Weighing the Pros and Cons

Thud!

The sound of knees slamming heavily into the floor was especially piercing in the dead-silent hall.

Xue Beng knelt on the ground, his body trembling slightly from humiliation and fear. Lowering his head toward the bewildered little girl, Na'er, he said hoarsely:

"I'm sorry... I was wrong."

After saying that, he bent down and lightly touched his forehead to the ground.

He kowtowed once.

The surrounding onlookers collectively sucked in a breath.

A prince... had truly knelt!

Yet Xuan Hao merely gave him an indifferent glance, his face devoid of expression and even carrying a hint of disdain.

"Didn't you eat?"

"Your voice is so quiet, and your movements are so soft. Are you kowtowing to mosquitoes?"

Xuan Hao stepped forward and looked down at Xue Beng, his tone chilling.

"How about... I help you? Help you make that kowtow louder?"

"You—!"

Xue Beng abruptly raised his head, about to lash out, but when he met Xuan Hao's utterly emotionless golden eyes, all his anger instantly turned into bone-deep cold.

He had no doubt that if he dared utter another word of nonsense, that foot would really come down on his head and help him smash through the floor!

"Fine... fine!"

Xue Beng gritted his teeth. His eyes were filled with venomous resentment, yet he had no choice but to submit.

He abruptly shut his eyes, gathered all the strength in his body, and viciously slammed his head against the hard floor!

Thud—!!

A dull, thunderous crash rang out.

Blood instantly splattered everywhere.

Xue Beng's forehead visibly swelled and split open. Blood streamed down the bridge of his nose, blurring his vision and turning his once fairly handsome face into something ferocious and terrifying.

"I'm sorry!! I was wrong!! I shouldn't have scared you!! Please forgive me!!"

Xue Beng roared, every word seemingly forced through clenched teeth.

The more miserable and pathetic he appeared, the greater Xue Qinghe's crime would be when the reckoning came!

Thud!!

Another loud crash.

Even Ning Fengzhi, who had seen plenty of grand scenes, could not help frowning slightly.

This boy... what ruthless methods, what deep calculations.

He had almost been fooled as well.

But Qing He, could you see through it?

Xuan Hao seemed not to have noticed at all. He turned toward Na'er, who had been tightly clutching the corner of his clothes, and the coldness in his eyes instantly softened.

He reached out and straightened Na'er's slightly messy bangs, then asked gently:

"Have you calmed down?"

Na'er looked at the prince on the ground, his face covered in blood as he continued to kowtow frantically. Her little face was full of helplessness and fear.

"Gege..." Na'er tugged on Xuan Hao's hand, her voice trembling slightly. "That's enough... let's go."

"As long as I'm here, no one can bully you." Xuan Hao did not immediately agree. Instead, he looked at her seriously. "If you've been wronged, they have to pay for it. If you're not satisfied and don't want to forgive him, then he'll keep kowtowing."

"Even if he kowtows himself to death here, he'll deserve it."

Thud!!

As if to prove Xuan Hao's words, Xue Beng slammed his head heavily against the ground again. This time, he even left a faint bloody mark on the floor.

"That's enough! It's really enough!"

Na'er truly could not bear to watch any longer. She tugged hard at Xuan Hao's hand. "I'm not angry anymore... Gege, let him stop."

Xuan Hao looked into Na'er's clear purple eyes, fell silent for a moment, and finally sighed.

"Since my Na'er is kindhearted, consider yourself lucky."

He turned toward Xue Beng, who had already kowtowed himself bloody and looked as though he might faint at any moment, and coldly spat out one word:

"Scram."

Xue Beng felt as if pardoned.

He said nothing more, nor did he dare make any threats. He merely gave Xuan Hao a long look, his gaze containing far too much resentment and calculation.

Then, supported by Prince Xue Xing's attendants, he staggered to his feet. He did not even bother wiping the blood from his face before fleeing the hotel hall as though running for his life.

Prince Xue Xing shot Xue Qinghe one final vicious glare before flicking his sleeve and leaving as well.

At last, the farce came to an end.

"Phew..."

Once the eyesores had finally disappeared, Xuan Hao withdrew his aura, and the gold in his eyes completely faded.

He turned around to face Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi, who had remained silent throughout. That harmless smile returned to his face.

"My apologies for making Your Highness the Crown Prince and Sect Master Ning laugh."

Xuan Hao cupped his hands. "Children don't know any better, and I was a little hot-tempered. I didn't frighten you two, did I?"

Xue Qinghe: "..."

Ning Fengzhi: "..."

The two exchanged a glance, and the corners of their mouths twitched at the same time.

Children don't know any better?

You called this not knowing any better? You practically punched a hole in the sky!

"Young brother... you are certainly a man of temperament."

Ning Fengzhi gave a dry laugh, breaking the awkward silence. "What happened today was somewhat... excessive, but Xue Beng brought it upon himself."

"However..."

Ning Fengzhi changed the subject. "With such talent and such methods, may I ask who your master is? Are your elders still in Heaven Dou City?"

"Me?" Xuan Hao blinked, looking completely innocent. "I'm just a homeless wanderer, scraping by everywhere with my younger sister."

"As for my master and elders..."

Xuan Hao sighed, his face full of melancholy.

"I caused a major disaster, and the elder sister at home was very angry. I had no choice but to come out and hide for a while."

"Alright, Na'er, let's go."

Xuan Hao did not give Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe a chance to continue questioning him. After casually dropping that ambiguous remark, he took Na'er's little hand and swaggered out of the hotel. Before long, the two vanished into the bustling crowd.

As they watched the two figures recede into the distance, the once lively hall fell into an eerie silence.

Ning Fengzhi withdrew his gaze and looked at Xue Qinghe, whose brows were tightly furrowed. He sighed softly. "Qing He, what happened today... may be rather troublesome."

"Teacher means Imperial Father, I presume." Xue Qinghe gave a bitter smile and rubbed his throbbing temples. "No matter how useless Fourth Brother may be, he is still a prince. Kneeling and kowtowing in public today was not merely his personal humiliation—it has utterly disgraced the Imperial Family."

"If Imperial Father learns of it, he will certainly fly into a rage. And I was present but did not stop it. I even allowed the assailant to leave... I won't be able to avoid this scolding."

Beating someone up was youthful recklessness, a spar between Soul Masters.

Kneeling and kowtowing was trampling on one's dignity, an insult to the nation.

The nature of those two things was worlds apart.

"But this was already the best possible outcome." Wisdom gleamed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes as he lightly tapped the ground with his scepter. "Qing He, your restraint just now was correct. If, in a moment of anger, you had truly ordered the Imperial Guards to act or had Uncle Sword forcibly keep him... the consequences might have been unimaginable."

"Teacher means... that youth's background?" Xue Qinghe asked.

"That youth named Xuan Hao was far too calm from beginning to end."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly spoke in a low voice. "When facing Dugu Bo's threat, he showed no fear whatsoever. When facing the Imperial Family's authority, he treated it as nothing. That kind of confidence cannot be faked."

Ning Fengzhi nodded and took over. "Indeed. On this continent, the most frightening forces are not the Upper Three Sects, not Spirit Hall, and not the two great empires, but those madmen who live in seclusion."

"Like the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao, back then."

At the mention of that name, everyone present became more solemn.

"The barefoot fear no shoes."

Ning Fengzhi analyzed, "For forces like ours that stand in the open, there are always concerns in our actions. We must consider our sects, our nations, and our reputations. But secluded experts are different. They have no ties and no burdens. If they are truly provoked, then even the depths of the Imperial Palace are merely places they can come and go from as they please."

"That youth possesses such cultivation before even reaching ten years old. He likely comes from one of those Hidden Families. Perhaps there is even a Titled Douluo living in seclusion within his family."

"An army may be able to stop thousands upon thousands of troops, but it cannot stop a Titled Douluo driven mad."

"If, for the sake of a spoiled prince's pride, Heaven Dou Empire were to provoke a Titled Douluo enemy like Tang Hao, one who disregards all consequences..."

Ning Fengzhi looked at Xue Qinghe and spoke earnestly.

"That would be truly unwise."

"Compared with the wrath of a Titled Douluo lurking in the shadows, what does losing a little face or receiving a few scoldings from His Majesty amount to?"

Xue Qinghe took a deep breath and cupped his hands toward Ning Fengzhi. "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher. Qing He understands. After we return, I will explain the stakes to Imperial Father."

"Mm." Ning Fengzhi nodded approvingly. "Don't worry too much. Although His Majesty values appearances, he is also the ruler of a nation and knows how to distinguish priorities. As long as we exaggerate that youth's talent and background a little, His Majesty will understand."

"Alright, we should leave as well."