The Scapegoat

After watching Jun Xuehan being led away, Xue Qinghe could not help but sigh. "Uncle, you were too rash. This time, it is not merely the royal family's reputation that has been disgraced. I fear... sigh..."

As Prince Xue Xing listened to Xue Qinghe's words, the look in his eyes shifted rapidly. No matter what, he had never expected a Titled Douluo to be secretly following Jun Xuehan. But what he was thinking about now was not Jun Xuehan, but Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

This matter had been caused by Xue Beng, and Heaven Dou Royal Academy was under his, Prince Xue Xing's, management. Now that Heaven Dou Royal Academy had lost, there was no way he could avoid responsibility for poor management.

Moreover, someone needed to take the blame for Dugu Bo's actions just now.

If they had kept Jun Xuehan just now, Xue Ye would naturally have chosen to keep turning a blind eye. But now that Jun Xuehan had been taken away, someone had to take the blame. Otherwise, just as Xue Qinghe had said, not only would their reputation be utterly ruined, even the last fig leaf of the royal family would be torn away.

This matter could be either major or minor. If no one spread word of it, then a major issue could be reduced to a minor one, and a minor one settled away. But if word got out, it would deal no small blow to the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's reputation and prestige.

Xue Ye opened his eyes and looked toward Prince Xue Xing, who was seated nearby. "Xue Xing, your poor management of Heaven Dou Royal Academy has disgraced our royal family. You even allowed Poison Douluo to attack a child. How will others view our Heaven Dou Imperial Family in the future? The royal family's dignity and reputation have been completely squandered by you and that rebellious son Xue Beng."

"You are unfit to manage Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Let Qinghe manage it instead. Return to the Prince's Mansion and remain confined for Three Months. That is your punishment. That rebellious son Xue Beng will likewise be confined within the imperial palace. Without my order, he is not to take even a single step outside the palace."

With a wave of his hand, Xue Ye placed all responsibility for the matter upon Prince Xue Xing, then gave both Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng punishments that were neither too harsh nor too light. On the surface, the matter was thus put to rest.

Xue Qinghe rose and bowed to Xue Ye. "Father Emperor, I fear my experience in handling matters is still insufficient. I may not be capable of managing all of Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

Hearing this, Xue Ye smiled. "Qinghe, if you have never tried, how do you know that you are incapable? I am very much at ease leaving Heaven Dou Royal Academy in your care."

"The remaining matters at Heaven Dou Royal Academy will be handled by you, Qinghe. Xue Xing, return to the Prince's Mansion first and remain confined for Three Months. Reflect carefully on the mistakes you have made."

Xue Qinghe and Prince Xue Xing acknowledged the order, then stood respectfully at Xue Ye's sides. Xue Ye then turned his gaze toward Ning Fengzhi. "Sect Master Ning, you must have witnessed an embarrassing scene. If Sect Master Ning has time, why not come to the imperial palace for a cup of tea before returning to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Ning Fengzhi nodded lightly upon hearing this. "In that case, I shall respectfully accept."

With that, Xue Ye and Ning Fengzhi rose and headed directly toward Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, leaving Xue Qinghe to handle the remaining matters at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Within the residence in Heaven Dou City, the black-robed figure removed her robe, revealing a delicate-looking woman dressed in white before Jun Xuehan.

The woman looked Jun Xuehan up and down. "I rushed all the way here from the Worship Hall for the sake of a little fellow like you. But what did you grow up eating? Your skin is so fair, so fair you look like a porcelain doll."

Jun Xuehan replied blandly, "I was born this way."

She Long emerged from the room and looked at the woman. "Lie Yan, you're back. How did things go? Did everything go smoothly?"

As elders of the Worship Hall, She Long naturally knew Lie Yan well.

"Just as the Young Master predicted, Dugu Bo did indeed make a move. But with my identity unknown, the royal family would not tear all pretenses apart, and Dugu Bo would not fight me either." Lie Yan smiled, her voice filled with indifference.

Her Soul Power was only Rank 92, but if it was merely Dugu Bo, he could not stop her from taking Jun Xuehan away. After all, among Titled Douluos, Dugu Bo was practically at the bottom.

"Things went rather smoothly. We only need to wait here for the Young Master to return." As She Long spoke, he sat down before Lie Yan and turned his gaze toward Jun Xuehan.

Jun Xuehan noticed their gazes but paid them no mind. He simply sat down before an ancient tree and began Meditative Cultivation.

He understood clearly that they would naturally tell him what he was meant to know, while anything he was not meant to know would remain unanswered no matter how much he asked.

As time passed, the sky gradually darkened.

Qian Renxue slowly walked into the residence. Her gaze swept over the surroundings before she headed straight toward Jun Xuehan.

When She Long and Lie Yan saw Qian Renxue enter, they had just risen, seemingly intending to say something, but Qian Renxue stopped them with a wave of her hand.

Seeing Qian Renxue's gesture, She Long and Lie Yan obediently withdrew.

The moment Qian Renxue sat down beside Jun Xuehan, he emerged from Meditative Cultivation, opened his eyes, and looked toward her.

"Sister Xue'er, have you finished handling everything?" Jun Xuehan asked as he looked at Qian Renxue beside him.

"Mm. Xuehan, you helped Sister tremendously this time. If there is anything you want, just ask. Whether it is a Soul Ring or a Soul Bone, anything is fine." Qian Renxue nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on her face.

Although the plan concerning Heaven Dou Royal Academy had been proposed by Qian Renxue, the one who had truly conceived it was Jun Xuehan, not Qian Renxue herself.

"I did not help much, and there is nothing I want." Jun Xuehan placed his hands behind his head, his voice cold and calm.

Qian Renxue was slightly stunned, but quickly recovered. Looking directly into Jun Xuehan's eyes, she said slowly, "I have a mission in the Heaven Dou Empire. Keeping you here with me is not beneficial to your current growth, so I plan to send you to Spirit Hall. There, you can receive better training, and I have also found you a teacher within Spirit Hall."

"You have Twin Martial Souls and a Photographic Memory. Learning under her is the best choice. Moreover, she is the only person capable of resolving the Soul Ring Backlash problem of Twin Martial Souls. However, she has one requirement for you: you must place within the top three at the Genius Training Camp."