Chapter 34: Seconds!
"Get out of the way!"
Just as Qian Renxue was enjoying her newfound Dou Qi in the secret training room, a child in lavish clothes, his face twisted with ferocity, stood before the gates of the First Prince's Mansion!
The two guards at the entrance remained expressionless despite the child's shouting.
"His Highness the Prince has said he will see no guests today! Please leave!"
"Your Highness?" Xue Tian glared at them fiercely, pointing at himself with arrogance. "Do you know who I am?"
One guard glanced at him, replying indifferently, "No idea."
"No idea?!"
Xue Tian's face flushed with rage. "You ignorant fools! I'm the Second Prince of Heaven Dou! Xue Qinghe's brother!"
To prove his point, he pulled out a golden token and flung it at one of the guards.
"See this? Get out of my way!"
The guards picked up the token, examined it, and exchanged a glance.
"Real?"
"Should we report it?"
"His Highness said no visitors today."
"But his status…"
"Fine, go inform them!"
Finally, one guard pocketed the token and said to Xue Tian, "Wait here. I'll report."
"Wait?!"
As the guard turned, Xue Tian shouted after him, storming forward. "Report?! Didn't you see my token? Don't you know who I am? Why report? And why'd you take my token?"
The guard turned back, his tone flat. "It's the rule. If you don't want to see His Highness, take your token back."
Xue Tian looked up, meeting the guard's eyes—cold, mocking, disdainful, impatient!
That look humiliated him deeply!
Who was he?
The Second Prince of the Heaven Dou royal family!
And this guy?
A mere guard! A lowly gatekeeper!
How dare he look at him like that!
Didn't he know the difference in their status?!
Damn it! Damn it!
After a month of confinement, Xue Tian hadn't reflected on his mistakes. Instead, the "cheating" of Xue Qinghe and his father's "cruelty" had twisted the spoiled ten-year-old's psyche!
Why! Why wasn't that useless brother punished for "cheating"? Why was he punished?
A whole month confined! Did they know how much that hurt a ten-year-old?
If not for his mother's efforts, it could've been six months!
Now, finally free, even Xue Qinghe's guards dared to block him and give him that look!
He was the "genius Spirit Master" of the Heaven Dou royal family! The Second Prince!
Xue Tian's breath came in heavy gasps, his eyes burning with unconcealed hatred!
He roared, "Get out of my way! Report? Report what? I'm the Second Prince! How dare you stop me?! Move!"
"No announcement needed! I come and go as I please!"
"Hm?"
The guards exchanged looks, their eyes filled with confusion and shock.
What's with the tantrum?
Are all Heaven Dou princes this arrogant?
No wonder the nobles here act like that!
If the top's crooked, the bottom follows!
Damn!
These Spirit Hall-selected guards harbored a simple hostility toward Heaven Dou's nobles!
Seeing the Second Prince's behavior, deep disgust welled up in them!
Even if he was just a ten-year-old!
Who knew how many lives this child had indirectly or directly harmed!
Nearby, two old men stood quietly in a corner, observing the clash between Xue Tian and the guards. One frowned.
"How did Concubine Ye raise this kid? He's only ten, and already this temper! Is he fit to be Crown Prince?"
The other old man chuckled. "Who told the Ye family's old man to break through to Titled Douluo?"
"He's a true pillar of the nation! Once he succeeds, everything else is easy for the Emperor!"
"As for the temper? He's young; it can be fixed."
"Hmph!"
Old Yang snorted. "It was supposed to be six months' confinement, but Ye Fei got him out in one."
"With a mother like that, how's he going to change?"
"Don't be so mad, Old Yang," the other said, still smiling.
Old Yang glanced at him. "Old Qin, you didn't take bribes from the Ye family, did you?"
Old Qin smiled faintly. "If I said I did, would you believe me?"
"Hah!"
Old Yang sneered, turning back to Xue Tian.
Seeing the increasingly impatient Second Prince, Old Qin frowned. "With all this noise, the First Prince should've heard by now, right? Why hasn't he come out?"
"Who knows?" Old Yang glanced elsewhere. "That Ye family guy's got patience! The Second Prince is practically losing face!"
…
"What are you doing here?"
Just as Xue Tian was about to force his way in, a figure emerged from the mansion.
Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, looked at Xue Tian coldly. Recalling the housekeeper's report, a trace of murderous intent stirred in her heart!
A six-month confinement cut to one, and now, freshly released, he dared come to her door and shout arrogantly!
Seeing the hatred in Xue Tian's eyes, her killing intent sharpened!
"What am I here for?"
As Qian Renxue appeared, the guards stepped aside tactfully.
Xue Tian stood at the gate, pointing at her furiously. "I challenge you to a duel! I'll show Father you cheated!"
"Phew!"
Qian Renxue took a deep breath at his words!
That's why?
His genuine expression made her both angry and amused. She replied decisively, "Fine, you want to prove yourself? Alright! Come inside!"
"Hm?"
Xue Tian froze, caught off guard by Xue Qinghe's quick agreement, his mind clearing briefly.
But the indifference in Xue Qinghe's eyes reignited his anger!
"No need! Right here!"
"Here?"
Qian Renxue glanced around, noticing the streets had been quietly cleared...
After a deep look around, she replied calmly, "As you wish, dear brother!"
"Martial Spirit Possession!"
Xue Tian roared!
"Ah!"
In a flash, a scream rang out, and a small figure flew backward!
Retracting her century-old Spirit ring and Martial Spirit, Qian Renxue glanced coldly at Xue Tian and spat, "Trash!"
Then she turned and reentered the mansion.
Xue Tian, sprawled on the ground, twitched twice and passed out.
…
"We're… here to protect the Second Prince, right?"
Seeing the unconscious Second Prince, the two old men fell silent.
"No! It's surveillance! Investigation! That's Emperor Xue Ye's mission!"
Old Qin looked at the near-dead Xue Tian and spoke gravely.
[end of the chapter]