Douluo Dalu 3: Legend of the White Fox

Thud… Thud… Thud… Thud…

Smack… Smack… Smack… Smack…

The crisp sounds echoed from within the room. Gu Yue's lips curled into a faint smile as she muttered softly, "I told you, you'd regret this."

A trace of relief crossed Gu Yue's mind. She was thankful that she hadn't stubbornly insisted on taking Bi Ji away earlier.

Gu Yue had no doubt that if she had acted like Na'er—completely disregarding everything for Tang Wulin—then she would likely be facing the same ordeal that Na'er was enduring now.

"Lord, is this really appropriate?" Di Tian asked gravely. Na'er, after all, was their young mistress and also a part of Gu Yue. The fact that Xia Yi had humiliated Na'er by forcing her to kneel and kowtow stunned them. They were curious why Gu Yue wasn't enraged.

"It's better to be humiliated than to lose one's life," Gu Yue replied with a shake of her head. Her tone was firm. "Xia Yi knows we've been watching from the shadows. He won't dare kill Na'er. This is all intentional. He wants to show all of you how your young mistress, for the sake of a human, would kneel and kowtow without hesitation."

Gu Yue had no doubts. If this were happening elsewhere, and if Di Tian and the other ferocious beasts weren't secretly observing, Na'er might already be dead.

With a soft sigh, Gu Yue thought about the past. She was certain that if anyone had dared to humiliate Na'er in such a way before, no matter who it was or for what reason, Di Tian and the others would have leapt to her defense.

But now, not only did Di Tian and the others refrain from intervening, they didn't even show the slightest anger.

Gu Yue understood that their loyalty to her hadn't changed. However, because of Xia Yi, they no longer displayed the blind devotion they once had.

In fact, Di Tian, Zi Ji, and Bi Ji were now questioning themselves: was it truly right to remain loyal to a leader who, for a human, would throw away her dignity as the co-ruler of soul beasts and kneel?

No matter what, Na'er was still considered half the ruler of the soul beasts. Her every action represented the Star Dou Forest and the entire soul beast race.

And yet, here she was, kneeling for a human?

Even Di Tian felt an uncontrollable urge to kill.

Both Di Tian and Gu Yue understood that Xia Yi's actions were deliberate. He wanted them to witness this scene. But they couldn't blame Xia Yi; everything stemmed from Na'er's own choices.

Thud… Smack…

At this moment, inside the inner courtyard, Na'er's once-pristine forehead and delicate face had become swollen to the point of resembling a pig's head.

Yet, the humiliation and resentment in her eyes hadn't lessened one bit. She knew her status. And Xia Yi? What gave him the audacity to treat her this way?

As her kowtowing and slapping continued, her hatred grew beyond just Xia Yi.

"Damn you, Gu Yue, for instructing a hundred-thousand-year soul beast to do this to me. I won't let you off so easily," Na'er seethed. She was still convinced that Xia Yi was a hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast acting under Gu Yue's orders.

In her understanding, even someone as powerful as Di Tian wouldn't dare offend her. So why would Xia Yi, a mere "hundred-thousand-year transformed soul beast," dare?

She blamed Gu Yue for orchestrating this.

"Damn you, Di Tian, for watching me be humiliated without intervening. Just wait until I recover; I'll make you pay." The fiery pain on her face made her even resent Di Tian.

"And Bi Ji, damn her too. She won't even come to heal my injuries." Overwhelmed by unprecedented humiliation and her now-numb, burning face, Na'er had lost all reason. She started holding grudges against everyone who crossed her mind.

Smack…

As the final slap landed, Na'er's head wasn't the only thing that had swelled up; even her hands were red and swollen.

Just moments ago, she had slapped herself a hundred times. Fearing that Xia Yi might harm Tang Wulin if dissatisfied, she had put extra force into every slap.

Otherwise, her face wouldn't have swollen to this extent.

"Are you satisfied now?" Na'er glared at Xia Yi with venomous eyes, her icy gaze filled with murderous intent.

She tried to rise.

"Stay on your knees. I'm not satisfied yet," Xia Yi said calmly, pressing his hand onto Na'er's shoulder. With a forceful push, Na'er, who had been trying to stand, was forced back onto her knees with a thud.

"You…" Na'er's fury almost made her spit blood. She wanted nothing more than to destroy Xia Yi, but she suppressed the urge. Her voice was cold as she asked, "What else do you want in exchange for letting my brother go?"

She didn't believe Xia Yi would dare to kill her.

Xia Yi ignored her and looked toward the door. "Have you all seen enough? Come in."

At the sound of his voice, Na'er's expression turned to one of terror. She began struggling frantically. "No, you can't do this!"

She could kneel for Tang Wulin, but not in front of Gu Yue, Di Tian, Zi Ji, and Bi Ji.

Though they had been watching from the shadows, seeing it face-to-face was entirely different.

Na'er would rather die than endure such humiliation before them.

But having used her soul power to protect her face during the earlier ordeal, she was now completely drained. Even her physical strength was nearly gone.

And Xia Yi's hand, heavy as a mountain, pressed her firmly in place, leaving her powerless to resist.

Under Na'er's terrified gaze, Gu Yue entered with Di Tian, Zi Ji, and Bi Ji in tow.

The moment she saw them, Na'er seemed to lose all strength, collapsing to the floor. "Get out, get out, Di Tian, I order you to leave!"

Lying on the ground, Na'er screamed hysterically at Di Tian. She couldn't bear for him to see her in such a wretched state.

"Young mistress!" Bi Ji's gaze was filled with sympathy. Kneeling before Na'er, she reached out to touch her head, hoping to heal her wounds.

Although Na'er's actions had disappointed and hurt Bi Ji deeply, her kind nature made it impossible for her to ignore Na'er's suffering.

Bi Ji could see that Na'er's mental state was already breaking down.

For someone who had once stood high as the co-ruler of soul beasts, being forced to kneel and endure such humiliation in front of her subordinates was a devastating blow.

"I didn't ask you to help her," Xia Yi said coldly, grabbing Bi Ji's hand to stop her from aiding Na'er.

"But…" Bi Ji's beautiful eyes showed helplessness. She knew Xia Yi wasn't wrong, but seeing Na'er like this was unbearable.

Xia Yi ignored her, turning his attention to Na'er. Looking down at her from above, he asked coldly, "You tried to kill your kin for a human, even discarding your dignity to kneel. Do you admit your mistake?"

"Get out, all of you! I command you to leave!" Na'er knelt weakly on the ground, issuing repeated orders to Di Tian. Her pupils grew increasingly unfocused.

"If you keep playing dumb, I'll detonate the soul power within Tang Wulin right now," Xia Yi threatened, his tone icy. He clenched his fist as he spoke.

"No, I know I was wrong. Please, I beg you, don't hurt my brother!" Na'er, who had been dazed, suddenly snapped out of it. She clung to Xia Yi's arm, begging him desperately.

"What was your mistake?" Xia Yi asked coldly.

He could see that Na'er's mental state had collapsed, but that was exactly the outcome he wanted.

"I shouldn't have tried to kill you, and I shouldn't have thrown away my dignity as the co-ruler of soul beasts to kneel," Na'er sobbed.

"The co-ruler of soul beasts!" Xia Yi's heart trembled. No wonder Bi Ji called her young mistress.

"Fine. I'll give you a chance. Kneel here and reflect on your actions in front of Di Tian, Bi Ji, and Zi Ji. They are your most loyal subordinates, yet you betrayed them. When you truly earn their forgiveness, I will let Tang Wulin go," Xia Yi said coldly.

"Fine, fine! I'll reflect. Just please don't hurt my brother," Na'er cried, bowing her head. She immediately kowtowed before Bi Ji, who was still kneeling in front of her.

Thud… Thud… Thud…

This time, Na'er kowtowed even harder. Blood from her forehead splattered onto the floor, yet she didn't pause, as if she couldn't feel the pain. Her eyes alternated between lifelessness and madness.

"I was wrong, Bi Ji. I shouldn't have betrayed your loyalty. Please forgive me."

Before Bi Ji could respond, Na'er turned to Di Tian and began kowtowing to him.

"Di Tian, I beg you to forgive me."

"Zi Ji…"

(End of Chapter)