Xue Beng

Biodata

Background / History

Xue Beng is the Fourth Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire and the younger brother of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. He notices Qinghe's repeated departures from the palace and learns that the crown prince has been visiting the Royal Soul Beast Forest to choose a soul beast during his recuperation. Bored with his usual indulgences, Xue Beng becomes interested in acquiring a soul beast of his own and competing with Qinghe in this new pastime 6 7.

After obtaining Emperor Xue Ye's approval, Xue Beng pressures Xue Qinghe into allowing him to visit Xiao Yu. Though Qinghe warns him not to act recklessly, Xue Beng privately dismisses the idea that a soul beast requires recognition or trust, believing force and food should be enough to control one 8.

He secretly keeps a wounded, captive thousand-year Scarlet Mad Lion and brings it into the Royal Soul Beast Forest as a supposed pet. His actual plan is to use the lion against Xiao Yu, either to test the soul beast or humiliate Xue Qinghe if Xiao Yu loses. When Xiao Yu instantly kills the lion after it targets his fruit, Xue Beng orders his guards to kill Xiao Yu, but Xue Qinghe intervenes and has him removed from the forest 9 11.

Xue Ye confines Xue Beng to his residence for three months and docks his salary for a year. Resentful and frightened by Xiao Yu, Xue Beng escapes house arrest to seek help from his uncle, Prince Xue Xing. He portrays himself as the victim and demands that Xiao Yu die for killing the Scarlet Mad Lion 17 18.

Prince Xue Xing answers Xue Beng's request by dispatching three Soul Kings and the Soul Emperor Aoris to assassinate Xiao Yu in the Royal Soul Beast Forest. The attack injures Xiao Yu's companions and turns Xue Beng's grudge into a blood feud 19 20.

After Xiao Yu evolves into a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, he descends on the imperial palace to demand justice. Xue Beng panics, attempts to flee, and immediately identifies Prince Xue Xing as the person who sent the assassins. Yu Yi holds him hostage while Xiao Yu summons Xue Xing; when the Soul Saints hesitate to intervene, Xiao Yu orders Yu Yi to take revenge, and Xue Beng is beheaded 29 30 31.

Appearance

Xue Beng is a gloomy-looking youth who wears fine robes befitting a Heaven Dou prince 6. During Xiao Yu's assault on his residence, he is described as wearing luxurious princely clothing 30.

• Usually presents himself with an exaggerated, habitual smile when addressing Xue Qinghe 9.
• Keeps the outward image of a pampered, dissolute prince, though this image also helps conceal his hostility toward Xue Qinghe 7 8.
• Loses all composure when confronted by Xiao Yu, fleeing and kneeling to beg for mercy 29.

Personality

Xue Beng is bored, competitive, and accustomed to treating privilege as a means to satisfy his impulses. His curiosity about Xue Qinghe's visits to the Royal Soul Beast Forest quickly becomes a desire to outdo his brother, whom he considers inferior at “having fun” 7.

He is manipulative and cruel toward soul beasts. He imprisons the Scarlet Mad Lion in a cage, subjects it to wounds and whip marks, and forces it to obey despite its fear and pain. He regards the beast as a disposable tool for provoking Xiao Yu and undermining Xue Qinghe 8 9.

His resentment is paired with cowardice and self-preservation. After his scheme fails, he blames Xiao Yu, Xue Qinghe, Xue Xing, and even Xue Ye rather than accepting responsibility. When Xiao Yu captures him, he betrays Prince Xue Xing without hesitation in exchange for a chance to live 18 29 30.

Relationships

• Xue Qinghe — Elder brother and political rival. Xue Beng envies Qinghe’s standing with Xue Ye and attempts to damage his prestige by using the Scarlet Mad Lion against Xiao Yu 8 9.
• Xue Ye — Father and Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire. Xue Beng uses Xue Ye’s permission to secure access to the Royal Soul Beast Forest, but is later confined by Xue Ye following the Scarlet Mad Lion incident 8 17.
• Prince Xue Xing — Paternal uncle and source of support. Xue Xing agrees to avenge Xue Beng by sending assassins after Xiao Yu; Xue Beng later exposes him to Xiao Yu to save himself 18 19 30.
• Xiao Yu / Yu — Target of Xue Beng’s schemes. Xue Beng first seeks to ridicule and provoke him, then demands his death after the Scarlet Mad Lion is killed; Xiao Yu ultimately orders Xue Beng’s execution 10 11 31.
• Scarlet Mad Lion — Captive thousand-year soul beast described by Xue Beng as his pet. He abuses and transports it to the Royal Soul Beast Forest as a weapon against Xiao Yu; it is killed by Flash Strike 9 11.
• Yu Yi — Xiao Yu’s subordinate and Xue Beng’s executioner. Yu Yi holds Xue Beng hostage during the palace confrontation and beheads him on Xiao Yu’s command 30 31.

Major Actions

• Investigates Xue Qinghe’s frequent trips to the Royal Soul Beast Forest and decides to obtain a soul beast for his own amusement 7.
• Gains Xue Ye’s endorsement to accompany Xue Qinghe to meet Xiao Yu 8.
• Captures and abuses a thousand-year Scarlet Mad Lion, then smuggles it into the Royal Soul Beast Forest 8 9.
• Attempts to use the lion to provoke or defeat Xiao Yu and humiliate Xue Qinghe 9 10.
• Seeks Prince Xue Xing’s help after being confined, leading to the assassination attempt on Xiao Yu and his companions 18 19.
• Reveals Xue Xing’s involvement when Xiao Yu takes him hostage in the imperial palace 30.
• Is beheaded by Yu Yi as retribution for the attack on Xiao Yu’s home and companions 31.

Notable Quotes

“Beast! How dare you kill this prince's pet?! Kill it for me!!” 11

“Powerful Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, I beg you, spare me! I wasn't the one who called people to kill you; it was, it was my uncle Prince Xue Xing!” 30