"That's just what you think."
Ye Yunxi bent down, pinched the hem of her Fox Flame Flowing Light Dress, and hiked it up nearly halfway, revealing her slender, fair calves.
She rose onto her toes, carefully avoiding the iron filings and grease on the ground. Her brows furrowed so tightly they could have crushed a mosquito.
She shot Qian Renxue a sidelong glance with her peach-blossom eyes, her lips curling into a deep pout, her voice full of distaste:
"What are you standing there for? Can't you see this dress is covered in dust?"
Qian Renxue stared at her, watching her recoil as if he were something filthy and disgusting.
The amazement he'd felt at her forging skills a moment ago vanished in an instant, replaced by a nameless fury that shot straight to his head.
Qian Renxue clenched his fists in anger.
This little vixen was always provoking and despising him without restraint, acting as if she could do whatever she pleased just because he indulged her.
Qian Renxue stepped forward, closing in on her. His towering figure loomed over her as he said, deeply displeased:
"Too dirty for you? Who was it that cried and begged to come along just now? And now you're turning your nose up at everything?"
Driven back half a step, Ye Yunxi still held up her skirt. She raised her brows and shot back:
"I came along to help you get things done. Getting my dress dirty was an accident. You've got some nerve saying that!"
Seeing the undisguised disdain in her eyes, Qian Renxue grew even more incensed, and a desire to conquer her surged wildly in his heart.
He was determined to make this little vixen drop her arrogant, scornful act and obediently do as she was told!
"Xue Qinghe, I know what you're thinking, but please don't entertain any unrealistic ideas."
"What I said before still stands: you'll never win my heart."
"Instead of squabbling with me here, why don't we head to the next clan?"
"I don't think you're as useful a Crown Prince as I am an Imperial Concubine. Why not hand me the emperor's throne?"
Ye Yunxi gave a soft snort, leapt straight onto her horse, and rode off without a backward glance, leaving Qian Renxue behind.
"This is infuriating!"
Qian Renxue was seething, but this wasn't the time to lose his temper. He could only swallow the insult in silence, mount his horse, and follow Ye Yunxi.
After half a day of traveling, they finally reached the territory of the Speed Clan.
Bai He, the Speed Clan's leader, was known for his shrewdness and caution. His clan relied on speed and intelligence, and he feared nothing more than their intelligence network being exposed or his people being hunted down.
Of course, they hadn't entered the Speed Clan's field of vision.
"Xue Qinghe, how are things coming along with what I asked you to prepare?"
"Don't give me orders in that tone. And the arrangements are already in place."
Qian Renxue dismounted, looking thoroughly displeased as he said:
"Bai He's granddaughter, Bai Chenxiang, is returning to the clan from somewhere right now. I've sent a Soul Saint-level expert to intercept her. We can go rescue her on the way tonight."
"I've also sent people to destroy some of their locations, under Spirit Hall's name."
Ye Yunxi nodded slightly after hearing that:
"Not bad. You haven't disappointed me."
"Have you forgotten your place?" Qian Renxue was starting to lose his patience.
"As Crown Prince, you need to be composed. If you can't even keep your temper in check, how are you supposed to become the Heaven Dou Emperor?"
Ye Yunxi's words made Qian Renxue grit his teeth, but she did have a point.
"Hmph. I'll let it go for now. If you hadn't made such a great contribution to winning over the Four Great Clans, I'd have hung you from a tree by now."
Qian Renxue snorted coldly and turned away to rest elsewhere.
"Tch, what a pompous ass," Ye Yunxi muttered, curling her lip.
Qian Renxue simply closed his eyes, refusing to engage with this shameless woman.
Just you wait. When we get to the Soul Master tournament finals, you'll be going to Spirit Hall. Then we'll see how I teach you a lesson. Once you're on my turf, you can resist all you want—it won't do you any good.
Time trickled by until dusk had passed.
Ye Yunxi looked up at the darkening sky.
"Let's go. It's time to play the hero and save the beauty."
Qian Renxue opened his eyes. "It's about time. We just need to wait along the road she has to take."
When the two of them arrived at a small forest road, the air was thick with the pungent smell of blood.
Qian Renxue and Ye Yunxi landed on a tree branch, where they saw chaos unfolding in the clearing below.
A woman with pale purple hair staggered backward. Her dress was streaked with dirt, and blood trickled from the corner of her mouth. She was none other than Bai He's granddaughter, Bai Chenxiang.
In front of Bai Chenxiang, a black-clad Soul Saint surged with Soul Power and kicked toward her chest with tremendous force. Several Soul Kings beside her had already fallen unconscious and could do nothing to help.
"Now's our chance!"
Qian Renxue was just about to rush forward with his Soul Power when a red figure shot past him.
Ye Yunxi hurtled downward almost in an instant.
"Ye Yunxi! Are you crazy? He's a Soul Saint!"
Qian Renxue cried out in shock and anger.
He'd clearly agreed with the little vixen to wait until the Soul Saint made his move and then intervene at the crucial moment. Why had she charged straight in?
Her opponent was a Soul Saint-level expert. How could a frail woman like her possibly stand against him?
But Ye Yunxi acted as if she hadn't heard him and kept going. The instant the Soul Saint's foot was about to strike Bai Chenxiang in the chest, Yunxi twisted sharply to the side, her long, fair leg snapping up to block the blow.
Thud!
The muffled impact rang out. A shock wave of Soul Power burst in every direction, sweeping up fallen leaves and gravel.
The Soul Saint's expression changed drastically. It felt as though he'd kicked a steel plate. A force rebounded through his foot, making him stagger backward three steps, his eyes wide with shock.
"How is this possible?!"
He stared fixedly at Ye Yunxi's leg, as if he'd just seen something unbelievable:
"You're a woman, and you actually blocked my kick?"
He was a Soul Saint!
Even an ordinary Soul Douluo would have had to take that strike seriously. Yet this seemingly delicate Imperial Concubine had blocked it with such ease?
The Crown Prince had clearly told him that this Imperial Concubine was just an ordinary woman with no real strength.
He'd put enough force into that kick that only the Crown Prince should have been able to block it so easily. And yet the Imperial Concubine had done just that, leaving him utterly astonished.
How was she an ordinary woman? She was clearly a ruthless powerhouse hiding in plain sight!
Qian Renxue was also frozen in place, his pupils contracting.
Just how strong is this little vixen? She actually blocked a Soul Saint's attack? How tough is her body?
There was only one possibility: he'd been kept in the dark all along, and this little vixen was incredibly strong.
At that moment, Bai Chenxiang, sprawled on the ground, looked up at the figure standing in front of her.
The woman wore a red dress and had a graceful figure, her profile soft and delicate. Her peach-blossom eyes held a languid chill. Though she was there to save someone, she exuded a deadly allure.
Especially when Ye Yunxi lifted her leg and her skirt slipped down, revealing skin as fair as jade. Bai Chenxiang's cheeks flushed bright red, and her heartbeat quickened against her will.
"Y-Your Highness, the Imperial Concubine?"
Bai Chenxiang's voice trembled, a mixture of shock and joy:
"You saved me?"
Ye Yunxi lowered her leg and looked down at the Soul Saint, her voice filled with anger:
"You Spirit Hall dogs dare lay a hand on someone from the Speed Clan?"