Prince Xue Xing

Although Chrysanthemum Douluo knew Ye Xuan was doing it on purpose, he could only seethe in silence.

He couldn't afford to offend either Ye Xuan or Qian Renxue, so he had no choice but to endure it.

"Young Master, Young Master Ye did indeed defeat us in Suotuo City."

After speaking to Qian Renxue, Chrysanthemum Douluo turned to Ye Xuan. "Young Master Ye, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

"I'm done here. I just don't know if your young master has anything else to discuss," Ye Xuan said with a smile.

"I have nothing else either."

Qian Renxue was in no mood to discuss anything with Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Besides, it wasn't appropriate for Chrysanthemum Douluo to stay here too long.

Although no one would dare enter without her permission, some things were best kept safe against the worst-case scenario.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Chrysanthemum Douluo hurriedly excused himself.

After he left, Qian Renxue turned to Ye Xuan. "I underestimated you before, Young Master Ye. May I ask why my grandfather sent you to Heaven Dou City?"

"It's nothing much. He just asked me to help protect you. Arrange a place for us to stay, and from now on, if you run into any danger in Heaven Dou City, I'll take care of it. That should be simple enough, right?" Ye Xuan said.

"Protect me?" Qian Renxue's heart filled with warmth once more.

Ever since her father passed away, her grandfather had been her only support.

Now, when her grandfather met a powerful expert, the first thing he thought to do was ask him to protect her. How could she not be moved?

"I'll have someone arrange a place for you right away, Young Master Ye. From now on, I'll tell people you're a friend I met while traveling and invited to the estate as a guest advisor," Qian Renxue said.

"Sure. You can tell people whatever you like."

As long as it didn't tarnish his reputation, Ye Xuan didn't mind.

"However, there's something I'd like to ask you about, Young Master Ye."

"Go ahead."

"I'd like to ask, if you don't mind: are you a Titled Douluo?"

"No."

"You're not?"

"Besides my Martial Soul, I have other powers," Ye Xuan replied frankly.

"What power besides a Martial Soul could match two Titled Douluo working together?"

That piqued Qian Renxue's curiosity.

"The world is vast, and full of wonders," Ye Xuan said.

"It seems I really have been living in ignorance," Qian Renxue said.

Qian Renxue now understood why her grandfather had arranged for Ye Xuan to come.

His power didn't come from a Martial Soul, so having him protect her wouldn't draw any suspicion toward Spirit Hall.

"Still, I hope you and your companions will keep my identity a secret. If it gets out, it'll bring too much trouble," she requested.

"Of course." Ye Xuan nodded.

Afterward,

Qian Renxue asked the steward to arrange a secluded courtyard for them, then ordered a feast to welcome Ye Xuan and his companions.

That night,

at Xue Beng's residence,

he was listening to his subordinates' report.

He learned that the man he had provoked that day had been taken away by the Crown Prince and had not left since.

Xue Beng couldn't help worrying that the Crown Prince had managed to recruit yet another formidable ally.

The Crown Prince already had the upper hand and was far beyond Xue Beng's reach. Now he had gained another expert.

What worried Xue Beng most was how young the man looked. People like that were even more dangerous.

If he was truly determined to side with the Crown Prince, he would be a powerful ally for years to come.

Just as Xue Beng was fretting, Prince Xue Xing arrived unexpectedly.

As soon as Prince Xue Xing arrived, Xue Beng immediately dismissed the servants.

"Uncle, do you know who that man was today?" Xue Beng asked anxiously.

"We don't know much yet. We only know he came from Suotuo City. We're still waiting for the rest of the investigation. But one thing is certain: he's staying with the Crown Prince. You'd better keep a low profile when you go out for the time being. I told you to keep up your act, but I never told you to provoke just anyone!"

Prince Xue Xing was exasperated with him.

Although he still knew little about Ye Xuan, he was almost certain that the man was powerful.

From what the two men protecting Xue Beng reported after returning, Ye Xuan was at least a Soul Emperor.

If a fifteen-year-old had the strength of a Soul Emperor, he would undoubtedly be the youngest Soul Emperor in the world.

In Prince Xue Xing's eyes, someone that young had to be either won over or kept neutral.

If he became an enemy, he would have to be eliminated as soon as possible.

A young Soul Emperor posed far too great a threat in the future.

"I had no idea that kid, who looked so ordinary, was actually that strong," Xue Beng said with a bitter smile.

"You don't need to worry about him for now. I'll handle things. Even if he's a young Soul Emperor, I have a way to deal with him. Just don't provoke people like that again."

Prince Xue Xing's confidence came from the support of a Titled Douluo.

He had once saved Poison Douluo, and could still ask him for help dealing with certain people.

"Understood."

Xue Beng could only obediently agree.

When he'd decided to keep up his act, he'd thought that since he was pretending anyway, he might as well do things he enjoyed.

Finding pretty young women was as simple as following his own desires.

That was precisely why he'd kept up the act for years without arousing suspicion.

He'd never expected to run into someone he couldn't afford to cross today.

"Keep a low profile for a while. I'm going back."

After giving one last reminder, Prince Xue Xing left.

Upon returning to his own residence, Prince Xue Xing immediately summoned someone.

"Your Highness, did you need me?" the man asked.

"Go to Sunset Forest and invite Poison Douluo here. Tell him I need his help with something," Prince Xue Xing ordered.

"Yes, sir!"

The man took his orders and hurried off.

The following day,

in the courtyard where Ye Xuan was staying,

Zhu Zhuqing asked him, "Big Brother Ye, should we go train at the Soul Fighting Arena here in Heaven Dou City?"

"We can. There are more prodigies here, and you'll meet more young experts. It'll be good for you," Ye Xuan said.

"Big Brother Ye, do you know about Spirit Hall's conspiracy?" Ning Rongrong asked.

Ye Xuan nodded. "I do."

"Are you going to ignore it?" Ning Rongrong asked, somewhat worried.

After all, Ning Rongrong was a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Though the sect hadn't become an enemy of Spirit Hall, there had been plenty of open and covert clashes between them.

The people of her sect all knew that Spirit Hall had enormous ambitions, and that they would inevitably become enemies one day.

Ye Xuan could tell what Ning Rongrong was worried about, so he replied directly, "I know about Spirit Hall's ambitions, but I truly don't care. In the face of absolute strength, all schemes and tricks are useless. Still, I suggest that when you contact your father, you do your best to persuade him not to take sides in this matter. It isn't worth it."

"But if Spirit Hall grows even stronger, they'll definitely come after our sect," Ning Rongrong said worriedly.