Chapter 375: Tracking Rat

Heavenly King's Palace.

Looking at his dejected daughter, Mo Tianxue asked with some confusion, "What? President Liu isn't coming?"

"He came..." Mo Yu shook her head. "He wants to read by himself; he doesn't need me to accompany him!"

"Forget it!" Mo Tianxue sighed. "It's a matter of fate. Without fate, thinking too much is useless!"

He had always been thinking of pairing his daughter with President Liu. Once that happened, it would be like binding him to his own warship. In the future, even if the Lin family or Mo Hongyi had any unusual moves or thoughts, they would have to think twice.

Now it seemed he had been wishful thinking.

Although his daughter was also outstanding among men, compared to people like President Liu and Master Zhang, she was still far behind.

Mo Yu nodded.

She wasn't actually interested in Zhang Xuan. It had always been others revolving around her, and suddenly encountering someone who didn't care stirred up her competitive spirit. Now it seemed hopeless, and she quickly calmed down.

"Father, was the national beast taken down by the Lin family? Have they made any moves?"

Putting aside her chaotic thoughts, Mo Yu regained her usual wisdom.

"There were seven eunuchs involved in this matter, but as soon as we investigated, they all committed suicide!"

Mo Tianxue's gaze turned grave: "I knew that investigating this way would yield nothing, and besides, we are in the open while the enemy is in the shadows. They can prepare in advance, and even if we find something, they would have time to make arrangements, and we might even get misleading information. So... while openly pursuing this matter with great fanfare, I actually sent people to investigate in secret!"

"Investigate in secret?" Mo Yu was puzzled.

"Yes, to investigate... the source of the poison!"

Mo Tianxue's eyes flickered: "A poison that can make a half-step supreme golden-tailed lion severely ill without any of us detecting it must be at least peak second-grade, even close to third-grade!"

A poison that could affect the golden-tailed lion was certainly terrifying.

First-grade poisons can kill those below the Grandmaster realm; second-grade pills can affect even Grandmasters and half-step supremes.

Although this poison couldn't kill the golden-tailed lion quickly, it accelerated its aging, indicating a grade as high as peak second-grade.

"Only the Poison Hall could produce such a poison. Through my investigation, the Lin family happens to have dealings with Red Lotus City, and even their most skilled great alchemist has arrived in the royal city these past few days!"

Mo Tianxue snorted and flicked his sleeve: "Everything is too coincidental. Therefore, I sent people to investigate specifically, and soon found results—indeed, the Lin family bears an undeniable responsibility!"

"Then what do we do?"

Hearing that the Lin family had been confirmed as the perpetrators, Mo Yu's expression also turned grim.

If they dare to strike at the Golden-tailed Lion today, tomorrow they might target the royal family.

Once the thought of power takes root, ambition will spread like bamboo shoots after rain, unstoppable by anyone.

"Although the Golden-tailed Lion has reached the Supreme Realm, the Lin family has the Xuan Kingdom as their backing, so we cannot afford to offend them!" Knowing his daughter's worries, Mo Tianxue shook his head.

What if they know it was us?

Not only do they have a three-star array master, but they also have a daughter who is the crown princess of the Xuan Kingdom—we simply cannot provoke them.

For now, if we don't make it clear and everyone plays dumb, with the Master Teacher Hall overseeing things, the Lin family won't dare to overstep.

If we truly tear off the mask, the Xuan Kingdom only needs to send a slightly powerful Supreme expert to wipe out our royal family completely.

"Yes! Just like the Qu family back then... we had no choice either!" Mo Yu understood this and sighed.

"The Qu family, though not a prominent clan, was still a large household. I don't know why, but the entire family of a hundred and thirty-seven were wiped out by the Lin family overnight... I've always remembered this..." Mo Tianxue clenched his fists.

Two years ago, a family named Qu in Tianwu King City somehow offended the Lin family, and overnight, the whole family was slaughtered. When they sent someone to inquire, the Lin family head came personally before the messenger even arrived, forcing them to suppress the news until the matter was eventually dropped.

As the king, unable to protect even his own kingdom's subjects, this matter had always been like a thorn lodged in his heart.

"Father, it's not your fault. They had the token of the Xuan Kingdom at that time, claiming it was by the crown prince's order. We are only a first-rank kingdom; we had no way to refuse!" Seeing her father's expression, Mo Yu comforted him.

It wasn't that the royal family feared the Lin family and did nothing; rather, they had the writ of the Xuan Kingdom's crown prince.

Faced with that, a low-rank kingdom like theirs could only comply, with no other recourse.

"I know..."

Mo Tianxue shook his head: "We are at a disadvantage, and I have no choice! So, I want you to win over President Liu or Master Zhang. If one of these two geniuses becomes our son-in-law, even if they want to act, they won't dare!"

These past days, he had been trying to get his daughter closer to these two geniuses, but unfortunately... they hadn't taken a liking to his daughter.

Hearing her father's words, Mo Yu felt a bit dejected. She shook her head and was about to speak when she saw a eunuch rush in frantically.

"What's wrong?" Mo Tianxue frowned.

"Your Majesty, the Lin family's Third Elder has brought many people, demanding that our royal family give an explanation..." The eunuch trembled all over.

"Demand an explanation from our royal family? What does that mean?"

Mo Tianxue narrowed his eyes.

We've just found out that the Lin family tried to poison the guardian beast, and we haven't even settled accounts with them yet—how dare they come to us first?

And demand an explanation?

Could it be that they no longer have any scruples and want to tear off the mask?

"I don't know, my lord. They are right outside the palace gate and about to rush in..." the eunuch said hurriedly.

"Let's go see!"

With a snort, Mo Tianxue and Mo Yu stepped out.

Soon they arrived at the palace gate and indeed saw many members of the Lin family standing outside, each with a look of cold arrogance.

"Your Majesty Tianxue, I advise you to hand over the person quickly, so we don't have to tear apart our relations. Otherwise, I fear today's matter will not end well!"

An old man stepped forward as Mo Tianxue and the others came out, his face dark.

"Hand over a person? What do you mean?"

Mo Tianxue was completely baffled.

"Don't play dumb. You sent someone to assassinate our young master Lin Lang, leaving him severely injured and unconscious. Do you intend to deny it?" The Third Elder of the Lin family squinted.

"Assassinate young master Lin Lang?" Mo Tianxue was even more confused. "Could there be some misunderstanding?"

Although he very much wanted to destroy the Lin family, he also knew the consequences and had been restraining himself. Could it be that something had happened to young master Lin Lang?

"Misunderstanding? The assassin has fled to the palace, right within these walls, and you call it a misunderstanding?" The Third Elder of the Lin family gave a cold laugh.

Mo Tianxue had no idea what was going on. Just as he was about to ask further, a man in gray quietly came up behind him and whispered a few words.

A member of the Shadow Guard.

With such a commotion at the Jade Pavilion and the entire Lin family mobilized, the Shadow Guard had quickly obtained the news.

After hearing what the man said, Mo Tianxue finally understood what had happened and looked deeply frustrated.

He hadn't sent anyone at all. And even if he had, he would have gone for a killing blow, not left someone half-dead... Wasn't that just inviting retaliation?

"Elder Lin Hui, I can tell you clearly that the injury to young master Lin Lang was definitely not the work of the royal family..."

Mo Tianxue said.

"No?" Third Elder Lin Hui sneered. "If you say no, then fine. But please have your guards step aside and let us search. Once we catch the assassin, everything will come to light!"

His face darkening, Mo Tianxue tensed up.

The palace was not only the foundation of the royal family but also represented the dignity of the kingdom. If they allowed a search, how could the Tianwu royal family ever command the realm with honor?

"You say the assassin fled to the palace, but do you have any proof?" Mo Yu couldn't help but retort.

"I have met Master Mo."

Glancing at Mo Yu, Lin Hui smiled lightly. "To say such a thing, of course I have evidence!"

A wave of the hand.

Immediately someone stepped forward, holding a cage.

Inside the cage, a snow-white mouse lay, its nose twitching as it sniffed incessantly.

"This... is a [Tracking Mouse]?"

Mo Tianxue was startled.

The Tracking Mouse, a special type of savage beast, possessed an extraordinarily keen nose. Once it caught a scent, even if separated by thousands of miles, it could track it down.

This creature was rarer than spirit stones, and even the Xuanfeng Kingdom rarely had one. He hadn't expected the Lin family to possess one and bring it along.

If it really was this creature, as long as the assassin had left a scent, no matter how far he fled or how many clothes he changed, he couldn't escape.

"Indeed, it seems Your Majesty is knowledgeable. The assassin hiding in the palace—it wasn't me who said so, but the Tracking Mouse that found him... What, does Your Majesty doubt its judgment?"

Lin Hui snorted.

"This..." Mo Tianxue fell silent.

If the Tracking Mouse had found him, it meant the culprit was indeed hiding in the palace. Only... he himself was unaware. What was going on?

"Since Your Majesty says it wasn't your people, we only want to catch the one who harmed our young master. We won't conduct a massive search. If Your Majesty insists on obstructing, that would be an admission of guilt..."

Lin Hui continued.

If that Golden-Tailed Male Lion had died, the Lin family would certainly have used this opportunity to force the throne, making the royal family, which had ruled the Tianwu Kingdom for a thousand years, step down from the stage of history.

However, not only had the beast not died, but it had also broken through to become a supreme expert. Even if they had such thoughts, they would have to hesitate.

Without full preparation, it was better not to completely burn bridges.

Otherwise, if the supreme beast attacked, even with the Lin family's third-rank grand formation, it might be difficult to contend.

"Alright, our royal family absolutely did not send anyone to trouble Young Master Lin Lang. Once the Tracking Mouse finds the culprit, the truth will naturally come to light!"

After hesitating for a moment, Mo Tianxue nodded.

Since they had the Tracking Mouse, finding the person would be simple, and they wouldn't need to ransack the place. Besides, he also wanted to see who had ambushed Lin Lang and then fled to the palace to frame them.

"Since Your Majesty agrees, we won't stand on ceremony!"

Seeing him relent, Lin Hui waved his hand. His subordinate opened the cage, and the Tracking Mouse immediately jumped out, extended its slender nose, sniffed, and then dashed forward.

"Everyone, follow!"

Seeing it lead the way, Lin Hui led the group to follow, with Mo Tianxue and the others close behind.