Bang !
The sound of a vase shattering echoed as Emperor Xueye smashed a priceless work of art to pieces.
Shards grazed the general's cheek, but he remained kneeling, motionless, letting blood and sweat drip down his face.
"Useless trash! So many people searched for a child without soul power, and all their efforts were in vain! Have I raised you useless lot just to eat shit?"
Emperor Xueye's face was contorted with rage, his voice fierce and menacing, his roar echoing in the silent night.
The middle-aged general lowered his head even further, his voice trembling as he said, "Your Majesty, according to our investigation, the Fifth Prince disguised himself as a palace maid, took the Fourth Prince's token, left the palace, and then left Heavenly Dou City directly, heading south by carriage.
I have already sent men to pursue him towards Blazing Fire City."
A palace maid?
The young man standing beside him narrowed his eyes, recalling the two little girls he had seen on his return to the palace that evening.
He had only thought them pretty and cute, and vaguely familiar, but he never imagined they were his 'younger brother' in disguise.
"South? Could that little beast be planning to flee to the Star Luo Empire, or the Wind Sword Sect? Could he have colluded with a foreign enemy to dare to harm Xue Beng?"
Emperor Xue Ye instinctively became suspicious, yet found it illogical.
He stared intently at the kneeling general, gritting his teeth, and said, "I don't care what method you use, bring that little beast back to me within three days and punish him.
Anyone who dares to obstruct him will be executed on the spot."
The middle-aged general replied, "Your Majesty, I obey! I have already sent men south to pursue him.
Should we issue a nationwide arrest warrant?"
Emperor Xue Ye roared, "Are you an idiot? Don't you understand that family scandals shouldn't be aired in public? Haven't I already lost enough face? This matter will be handled secretly.
If you dare to make a scene, I won't forgive you."
"Your Majesty, I dare not!"
The general was terrified, sweating profusely, and hastily retreated.
You'll never believe why I moved to Emperor Xue Ye frowned, looking at the young Xue Qinghe, and asked, "How is Xue Beng?"
Xue Qinghe appeared to be fourteen or fifteen years old, with a handsome appearance and gentle temperament, possessing a special charm.
After bowing, he said to an old man beside him, "Elder Qing, please tell Father!" Elder Qing
was the royal physician of the Heaven Dou Empire and also an excellent healing-type Soul Master. He bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, Prince Xue Beng suffered a severe head injury and his genitals were castrated.
If he had been treated on the spot, there wouldn't have been too much of a problem.
However, he was tied up in that small hut and frozen for several hours before being discovered.
Not only did he suffer severe blood loss, but his head was also blocked by blood clots, and even his organs were frozen and necrotic.
Even if they were barely reattached, his abilities would be greatly diminished in the future!"
Elder Qing wiped the cold sweat from his brow. In his opinion, the Fourth Prince was essentially ruined.
Even if someone with supernatural abilities reattached him, he would probably have to abstain from women in the future.
If he dared to have any more casual sex, the reattached wound would break again, and then it would be impossible to reattach it a second time.
Even going to the toilet would be a problem.
After listening with a somber expression, Emperor Xueye said wearily, "I understand.
Do you think Sect Leader Ning and Patriarch Ye have any chance of restoring Xue Beng to his former state?"
Elder Qing hesitated slightly, then replied ambiguously, "Sect Leader Ning's methods are extraordinary, and Patriarch Ye's healing abilities are unparalleled.
This humble subject dares not presume to speculate, but they might have a way to cure Prince Xue Beng."
Emperor Xueye frowned, waved his hand, and dismissed Elder Qing.
"That damned little beast, just as hateful as his vile mother.
If I had known he was a menace, I should have executed him and his mother back then."
With only the father and son left in the room, Emperor Xueye could no longer conceal his emotions.
He slammed his fist on the table in front of him, his expression contorted with hatred and regret.
"Beng'er, my Xue Beng!"
Emperor Xueye thought of how, within just two years, his third and second sons had died one after another, and his fourth son was now a cripple, leaving only Xue Qinghe as his sole heir.
Overwhelmed with heartache, his vision blurred, and he nearly collapsed.
"Father, you are overworked, please rest. I will take care of Fourth Brother."
Xue Qinghe quickly helped Emperor Xue Ye up and comforted him, "Father, don't worry, once Teacher and Patriarch Ye arrive tomorrow, they will definitely be able to cure Fourth Brother."
Emperor Xue Ye sighed, "I hope so.
That little beast was so cruel to his own brother, his heart is as wicked as his mother's.
I lost this son long ago.
Qinghe, you are now my only hope. Everything will depend on you from now on."
Xue Qinghe said, "It is Qinghe's duty to share the burden for Father.
Your son will certainly not fail Father's expectations. Please take good care of your health, Father.
The empire still needs you to steer it."
"Don't worry, I won't die. I'm going to rest now. If that little beast is caught, bring him to me immediately.
I want to see with my own eyes this wicked creature who stabbed me in the chest."
"Qinghe remembers!"
Xuan Yuan Qingli and Feng Fei traveled for half the night, finally spending the night in a small cave.
The winter night was cold, and the two couldn't sleep, enduring until dawn before continuing their journey.
Xuan Yuan Qingli avoided the main roads, trying to take the side paths.
Along the way, he bought two sets of clothes from farmers he encountered.
After changing, the two looked rustic and plain, with mud smeared on their faces to cover their handsome features.
Even acquaintances would hardly recognize them without careful observation.
"Your Highness... Li, Li'er!"
Feng Fei quickly changed her address under Xuan Yuan Qing Li's cold gaze.
"Where are we ultimately going? To the Wind Sword Sect?"
Xuan Yuan Qing Li said calmly, "You want to go back to the Wind Sword Sect?"
Feng Fei quickly shook her head: "No, wherever Li'er goes, I'll go.
I just think that the Wind Sword Sect Master is your maternal grandfather.
If you go to the Wind Sword Sect, you won't have to worry about Emperor Xue Ye."
"I don't have such a maternal grandfather!"
Xuan Yuan Qing Li sneered. If Feng Bailong hadn't betrayed the alliance, turning from an ally of the Heaven Dou Empire into a lackey of the Spirit Hall and opposing the Heaven Dou Empire, Emperor Xue Ye wouldn't have taken his anger out on Feng Li'er.
Although the old coward Xue Ye Emperor was primarily responsible for the whole affair, Feng Bailong was also one of the perpetrators of the tragedy.
Why would Xuan Yuan Qingli seek refuge with his enemy?
He looked at Feng Fei: "You also come from the Wind Sword Sect.
If you want to go back, I won't stop you."
Feng Fei shook her head again: "I have no connection with the Wind Sword Sect.
My martial soul isn't the Wind Sword.
They abandoned me back then."
She was brought out of the Wind Sword Sect by Feng Li'er five years ago, when she was only six years old.
She didn't inherit her mother's Wind Sword martial soul, only her father's Quicksand martial soul.
After her parents' accidental death, she couldn't join the Wind Sword Sect because of her martial soul and was taken to Tian Dou City by Feng Li'er. Since then, she has always stayed by Feng Li'er's side.
Even after Feng Li'er died two years ago, she still stayed by Xuan Yuan Qingli's side to take care of him.
If it weren't for Feng Fei, Xuan Yuan Qingli might have died long ago in those two years.
"So what if it's a Wind Sword Martial Soul? They'll regret it later,"
Xuan Yuan Qingli comforted me, then added, "Let's find a town and spend some money to have the Martial Soul Hall deacon help me awaken my Martial Soul.
As for what happens after that, we'll talk about that after the Martial Soul is awakened!"
(End of Chapter)