Chapter 392: Seeking the Trail Mouse

At Tianwu Royal Palace, Mo Tianxue looked at his dejected daughter, Mo Yu, and asked, "What's wrong? Is President Liu not coming?"

"He came," Mo Yu replied, shaking her head. "But he wants to read by himself; he doesn't need my company!"

"Never mind," Mo Tianxue sighed. "It's a matter of fate. If there's no connection, wishing for more is useless."

He had always hoped to pair his daughter with President Liu. Such a match would essentially tie Liu to his side, making the Lin family and Mo Hongyi think twice before any hostile actions or ideas. Now, it seemed like a fanciful notion. Although his daughter was exceptional, she was still significantly outmatched when compared to figures like President Liu and Master Zhang.

Mo Yu nodded. She wasn't genuinely interested in Zhang Xuan; rather, she was accustomed to being the center of attention. Encountering someone indifferent had merely ignited her competitive spirit. Now, seeing no prospect, she quickly composed herself.

"Father, was the Lin family responsible for the national beast? Have they made any moves?" Setting aside her cluttered thoughts, Mo Yu's usual sharp intellect returned.

"Seven eunuchs were implicated in this matter, but they all committed suicide as soon as they were investigated!"

Mo Tianxue's gaze turned serious. "I knew a direct investigation would yield nothing. We are exposed, and they operate in the shadows, allowing them to prepare in advance. Even if we found something, they'd have time to react, and we might even receive misinformation. So, while we're publicly pursuing this with great fanfare, I've actually dispatched people for a covert investigation!"

"A covert investigation?" Mo Yu asked, puzzled.

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

Mo Tianxue's eyes gleamed. "For the Golden-tailed Lion, a Half-Supreme realm beast, to become gravely ill without our detection, this poison must be at least peak second-grade, if not nearing third-grade!" Any poison potent enough to affect the Golden-tailed Lion must be incredibly potent. First-grade poisons can kill cultivators below the Grandmaster realm; second-grade poisons can affect Grandmasters and even Half-Supremes. Although this poison wouldn't immediately kill the Golden-tailed Lion, it significantly accelerated its aging, indicating it was certainly at peak second-grade.

"Only the Poison Hall can produce such a poison. My investigation revealed that the Lin family conveniently has connections with Honglian City, and even their most formidable Grand Apothecary arrived in the Royal City just a few days ago!" Mo Tianxue snorted, flicking his sleeve. "All of it is simply too coincidental. That's why I specifically dispatched people to investigate, and they quickly confirmed that the Lin family bears undeniable responsibility!"

"So, what do we do?" Upon hearing the confirmation that the Lin family was responsible, Mo Yu's expression also darkened. If they could target the Golden-tailed Lion today, they could just as easily target members of the royal family tomorrow. Once they set their sights on power, their ambition will spread uncontrollably, like bamboo shoots after rain.

"Although the Golden-tailed Lion has reached the Supreme realm, the Lin family is backed by the Xuanyuan Kingdom, so we still cannot afford to offend them!" Mo Tianxue said, shaking his head, understanding his daughter's concern. What difference does knowing they did it make? Not only do they have a three-star formation master among them, but also a daughter who is the Crown Princess of a Xuanyuan titled kingdom. They are simply not to be provoked. If we don't expose them now and everyone pretends ignorance, with the Master Teacher Hall overseeing, the Lin family won't dare to overstep their bounds. If we truly break ties, the Xuanyuan Kingdom could simply send a moderately powerful Supreme realm expert to completely wipe out our royal family.

"Indeed! Just like the Qu family back then... we were helpless!" Mo Yu understood this perfectly and sighed.

"Although the Qu family wasn't a renowned noble house, they were quite prosperous. Yet, for reasons unknown, all 137 members of their family were wiped out by the Lin family overnight... I've never forgotten that," Mo Tianxue said, clenching his fists. Two years ago, a Qu family in Tianwu Royal City somehow offended the Lin family. Overnight, their entire household was massacred. When emissaries were sent to inquire, before they even arrived, the Lin family head personally appeared and forced them to suppress the news, ensuring the matter was ultimately unresolved. As the King, his inability to protect his own subjects in that instance had always remained a thorn in his side.

"Actually, it's not your fault, Father. They had a token from the Xuanyuan Kingdom at the time, reportedly acting on the Crown Prince's orders. As a first-grade kingdom, we simply couldn't refuse!" Mo Yu said, comforting her father as she saw his expression. It wasn't the royal family's inaction out of fear of the Lin family; rather, the Lin family had presented a direct order from the Crown Prince of the Xuanyuan Kingdom. Faced with such a decree, their lower-ranked kingdom had no choice but to comply.

"I know..." Mo Tianxue shook his head. "The situation is unfavorable, and I'm helpless! That's why I wanted you to win over either President Liu or Master Zhang. If one of these geniuses becomes a royal consort, they wouldn't dare to act against us, even if they wished to!" He had spent days trying to foster a connection between his daughter and these two geniuses, but unfortunately, neither of them showed any interest in her.

Hearing her father's words, Mo Yu felt a pang of disappointment. She shook her head, about to speak, when a eunuch burst in, looking flustered.

"What is it?" Mo Tianxue asked, his brows furrowed.

"Your Majesty, the Lin family's Third Elder has arrived with many people, demanding an explanation from our royal family..." The eunuch stammered, trembling.

"Demanding an explanation from *us*? What does that mean?" Mo Tianxue's eyes narrowed. We discovered the Lin family's plot to poison the national beast, and before we could even confront them, they've come to us? And they demand an explanation? Could it be that they're no longer holding back and intend to openly declare hostilities?

"This subordinate doesn't know, Your Majesty. They are right outside the palace gates, about to force their way in..." the eunuch hastily reported.

"Let's go see!" With a snort, Mo Tianxue and Mo Yu headed outside.

They soon reached the palace gate, where indeed many members of the Lin family stood outside, their eyes filled with cold arrogance.

"Your Majesty Tianxue, I advise you to quickly hand over the person. There's no need to break ties, otherwise, I'm afraid today's events won't end well!" An elder stepped forward, his face grim, as he saw Mo Tianxue and the others emerge.

"Hand over someone? What are you talking about?" Mo Tianxue was utterly bewildered.

"There's no need to feign ignorance. You sent assassins after our Young Master Lin Lang, leaving him severely wounded and unconscious. Do you deny it?" The Lin family's Third Elder narrowed his eyes.

"Assassinate Young Master Lin Lang?" Mo Tianxue was even more confused. "Is there some misunderstanding?" Although he harbored a strong desire to destroy the Lin family, he was well aware of the repercussions and had consistently exercised restraint. Could something have truly happened to Young Master Lin Lang?

"A misunderstanding? The culprit has already fled into the Royal Palace, within these very walls. And you call this a misunderstanding?" The Lin family's Third Elder sneered.

Mo Tianxue had no idea what was happening. Just as he was about to press for more information, a figure in grey robes quietly approached him from behind and whispered a few words. It was a member of the Shadow Guard. Given the massive commotion at Emerald Pavilion and the full mobilization of the Lin family, the Shadow Guard had quickly received intelligence. After hearing the report, Mo Tianxue finally understood the situation, a look of frustration on his face. He hadn't sent anyone at all. And even if he had, he would ensure a swift, fatal strike, not leave someone half-dead and invite retaliation.

"Elder Lin Hui," Mo Tianxue stated clearly, "Young Master Lin Lang's injury was absolutely not caused by our royal family..."

"Not?" Third Elder Lin Hui sneered. "If you claim innocence, then please instruct these guards to step aside and allow us to search. Once the culprit is apprehended, the truth will naturally be revealed!"

His expression grim, Mo Tianxue's body tensed. The Royal Palace was not merely the royal family's foundation; it represented the very dignity of the kingdom. If they were allowed to search, what authority would the Tianwu Royal Family have left to command the realm?

"You claim the culprit fled into the Royal Palace? What evidence do you have?" Mo Yu couldn't help but retort.

"I've met Master Mo!" Lin Hui glanced at Mo Yu and smiled faintly. "To make such a claim, of course, we have evidence!" He gestured. Immediately, a person stepped forward, carrying a cage. Inside the cage, a snow-white mouse lay, twitching its nose and sniffing around restlessly.

"Is that a... Scent Tracker Mouse?" Mo Tianxue stiffened. The Scent Tracker Mouse is a unique beast with an incredibly keen sense of smell. Once it catches a scent, it can track it over vast distances, even thousands of miles. This creature was rarer than spirit stones, uncommon even in the Xuanyuan Titled Kingdom. He hadn't expected the Lin family to possess one, let alone bring it with them. If it truly was a Scent Tracker Mouse, then as long as the assassin left any trace of their scent, they wouldn't be able to escape, no matter how far they fled or how many times they changed their clothes.

"Indeed, it seems Your Majesty Tianxue is quite discerning. The assassin is hidden within the Royal Palace, not because I say so, but because the Scent Tracker Mouse found them... What, Your Majesty doesn't trust its judgment?" Lin Hui scoffed.

"This..." Mo Tianxue fell silent. If the Scent Tracker Mouse had indeed located the culprit, it meant the assailant was genuinely hidden within the Royal Palace. But... he had no knowledge of this. What exactly was happening?

"Since Your Majesty claims it wasn't your doing, we are merely here to apprehend the culprit who harmed our young master; we won't conduct a rampant search. However, if Your Majesty insists on obstructing us, it would suggest a guilty conscience..." Lin Hui continued.

If the Golden-tailed Lion had died, the Lin family would surely have seized this opportunity to force a coup, pushing the royal family, who had ruled the Tianwu Kingdom for a millennium, off the stage of history. However, the beast not only survived but also broke through to become a Supreme realm expert. Even if the Lin family harbored such intentions, they would now have to hesitate. It was best not to completely break ties before they were fully prepared. Otherwise, if the Supreme beast were to act, even with a third-grade grand formation, the Lin family would likely struggle to resist.

"Very well. Our royal family absolutely did not send anyone to harm Young Master Lin Lang. Once the Scent Tracker Mouse finds the culprit, the truth will naturally be revealed!" After a moment of hesitation, Mo Tianxue nodded. Since the Lin family possessed a Scent Tracker Mouse, locating the individual would be straightforward; they wouldn't conduct a chaotic, widespread search. More importantly, Mo Tianxue himself wanted to discover who had attacked Lin Lang and then fled into the Royal Palace, attempting to frame them.

"Since Your Majesty agrees, we won't stand on ceremony!" Seeing Mo Tianxue concede, Lin Hui waved his hand. A subordinate opened the cage, and the Scent Tracker Mouse immediately leaped out, extended its slender nose, sniffed, and then darted forward.

"Everyone, follow!" Seeing the mouse lead the way, Lin Hui and his group followed, with Mo Tianxue and his retinue close behind.