Prince Xue Xing's Fear

Prince Xue Xing turned an icy, piercing gaze toward the source of the voice. The moment he saw the white-haired man dressed in a blood-red robe, his expression changed completely.

"Y-You are... Lord Lin Yuan..."

Prince Xue Xing's lips trembled. He could not believe that he had encountered the youngest Title Douluo of the present day at the Ye Family.

Lin Yuan stared solemnly at Prince Xue Xing. "What's wrong? Didn't you just tell me to get out? I'm out now. What are you afraid of?"

"N-No..." Prince Xue Xing swallowed and staggered back two steps. Sweat streamed down his face as he collapsed directly onto the ground, just short of wetting himself in fright.

Sitting in his chair with one hand propping up his chin, Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes. "Prince Xue Xing, have you forgotten the rules of the Heaven Dou Empire? Threatening a noblewoman into marrying you—you certainly have a lot of nerve."

"If I hadn't been here today, would you have forced yourself on her? Or would you have used economic means to erase the Ye Family completely?"

Prince Xue Xing hurriedly said, "No, that's not it. I didn't know Lord Lin Yuan was here. If I had known, I would never have come."

Lin Yuan instantly appeared before Prince Xue Xing, looking down at him from above as he said coldly, "What? If I weren't here, you were planning to do whatever you pleased?"

"Th-This..."

Prince Xue Xing was already trembling all over in terror, nearly falling to his knees before Lin Yuan. He would rather offend Dream Machine and the other two chiefs than offend the Title Douluo before him.

After all, Lin Yuan's status in the empire had long surpassed that of Dream Machine and the other two chiefs. Even Xue Ye treated him with utmost respect, let alone a prince like him who did not even possess military authority.

Lin Yuan stood with his hands behind his back and glanced at Prince Xue Xing's terrified expression. "Stop making a spectacle of yourself. Go back where you came from. From now on, stop harassing Madam Ye Yao. If I find you continuing to harass Madam Ye Yao, I won't mind making sure you can never stand up again."

How could Prince Xue Xing dare refuse? He hurriedly nodded in agreement, then turned and ran out of the Ye Family without looking back. He seemed utterly terrified by Lin Yuan's threat and did not dare remain for even another moment.

Only after seeing Prince Xue Xing leave the Ye Family completely did Ye Yao finally relax. She then bowed to Lin Yuan. "Thank you, Teacher Lin."

Lin Yuan lifted Madam Ye Yao's wrist and smiled with a nod. "It's nothing. You are Ling Ling's mother. Such a small matter is not worth mentioning."

"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first."

Lin Yuan looked at Ye Lingling. "Ling Ling, once things here are settled, remember to return to Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Ye Lingling nodded gratefully. "I understand, Teacher. Ling Ling will return tomorrow."

Watching Lin Yuan's departing figure, Ye Yao pressed her alluring red lips together and said with an ambiguous smile, "Ling Ling, your teacher is quite interesting."

"Teacher is a very good person. Though he can be somewhat stern and impartial at times, he treats me very well, like an older brother."

Ye Lingling answered with a smile.

Madam Ye Yao smiled as though she had expected that. Picking up the cup from the table, she gazed through the clear tea within at that face that could nearly stun every man who saw it. A meaningful smile appeared on her lovely face as well.

"Mother, what are you thinking about?" Ye Lingling asked curiously.

"Nothing. I was only thinking that you have no family other than your mother. Now that you have a teacher to help you, if Mother leaves this world someday, Lord Lin Yuan will be able to take my place and care for you."

Ye Yao gently stroked Ye Lingling's cheek, her gaze complicated as she looked in the direction Lin Yuan had left. No one knew what she was truly thinking.

At dawn the next day, the Golden Rooster announced the morning.

In the quiet room, Lin Yuan, dressed in red, slowly opened his eyes. After cultivating through the night, he had restored all the Soul Power he had consumed to its peak state.

If he encountered Tang Hao again, Lin Yuan was ninety percent confident that he could kill him here.

At that moment, Xiao Wu knocked on the door, and her timid voice drifted inside. "My lord, breakfast is ready. Would you like to eat now, or later?"

"Now."

Lin Yuan slowly rose to his feet, dusted off his shoulders, and walked out of the room. He happened to see Xiao Wu notifying Ye Lingling, who had not yet returned.

"Ling Ling went home last night. It's just the two of us today, so there's no need to wait for her. After we eat, remember to clean up the room."

Hearing this, Xiao Wu obediently nodded and brought over the rice porridge she had prepared in advance from the kitchen.

Xiao Wu personally served Lin Yuan a bowl of rice porridge and asked softly, "Senior, did you go to Ling Ling's home with her last night?"

Lin Yuan nodded. "Yes. I happened to take care of some matters yesterday. Is there something you want to say?"

"Senior, may I leave this place?"

Seeing Lin Yuan's expression change, Xiao Wu hurriedly explained, "It's like this, Lord Lin Yuan. The food at home is almost gone. I want to go to Heaven Dou City to buy some supplies. I absolutely do not want to leave this place."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan looked toward the kitchen in the distance. Only after confirming that the food at home had indeed been eaten up did he take a bag of Gold Soul Coins from his Soul Tool and hand it to Xiao Wu.

"Go buy what you need. You bear the Soul Mark I left on you. If anyone harbors ill intentions toward you, or if you have any thoughts of running away, I will sense it."

Lin Yuan gently set down what he was holding, then threatened her without the slightest politeness. "Let me advise you: do not think that leaving this place means you can offer your martial soul as a sacrifice to Tang San, a disciple of Shrek Academy. If you so much as dare entertain that thought, I will not mind slaughtering every disciple of Shrek Academy."

"Besides, Xiao Wu, you wouldn't want your Third Brother to die without even a burial place, would you?"

Lin Yuan narrowed his eyes and spoke in a cold tone.

Xiao Wu lowered her head dejectedly. She had originally wanted to use this chance to return to Shrek Academy and see her brother, Tang San. But after hearing Lord Lin Yuan's warning, all hope in her heart was extinguished.

After all, she had almost no ability to resist a Title Douluo. If she angered him, she would likely only end up being killed here.

"I... I understand."

Xiao Wu nodded with a miserable expression, picked up the bamboo basket from the table, and headed toward Heaven Dou City without looking back.