Divine Emperor of Heavenly Destiny

After shouting down Vice Dean Zhong and Zhong Qiao...

Zheng Zhuhe strode forward again, looked toward the entrance of the Dragon Flame Institute’s courtyard, and bellowed, ”Wu Caicai, we’re settling the score for you insulting me three days ago! Go! Seize her!”

He wasted no time on pleasantries, moving straight to capture Wu Caicai.

Zheng Zhuhe had been bottling up his rage for three days. Wu Yiyi had been struck by one of Lu Chao’s arrows.

And just now, Zeng Quan had told him that Lu Chao and his group had smashed both of Zheng Liyuan’s kneecaps. How could he possibly endure that?

He had to get payback for all of it. Besides, Zeng Quan had said he would personally come to oversee the situation.

’Zeng Quan is following in the shadows right now. I’ll act as the vanguard, using Wu Caicai’s insult from three days ago as a pretext... Time to make a move!’

’Tonight, some people from Dragon Flame Academy must die.’

At Zheng Zhuhe’s command, the experts he had brought charged out, their heavy footsteps pounding toward Lu Chao and the others.

The next moment, before Lu Chao’s group could even react... WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Order Enforcement Team Members rushed out from the shadows one after another, blocking the attackers.

One of them, a trusted subordinate of Marquis Longyin, shouted, ”What do you think you’re doing? No troublemaking is allowed during the placement battles!”

However, Zheng Zhuhe had anticipated this. ”Wu Caicai insulted me,” he retorted on the spot. ”This matter must be settled. Blast away anyone who gets in our way.”

He couldn’t care less about the Order Enforcement Team; his true purpose was to get revenge for what happened to Zheng Liyuan.

But since Zheng Liyuan had been the one to attack Dragon Flame’s Dean Jiang first, they couldn’t use that as a pretext. They had to use Wu Caicai as their opening.

In an instant... BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The experts Zheng Zhuhe brought with him erupted with True Qi, preparing to smash through the Order Enforcement Team’s blockade.

But just then...

Marquis Longyin appeared in a flash, leaping down from the sky. ”Zheng Zhuhe, are you trying to cause a major disturbance?”

Zheng Zhuhe had marched his men over from the Inner Courtyard without any attempt at stealth, so the Order Enforcement Team had spotted them long ago. They had, of course, notified Marquis Longyin, who rushed over from his ancient estate at the Azure Flame Seven Walls.

In response to Marquis Longyin’s rebuke, Zheng Zhuhe just sneered. ”Marquis Longyin, when did I say I wanted to cause a disturbance? Just have Dragon Flame Academy hand over Wu Caicai and let me discipline her a little. I’ll leave immediately afterward.”

’This was what Zeng Quan had told him to say...’

’Don’t sound too aggressive; just say you want to discipline Wu Caicai for insulting you.’

’But given Dragon Flame Academy’s nature, they would never hand Wu Caicai over. The situation would then escalate into a major conflict. At that point, I can just say it was Dragon Flame Academy’s refusal to cooperate that forced my hand. No one can blame me then.’

Marquis Longyin’s expression flickered. He instantly understood Zheng Zhuhe’s intentions.

This was going to be tricky.

Just then, Wu Caicai suddenly stepped forward. ”Whatever revenge you want, I’ll take it...”

The moment she spoke, Luo Wendeng and the others stared, their mouths agape.

A sharp glint flashed in Lu Chao’s eyes. ’She’s trying to solve this problem for Dragon Flame Academy,’ he realized. ’She thinks if she lets Zheng Zhuhe vent his anger on her, he won’t cause a bigger scene. She’s trying to repay the favor from just now.’

’But it’s useless. Zheng Zhuhe isn’t here for her.’

Zheng Zhuhe’s expression also faltered. ’I’m not here to mess with Wu Caicai,’ he thought. ’I’m here to cause a scene and kill people.’

Immediately, he broke into a savage grin. ”It’s simple. Kneel before me, bark like a dog three times, then let me slap you ten times. Finally, you will say that the Fake Lu Chao is a son of a bitch. Do that, and we’ll call it even.”

At these words, Wu Caicai’s entire body trembled.

’If just taking ten slaps could resolve the danger to Dragon Flame Academy, she could accept it. But kneeling, barking like a dog, and cursing Lu Chao... those were things she, Wu Caicai, could never do.’

Zheng Zhuhe chuckled darkly. ’I’ll just make demands you can’t possibly meet.’

’And even if you could, the Fake Lu Chao and Dragon Flame Academy would never allow you to...’

Just as Wu Caicai stood there, at a complete loss... THUD!

A heavy footstep echoed from the crowd. Everyone watched as a hunchbacked figure emerged, his heavy tread carrying him to the front of the Dragon Flame Institute’s courtyard gate.

It was none other than Dongfang Ren.

Since Marquis Longyin had been notified, he, of course, had been as well.

After appearing, Dongfang Ren said nothing. He simply stood before the gate to the Dragon Flame Institute’s courtyard, a silent, unmoving sentinel.

His presence alone exerted immense pressure on the members of the Saint Bone Zheng Family and the Celestial King’s faction who were about to charge. The onlookers felt a stifling tension, while Luo Wendeng and the others were overcome with delighted surprise.

The next moment... THUD!

Another heavy footstep sounded, this time from the other side of the crowd.

Zeng Quan slowly emerged from the crowd and took his place behind Zheng Zhuhe, also in silence. He was followed by several more figures—the deans of the other six Inner Courtyards.

They stood behind Zeng Quan, equally silent.

But the situation instantly grew explosive. On one side stood Marquis Longyin and Dongfang Ren, representing Dragon Flame Academy. On the other, the deans of all Seven Great Inner Courtyards had assembled. Was a full-blown war about to break out?

The two sides were like a powder keg ready to ignite. Many of the onlookers began to back away, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.

And at this incredibly tense moment, Zhong Qiao’s voice suddenly shattered the silence. ”Wu Caicai, you little slut! Get out here and do as Young Master Zheng says! Hurry up!”

Having just been shouted down by Zheng Zhuhe, Zhong Qiao was feeling quite displeased and felt the need to make her presence known.

However, Zheng Zhuhe glared at her in fury. ”Vice Dean Zhong,” he snarled, ”make that woman shut her mouth.”

’Damn it, if you don’t know what to say, then don’t say anything! What am I supposed to do if Wu Caicai actually does what I said?’

’How am I supposed to escalate this?’

Vice Dean Zhong immediately understood Zheng Zhuhe’s meaning and quickly whispered a few words in Zhong Qiao’s ear.

Only then did Zhong Qiao realize her mistake. She quickly changed her tune and shouted, ”Wu Caicai, if you dare to bark like a dog, you’ll be disgracing the name of our Hundred Flames Trading Company! No one from Hundred Flames will let you off the hook!”

The crowd of onlookers stared at Zhong Qiao, completely speechless.

’One moment she’s telling her to hurry up and do it, the next she’s forbidding it. This woman is unbelievably fickle.’

Zheng Zhuhe couldn’t be bothered with her any longer. His voice turned sinister. ”Fake Lu Chao, Wu Caicai insulted me. If you dare protect her, don’t blame me for what I’m about to do to your Dragon Flame Academy.”

’He was building up to it. As soon as the Fake Lu Chao says one harsh word in reply, I’ll start the killing.’

’In Zeng Quan’s own words, even if it meant going to war with Dongfang Ren tonight, they absolutely had to kill a few people from Dragon Flame Academy.’

’Instructors, students, it didn’t matter. A few of them had to die.’

At this moment, all eyes turned to Lu Chao. How could he possibly resolve this situation?

Even Marquis Longyin was getting a headache.

’Completely falling out with the Beast Flame faction over a few insults from Wu Caicai wasn’t a defensible position for someone of his status. When the time came, Brother Wang would probably be attacked from all sides by the Saint Bone Zheng Family, Zheng Zhuhe, and other powers.’

’At their level, occupying the moral high ground was crucial.’

Just then, Lu Chao said calmly, ”Wait for me a moment.”

With that, Lu Chao turned and walked back into the Dragon Flame Institute courtyard, leaving everyone stunned. What was he doing?

But Cheng Yunsu, Cheng Chuming, and Su Shangmo knew exactly what Lu Chao intended to do. It was the three of them who had just brought back the one person who could break the current stalemate: Wu Yiyi.

A moment later, the people outside heard a shriek from within the Dragon Flame Institute’s courtyard. ”Fake Lu Chao, what are you doing?!”