The Nine Heart Begonia Submits

Behind a tree not far away, Dugu Yan watched her friend's lonely figure, anger surging in her heart.

"That bastard!"

She cursed under her breath and lifted a foot, ready to rush over, but the moment she remembered her current status, she looked toward Qin Yao.

"His Highness the Holy Son, I..."

Qin Yao nodded slightly. "Go. After all, she is your friend."

Dugu Yan felt a surge of joy and hurried toward Ye Lingling.

Qin Yao stood where he was, not moving.

He watched Dugu Yan run to Ye Lingling's side, watched the two of them whispering, and watched the tension in Ye Lingling's body slowly begin to fade.

For him, Qin Yao, to personally go to Dugu Manor to extend an invitation was already giving the Nine Heart Begonia Family immense face.

The martial soul of this family was indeed rare, but to him now, and to the entire Worship Hall, it was not indispensable.

The opportunity had been given; whether they chose to grasp it was up to them.

"Yanzi, why are you here?"

Ye Lingling's voice carried a hint of surprise, diluting the gloom from just moments before.

"If I didn't come, you'd have been snatched away by that stupid pig!"

Dugu Yan took her hand and said irritably, "What on earth is going on? Has that guy Xue Beng grown the guts of a bear or a leopard?"

Ye Lingling was silent for a moment before saying softly, "He wants me to... become his imperial consort."

"He's dreaming!" Dugu Yan bristled instantly. "Him? He's not even fit to carry your shoes!"

She took a deep breath, suppressed her temper, and looked at Ye Lingling earnestly.

"Lingling, His Highness the Holy Son previously expressed interest in recruiting you and Aunt Ye into Martial Soul Hall. How have you considered it?"

Ye Lingling's body stiffened slightly.

Dugu Yan continued, "Look at me, my soul power is already at level forty-five! Could I have even imagined this before? His Highness the Holy Son has heaven-defying means; he not only cured the poison in my grandfather and me, but he also triggered my Martial Soul Evolution. If he says he can resolve your family's curse, he definitely can! As long as you nod, never mind a mere Xue Beng, even if Great Emperor Xueye came himself, what could he do to us?"

These words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

Ye Lingling raised her head, looking through the gaps in the trees toward the purple-haired man standing in the distance, his figure tall and straight.

He simply stood there, yet possessed an indescribable presence.

Yes, Martial Soul Hall.

It was a behemoth that stood above the two great empires.

As long as she could enter that system and gain their protection, what did a mere Prince Xue Beng amount to?

Ye Lingling clenched her hands, struggling internally for a long time before finally making up her mind.

"I have spoken to my mother about this matter, but..."

She paused, gathered her courage, and bowed slightly toward Qin Yao.

"His Highness the Holy Son, I wonder if you have the time? My mother would surely like to speak with you in person."

Qin Yao had heard their entire conversation and his face remained expressionless.

Only upon hearing Ye Lingling's invitation did he slowly walk over.

"Very well." Qin Yao glanced at the sky. "As it happens, I still have time."

This was indeed the truth; Qin Yao and Qian Renxue usually met at night, so he did have time during the day.

Ye Lingling's face lit up, and she immediately led Qin Yao and Dugu Yan toward the residential district of Heaven Dou City.

The medical clinic of the Nine Heart Begonia Family was located on a quiet street. The storefront was small, but it was kept spotlessly clean, and the air was filled with the faint, refreshing scent of herbs.

"Mother, I'm home." Ye Lingling pushed open the door and called out softly.

A gentle figure walked out from the inner hall.

The person who appeared was Ye Lingling's mother, Ye Shutang.

She looked to be only in her thirties, dressed in a simple and elegant cyan long dress. Her features were delicate and clear, and a white jade begonia hairpin was tucked into her hair, giving her a calm and composed temperament.

As a level sixty-nine Soul Emperor, she lacked any of the oppressive aura of a powerhouse; instead, she felt like a spring breeze, bringing a sense of peace to those around her.

"Yanzi? You girl, you finally decided to come back and see me." Ye Shutang's face broke into a warm smile when she saw Dugu Yan.

But when her gaze fell upon Qin Yao behind Dugu Yan, that warm smile faltered slightly.

What an astonishing aura.

This youth had unique purple hair and an unusually tall stature; despite not releasing any soul power, he gave her a feeling of being unfathomable.

Especially those dark purple pupils, calm and without a ripple, yet making one afraid to look directly into them.

"Mother, this is His Highness the Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall, His Highness the Holy Son Qin Yao."

Ye Lingling hurriedly introduced him.

Following that, she told Ye Shutang everything that had happened in the academy grove just now, as well as the decision she had made in her heart.

Ye Shutang listened quietly, her expression remaining unchanged from beginning to end. It was not until Ye Lingling finished speaking that she cast her gaze back toward Qin Yao.

Joining Martial Soul Hall meant completely tearing off the mask with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and standing on the opposite side of one of the two great empires.

This decision was too significant; once made, there would be no turning back.

The Nine Heart Begonia Family had a sparse population and had always survived in the cracks, never participating in any factional disputes, which was how they had managed to pass down their legacy until now.

But now, the relentless pressure from Xue Beng had pushed them to the edge of a cliff.

Although she was a Soul Emperor and had some connections and friendships within Heaven Dou City, those favors were simply too fragile in the face of a prince.

No one would offend the youngest son most favored by Great Emperor Xueye for the sake of her and her daughter. After all, she was merely a Soul Emperor.

"Mother..." Ye Lingling's voice carried a hint of pleading.

Ye Shutang gently patted her daughter's hand, signaling her to be at ease. She raised her head, her gaze falling back onto Qin Yao, the gentleness replaced by a sense of solemnity.

"His Highness the Holy Son."

Ye Shutang's voice was clear and steady.

"The curse of the Nine Heart Begonia lineage has plagued us for countless generations. I only want to know, do you really... have a way to solve it?"

Asking this question seemed to exhaust all of Ye Shutang's strength.

Qin Yao pondered for a moment before speaking:

"I cannot give you a one hundred percent guarantee."

Ye Shutang's body trembled imperceptibly.

"There are no absolute things in this world."

Qin Yao continued, "I can only promise that I will mobilize every resource at my disposal to find a way to lift the curse for you."

He glanced at Dugu Yan.

"Yan's transformation is my sincerity. Whether you believe it or not is up to you."

As his voice fell, the medical clinic fell into a silence.

Ye Shutang closed her eyes, weighing the options rapidly in her mind.

On one side was a prince who was pressing in step by step and might use forceful means to take her daughter at any moment, along with a desperate curse that had persisted for who knew how many generations.

On the other side was a Martial Soul Hall His Highness the Holy Son who was full of unknowns but had already created a miracle.

This was a gamble.

Betting the future of the entire Nine Heart Begonia Family on a sliver of hope.

A few seconds later, Ye Shutang opened her eyes, all hesitation having vanished.

She pulled Ye Lingling along and bowed deeply to Qin Yao.

"Ye Shutang (Ye Lingling) is willing to follow His Highness the Holy Son, even if it means death!"

The voices of the mother and daughter overlapped, carrying a sense of determination to burn their bridges behind them.