Chu Hao gently stroked Chu Ling's hair to comfort her. His eyes brimmed with tenderness.
But the moment he faced Emperor Xue Ye and the others, his eyes turned cold.
That icy, merciless gaze made Emperor Xue Ye's heart flutter with lingering fear.
"Fine. I agree!"
Emperor Xue Ye glanced at him and accepted without hesitation.
As long as Xue Beng would be safe, he would agree to any condition.
"Your Majesty..."
Prince Xue Xing saw how readily he agreed and grew anxious. He started to speak up in protest, but Emperor Xue Ye silenced him with a single look.
It was as if he were saying, "Utter one more word of nonsense, and see what I do to you."
With no other choice, Prince Xue Xing shut his mouth. Qian Renxue found the sight quite amusing.
At the same time, she admired how calmly Chu Hao handled the situation and grew even more interested in him.
"Have everyone form a circle, stay ten meters away from me, and escort us out of the city."
Chu Hao swept his gaze around at all the guards present and immediately made the wisest decision.
To leave here safely, he not only had to hold Xue Beng hostage, but also guard against a sneak attack.
"Fine, no problem!"
Emperor Xue Ye nodded readily and immediately ordered everyone to do as Chu Hao said.
"Ling'er, let's go!"
Seeing Emperor Xue Ye's attitude, Chu Hao was very satisfied. He took Chu Ling and headed out of the estate.
The Royal Guard kept a distance of ten meters as they followed.
After Chu Hao had gone some distance, Prince Xue Xing gave his personal guard captain some instructions before following after them.
"Big brother, there are so many of them."
"Can we really get out of here safely?"
Chu Ling looked at the Royal Guard following them and felt a little worried.
There were so many people. Even if each one spat at them just once, they could drown them in spit.
"We will. We'll get out of here safely."
"Ling'er, don't you trust your big brother?"
Chu Hao ruffled Chu Ling's hair and gently reassured her.
To be honest, getting out of here safely would be difficult.
Even though he was holding Xue Beng hostage, he still couldn't be completely certain.
First, he was afraid Xue Beng wouldn't hold out until they got away.
Second, he was afraid Emperor Xue Ye would resort to dirty tricks.
Even if Xue Beng held out and Chu Hao could guard against them, he couldn't keep dragging Xue Beng around forever.
Unless he had a way to get out of Heaven Dou City quickly.
"I want a carriage."
Holding Xue Beng hostage, Chu Hao brought Chu Ling to the city gate of Heaven Dou City and immediately made his demand.
Emperor Xue Ye didn't hesitate either. He promptly arranged a carriage.
It was even his own personal carriage. He wanted to show Chu Hao that he meant no harm, so Chu Hao wouldn't make things difficult for Xue Beng.
"Everyone, retreat inside the city gate and close it."
Chu Hao glanced at the carriage. To buy himself more time to escape, he made a bold decision.
Emperor Xue Ye hesitated when he heard this.
Doing so would undoubtedly let Chu Hao and Chu Ling escape.
It wouldn't matter if they got away; he could issue a warrant. As long as they were still on Douluo Continent, he could track them down.
But what if the boy didn't release Xue Beng, or tried to kill him?
"Hmm?"
"Is that a problem?"
When Chu Hao saw him hesitate, his eyes narrowed to slits, and a fierce killing intent burst from him.
Xue Beng felt it and panicked at once. He hurriedly called out, "Father, just let them go!"
At the sound of Xue Beng's voice, a hint of resolve entered Emperor Xue Ye's wavering eyes.
Just then, Prince Xue Xing leaned close to his ear and whispered a few words.
Afterward, Emperor Xue Ye readily agreed.
"Fine. I can agree to that."
"Guards, close the gate. The rest of you, follow me up onto the wall."
After giving the order, Emperor Xue Ye leaped lightly onto the city wall.
He was clearly a man of some strength.
Chu Hao watched the city gate slowly close and secretly let out a sigh of relief. At last, they could leave.
"Ling'er, check the carriage," Chu Hao instructed.
"Okay, big brother!"
Chu Ling answered and began circling the carriage, inspecting it carefully.
Emperor Xue Ye, Prince Xue Xing, and Qian Renxue all watched her, each with a different expression.
Qian Renxue was pleased. She admired Chu Hao's cautious nature.
That was how things should be done: he had considered every possibility.
By contrast, Emperor Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing looked somewhat uneasy.
They seemed a little worried.
"Big brother, the carriage is fine. There's nothing wrong with it."
After circling it once, Chu Ling ran back and cheerfully reported this, as if she could already see hope of escape.
"Climb inside and check."
Chu Hao was still worried, so he specifically reminded her.
"Okay!"
Chu Ling obediently answered and headed for the carriage.
The carriage was rather tall, and it took her a long time to climb inside.
Emperor Xue Ye and Prince Xue Xing watched her, a glimmer of delight flashing in their eyes.
"Ling'er, how is it in there?"
Chu Hao grew a little worried when Chu Ling had been inside for a while without coming back out, so he called to her.
But no matter how long he called, he heard no reply.
That was when he realized something might have happened.
There had to be someone inside the carriage.
But just as he was about to threaten them with Xue Beng again, a flash of light suddenly streaked past and struck his Hades Sword.
In an instant, Chu Hao felt a tremendous force surge toward him, sending him flying along with his sword.
A thin man in a golden Soul Master robe then stepped down from the carriage, a golden-needle Martial Soul hovering above his head.
He was also holding Chu Ling, who had already fainted.
"Damn it!"
Chu Hao landed steadily and looked at the thin man, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
He couldn't accept it!
He had been this close to taking his sister and leaving.
Why was heaven treating him this way?
But no matter how much he resented it, there was nothing he could do.
Chu Ling was in the thin man's hands. He couldn't act.
Besides, this man was a powerful Soul Emperor. Chu Hao was no match for him.
And all of this had been Prince Xue Xing's doing.
"Fourth Prince, are you all right?"
The thin man glanced at Chu Hao, whose hatred surged like a raging tide. Holding Chu Ling in one hand, he walked over to Xue Beng and slowly helped him to his feet.
In his eyes, Chu Hao wasn't worth considering.
"Quick, save me..."
Perhaps he was simply too happy to have been rescued. After shouting, Xue Beng fainted.
The thin man immediately carried Xue Beng to the city wall.
He casually tossed Chu Ling onto the wall, where the guards took her into custody.
"Quick, someone! Take the Fourth Prince away for treatment!"
Emperor Xue Ye looked at the unconscious Xue Beng, his heart aching. He hurriedly ordered his men to take him away.
By then, the Royal Guard had surrounded Chu Hao on all sides.
But no one dared attack rashly.
It wasn't because they were afraid. They were waiting for Emperor Xue Ye's command.
"You audacious commoner! How dare you hurt my son!"
"Guards, chop him into mincemeat and feed him to the dogs!"
After watching Xue Beng being carried away, Emperor Xue Ye turned his gaze to Chu Hao, his eyes brimming with boundless hatred.
"Yes!"
At the command, the Royal Guard answered in unison. They summoned their Martial Souls and charged at Chu Hao.
Many of them sympathized with Chu Hao's plight.
But the emperor's command could not be disobeyed. They had no choice.
"Hahaha! What an Emperor Xue Ye! What a Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Even if I die today, I'll make you pay in blood!"
"Die, all of you!"
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