Douluo—Chapter 2: His Ambition is as Great as a Tiger! Temper His Temper!
Looking at the fourth prince, Dai Chengfeng, who was singing and laughing in the rain outside the palace gate, Star Luo Emperor Dai An felt a mix of amazement and frustration. He stood for a long moment, speechless, as the raindrops danced around his son like sparkling jewels in the fading light.
"What a remarkable boy! I will surpass my ancestors!" Dai Chengfeng declared with youthful exuberance, his laughter ringing out like a clear bell through the damp air.
"If I become the White Emperor in the future," he continued, eyes glinting with determination, "I will make peach blossoms bloom everywhere!"
At that moment, a woman in red slowly walked out of the side hall. She gazed at Dai Chengfeng's back, sighing softly, a mixture of pride and concern flickering across her features.
"Your Majesty should be happy to have such a child!" she remarked a hint of admiration in her voice, her tone wrapped in gentleness.
Dai An shook his head, a shadow of concern passing over his features. "How could I not know?" he replied, his voice weary and laden with the burdens of leadership. Every laughter reminded him of the weight he carried—the crown that pressed heavily on his brow.
"Golden swords and iron horses—his ambition is vast, swallowing thousands of miles like a tiger!" he continued, but the pride in his voice was mingled with worry. The dreams he had for his son felt precarious, like a fragile glass sculpture on the edge of a table.
"This is the spirit an emperor of my Star Luo Empire should possess!" he declared, though a note of regret laced his words. "But it's just a pity..."
The High Priest, sensing his inner turmoil, leaned closer, her dark eyes shimmering with wisdom. "What I admire most is that Chengfeng is so young yet possesses such great spirit. But now, he has become my biggest headache," she said, her voice steady, yet sympathetic.
Dai An rubbed his temple as if trying to ward off a growing headache. "It's obvious we just need to follow the ancestors' methods and trust the established steps," he murmured, wishing it were that simple.
"With his innate full soul power, he is destined to become a Titled Douluo in the future; whether he will reach the level of Peerless Douluo remains uncertain," he added, trying to convince himself even as doubt gnawed at his resolve.
"But why does he insist on being so whimsical, questioning our ancestors? It's simply absurd!" Dai An's frustration was palpable as he looked helplessly at the High Priest, whose calm demeanor contrasted sharply with his turmoil.
"What do you think I should do?" he asked, desperation creeping into his voice.
The High Priest offered a thoughtful smile, her expression softening with understanding. "Your Majesty, didn't you just announce the abolition of all the titles and fiefs of the Fourth Prince and exile him to Wu'an City?"
"Can't he return to the capital without your permission?" she asked, arching an eyebrow, a challenge dancing playfully in her gaze.
Hearing this, Dai An felt his face flush with embarrassment. "High Priest, I only meant to frighten him. As long as he admits his mistakes and promises not to act recklessly again, this matter will be resolved." His heart clung to that hope like a child holding onto a cherished toy.
"But who knew that the brat would be entirely unafraid!" he exclaimed, exasperated, clenching his fists as the weight of his concerns pressed down on him.
The woman in red shook her head softly, her voice tinged with insight. "I believe Your Majesty can turn this façade into reality."
"The Fourth Prince is as determined as steel, but too much force may result in breaking. It may not be a bad thing for him to face some trials," she added, her tone firm yet encouraging.
Dai An pondered her words, his expression thoughtful, seeking the wisdom hidden within. "High Priest, you mean..."
She nodded, her smile widening as if unveiling a secret plan. "Exactly! In a place like Wu'an City, blood often flows like a river. Not only a six-year-old child but even seasoned Soul Elders and Soul Ancestors struggle to adapt." The image of hardship and growth painted in her words struck a chord deep within him.
"Therefore, if you send a master to ensure His Highness's safety and allow him to stay there for a few days, it may prove beneficial," she continued, her voice assured.
"By then, he may fully grasp the world's harsh realities."
"Naturally, he will no longer naively believe that his understanding of martial souls at such a young age can surpass that of his ancestors."
Dai An's eyes sparkled with newfound hope. "Great!" he exclaimed, a renewed resolve washing over him.
"Chengfeng's sharpness is indeed too acute; he truly needs to be tempered," he admitted, now seeing his son not just as a prince but as a young warrior preparing for a battle.
He glanced once more at the imperial guards stationed in front of the palace, their faces stoic and attentive. "Continue executing my previous orders and simultaneously disseminate..."
"Dai Chengfeng, the Fourth Prince of the Star Luo Empire, has been willful and reckless, causing the first soul ring he absorbed to go against his White Tiger Martial Soul. He is now half-wasted, and I have demoted him to Wu'an City."
"Order the head of the Zhu family to take Zhu Zhuqing back, and declare to the outside world that they disapproved of Chengfeng's behavior and voluntarily chose to cancel the engagement."
"As for my conversation with the High Priest, it must remain confidential—not a word to anyone, including Weisi, Mu Bai, or their relatives."
"Otherwise, you know the consequences."
Instantly, the imperial guards knelt on one knee, their voices united and respectful: "Your Majesty, rest assured; your subordinates understand!"
Dai An nodded, satisfaction blooming within him as he watched them, strong and devoted.
After all, anyone could become a personal guard with a connection to him. The head of the Zhu family was no fool; he would quickly grasp the nuances of the situation.
With the guards departing, Dai An's smug demeanor returned, a sly smile creeping onto his lips.
"A discarded prince whose engagement has been broken—how delightful!" he chuckled, a glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes, the thrill of power surging through him. "In this way, Chengfeng, the discarded prince, will no longer be so conspicuous."
"And I believe this will hit Chengfeng hard."
"With this potent medicine!" he relished the thought, a dark satisfaction with how fate twisted and turned in his favor.
"High Priest, how many days do you think Chengfeng can hold out before he admits his mistakes and begs for my forgiveness?"
The woman in red paused thoughtfully, a finger tapping her chin. "Considering His Highness's temper, I would say it may take a week. But I suspect that within three days, that child will come to you and admit his wrongs. Haha..."
As Dai An envisioned the defiant brat, who had dared contradict him just moments ago, frightened by the harshness of Wu'an City, he felt pride swell within him, triumph swelling alongside his thoughts of dominance.
"I don't believe I can't manage you, my little rascal!" he declared to himself, now certain of his control over the unfolding drama.
...
One day later.
Thanks to Dai An, the Star Luo Emperor, news had spread like wildfire.
It had been a mere night…
The word that Dai Chengfeng, the fourth prince once considered the next Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, had become a cripple due to martial soul issues, and that the Zhu family had canceled their engagement, had completely taken root.
Everywhere within the imperial capital of the Star Luo Empire buzzed with the story. Gossip flowed like a river, twisting and turning in every direction, carried by the winds of intrigue.
The most thrilling part was that it had been nearly impossible for Dai Weisi, poised on the cusp of succession, and Dai Mubai, whose fiancée had been taken by Dai Chengfeng, to believe how fortunes had turned. They had both watched the older prince rise with envy and now, seeing him fall was a bittersweet cocktail of joy and surprise.
At that moment.
In front of the imperial capital's gates, the bustling crowd was as busy as ever, a colorful tapestry of citizens, merchants, and nobility.
Amidst this chaos, a simple, old carriage began to roll out of the palace, the wheels creaking against the cobblestone road, a haunting echo of the prince's fate.
People's eyes were drawn to it, causing a ripple of whispers in the crowd, curiosity mingling with delight.
"Look, that's the carriage of the abolished Fourth Prince, Dai Chengfeng!"
"Just yesterday, he basked in glory, poised to be the next Star Luo Emperor, and now… overnight, he's become useless, cast aside by the Zhu family. The twists of fate are truly unpredictable!"
Whispers of schadenfreude rippled through the crowd, voices laced with glee at the downfall of someone who had once held such great power and promise.
On the watchtower.
Gazing down at the decrepit carriage below the city wall, Dai Weisi's eyes gleamed with mockery, a cruel smile painting his lips.
"My dear brother, how pitiful you are now!" he sneered silently, savoring the moment.
"What a splendid opportunity to ascend the throne you've squandered in vain!"
"When I finally claim my rightful place as the next Star Luo Emperor, I hope you won't regret your arrogance and foolishness today. Haha!" The laughter echoed in his mind, rich and triumphant.
Nearby, Dai Mubai, still spurred by competing spirits despite his youth, watched as his greatest rival departed the stage…
"Was I truly robbed of my fiancée by such a fool?" he mused, shaking his head in disbelief, still grappling with this bizarre turn of events.
"It is clear that the ancestors' teachings regarding soul rings could compensate for the White Tiger Martial Soul's shortcomings. The failure to believe it and the attempt to prove otherwise is simply ignorant!"
"How could our ancestors ever be mistaken?" he pondered, recalling every lesson drilled into him since childhood.
Looking at the sparkling glimmer of the first soul skill, the White Tiger Shield Body Barrier, manifesting around him, Dai Mubai's confidence surged, fueled by self-assertion.
"Haha, wait!" he exclaimed inwardly with a sharp grin.
"Next time we meet..."
"My dear brother, I will bring Zhu Zhuqing with me to make you understand the vast disparity between us!"
Meanwhile, Zhu Fan, steering the carriage onward, listened intently to the crowd's derisive comments, his knuckles whitening on the reins.
Gritting his teeth, he turned with a disgruntled expression and said to the carriage, "This is truly… a dragon trapped in a shallow stream, played with by shrimps, and a tiger in a plain being bullied by dogs!"
"Chengfeng," he continued, his voice filled with urgency, "if only you would admit your mistakes to His Majesty, he would surely forgive you. They would soon learn who the real fool is…"
"Okay, uncle!"
Before Zhu Fan could finish, Dai Chengfeng's voice emerged softly from within the carriage. "One day, the world will understand my worth."
"And as for what they say?" Dai Chengfeng raised the carriage curtain, peering out at the excited gossipers and mockers outside. "Their words are merely the cold bite of wind and frost."
He lowered the curtain with a calm demeanor, a fire igniting within him. "Let's get going."
"Wu'an City, the battlefield—perhaps that's where my true rise begins!"
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(End of this chapter)