Backing Him Up with Dominance! I'll Take Responsibility for Crippling Yu Tianheng

Qin Yao's voice was cold, striking Dugu Yan's ears and causing her entire body to stiffen.

Grievance, unwillingness, and shame—a torrent of emotions surged into her heart in an instant.

She had indeed been held back by Yu Tianheng earlier, afraid to strike with full force for fear of causing a death in Heaven Dou City and bringing immense trouble upon her grandfather.

Dugu Yan bit her lower lip and stubbornly raised her head, wanting to defend herself, but the moment she met Qin Yao's calm, ripple-less eyes, all her words became lodged in her throat.

"Your Highness, I..." Dugu Yan's voice trembled, and she finally lowered her head, preparing to admit her fault.

However, Qin Yao's next words left her completely stunned.

"Remember, you are my person, Qin Yao's person."

"No matter what you do, as long as you are in the right, even if the sky falls, I will hold it up for you."

"What is Yu Tianheng? And what is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? If you hit them, you hit them; if you cripple them, you cripple them."

"If something happens, I will bear the consequences."

Qin Yao's voice was resonant and firm.

Dugu Yan jerked her head up.

Only then did she realize that the Holy Son was not scolding her for failing to win, but for being afraid to fight!

He was blaming her for being timid and overly cautious!

So, he wasn't saying she had embarrassed him; he was telling her exactly who stood behind her!

An indescribable sense of gratitude welled up from the depths of her heart, instantly washing away all the grievance and unwillingness she had felt moments ago.

Dugu Yan's nose stung, and she used all her strength to control herself, preventing the mist in her eyes from condensing into tears.

She nodded vigorously, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible tremor:

"Yes! Your Highness! I will remember!"

Beside them, Ye Lingling, who had been in a state of shock, finally snapped out of her stupor.

She looked at the purple-haired youth before her, whose aura was overwhelmingly domineering, and then at the unconscious Yu Tianheng on the ground; a tempest raged in her heart.

He had defeated the team captain, Yu Tianheng, in a single move!

Who exactly was this man?

Just how high was his Soul Power Level?

And those words he said earlier—"You are my person"—so overbearing, so oppressive.

But for some reason, as Ye Lingling watched Dugu Yan's eyes brighten, a hint of envy stirred within her.

To be protected so forcefully... it must feel very safe, right?

She dared not dwell on it further and quickly ran to Yu Tianheng's side, crouching down as a soft white light ignited in her palms.

The Nine Heart Begonia martial soul emerged quietly, its nine heart-shaped petals swaying gently, emitting a holy and warm aura that enveloped Yu Tianheng.

Qin Yao glanced at them but said nothing more.

The Nine Heart Begonia was indeed a top-tier healing martial soul; its reputation was well-deserved.

Yu Tianheng had only been injured internally by the shock of his purple flames, and with a fractured right arm, his life was not in danger.

Under the healing of the Nine Heart Begonia, the depression in his chest slowly recovered, revealing fresh skin.

"He is fine now, just exhausted from the drain on his soul power; he needs to rest for a few days."

Ye Lingling checked him over, let out a sigh of relief, and whispered to Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan's mind was no longer on Yu Tianheng; she walked to Qin Yao's side and said respectfully in a low voice:

"Your Highness, my grandfather has been waiting for you at the estate for some time."

"Mm," Qin Yao replied.

Dugu Yan hesitated, glanced at the flustered Ye Lingling behind her, and asked:

"Your Highness, Lingling... may she come with us?"

She and Ye Lingling were best friends, and now that she had found a new path, she did not want to lose contact with her friend.

Moreover, she felt that with the Holy Son's vision, he would surely see Lingling's value.

Upon hearing this, Ye Lingling nervously tightened her grip on her sleeve.

She did not know who the "Highness" Dugu Yan referred to was, nor where they were going, and she certainly didn't know if this terrifying man would agree.

Qin Yao's gaze fell upon Ye Lingling, whose blue eyes were clear and clean, carrying a hint of timidity.

"Fine."

The Nine Heart Begonia martial soul was indeed powerful enough; if it could be recruited, there would naturally be no issue.

Dugu Yan's face lit up with joy, and she quickly grabbed Ye Lingling's hand. "That's great, Lingling! Let's go!"

Pulled along by her, Ye Lingling followed closely behind Qin Yao, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the three of them left the scene.

Only a scene of devastation remained, along with the unconscious Yu Tianheng.

Meanwhile.

Heaven Dou City, Crown Prince's Residence.

Inside an elegant and quiet study, "Xue Qinghe," dressed in a clean blue cloth robe, was listening to a report from a subordinate.

"Your Highness, according to the information sent by our people, Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, has officially withdrawn from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy today."

A man in black knelt on one knee and said in a low voice.

"Withdrawn?"

Xue Qinghe, or rather Qian Renxue, set down the scroll in her hand.

A trace of contemplation appeared on her fresh, refined face.

That old poisoner Dugu Bo was reclusive, neither strictly good nor evil, and had always refused to align with any faction. Prince Xue Xing had only been able to enlist his help due to an old favor.

As his only living relative, Dugu Yan was his greatest weakness and his only emotional anchor.

Dugu Yan had always been well-behaved at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy over the years; why would she suddenly withdraw?

Moreover, it was happening at such a critical juncture, just before the start of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament.

"Have you found the reason?" Qian Renxue's voice was steady.

"Not yet. It is said that she had a conflict with Yu Tianheng of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan on the street today."

"Yu Tianheng?" Qian Renxue's brows furrowed slightly.

She was, of course, aware that Yu Tianheng had been pursuing Dugu Yan, and it was no secret that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wanted to win over the Poison Douluo.

To have a falling out with Yu Tianheng and withdraw from the academy at this time—there must be some development behind this that she was unaware of.

Had that old man Dugu Bo defected to another faction?

Or was it Qin Yao?

Calculating the time, it had been nearly a month since that guy left Martial Soul City.

Grandfather's letter said he had gone out for training, but his destination was unknown.

Could it be him?

Qian Renxue's heart skipped a beat for no reason.

She quickly dismissed the thought.

Impossible.

Although Qin Yao possessed supreme talent, he was only twelve years old, and his soul power was only in the forties.

Dugu Bo was a level 92 Title Douluo with a proud and arrogant nature; how could he possibly be subdued by a mere Soul Ancestor?

"Withdrawal, conflict." Qian Renxue tapped her fingers lightly on the desk, her eyes half-closed.

This matter was suspicious in every way.

Dugu Bo, that venomous snake, might not be at the pinnacle of strength among Title Douluos, but his poison was too troublesome. If he were recruited by a hostile faction, it would be a significant obstacle to her future plans.

"Continue the investigation."

Qian Renxue opened her eyes, her voice returning to its usual calm.

"Find out who Dugu Bo has been in contact with recently. Also, check if any unusual individuals have appeared inside or outside Heaven Dou City."

She deliberately emphasized the word "unusual."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The man in black acknowledged the order, his figure flashing and disappearing from the study.

The study returned to silence once more.

Qian Renxue pondered in her heart: could it be that Qin Yao had truly already arrived in Heaven Dou City?