In the hotel, Zhongli, seeing the farce had subsided, put down his teacup.
With Zhongli's wisdom, he naturally understood the intentions of Xuan Zi and Dai Hao.
As for Dai Hao kneeling, Zhongli was not moved in the slightest.
If kneeling could solve problems, then there would be no difficulties in the world.
Through the window, Paimon could see what was happening outside. She turned back and said to Zhongli, "Zhongli, that uncle seems to have some problem with his leg."
"He takes two steps and then kneels down!"
Zhongli, Snow Empress, Ice Empress: "..."
What the hell, taking two steps and kneeling down…
A man's knees are as precious as gold; unless faced with an unsolvable problem, how could he kneel so easily?
"He must have some hidden ailment..."
Zhongli nodded indifferently.
"Oh, that uncle is so pitiful. He looks only in his thirties or forties and already has a hidden ailment that makes him kneel constantly."
"Hmm..."
"Paimon, Bei Bei and the others are having a gathering, probably with lots of delicious food. Don't you want to check it out?"
Zhongli quickly changed the subject.
Sure enough, upon hearing about delicious food, Paimon's eyes lit up, and she immediately forgot about the kneeling Dai Hao.
"Delicious food, delicious food!"
"Paimon loves delicious food!"
As if remembering something, Paimon flew to Snow Empress and Ice Empress, taking one by the hand, and said, "Miss Snow, Miss Ice, let's go eat delicious food together!"
"As for Zhongli, he can just drink tea to fill up, don't mind him!"
Snow Empress, Ice Empress: "..."
The two women exchanged glances, looked at Zhongli, then at Paimon, and finally nodded.
They knew that Zhongli said this to divert Paimon's attention, and the reason was likely because Paimon was kind-hearted.
After the three women left, Zhongli finally came to the window, standing with his hands behind his back.
Some things can be helped, some cannot.
Helping someone like Jing Hongchen in a private exchange was fine.
But helping someone like Dai Hao, who kneels to solve problems, was absolutely not acceptable.
If such a precedent was set, who knows how many people would kneel before him "praying for blessings."
Outside the hotel, Xuan Zi saw Dai Hao kneel down without a word, "praying for blessings." He thought for a moment, walked in front of Dai Hao, and with a "thud," also knelt down.
"Lord Martial God, in the past, I was blind and offended you. Xuan Zi deserves to die a thousand deaths."
"If not for Lord Martial God, we would still be in the dark..."
"Criminal Xuan Zi has come today to beg for punishment. Whether I live or die is entirely up to Lord Martial God. Criminal Xuan Zi has no complaints..."
After saying this, Xuan Zi also began to kowtow.
He had intended to seek punishment before, but there were still many things he hadn't completed, so he couldn't die.
But now... he was truly tired.
Even Bei Bei, who grew up in Shrek Academy, believed that the actions of Shrek's higher-ups were wrong. It was easy to imagine how the world viewed Shrek Academy.
Seeking punishment and reforming Shrek Academy was imperative.
Seeing Xuan Zi and Dai Hao, two grown men, being so unreliable, the Duchess of White Tiger stomped her foot and walked over angrily from a distance.
Dai Hao, seeing his wife arrive, was somewhat dazed, fearing what shocking act she might perform.
With a "thud," the Duchess knelt at the door, kowtowing continuously to the steps.
"Lord Martial God, have mercy, save my son Yue Heng..."
"In my life, I have only two children."
"My younger son Hua Bin was killed by evil soul masters, his body lost..."
"My elder son Yue Heng was severely injured by evil soul masters, losing a leg, becoming a cripple."
"Lord Martial God, have mercy, save my only son. He cannot become a cripple..."
"Lord Martial God..."
The Duchess kept kowtowing to the steps, even though she was a powerful soul master, her forehead already red.
No matter her faults, her love for her son was undeniable.
Seeing his wife so "reasonable," Dai Hao was somewhat dazed and confused.
He didn't remember his wife being such a virtuous and kind woman!
In fact, the Duchess of White Tiger was indeed a virtuous and kind princess, but because of Dai Hao, her heart had twisted somewhat.
From Huo Yuhao's perspective, the Duchess of White Tiger seemed utterly wicked, deserving of death.
But from the Duchess's perspective, it was a different story.
First, the Duchess of White Tiger was a princess of the current dynasty, of noble status.
Second, as a princess and Dai Hao's legitimate wife, Dai Hao treated her coldly due to political marriages. How could she accept that?
Times change. Marrying the White Tiger Duke as a princess wasn't a demotion, but it was similar.
Dai Hao finding women outside was one thing, but doing so within the mansion was a slap in her face.
There was a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children; concubines or maids had no family status.
As a princess and the legitimate wife, bullying concubines, maids, and illegitimate children was only natural.
The legitimate wife beating the mistress, and the mistress not daring to fight back...
Huo Yuhao and other illegitimate children also received the treatment of awakening their martial souls. Though life was harsh, they weren't starved to death, which was the Duchess's last bit of kindness.
Huo Yun'er's soul was in the hands of that great figure.
Human nature always sympathizes with the weak, regardless of the process...
Seeing his wife so "forceful," Dai Hao also kowtowed desperately to the steps, pleading for the deity's mercy.
"Lord Martial God, have mercy!"
Dai Hao and the Duchess, both of noble status, along with Xuan Zi, kneeling and kowtowing at the hotel entrance, quickly spread the news.
These three were not ordinary people!
Soon, the area around the hotel was crowded, but Xuan Zi, Dai Hao, and the Duchess remained unmoved.
Having taken this step, there was no turning back.
Even if the world pointed fingers, as long as they could gain Lord Martial God's mercy, it didn't matter.
"The White Tiger Duke and Duchess are here for their son..."
"I heard their eldest and second sons faced evil soul masters. The second son was killed, and the eldest was severely injured, becoming a cripple."
"They kneel here, begging Lord Martial God to heal their eldest son."
"Those damned evil soul masters, they deserve to die!"
"And who is that old man?"
"Taotie Douluo!"
"What? The Taotie Douluo who offended Lord Martial God?"
"If not for Taotie Douluo's recklessness, his bullying, his disregard for commoners' lives... Lord Martial God's name wouldn't have resounded across the Douluo Continent!"
Hearing this, Xuan Zi's already dark face turned as black as coal.
Indeed, indeed!
If not for Xuan Zi, Lord Martial God wouldn't have revealed his identity, let alone established Liyue.
These people should thank him for his recklessness!