Douluo: Starting with an Engagement to Zhu Zhuqing

Chapter 69: Captured

Suddenly, the sky in the direction of the Star Luo Empire brightened, as if it were burning. A fiery red color rapidly spread, and the entire sky seemed to ignite.

A massive pressure descended abruptly, and a figure appeared in the sky, slowly descending onto the wall of the Wuguan City. The overwhelming soul power forced everyone to their knees in submission.

Birds scattered in all directions, and the beasts howled in panic. Even the horses pulling the carriage in which Dai Yao was sitting were startled, their hooves trampling wildly. If it weren't for the coachman desperately trying to control them, they would have surely run off the official road.

But the soldiers guarding Wuguan, despite the pressure from the soul power, endured and tried to control their emotions. One of them pointed at the figure atop the city wall and shouted:

"Who goes there?! This is Wuguan, and you are not allowed to act recklessly!"

The figure on the city wall took a moment to admire the soldier who had spoken and then said, "Indeed, you are soldiers of the Star Luo Empire. I am the Fifth Elder of the Dai family. I come in the name of the Emperor, and from today, Wuguan will be under lockdown! There is an important figure who has defected. Please, everyone, assist in the search!"

The Fifth Elder had already rushed through several checkpoints and discovered a few empty carriages. Immediately, he realized those carriages were a diversion.

The true carriage that Dai Yao had taken out of the city was not one of those.

After sealing off those checkpoints, the Fifth Elder hurried to the other routes Dai Yao might have taken.

Wuguan was the last checkpoint he reached.

Once the Fifth Elder presented the golden decree, the soldiers shouted, "Close the gates!"

The massive city gates slowly began to close, and with a loud thud, the road to the Tiandou Empire was completely sealed off.

Watching the soldiers' frantic actions, the Fifth Elder stroked his beard and scoffed, "You troublesome kid. All routes are blocked. Let's see where you can run."

Seeing the chaos in the streets, everyone who had just exited the city or their carriages hastened their pace toward the Tiandou Empire.

Those from the Star Luo Empire returned to Wuguan, waiting for the next opening of the gates.

The moment Dai Yao saw the strange phenomenon in the sky, his heart grew uneasy. When he saw the figure land on the city wall, he realized it was bad news.

It was the Fifth Elder.

He quickly urged the coachman to calm the horses and leave as quickly as possible.

The Fifth Elder surveyed the chaotic crowd and then turned to the soldier beside him. "Have these people been checked? Any unusual individuals?"

"What do you mean by unusual individuals?" the soldier asked.

"Children around nine or ten years old," the Fifth Elder inquired.

"Yes, there are a few children, all looking like commoners."

"Are there a boy and a girl?"

"Yes!"

"Where are they?"

The soldier pointed toward Dai Yao's carriage, saying, "They are in there!"

The immense soul power erupted, sending a gust of wind that whipped up dust and leaves, expanding in a circle around them at incredible speed.

The crowd was engulfed in thick dust, screams and coughs filling the air.

With a loud bang, the air seemed to tear apart as the Fifth Elder became a streak of light, flying toward the carriage.

In the blink of an eye, he went from the city wall to hovering above the carriage.

"Well, well, you made it easy for me to find you! Come back with me!" the Fifth Elder said in a cold voice.

The overwhelming soul pressure focused directly on the carriage, and Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing screamed in agony, falling to the ground, unable to move as the immense soul power pressed down on them.

The coachman spat blood and fainted, while the two horses' legs snapped, collapsing to the ground with weak cries.

The Fifth Elder applied more force, and with a loud crash, the carriage exploded, splintering wood flying everywhere, revealing two children about nine or ten years old.

Dai Yao lay on the ground, feeling as though a mountain had been placed on top of him. He could not get up.

A sense of bitterness filled his heart. He had already done everything he could.

The eight carriages had been spread out to divert attention, traveling day and night without rest, eating and sleeping on the move.

He had done everything within his power, yet even after leaving the city, he was still discovered by the Fifth Elder.

A sense of hopelessness washed over him. "Am I truly doomed to the fate of the Baihu family?" he thought.

The overwhelming pressure caused Zhu Zhuqing unbearable pain. Dai Yao raised his head and looked at her with a guilty expression.

"I'm sorry... I got you into this."

Zhu Zhuqing, despite her suffering, smiled gently. "No, these three years with you have been the happiest time of my life."

From high in the sky, the Fifth Elder snorted, curling his fingers as he lifted both Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing into the air.

"You dared to defy the family rules? Are you tired of living? Come back with me and reflect on your actions before our ancestors' tablets. If your attitude is good, there may still be a chance for you to live."

The "Tablet Forest" was a place where family criminals were sent to reflect. As long as their attitude was good, they could have a chance to be freed.

But seeing the resigned expressions on the two, the Fifth Elder couldn't help but feel a hint of doubt.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

"What is there to say? Fifth Elder! Since you've already captured us, either we reflect at the Tablet Forest, or it's the death sentence. What other choice do I have?" Dai Yao said with a cold laugh.

"But I do have one request."

"You don't have the right to make demands. You are a criminal of the Baihu family!" the Fifth Elder snapped.

Dai Yao had a remarkable talent. Even if he failed in the competition for the throne, the Fifth Elder would have kept him. But why had Dai Yao chosen to leave the Star Luo Empire?

"Fifth Elder, please let Zhu Zhuqing go. She is not from the Baihu family. The family rules shouldn't apply to her," Dai Yao lowered his head and said.

Before the Fifth Elder could respond, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened in shock as she glared at Dai Yao. "I'm your fiancée, why am I not part of the Dai family?!"

Upon hearing this, Dai Yao felt a headache coming on. He had never seen Zhu Zhuqing so agitated before.

"Don't make a fuss. Why argue over this at a time like this?"

Their bickering left the Fifth Elder speechless. This was supposed to be a moment of life or death, yet here they were, arguing like this. He wasn't here to witness their domestic drama!

"Enough!" the Fifth Elder said, his voice dark with fury. "Dai Yao, you're fortunate to have a fiancée like Zhu Zhuqing. She's right. Since she's your fiancée, she's also part of the Dai family. Even if she dies, she's a ghost of the Dai family!"

Hearing the mention of the Dai family, Dai Yao felt disgust well up inside him.

Who wants to be born into the Dai family?

After all these years of suffering, where was the Dai family?

He looked at Zhu Zhuqing with a bitter smile. "What's the point, Zhu Zhuqing? You had a chance to leave, why did you choose to stay? The Tablet Forest is no place for anyone to have a good time."

Zhu Zhuqing smiled sweetly, her cold demeanor now replaced by warmth. "Since I'm your fiancée, I will share your joy and your hardship. How can I abandon you now?"

The Fifth Elder, known as the Bloodthirsty Magic Tiger, was known for his ruthless methods toward outsiders. But when it came to his own family members, he was remarkably lenient.

Even if Dai Yao wanted to leave, to defect from the Star Luo Empire, he still wanted to change his mind and bring him back.

He looked at Dai Yao and patiently advised him.

"Once you go to the Tablet Forest, reflect on your wrongdoings. The family is always right."

"As long as you change your mind, I will ensure you still have a chance to compete for the throne."

Hearing the Fifth Elder's words, Dai Yao felt as if his heart had sunk into a deep abyss.

The very reason he had wanted to leave was because he couldn't stay in the Star Luo Empire. Going back now would be signing his own death sentence.

The Fifth Elder's words were nothing but empty promises. Even if the Dai family used the family rules to execute him, the Fifth Elder would never say a word against it.

The Fifth Elder may have followed the family rules, but those very rules also bound him.

There was no way out... except to reveal his Twin Martial Souls.

Dai Yao looked up at the sky, his heart filled with despair.

"Is there really no other way out?"

Just then, he felt a familiar power in the palm of his hand, one he had encountered in the Spirit Hall before.

It was the power of Archbishop Ferdinand.

(End of Chapter 69)