withdrew his hand from Dai Hao's shoulder. The suffocating pressure diminished—but Dai Hao still remained kneeling, too shaken to even stand.
"Since you understand," Lin Yu said calmly, "then let's begin."
He stepped aside, revealing Huo Yun'er and Huo Yuhao.
"First question. This child, Huo Yuhao—is he your blood or not?"
Dai Hao's body trembled violently.
He looked at Huo Yuhao.
The boy's face… so similar to his younger self. The eyes—like Huo Yun'er's, but burning with rage and expectation.
Bloodline resonance struck him like a hammer.
"…He is!" Dai Hao's voice broke. "Huo Yuhao… is my son!"
The words exploded like thunder in the silent courtyard.
Huo Yun'er covered her mouth, tears pouring out uncontrollably.
Huo Yuhao's fists trembled. His eyes burned brighter—but the emotion was complicated: anger, relief, resentment.
Because this acknowledgment came too late.
Too humiliating.
Lin Yu nodded slightly. "Good."
"Second question." His gaze shifted to the Duchess.
"For years, what your wife did to this mother and child—did you know? Did you allow it? Or did you ignore it?"
Dai Hao's face darkened instantly.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
He had simply chosen not to intervene.
"…I…" He tried to speak, then fell silent under Lin Yu's gaze. "It was my negligence… my indulgence…"
Huo Yuhao's killing intent intensified.
Negligence? Indulgence? Words too light for years of suffering.
Lin Yu let out a cold laugh.
"Negligence?"
"Indulgence?"
His voice sharpened like frozen steel.
"As a husband, you failed to protect your wife."
"As a father, you failed to protect your son."
"White Tiger Duke? Star Luo war god?"
"Nothing but a coward who cannot even handle his own household."
Each word struck Dai Hao like a whip. His face turned from red to pale, then deathly white.
Lin Yu turned away from him and looked at the Duchess.
"As for you."
His voice dropped into something terrifyingly calm.
"Poisonous woman. I don't like wasting words."
"Today you insulted my disciple and his mother, and nearly killed them."
"Unforgivable."
He paused.
"Choose."
"Die by your own hand."
"Or I will do it for you."
"NO! PLEASE!" the Duchess screamed, collapsing completely. "Spare me! I was wrong! I will compensate! I'll give everything! Please!"
Lin Yu's expression did not change.
Disgust.
Nothing more.
"Master!"
Huo Yuhao suddenly spoke.
Lin Yu looked at him.
The boy took a deep breath, eyes locked onto the kneeling Duchess.
"I don't want her dead."
Lin Yu raised an eyebrow.
Huo Yuhao's voice was cold and steady:
"Death is too easy."
"I want her alive."
"I want her to watch with her own eyes how the people she once trampled rise to a height she can never reach."
"I want her to live every day in fear and regret."
"When the time comes… I will take her life myself."
Silence.
Lin Yu's eyes showed clear approval for the first time.
This kind of hatred—controlled, enduring, sharpened over time—was far more dangerous than simple rage.
"Good."
The Duchess did not feel relief.
Only deeper despair.
Because Huo Yuhao's eyes… were colder than death itself.