Chapter 98: Ming Dou Shanmai

The next day, everyone gathered at the gate of Shilake Academy; the members included not only the fourteen students from the main and reserve teams, but also Teacher Wang Yan, who was leading the group.

In ten days will be the day this All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Competition begins; they need to set off as soon as possible.

Not long after, Xuanzi's swaying figure appeared before everyone, and he waved at them.

"Let's go; before participating in this competition in Star Net City, we still need to make a trip elsewhere first."

Hearing this, several members of Shilake's reserve team couldn't help but look doubtful.

Only ten days remain; where else do they have to go?

Xuanzi didn't explain either; he simply led the way at a leisurely pace, keeping the speed at a level where everyone could keep up if they gave their all.

After all, it was Zhang Zehao from the Soul Tool Department who voluntarily explained things to several members of the reserve team.

"The members of our main team are all part of the Shilake Surveillance Team; this time we are going to Ming Dou Shanmai to exterminate a bandit gang called Death's Hand. This gang is extremely cunning, and according to reliable sources, it even includes Evil Soul Masters among its members."

"Evil Soul Masters?!"

Hearing this term, the faces of several reserve team members instantly changed.

On this continent there are many powers, and they constantly scheme against each other, but there is one group that is the eternal enemy of all: the Evil Soul Masters.

Such people are incredibly ruthless; they will do any evil deed to increase their own strength, and merely being alive poses a danger to others.

In fact, Tang Wulin doesn't know much about the Ri Yue Di Guo side, but at least the original three kingdoms have always placed the highest bounty on the wanted list for Evil Soul Masters.

Tang Wulin couldn't help but ask:

"Is that bandit gang hard to deal with?"

The one who answered him was Dai Yaoheng.

He showed a gentle smile.

"Of course not; as far as I know, their strongest member is only below Soul Emperor level—enough to bully ordinary people, but against a regular army it's certain death."

His smile was very warm, as if the killing intent he had shown earlier never existed.

His hostility toward Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong back then was due to Dai Huabin's situation, but it wasn't because he doted on his foolish brother; it was simply because Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong forced Dai Huabin to drop out, damaging the Duke's Mansion's reputation. As the current first heir of the White Tiger Duke, Dai Yaoheng naturally had no good impression of them.

But after yesterday's battle, his dissatisfaction completely vanished.

Soul King–level great soul masters and Soul Emperor–level soul elders are astonishing enough; even in the academy's history, this is unprecedented.

Dai Yaoheng differs from his foolish brother Dai Huabin; when facing opponents like Tang Wulin and Huo Yutong, his first thought is not how to defeat them, but how to bring them under his command.

Even if he cannot bring them into his own faction, merely befriending them, given their talent and strength, would be highly beneficial to him.

It is precisely because of this trait that Dai Huabin lacks that he can, despite being less talented than Dai Huabin, steadily sit in the position of first heir and firmly suppress that foolish Dai Huabin.

Xu San Shi asked curiously:

"Why doesn't the Star Net Empire send its army to deal with it, but instead have our Shilake Surveillance Team intervene?"

After all, letting Shilake intervene already counts as interfering in internal affairs; generally, few countries are willing to watch such things happen.

Therefore, normally speaking, for troubles like Death's Hand that could be settled by a nation's own military, the three great empires would prioritize using their own armies to resolve them.

Dai Yaoheng sighed.

"It's because that bandit gang called Death's Hand is extremely cunning; they have established their base within Ming Dou Shanmai, at the border between the Star Net Empire and the Ri Yue Di Guo. Whenever our troops show even the slightest movement, they immediately abandon their base and retreat into Ri Yue Di Guo territory. If we then forcibly send troops, it would be provoking the Ri Yue Di Guo, and it is precisely by this method that they have managed to survive to this day." Hearing this, Tang Wulin asked doubtfully: "Doesn't the Ri Yue Di Guo care at all? This is an Evil Soul Master, the common enemy of all humanity; they should join forces with the Star Net Empire to launch a joint extermination campaign."

Dai Yaoheng's face grew gloomy.

"My father has also submitted multiple applications to the Ri Yue Di Guo, but for some unknown reason, their side always gives vague answers. Some speculate that the Ri Yue Di Guo people might be using Death's Hand to distract my father—but that doesn't make sense either, for if the Ri Yue Di Guo were not protecting Death's Hand, this insignificant bandit gang would be easily dealt with by our Star Net Empire; how could it possibly affect my father?"

"..."

Tang Wulin's face turned somewhat gloomy.

In the distant future he is a citizen of the Ri Yue Federation, so he naturally has a favorable impression of the Ri Yue Di Guo.

However, upon hearing this, he suddenly felt a sense of betrayal.

Regardless of why the Ri Yue Di Guo refuses to cooperate with the Star Net Empire to eliminate Death's Hand, their act of sheltering Evil Soul Masters is indisputable.

To actually protect such an anti-human existence leaves Tang Wulin feeling deeply disappointed.

Noticing Tang Wulin's emotional state, Huo Yutong quickly squeezed his hand in concern.

Tang Wulin came to his senses and gave her a smile.

"Don't worry, I'm fine."

He took a deep breath, his eyes firm.

Although he will be a citizen of the Ri Yue Federation in the distant future, the Ri Yue Di Guo of ten thousand years ago is clearly very different from the Ri Yue Federation; he cannot impose his expectations upon this country.

But Huo Yutong still felt uneasy; she turned to Zhang Zehao and asked, "Senior, how are we going to solve our meals?"

Zhang Zehao shrugged.

"We should probably live off the land; wilderness survival is a basic skill of our Shilake Surveillance Team."

Huo Yutong asked: "When we eat later, can we eat by a small stream that has fish?"

"No problem, I'll go consult Xuan Lao."

Having said that, Zhang Zehao suddenly sped up, went to the front of the team, and started saying something to Xuanzi.

The others were still somewhat confused, but Tang Wulin's eyes lit up.

"Yutong, you…?"

Huo Yutong gave him a warm smile.

"I'll grill you some fish later; Wulin, don't be upset—you look best when you smile."

"... Thank you."

Tang Wulin felt somewhat moved.

Being able to meet a girl like Huo Yutong and grow fond of her is his greatest fortune.

Huo Yutong's gentle comfort allowed him to temporarily cast aside his doubts and dissatisfaction, but the seed of suspicion was also planted then; when he someday discovers the truth, that seed will sprout and completely change his view of the Ri Yue Di Guo.

By the way, the strongest Soul King will be online tomorrow (end of chapter).