Ye Lingling Withdraws from School

"Xue Qinghe" spoke with such seamless precision that he both upheld the dignity of the royal family and gave Qin Yao a graceful way to step down.

The atmosphere on the street softened subtly with his arrival.

Qin Yao looked at "Xue Qinghe" and revealed a smile.

"Since His Highness the Crown Prince has personally spoken, I naturally must give you this face."

Qin Yao waved his hand, and the Martial Soul Hall guards who had been holding Xue Beng released their grip.

Xue Beng's legs went weak, and he nearly collapsed to the ground; he scrambled away in a panic to hide behind Prince Xue Xing, his expression filled with fear and resentment as he looked at Qin Yao.

Just as Prince Xue Xing breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the matter was settled, Qin Yao spoke once more.

His gaze passed over "Xue Qinghe" and landed squarely on Prince Xue Xing's flushed face.

"I only hope that Your Highness the Prince will properly discipline your nephew in the future."

Qin Yao's tone was icy.

"Heaven Dou City is vast, but it is not a place where he can run wild. He encountered me today, but if it had been someone else, I fear he wouldn't even know how he died."

These words were no different than slapping Prince Xue Xing across the face in public.

Prince Xue Xing trembled with rage, his lips quivering, but he could not utter a single word.

What could he say?

The other party had reason and evidence on his side, and two Title Douluo standing behind him.

His old face had been thoroughly disgraced today.

"Xue Qinghe" acted as if he hadn't heard Qin Yao's mockery and cupped his hands in a salute.

"Many thanks to Brother Qin Yao for your magnanimity. I will certainly report today's events to my Imperial Father and provide you with a satisfactory explanation."

Having said this, he turned and barked at the terrified Xue Beng:

"What are you still standing there for! Get over here at once!"

Xue Beng jolted, cowering as he emerged from behind Prince Xue Xing, his head bowed, afraid to look at anyone.

"Xue Qinghe" turned his gaze toward the livid Prince Xue Xing, his tone becoming respectful yet brooking no refusal.

"Imperial Uncle, you should come along to see my Imperial Father as well. Today's events involve His Highness the Holy Son and a newly appointed Red-Clad Archbishop of Martial Soul Hall; the matter is of great importance and requires caution. It would be best if you, Imperial Uncle, could report the full sequence of events to my Imperial Father yourself."

Upon hearing this, Prince Xue Xing's face turned even darker.

It was blatantly obvious that he was being sent to take the blame before Great Emperor Xueye!

But could he refuse?

He could not.

From beginning to end, this incident had been instigated by Xue Beng, and as the prince closest to him, he was naturally beyond reproach.

No matter how much Great Emperor Xueye trusted Prince Xue Xing, in the face of such ironclad facts, he had nothing to say.

"Very well," Prince Xue Xing Kaidō.

The farce finally drew to a close under the forceful intervention of the Crown Prince, "Xue Qinghe."

The Royal Guard escorted the Crown Prince's carriage and Prince Xue Xing away in a state of disarray.

At the same time, Qin Yao said:

"Elder Dugu, Mother Ye."

"I will leave the rest to you; I am returning to the Sunset Forest."

After Qin Yao finished speaking, he looked at Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

"Yanzi, accompany Lingling to handle the academy affairs, such as the withdrawal procedures. Once finished, come directly to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to find me."

"Understood, Your Highness." Dugu Yan responded respectfully.

Ye Lingling hurriedly followed suit with a bow, her movements still somewhat reserved.

Qin Yao said no more, turned, and took Qin Xiong with him, his figure flickering a few times before disappearing at the end of the street.

"Lingling, let's go, back to the academy first."

Not until Qin Yao's figure had completely vanished did Dugu Yan take Ye Lingling's hand.

Ye Lingling nodded, allowing herself to be led toward the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

At the entrance of the medical clinic, only Ye Shutang and Dugu Bo remained.

Ye Shutang watched the backs of the two young women as they walked away, then glanced at the Poison Douluo beside her, her heart filled with complex emotions.

She knew that from this day forward, the fate of the Nine Heart Begonia Family would be tightly bound to that mysterious His Highness the Holy Son.

Walking on the road back to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Ye Lingling remained silent, seemingly still digesting everything that had happened today.

Dugu Yan looked at her friend's cold profile and the anxiety hidden within those pale blue eyes, taking the initiative to break the silence.

"Lingling, don't worry. His Highness asking you to go to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well must be a good thing."

"A good thing?"

Ye Lingling repeated softly, her tone laced with uncertainty.

Regarding His Highness the Holy Son, whose conduct was overbearing and whose status was noble, she felt more awe and gratitude than anything else, though there was also a trace of inexplicable trepidation.

"Of course it's a good thing!"

Dugu Yan patted her hand, her dark green hair dancing with the movement.

"Don't be fooled by His Highness's usual icy demeanor; he is incredibly generous to his own people!"

Dugu Yan leaned into Ye Lingling's ear, lowering her voice with a tone of mystery and pride.

"Just think, how did my martial soul evolve? And how did His Highness help us resolve the hereditary poison that even my grandfather was helpless against?"

Ye Lingling's footsteps faltered, and a ripple finally appeared in her clear eyes.

The fact that Dugu Yan's martial soul had evolved from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent to the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, and that her soul power had surged to level forty-five in just over half a year, had impacted her no less than everything that had happened today.

Dugu Yan watched her moved expression and laughed triumphantly.

"His Highness values you; he's preparing to give you immortal herbs!"

"I bet that once we come out of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, your soul power will definitely be higher than it is now!"

Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Academic Affairs Building.

When Dugu Yan pushed open the office door, the three committee members inside were drinking tea and chatting.

"Student Dugu Yan? Didn't you withdraw from school half a year ago?"

The old committee member in the center set down his teacup, his gaze falling on the silent blue-haired girl behind Dugu Yan, and he frowned.

"Ye Lingling is here to withdraw," Dugu Yan said, getting straight to the point.

The three committee members exchanged glances.

The tall, thin one on the left spoke first:

"Student Ye Lingling, you are an officially registered student of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Withdrawal requires three procedures: academic approval, a mentor's signature, and the dean's authorization. It isn't something you can just do on a whim."

"Furthermore," the old committee member in the middle took over, "your martial soul is the Nine Heart Begonia, and you serve as the core support for the academy's team. Withdrawing rashly will affect the entire team's formation."

Ye Lingling stood beside Dugu Yan, her light blue hair draped over her chest, her slender fingers clutching the hem of her clothes.

She was never good with words, and facing the pressure from all three committee members at once, she remained silent for a moment.

Dugu Yan answered for her:

"Affect the team's formation? It's not like she signed an indenture contract. Besides, Ye Lingling is a person of the Martial Soul Hall now; can you really stop her?"

"Martial Soul Hall?"

The three committee members froze in unison.

"What do you mean?" the tall, thin one pressed.

Dugu Yan pulled a bronze-gold Martial Soul Hall token from her bosom and slapped it onto the table.

"Ye Lingling's mother, Ye Shutang, was appointed as a Red-Clad Archbishop of the Martial Soul Hall three days ago. You three couldn't possibly be unaware of what happened on the streets today, could you?"

The expressions of the three committee members shifted.

The grand spectacle at the entrance of the Ye Family Medical Clinic had spread throughout half of Heaven Dou City.

The Holy Son of the Martial Soul Hall had detained the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, in public; the Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo, had knelt in obeisance; and a certain Title Douluo had released their soul ring pressure for all to see. Who would dare claim ignorance of such an event?

The old committee member coughed twice, his tone softening significantly: "Well... the procedures still need to be followed. After all, the academy invested in Student Ye Lingling's education when she enrolled."

"Fine, fine," Dugu Yan waved her hand impatiently. "You handle your procedures, and we'll sign the forms. Don't beat around the bush."

The three committee members looked at each other for a moment, and eventually, the old committee member was the first to relent:

"Then you will have to get the mentor's signature yourselves. Ye Lingling's mentor is Teacher Qin Ming; he is at the martial arts arena."

Dugu Yan pulled Ye Lingling out of the Academic Affairs Building and headed toward the martial arts arena.

"Lingling, don't be nervous when you see Teacher Qin Ming later. I'm here."

Ye Lingling nodded gently and whispered, "Thank you, Yanzi."

"Don't be so formal with me," Dugu Yan squeezed her hand.