Xue Beng

Jiang Baiyu and the other two left the Education Committee. Zhu Zhuqing kept glancing back, wanting to check on the three committee members.

"Are you worried about them?" Su Wu asked.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "The two senior committee members both passed out."

"You still haven't mastered even the basics of the Qi-Appraisal Technique," Su Wu said. "Those two woke up the moment Jiang Baiyu summoned his martial soul."

"Exactly. Think about it—their breathing steadied at once. Does that sound like two unconscious men? They were probably too embarrassed to get up in front of us. Otherwise, Committee Member Zhi Lin wouldn't have let two physicians leave. He must have noticed too," Jiang Baiyu said with a smile.

"That's right. And Baiyu, you need to show some restraint. Soul Douluo may be hardy, but those two are getting on in years. I'm not even sixty, and you nearly gave me a heart attack," Su Wu warned him.

"Got it. Next time I'll show off in front of younger people." Jiang Baiyu took the criticism in stride and promptly adjusted his plans.

"Zhuqing, now that you're my disciple, you need to study, even if your martial soul isn't plant-based. Work hard at it, and when I'm not around, ask your senior fellow disciple," Su Wu told her.

"Yes." Zhu Zhuqing felt a little awkward. She had been cultivating her Soul Power these past two days, but she really had neglected her study of medicinal herbs. Now her teacher had caught her out.

Following the map, the three reached the Academic Affairs Office. Someone was already waiting for them. After checking the letters from the three committee members, the registrar warmly began enrolling the two students. "Nine years old, level thirty," he murmured as he wrote. Then it sank in. "What? Level thirty? At nine years old?" His shout drew teachers from all over the office.

They crowded around to see the extraordinary prodigies.

"Off with you. Back to work." A stern middle-aged soul master glared at the registrar, then dispersed the onlookers.

He turned to Jiang Baiyu and Zhu Zhuqing with a courteous smile, two keys in hand. "The Crown Prince has made arrangements. Your private courtyards are ready. Please follow me." He led the three of them outside.

"You two truly have remarkable talent. The Crown Prince arranged separate courtyards for you, right beside his own residence." The attendant was plainly loyal to the Crown Prince and praised him all along the way.

As a student of the royal academy himself, the Crown Prince had a residence here, though he rarely visited.

As they walked, a commotion rose ahead. A group in goose-yellow uniforms approached, surrounding a young man. "Stop. Who are you?" he demanded, his expression haughty.

He looked over their clothes. They were clean and tidy, but hardly the latest fashion in Heaven Dou City. He decided the three must have come from some small town.

"Your Highness, Prince Xue Beng." The attendant bowed.

"Who are these three?" Xue Beng asked, looking at them sidelong.

"Your Highness, the Crown Prince personally invited them," the attendant replied, stressing personally.

"Fine." Xue Beng finally gave them a glance. Since his elder brother had invited them, he ought to show some courtesy. Then he saw Zhu Zhuqing's face.

Her skin was fair, and her figure was already beginning to mature, yet her face showed not a trace of emotion. The contrast stirred his desire to conquer her.

But he remembered that his brother had invited her and suppressed the thought. His ever-smiling brother was not someone to cross.

"Go on, then." Xue Beng stepped aside.

As they passed, however, Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful face captivated him. In all his years throwing his weight around the imperial city, he had never seen a woman so lovely. Desire flared in him. She's just a country girl. I've had plenty of those. At worst, my brother will punish me.

He suddenly reached for Zhu Zhuqing. "Come with me, pretty girl. I'll make you my Princess Consort." His leering gaze dropped to her chest.

Already startled by Xue Beng, Zhu Zhuqing entered Martial Soul Possession. At the words "Princess Consort," her body reacted before she could think, and she flicked her hand.

"Ah!" Xue Beng screamed. Clutching his hand, he glared at Zhu Zhuqing. "Someone seize her! Cripple her martial soul! You had your chance. Now you'll be my female slave. Let's see how defiant you are then."

After Zhu Zhuqing scratched him, Xue Beng no longer bothered to hide what he wanted.

People gathered around, staring at those caught in the middle.

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head slightly, realizing she had caused trouble. But hearing Xue Beng rant, she could not hold back.

Someone moved faster. A streak of green light flashed, and a small cauldron slammed into Xue Beng's face. He flew backward, teeth scattering as blood spilled from his mouth.

The blow brought out all of Xue Beng's viciousness. "Cripple them! Throw them out of Heaven Dou!" Several people radiating the aura of Soul Ancestors slowly advanced.

Su Wu looked at Xue Beng's twisted face and snorted inwardly. Has the Heaven Dou imperial family really sunk this low? No wonder they were wiped out. He exhaled, ready to deal with the arrogant bastard.

"Oh? You want to throw my honored guests out of Heaven Dou and cripple them? Who gave you the nerve?" A cold voice rang out.

A procession emerged from the far end of the shaded path. Dressed in white, Xue Qinghe carried himself with gentle grace. Two guards accompanied him, glaring at the frenzied Xue Beng. The Crown Prince had clearly heard every word of Xue Beng's shouting.

Under Xue Qinghe's icy gaze, Xue Beng's lust and anger vanished. He had always feared his elder brother. If he was held accountable for making a scene in public, the consequences could be dire.

Besides, his uncle Xue Xing had hinted more than once that the Crown Prince was nowhere near as innocent as he appeared.

Not even bothering to brush the dirt from his clothes, Xue Beng scrambled to his feet. His face went pale, his legs shook uncontrollably, and his cheeks burned. All his arrogance disappeared.

Fear even drowned out the pain of the blow.

He stood there at a loss, barely able to get his words out.

"Y-Your Highness..."

Xue Qinghe's gaze swept over the bedraggled Xue Beng, then shifted to Zhu Zhuqing and the others. His voice betrayed neither anger nor approval.

"I'll have someone tell Father how you behaved. Don't come to the academy for the next few days. Stay at your Prince's Residence."

With that simple sentence, Xue Beng was confined to his residence. Further punishment could come later.

But Xue Beng felt as though he had been pardoned. He dared not argue or try to save face. Desperate to disappear, he fled with his followers in a panic and did not linger for an instant. The path fell quiet again.

Xue Qinghe turned to the three of them. "You may go," he told the attendant. The man departed, visibly relieved.

Once no one else was nearby, Xue Qinghe stepped closer. "Are you all right?"

"We're fine," Jiang Baiyu said. "It's just you and him competing for the Imperial Throne now, isn't it?"

"Yes. Why?" Xue Qinghe asked.

"No reason. You'll find out in a few days."

"All right. Come see the courtyards I picked for you." With no one else around, Xue Qinghe took Jiang Baiyu by the hand. Zhu Zhuqing said nothing. She still remembered their conversation that night.

"You like Baiyu, don't you?"

Zhu Zhuqing had admitted that she did.

Qian Renxue had shot a fierce look at Zhu Zhuqing's chest.

"What a shallow man. The truth is, Baiyu likes you a little too. But because of me, he'd never show it."

Hearing Qian Renxue say that had made Zhu Zhuqing happy, though she had felt a little disappointed too.

Then Qian Renxue's next words had caught her off guard.

"I could accept you," Qian Renxue had said. "With Jiang Baiyu's talent and looks, everyone will fall for him. I'm selfish. I don't want to share him, but I can't stay by his side all the time. So, what do you say we work together?"

"With your talent and looks, staying by his side should keep all those admirers away."

Somehow, Zhu Zhuqing had agreed.

Now Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, looked back and smiled at her. "Let's go."

Beyond the shaded path stood two elegant, self-contained courtyards. Their walls were high, and each had a complete set of buildings and a Medicine Garden. The courtyards stood side by side without intruding on each other.

"Well? Not bad, is it?" Qian Renxue said with a faint smile.

"Not bad at all." Faced with the two women, Jiang Baiyu felt a little at a loss.

"Now that I know you've arrived, I should head back. I still have affairs to help handle." Qian Renxue left.