General Dugu Wudi returned home utterly perplexed, his mind a complete tangle. Hearing the war drums outside the city, he had spurred his personal guards into a gallop back toward the capital, rushing immediately to the Imperial Palace to await audience with His Majesty the Emperor.

He had even issued orders for his own troops to prepare for battle. In the event that Jun Zhantian decided to rebel, the Dugu family army would be the only force capable of defending the throne and countering Jun Zhantian’s military faction!

But the Emperor’s unusually ambiguous reaction left Dugu Wudi utterly baffled, like a monk trying to grasp the meaning of a zhang er statue.

At such a critical juncture, where a shift in the dynasty could erupt at any moment—even the possibility of troops marching on the palace was not out of the question—His Majesty had merely offered four words: “Remain calm for now!” Then, he had simply told Dugu Wudi to go home and find his old man, explicitly forbidding him from returning to the barracks or taking any defensive measures with his troops—this was simply beyond comprehension.

Dugu Wudi felt dizzy.

Returning home steeped in frustration, before he could even reach his own courtyard, Dugu Wudi’s first priority was to find his father, the venerable Master Dugu Zongheng. However, the ensuing confrontation left the great General who commanded legions in an even more wretched state of embarrassment...

“Are you a pig? You worthless lout! You dragged your old man out of bed for such trivial nonsense? You unfilial brat, you rebellious fool! How could I have raised such a useless piece of trash? From now on, you are forbidden to claim you are my son when you go out; I cannot afford such shame!”

Old Master Dugu was furious, his voice booming loud enough for the entire estate to hear. His spittle showered over his son’s face and head. He jabbed a finger into the great General Dugu’s forehead, each poke nearly staggering him: “Shouldn’t you use that pig-head of yours to think? Is your skull filled with dog droppings?! Rebellion? Nonsense! I’ll tell you this: even if our Dugu family did rebel, Jun Zhantian would not! Even if His Majesty rebelled against himself! Old Man Jun still wouldn't rebel! Now scram back to your sleep, I can’t be bothered with you. You are a complete and utter pig! A stupid pig! Damn it!”

Finally, the old master gave Dugu Wudi a direct kick, sending the great General sprawling. Old Master Dugu huffed and turned back toward his sleeping chambers, followed instantly by a muffled grunt and another voice: “Old thing? What did you just say? Nonsense? Who is Dugu Wudi? He’s a pig, so what the hell are you, you old relic! Is your head filled with dog droppings?! You pig, a thoroughbred pig!” This was followed by a strained groan, clearly an effort to maintain composure despite the pain...

General Dugu Wudi rubbed his rear, his expression sullen; he grumbled inwardly, “Give that old brute a good twist back! He deserved it!”

Returning to his own courtyard, his mind still muddled, he found the place unusually noisy and brightly lit. His wife and his three concubines were all awake, their faces etched with worry. As soon as they saw him return, they rushed over. Upon inquiring, he learned the grim news: his daughter had run back in tears that afternoon, sobbing uncontrollably, refusing comfort, and locking herself in her room ever since. It was clear she had been bullied.

Dugu Wudi, already vexed, exploded with indignation—truly, nothing was going smoothly! What?! In Tianxiang City, someone dared to lay a hand on his precious daughter? He’d lead the army and wipe them out! Angrily, he led his wives into his daughter’s chamber. Without reserve, he cooed and comforted his darling for a long time until she finally stopped crying and managed to drink a bowl of bird’s nest congee. Only then did he relax slightly.

“Tell me, who bullied my darling? Tell your father, and watch me wipe them out!” Dugu Wudi’s face looked fierce. Seeing his daughter’s eyes swollen red from crying, his heart ached terribly. A voice raged within him: I’m about to explode!

“Daddy,” Dugu Xiaoyi had been waiting for her father. She pouted sweetly, “You must champion your daughter’s cause.”

Dugu Wudi felt a sudden unease: Could his daughter have been…? He asked nervously, “Who was it?”

“It was the Jun family, that brat Jun Moxie! He infuriated me today! Father, you absolutely must stand up for your daughter!” Dugu Xiaoyi complained, pouting aggrievedly.

Having bottled up all day, Dugu Xiaoyi desperately needed to vent to her father and secure his permission to take her brothers and beat up Jun Moxie, and perhaps seize the Meteorite Iron back into the bargain. She knew appealing to her mother would be futile; her mother would surely refuse or be too afraid to agree, so she hadn't even considered it.

After listening to the entire account, Dugu Wudi let out a long breath. So that was it. It wasn't what he had feared; he was relieved. Then his brow furrowed, and his head started to ache: “Heh heh, my dear girl, well, if it were anyone else, your father wouldn't fear him—even if that troublesome Prince acted foolishly, I’d surely have him arrested and beaten for your sake. But this Jun Moxie... that’s a bit tricky right now.” Tricky indeed. Even Jun Zhantian didn't know where his grandson was; how could he find him? Even if he did, he might not dare lay a finger on him! That old man was completely deranged now...

“Are you saying Daddy is afraid of Old Master Jun? I’m so unlucky, this is infuriating!” Dugu Xiaoyi started crying again, turning her body away, looking aside. She didn’t know why, but thinking of Jun Moxie’s face made her want to hit him; anger boiled up, and she wished she could smash that infuriating smirk right off his face, hmph.

“Ah! It’s not like that,” seeing his daughter weep again, Dugu Wudi grew flustered and hastily explained, “It’s just that the boy—sigh—we don’t even know if he’s alive or dead right now; we can’t find him. Let’s wait until we do. When the time comes, I promise I’ll help my girl get revenge! We’ll teach that boy a good lesson!”

“Huh? Don’t know if he’s alive or dead? What happened to him?” For some inexplicable reason, Dugu Xiaoyi suddenly felt a sharp pang in her chest. She spun around, her tear-reddened eyes wide as she stared at her father, feeling a sudden tension and fear. What... what am I afraid of?

“I heard that Princess Lingmeng was assassinated this afternoon. That fellow actually overreached himself trying to deliver a message or something, and while the Princess was unharmed, that pampered boy ended up taking the fall.”

Dugu Wudi felt a touch of grim satisfaction, failing to notice how his daughter’s complexion had gone utterly pale, her small hands clenching tightly as he continued speaking relentlessly: “...He took a sword thrust to the chest, and then was stomped several times in the chest by some Silver Profound level assassin before being carried away. We don't know where they took him; in my opinion, that boy’s life hangs by a thread.”

Dugu Xiaoyi let out a soft moan, frozen like wood. Suddenly, her heart felt hollow, empty. She missed everything her father said next, the voice itself seeming impossibly distant and muffled...

“Don’t worry! If that boy is still alive, your father will definitely capture him and let my darling spank his backside herself! Beat him senseless, ha ha ha...” Dugu Wudi laughed heartily, only then noticing his daughter’s strange expression. He waved a large hand in front of her face. “Xiaoyi? Xiaoyi!”

“Ah? Oh;” Dugu Xiaoyi jolted as if waking from a dream. Startled, her face suddenly calmed. She slowly settled onto the bed and murmured in a low voice, “Daddy, I’m tired now. I want to sleep...”

“Mmm, then get a good sleep. You’ll feel better after resting. I need to go pour myself some wine to ease this terrible day...” Dugu Wudi shook his head and walked out. The unimaginably thick-nerved Dugu Wudi failed completely to notice that something was terribly wrong with his daughter...

Dugu Xiaoyi pulled the quilt over her head, utterly motionless inside. She faintly heard her mother say a few gentle words, and the various concubines offer a few concerned remarks, but Dugu Xiaoyi registered none of it. Her mind was a chaotic mess; she didn't know what she was thinking. For no reason at all, she simply wanted to cry. Her nose burned, and her heart ached with a dull, throbbing pain. Tears welled up silently, growing more numerous, soaking the embroidered quilt. She didn't even realize when her mother and the concubines had finally left...

Could he... could he... actually be dead? But... but I haven’t yet...