Set Up

"Have you caused enough trouble?!"

Ye Qin was about to strike again when a commanding woman's voice rang out behind him. It was Hu Liena.

"Liena, perfect timing! This man was causing trouble outside Spirit Hall. I was just about to deal with him for you!" Xiao Sheng got to his feet and pointed at Ye Qin.

"Who gave you permission to call me by name? Even your father addresses me as Hall Master, let alone you!" Hu Liena snapped. A trace of Soul Power carried her voice, making Xiao Sheng tremble.

"Lie... Hall Master Hu, I was wrong!" Xiao Sheng said fearfully.

"And you!" Hu Liena turned her anger on Ye Qin. "You haven't even taken up your post, and you're already behaving like this!"

"I was teaching your snobbish subordinates a lesson for you." Ye Qin shrugged.

Hu Liena gritted her teeth. "Untie them at once! What would people think if they saw Spirit Hall like this?"

Ye Qin smiled faintly and channeled his Soul Power, loosening the vines around the Temple Guard Knights and the Xiao Clan guards.

Hu Liena gave Ye Qin a conflicted look, then turned and headed inside.

One of the Temple Guard Knights immediately knelt before Ye Qin. "Are you... are you really the Hall Master Assistant?"

Even a fool could see that Ye Qin and Hu Liena were close.

"Would I lie about that?" Ye Qin said with a smile.

"We failed to recognize you, sir. Please forgive us!" The Temple Guard Knights knelt in unison.

"Forget it. You didn't know. But remember this: from now on, no unauthorized person sets foot in Spirit Hall, no matter who they are!" Ye Qin told them.

"As you command!" the knights answered together.

Ye Qin then walked down the street without so much as a glance at Xiao Sheng.

Behind him, Xiao Sheng could only glare after him in fury.

Meanwhile, inside Spirit Hall.

Daina said to Hu Liena, "Hall Master, that was too rash. Xiao Sheng is the Cracked Wind Sect's young master, after all. You humiliated him. What if the sect holds a grudge against you?"

"I don't care," Hu Liena said coldly. "Remember this, Daina. Even if the Elder Hall expels me, I will never curry favor with a man like him!"

"Yes..." Daina had never seen Hu Liena so cold. She shuddered and hurriedly lowered her head.

Hu Liena's eyes grew troubled. When she thought of what Ye Qin had done for her, warmth rose in her chest. She licked her lips without realizing it. Have I really fallen for him?

At that moment, in the palace hall.

Ye Xuan sat high on the Royal Throne, wearing a crown and a white gown trimmed with gold.

Below her stood an elderly man in splendid robes.

His hair was white, his cheeks sunken, and on his forehead was the Cracked Wind Sect's distinctive emblem: the traditional character for "wind."

He was Xiao Feng, one of the Cracked Wind Sect's two Soul Douluo elders.

Beside Xiao Feng lay Xiao Xun, wrapped so thoroughly that he looked like a mummy.

"How dare the Cracked Wind Sect bring armed men into the palace! Are you openly rebelling?" Ye Xuan demanded.

"Your Majesty, we had no choice. Someone plotted against the second young master, and the entire sect is outraged. We dared to come only to seek an explanation from Your Majesty," Xiao Feng said respectfully.

"Someone plotted against your young master. Why come to me for an explanation?" Ye Xuan asked, though she knew what he meant.

"This morning in the Royal City, Young Master Xiao had a dispute with Prince Ye Qin. Then, this afternoon, someone ambushed him. Surely—"

"Are you suggesting that the royal family would stoop to something so vile?" Ye Xuan cut him off before he could finish.

"That is not what the Cracked Wind Sect means. But the timing is too convenient. Please hand Prince Ye Qin over to us so we can question him," Xiao Feng said, his resolve undiminished.

"How dare you!" Ye Xuan shot to her feet in fury.

Whether Ye Qin had plotted against Xiao Xun or not, she would never hand him over.

"Prince Ye Qin is under considerable suspicion. The people are bound to talk. If we question him and establish that he had nothing to do with this, it will put the rumors to rest. Otherwise, people will say Your Majesty is protecting him, and public anger may rise. One way or another, Your Majesty must give the Cracked Wind Sect an answer!" Xiao Feng continued.

As a Soul Douluo, he had no fear of Ye Xuan's authority.

"What answer?" A woman's sharp voice rang out from outside. Zhao Ying strode into the hall.

"The Cracked Wind Sect has some nerve, bringing men into the palace. That alone is grounds for a charge of rebellion—and for wiping out your sect!" Zhao Ying said coldly to Xiao Feng.

"Hmph!" Xiao Feng stopped speaking deferentially. "The Cracked Wind Sect may not be as powerful as the royal family, but our members are spread across the continent. We won't be pushed around!"

"So you want a fight? Fine. The Zhao Clan's two hundred thousand cavalry are ready whenever you are!" Zhao Ying shot back without a trace of fear.

Xiao Feng's confidence faltered. Even setting aside those two hundred thousand cavalry, the Zhao Clan had powerful Soul Masters such as Yang Qitian among its allies. If it came to war, the Cracked Wind Sect might not win.

"General Zhao, there's no need to go that far. The Cracked Wind Sect supports Her Majesty as it always has. But we still need an explanation for this, or our people won't accept it," Xiao Feng said, changing his tone.

"My answer hasn't changed." Zhao Ying folded her arms. "Hand over Ye Qin? Dream on. Go tell your sect master, Xiao Chen, that if he wants Ye Qin, he can ask my sword first!"

"And every Soul Master from the Cracked Wind Sect has one hour to get out of the palace. After that, they'll be killed on sight!"

"Hmph!" Xiao Feng snorted. He ordered his men to carry Xiao Xun and left the hall in a huff.

Once Xiao Feng was gone, Ye Xuan sat back down on the throne. "Ying'er, do you think Qin really did it?"

"Xuan'er, have you lost your mind?" Zhao Ying snapped. "Ye Qin would never do that. I'm telling you now: if you hand him over, you and I are going to have a problem!"

"As if I would!" Ye Xuan shot Zhao Ying a look.

"But this can't be a coincidence," Ye Xuan added. "I think someone is framing Qin."

"Leave it to me. I'll make whoever did this pay," Zhao Ying replied. "But the Cracked Wind Sect won't let this go. Be careful."

"I'll handle it," Ye Xuan said with a firm nod.