Prince Xue Xing

Slap!

A vicious slap landed across Xue Beng's face.

"Xue Beng, Xue Beng, you really are a goddamn avalanche!" After hearing what Xue Beng had done, Prince Xue Xing nearly failed to catch his breath from rage.

"You even dared to provoke Ning Rongrong. You've really got some nerve!"

He had rushed to Heaven Dou Royal Academy at daybreak, afraid Xue Beng would pull some reckless stunt. Yet despite hurrying as fast as he could, he had still arrived too late.

Last night, Xue Ye had summoned him to discuss a matter concerning the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Rongrong, the Young Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, had been mentioned as well. She would be staying at Heaven Dou Royal Academy for a few days, and Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had personally brought her there.

Because the discussion had run too late, Prince Xue Xing had planned to warn Xue Beng first thing in the morning.

He wanted him not to cause trouble. If anything happened to Ning Rongrong at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, even Prince Xue Xing would not be able to cover for him.

"You said you didn't know who she was, but Xue Qinghe brought her here. You saw that yourself!"

"With Xue Qinghe's apprenticeship recently, everyone coming to Heaven Dou City is either rich or powerful. Yet you just had to pick the one person you absolutely couldn't offend!"

"Even if she's Ning Fengzhi's daughter, wouldn't it have been better to find a way to anger Ning Fengzhi into refusing to take Xue Qinghe as his disciple?"

Xue Beng did not think he had been wrong. He truly had not known who she was at first; he had only wanted to vent his anger.

He had shown restraint too. He had merely said he would throw her out and had not even spoken too harshly, much less laid a hand on her.

Besides, he had not been able to beat her at all.

"You..." Prince Xue Xing patted his chest, so furious that he nearly needed heart medication.

"I'm telling you, Xue Beng: before Ning Fengzhi decides not to accept Xue Qinghe as his disciple, you'll be the one who gets completely wiped out."

"You should be thankful you held back and didn't use your rotten habits on Ning Rongrong. Otherwise, forget about you—even I'd be finished!"

"Ning Rongrong isn't merely Ning Fengzhi's beloved daughter. She is also the next Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as acknowledged by Ning Fengzhi."

"A Support Spirit Master with Innate Full Soul Power, only two years since awakening her Martial Soul, and she's already a level 21 Soul Grandmaster."

"My elder brother even believes that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has placed its hopes of breaking through the limits of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda on Ning Rongrong."

"You... you!"

Veins bulged across Prince Xue Xing's forehead, and his entire body trembled faintly.

"Th-Then what should we do now?"

Xue Beng's eyes rolled nervously in their sockets.

After hearing Prince Xue Xing's words, he panicked as well. He might have been muddleheaded, indulgent, and fond of playing around—often wildly—but he still understood how serious this was.

Whether he could make things difficult for Xue Qinghe and prevent him from becoming Ning Fengzhi's disciple was beside the point.

It was very likely that he, the Fourth Prince, would be stripped of everything.

"Go apologize, until she forgives you."

At this point, scolding Xue Beng would accomplish nothing.

If Xue Qinghe had not been so ruthless, Prince Xue Xing would not have chosen to stand by Xue Beng. Besides...

Xue Qinghe's attitude toward nobles and commoners was also somewhat strange, and it had even influenced Princess Xue Ke.

Whether in sentiment or reason, Xue Qinghe's conduct displeased Prince Xue Xing and even frightened him somewhat.

"Just go over like this?" Xue Beng's voice trembled.

"Now you know fear?" Prince Xue Xing said with an agonized expression. "I have a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone here. It should be enough to settle this matter."

"A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone!" Xue Beng sucked in a breath.

"Hmph. This was originally meant to win over Dugu Bo. If you could gain the help of a Titled Douluo, perhaps you might still accomplish something great."

"Isn't that a bit..."

"Get through this incident first. Do you really think your elder brother wouldn't dare kill you?" Prince Xue Xing sighed.

"People are indebted when they eat another's food or take another's gifts. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect receives this Soul Bone, they should put in a good word for you. Otherwise, start preparing a coffin!"

Did he not know what he was like?

He had even dared to nitpick Xue Qinghe becoming a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. That was not only Xue Qinghe's wish, but Xue Ye's as well.

Ignorance was no excuse. They had to ask the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to let this matter go.

Otherwise, exile would be the least of Xue Beng's problems. He might simply vanish on the way there.

"Listen. You'll do exactly as I say, understand?"

"Yes, Uncle."

Xue Beng nodded earnestly, no longer daring to make his own moves.

Prince Xue Xing picked up the Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone he had purchased at great expense, his face aching with reluctance.

But there was no choice. He could only treat it as throwing meat buns to a dog.

Prince Xue Xing led Xue Beng out of the independent villa, preparing to head to the offices of the three education committee members and ask where Ning Rongrong was.

They had barely reached the entrance when they saw the three education committee members striding toward them in a fury, accompanied by an adorable brown-haired little loli.

On the other side, Ning Rongrong, standing beside Meng Shenji, noticed the two men opposite them as well.

Ning Rongrong did not know Prince Xue Xing personally, but she had read descriptions of him in the original work.

On the way here, her father, Ning Fengzhi, had also mentioned Prince Xue Xing's appearance. He looked exactly like the man before her.

Oh, oh, oh!

Were they here to call for backup and reclaim their honor?

However, when the four of them were still several meters away from Prince Xue Xing, Meng Shenji was just about to speak and press the advantage.

Thud.

Xue Beng dropped heavily to his knees.

Ning Rongrong: "?"

Taking the initiative instead?

Kneeling on the ground, Xue Beng's eyes shimmered with tears.

The sight stunned not only Ning Rongrong, but also left the three education committee members, who had been about to question him, at a loss for words.

"Prince Xue Beng, what are you..." Meng Shenji's eyelids twitched. He and the other two education committee members hurriedly stepped aside.

A prince of a nation had knelt before them. Even if he was an unfavored prince, they could not bear such a gesture.

Nothing would happen to them given their status as Soul Douluos, but they were still working for the Heaven Dou Empire.

What kind of situation was it when their employer's son knelt before them?

"Young Sect Master Ning, Xue Beng was rash in what happened before and gave you a fright. I offer you my most sincere apology."

Before Xue Beng could finish speaking, Ning Rongrong stepped several paces to the side, avoiding his kneeling salute.

Ning Rongrong had expected Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing to come looking for trouble.

She had even considered the possibility that Dugu Bo might be present, but this scene was truly beyond anything she could have imagined.

Nobles valued their dignity more than their lives, especially the royal family.

What a hassle!

Ning Rongrong sighed inwardly. None of these schemers are clean.

No wonder Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing had survived for so long under Qian Renxue's watch.

"Please rise, Prince Xue Beng. I cannot accept such a grand gesture from you."

"If Father learns that I accepted a prince's apology in this manner, things might get rather serious."

Xue Beng did not rise. Instead, he glanced at Prince Xue Xing from the corner of his eye.

Prince Xue Xing nodded faintly, and only then did Xue Beng rise hesitantly.

As expected, it was him...

Ning Rongrong knew that with Xue Beng's mind, he could not have come up with such an idea himself.

Just then, the sound of footsteps rang out.

A faint oppressive aura filled the air.

"Prince Xue Xing, has someone come here to cause trouble?"

Looking toward the source of the voice, they saw an elderly man approaching slowly from not too far away. His hair and beard were Dark Green, and his eyes gleamed like emeralds.

At his side was a young girl who looked to be only fifteen or sixteen.

Orange Cat is a new author, and my writing speed is very slow. I've also been busy during the holiday, so I can't provide extra chapters for now. But I will ensure both quality and quantity. In any case, thank you for your support.

Also, happy New Year to everyone. May your families be safe and healthy.