Ye Qin, Who Was Set Up

"Have you made enough of a scene?!"

Ye Qin was about to strike again when a commanding female voice rang out behind him. It belonged to Hu Liena.

"Liena, you came at just the right time. This man caused trouble in front of Spirit Hall, and I was just about to deal with him for you!" Xiao Sheng immediately got to his feet and pointed at Ye Qin.

"Who gave you permission to call me by name? Even your father has to address me as Hall Master, let alone you!" Hu Liena shouted angrily at Xiao Sheng. Her voice carried a faint trace of Soul Power, filling Xiao Sheng with fear.

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

"And you!" Hu Liena turned to Ye Qin and snapped, "You haven't even taken office yet, and you're already causing trouble!"

"I was only teaching those subordinates of yours who look down on people a lesson!" Ye Qin shrugged.

Hu Liena gritted her teeth. "Untie them at once. If outsiders saw Spirit Hall in such a state, what would they think!"

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

Hu Liena gave Ye Qin a complicated look before turning and heading into the hall.

The Temple Guard Knight immediately knelt before Ye Qin. "Y-you really are the Hall Master Assistant?"

Even a fool could see that Ye Qin and Hu Liena shared an unusual relationship.

"Could that possibly be fake?" Ye Qin replied with a smile.

"This lowly one failed to recognize a great man. Please forgive us, sir!" the Temple Guard Knights said as they all knelt.

"Forget it. The ignorant are not guilty. But remember this: from now on, no unrelated outsiders, regardless of status, are permitted to set foot inside Spirit Hall!" Ye Qin told the Temple Guard Knights.

"We obey your orders!" the knights shouted in unison.

Then, without even sparing Xiao Sheng a glance, Ye Qin walked toward the street.

Behind him, only Xiao Sheng's furious glare remained!

Meanwhile, inside Spirit Hall.

Daina said to Hu Liena, "Hall Master, you were too impulsive. Xiao Sheng is still the Young Sect Master of the Cracked Wind Sect. If you humiliate him like this, the Cracked Wind Sect may hold a grudge against you!"

"I don't care!" Hu Liena replied coldly. "Daina, remember this: even if Elder Hall expels me, I will never curry favor with people of such character!"

"Yes..." Having never seen Hu Liena so cold before, Daina shuddered and hurriedly lowered her head.

Hu Liena's gaze was complicated. When she thought of what Ye Qin had done for her, warmth unexpectedly rose in her heart. She could not help licking her lips. Have I really fallen for him?

At this moment, inside the Royal Palace's main hall.

Wearing a crown and a flowing white, gold-trimmed gown, Ye Xuan sat high upon the Royal Throne.

Below her stood an elderly man dressed in luxurious robes.

The old man had snow-white hair, sunken cheeks, and the unique emblem of the Cracked Wind Sect carved upon his forehead: 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, his body wrapped like a mummy.

"The Cracked Wind Sect is truly outrageous. You actually dared to openly bring men into the Royal Palace. Are you planning an open rebellion?" Ye Xuan angrily demanded of Xiao Feng.

"Your Majesty the Queen, we had no other choice. The Second Young Sect Master was set up, and the entire sect is filled with grief and indignation. That is why we dared come before Your Majesty to seek an explanation!" Xiao Feng said respectfully.

"Your Young Sect Master was set up, so why have you come to demand an explanation from me?" Ye Xuan asked, though she already knew the answer.

"This morning in the Royal City, Young Sect Master Xiao had a conflict with Prince Ye Qin. Then, by afternoon, he was ambushed. This..."

"Are you suggesting that the royal family would commit such sinister and despicable acts?" Before Xiao Feng could finish, Ye Xuan interrupted him with a stern rebuke.

"That is not what the Cracked Wind Sect means! However, the timing is too much of a coincidence. We ask that Your Majesty hand Prince Ye Qin over to the Cracked Wind Sect for questioning!" Xiao Feng said, his bearing unyielding.

"Impudence!" Ye Xuan rose directly to her feet, furious beyond measure.

Regardless of whether Ye Qin had truly arranged Xiao Xun's attack, and even if he had, how could she possibly hand Ye Qin over?

"Prince Ye Qin is highly suspicious, and we fear public discussion among the citizens! If we question him, and he truly has nothing to do with this matter, it will also silence the people. Otherwise, the world will surely say that the Queen is showing favoritism, which may provoke public outrage! Therefore, no matter what, we ask Your Majesty to give the Cracked Wind Sect an explanation!" Xiao Feng continued.

As a Soul Douluo, he showed no fear in the face of Ye Xuan's majesty!

"What explanation do you want?" At that moment, a sharp female voice came from outside the hall. Zhao Ying strode in with great strides!

"The Cracked Wind Sect has quite the nerve. You openly brought people into the Royal Palace, which is already enough to convict you of rebellion. On that charge alone, the Cracked Wind Sect could be erased from existence!" Zhao Ying said coldly to Xiao Feng.

"Hmph!" Hearing this, Xiao Feng no longer acted humble. "Though the Cracked Wind Sect cannot compare to the royal family, our members are spread throughout the continent. We are not so easily provoked!"

"Are you saying you want war? Fine. My Zhao Clan's two hundred thousand iron cavalry are ready to accompany you at any time!" Zhao Ying said fearlessly!

Hearing Zhao Ying's words, Xiao Feng's momentum weakened considerably. Leaving aside the two hundred thousand iron cavalry, the Zhao Clan also had powerful Soul Masters affiliated with them, such as Yang Qitian. If they truly fought, the Cracked Wind Sect might not be their match.

"General Zhao, your words are too severe. The Cracked Wind Sect has always supported Her Majesty the Queen! However, this matter must be given an explanation no matter what, or it will be difficult to convince the public!" Xiao Feng said, changing his tone slightly.

"I'll say it again!" Zhao Ying said with her arms crossed. "Hand over Ye Qin? Dream on! Go back and tell your Sect Master, Xiao Chen: if he wants Ye Qin, he can first ask whether the sword in my hand agrees!"

"Also, all Soul Masters of the Cracked Wind Sect have one hour to get out of the Royal Palace. Otherwise, they will be killed without mercy!"

"Hmph!" Xiao Feng snorted coldly, ordered someone to carry Xiao Xun's body, and left the hall in frustration.

After Xiao Feng had left, Ye Xuan finally sat back on the throne. "Ying'er, do you think Qin really did this?"

"Xuan'er, have you lost your mind?" Zhao Ying snapped. "Ye Qin would never do something like this. I'm telling you, if you plan to hand Ye Qin over, don't blame me for turning against you!"

"How could I?" Ye Xuan rolled her eyes at Zhao Ying.

"However, this cannot be a coincidence!" Ye Xuan added. "I think someone is framing Qin!"

"Leave this to me. I'll make that person pay the price!" Zhao Ying replied. "But the Cracked Wind Sect definitely will not let this go. You need to be more careful!"

"I'll handle it properly!" Ye Xuan nodded seriously.