Pufferfish Douluo rumbled, "Your Highness means... like today?"
"Exactly." Ye Yang nodded, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Today was only the beginning. Xue Beng likes to play the part of an arrogant, overbearing wastrel who bullies the weak, doesn't he? Then, as his elder brother, it's only proper for me to teach him a lesson."
"Once Xue Ye finds out, he'll only think that I, the Crown Prince, am fair and upright, and mindful of the greater good. At most, he'll think I acted a little rashly. He'll never suspect anything more."
"And what about Xue Beng?" Ye Yang's smile turned cold.
"Would he dare fight back? Would he dare reveal that he isn't really a good-for-nothing? He wouldn't! All he can do is keep playing the pathetic Fourth Prince who gets beaten until he's bawling for his father and fleeing with his tail between his legs!"
"Given enough time, he'll either be driven mad, or his act will crack under the constant pressure, leaving a flaw he can't cover up... Then, if something 'unexpected' happens, who would suspect the 'benevolent and just' Crown Prince?"
[Ding! Expounded on a conspiracy, mental power +1]
Snake Lance Douluo and Pufferfish exchanged a glance. Both saw surprise in the other's eyes, along with a trace of chill they could barely conceal.
"Your Highness's plan is ingenious!" Snake Lance Douluo bowed, his voice carrying a newfound sincerity.
"It will steadily weaken the Fourth Prince while bolstering your reputation. It will also reassure His Majesty. This subordinate understands how to assist you."
Pufferfish also spoke in a low voice. "Rest assured, Your Highness. We'll keep a close eye on Xue Beng and his followers, and make sure he can't stir up trouble."
"Excellent." Ye Yang nodded in satisfaction. "Now that you know what I intend to do, you may leave. Remember, this is all part of the plan."
As he spoke, the corners of Ye Yang's mouth lifted slightly.
[Ding! Commanded the two men, authority +1]
"Yes!" Snake Lance and Pufferfish seemed to melt into the shadows, vanishing without a sound.
Silence returned to the bedchamber.
Ye Yang leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.
"Heh, being the Crown Prince is great! I can beat up a prince in broad daylight, and people even cheer me on!" he muttered, savoring the exhilaration of whipping Xue Beng.
"And earning stat points is great too—authority, acting, strength... Tsk, I wonder how many I can rack up before we switch back. But..."
His eyes narrowed as he thought of Qian Renxue, who was occupying his body at that very moment.
"She should be in my little shack now, right? I wonder what her face looked like when she saw the Radiant Emperor War Dragon and that Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. She must've been stunned silly! Hahaha!"
Ye Yang was beside himself with delight, but then his brow furrowed. "Still, I'd better be careful. She's Spirit Hall's young mistress, and she's sharp as a tack. As for Grandpa Old Jack... I hope she doesn't give herself away and hurt the old man."
He wasn't worried that Qian Renxue would do anything drastic to his body. After all, it was her only way back.
But the thought of an "outsider" discovering the secrets of his body still left a bad taste in his mouth.
"Forget it. No point thinking about it. We still have over nine days before we switch back. For now..."
Ye Yang stretched, his gaze sweeping over the bedchamber's every luxurious detail. "I'll enjoy the decadent life of a Crown Prince! Attendants!"
[Ding! Called for attendants, authority +1]
Holy Soul Village
"Ye Yang..." Qian Renxue forced out his name, her expression tangled with shock, bewilderment, wariness, curiosity... all manner of emotions swirling within her.
"Who exactly are you?!"
She forced herself to calm down and took a deep breath.
Qian Renxue tried to focus her thoughts and cautiously reach out to her Martial Soul. She wanted to feel its power more clearly.
Buzz—!
The instant her thoughts touched the Radiant Emperor War Dragon, an immeasurably vast power of light surged into her consciousness!
The power was far too great, far beyond what she could control at her current Soul Elder rank. It carried a majestic imperial authority that looked down on all living things and ruled over everything!
"Ugh!" Qian Renxue groaned, her face turning deathly pale. Her mind felt as if it had been thrown into the heart of the sun—scorched, swelling, and on the verge of being swept away by the sudden flood of power!
The Radiant Emperor War Dragon's phantom shuddered violently, its light blazing brighter as an uncontrolled, invisible pressure burst outward!
Bang! Bang-bang!
Under the sudden, uncontrollable pressure, the crude wooden table and chairs gave a strained creak. Their legs snapped one after another, and they crashed to the floor!
"Yangyang! What happened?!" Old Jack's frantic knocking and shouting rang out from beyond the door.
Startled, Qian Renxue forcibly severed her link with the Martial Soul. The Radiant Emperor War Dragon's phantom and the blood-red Soul Ring vanished in an instant.
She fought down the dizziness and nausea from the mental shock, then glanced around the wrecked room, cold sweat beading at her temples.
Oh no! She'd lost control of her power and made far too much noise!
"I-I'm fine, Grandpa!"
Qian Renxue did her best to imitate Ye Yang's usual tone, but her voice still trembled, betraying her weakness.
"I... I tripped and bumped into the table! The lamp... the lamp fell over too!"
She answered quickly while frantically trying to prop up the toppled furniture and cover up what had happened.
"You child! How could you be so careless? Open the door and let me see if you're hurt!" Old Jack sounded deeply worried, and his knocking grew more urgent.
Qian Renxue looked at the broken chairs and table, impossible to put back together, and listened to the genuine concern in Old Jack's voice. A feeling of panic and helplessness unlike anything she'd ever known welled up inside her.
"Ye Yang... The 'identity' you left me is really... troublesome."
Qian Renxue gave a wry smile to herself, took a deep breath, and struggled to settle her roiling blood and chaotic thoughts. Then she headed for the door to face the worried old man outside.
Old Jack came into the room and stared at the furniture reduced to splinters, completely baffled. What on earth had happened?
But when he saw that Ye Yang was unharmed, Old Jack breathed a sigh of relief. Never mind, it must have been an accident. After all, Yangyang didn't even have a Martial Soul. How could he have done this?
"As long as you're all right, get some rest. I'll come back tomorrow to clear this stuff away. It's about time you got new furniture anyway." Old Jack's concerned words made Qian Renxue breathe easier.
It seemed Old Jack hadn't thought much of the incident.
Old Jack grumbled about the furniture maker as he left the room.
Qian Renxue closed the door again and let out a long breath.
Lying on Ye Yang's bed, Qian Renxue gazed at the unfamiliar ceiling and gradually drifted into a daze. What was she supposed to do now?
As she pondered the problem, Qian Renxue slowly closed her eyes and drifted off, exhausted in both body and mind by everything that had happened that day.
An unfamiliar village, an unfamiliar body, and Ye Yang, who was full of secrets—all of it weighed on her mind.
Before you continue