"Xue Qinghe" had spoken flawlessly, preserving the dignity of the royal family while giving Qin Yao an easy way to back down.
His arrival had subtly eased the tense atmosphere in the street.
Qin Yao looked at "Xue Qinghe" and smiled.
"Since Your Highness the Crown Prince has personally asked, I'll naturally do you this favor."
Qin Yao waved his hand, and the Spirit Hall guards holding Xue Beng released him.
Xue Beng's legs gave way, and he nearly fell. He scrambled behind Prince Xue Xing, looking at Qin Yao with fear and resentment.
Prince Xue Xing had just breathed a sigh of relief, thinking the matter was over, when Qin Yao spoke again.
His gaze passed over "Xue Qinghe" and landed squarely on Prince Xue Xing's flushed face.
"I only hope Your Highness will discipline your nephew properly from now on."
Qin Yao's voice was cold.
"Heaven Dou City may be vast, but it's not a place where he can run wild wherever he pleases. Today, he ran into me. If it had been someone else, he might not even have known how he died."
His words were no different from slapping Prince Xue Xing across the face in front of everyone.
Prince Xue Xing trembled with rage. His lips quivered, but he couldn't say a word.
What could he say?
Qin Yao had the facts on his side, and two Titled Douluo stood behind him.
He had thoroughly disgraced himself today.
"Xue Qinghe" acted as if he hadn't heard Qin Yao's taunt and cupped his hands toward him.
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Brother Qin Yao. I'll report today's matter to my father and make sure you receive a satisfactory explanation."
Then he turned and scolded Xue Beng, who was still frozen with fright.
"What are you standing there for? Get over here!"
Xue Beng jolted and timidly stepped out from behind Prince Xue Xing, head lowered, not daring to look at anyone.
"Xue Qinghe" turned to Prince Xue Xing, whose face had gone ashen. His tone was respectful but left no room for refusal.
"Uncle, please come with us to see Father as well. Today's matter involves the Spirit Hall's Holy Son and a newly appointed Red-Clad Archbishop. It's extremely serious and must be handled with care. You can explain the whole story to Father while you're there."
Prince Xue Xing's face darkened further.
It was obvious they were making him go before Xue Ye and take the blame!
But could he refuse?
He couldn't.
Xue Beng had started this whole mess, and as the prince closest to him, Prince Xue Xing couldn't escape responsibility.
No matter how much Xue Ye trusted him, he had nothing to say in the face of such ironclad facts.
"Fine," Prince Xue Xing replied.
With the Crown Prince "Xue Qinghe" stepping in decisively, the farce finally came to an end.
The royal guards escorted the Crown Prince's carriage and Prince Xue Xing away in disgrace.
At the same time, Qin Yao said:
"Elder Dugu, Aunt Ye."
"I'll leave things here to you. I'm heading back to Sunset Forest."
After speaking, Qin Yao looked at Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.
"Yanzi, help Lingling take care of the academy business, including her withdrawal paperwork. Once it's done, come straight to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well to find me."
"Yes, Your Highness," Dugu Yan replied respectfully.
Ye Lingling hurriedly followed suit, her movements still a little stiff.
Qin Yao said no more. He turned and left with Qin Xiong, vanishing at the end of the street after a few swift leaps.
"Lingling, let's go. We'll head back to the academy first."
Only after Qin Yao had disappeared completely did Dugu Yan take Ye Lingling's hand.
Ye Lingling nodded and let her lead her toward Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Only Ye Shutang and Dugu Bo remained outside the clinic.
Ye Shutang watched the two young women walk away, then looked at Poison Douluo beside her, her heart full of emotion.
She knew that from this day forward, the fate of the Nine Heart Begonia Family would be bound tightly to that mysterious Holy Son.
As they walked back to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Ye Lingling remained silent, seemingly still trying to process everything that had happened.
Dugu Yan glanced at her friend's cool profile and the worry she couldn't hide in her pale blue eyes, then took the initiative to break the silence.
"Lingling, don't worry. His Highness wouldn't send you to the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well unless it was for something good."
"Something good?"
Ye Lingling repeated softly, uncertainty in her voice.
She felt mostly awe and gratitude toward the domineering, high-ranking Holy Son, but there was also a trace of unease she couldn't explain.
"Of course it's something good!"
Dugu Yan patted her hand, her dark green hair bouncing with the movement.
"Don't let His Highness's usual icy manner fool you. He's incredibly generous to his own people!"
Dugu Yan leaned close to Ye Lingling's ear and lowered her voice, sounding both mysterious and proud.
"Just think about it. How did my Martial Soul evolve? How did His Highness help us deal with the hereditary poison that had left even my grandfather at a loss?"
Ye Lingling stopped in her tracks. At last, a flicker of emotion appeared in her clear eyes.
Dugu Yan's Martial Soul had evolved from a Jade Phosphorous Serpent into a Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor, and her Soul Power had soared to level forty-five in barely half a year. That had shaken Ye Lingling no less than the events of today.
Seeing her friend's reaction, Dugu Yan grinned triumphantly.
"His Highness values you. He's going to give you an Immortal Herb!"
"I'll bet that by the time you leave the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, your Soul Power will be far higher than it is now!"
Heaven Dou Royal Academy, administration building.
When Dugu Yan pushed open the office door, the three members of the academic committee were inside, sipping tea and chatting.
"Dugu Yan? Didn't you withdraw from the academy half a year ago?"
The elderly committee member in the middle set down his teacup and looked past Dugu Yan at the silent, blue-haired girl behind her. He frowned.
"Ye Lingling is here to withdraw," Dugu Yan said bluntly.
The three committee members exchanged glances.
The tall, thin one on the left spoke first.
"Ye Lingling, you're a formally registered student of the academy. Withdrawing requires approval from the academic affairs office, your mentor's signature, and the dean's authorization. You can't just leave whenever you want."
"Besides," the elderly man in the middle continued, "your Martial Soul is the Nine Heart Begonia, and you're the core support member of the academy team. Leaving without warning will affect the entire team's roster."
Ye Lingling stood beside Dugu Yan, her pale blue hair falling over her chest, her slender fingers clutching the hem of her clothes.
She had never been good with words, and under pressure from all three committee members at once, she didn't know what to say.
Dugu Yan answered for her.
"Affect the team roster? She didn't sign herself away. Besides, Ye Lingling is with Spirit Hall now. Do you think you can stop her?"
"Spirit Hall?"
All three committee members paused.
"What do you mean?" the tall, thin one asked.
Dugu Yan pulled a bronze-gold Spirit Hall token from her clothes and slapped it on the desk.
"Ye Lingling's mother, Ye Shutang, was appointed a Red-Clad Archbishop of Spirit Hall three days ago. Surely you've heard what happened in the street today?"
The committee members' expressions changed.
Word of the spectacle outside the Ye Family Medical Clinic had spread through half of Heaven Dou City.
The Spirit Hall Holy Son had detained the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, in broad daylight; Poison Douluo Dugu Bo had knelt to pay his respects; and some Titled Douluo had released the pressure of his Soul Rings in front of everyone. Who would dare pretend they hadn't heard?
The elderly committee member cleared his throat, his tone considerably softer. "Well... the formalities still need to be completed. After all, the academy funded Ye Lingling's education when she enrolled."
"All right, all right," Dugu Yan said impatiently, waving a hand. "You can handle the formalities. We'll sign the forms. Stop beating around the bush."
The three committee members exchanged glances. In the end, the elderly one relented first.
"You'll have to get the mentor's signature yourselves. Ye Lingling's mentor is Teacher Qin Ming. He's at the training grounds."
Dugu Yan led Ye Lingling out of the administration building and toward the training grounds.
"Lingling, don't be nervous when we see Teacher Qin Ming. I'm here."
Ye Lingling nodded slightly and said softly, "Thank you, Yanzi."
"What are you thanking me for?" Dugu Yan squeezed her hand.
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