Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Hongchen’s Protection for Xiao Yan
Sun Moon Empire, Royal Palace.
The vast and magnificent palace grounds, with their striking red-tiled walls, radiated opulence under the sunlight. The dazzling brilliance reflected the regal atmosphere of this majestic residence.
Upon reaching the palace gates, Orange raised the Fire Dragon Token high. With its authority, she encountered no obstacles along the way. Within minutes, she arrived at a grand hall.
At the entrance stood guards who, upon recognizing Orange, greeted her warmly instead of kneeling. One of them stepped forward with a smile. "Miss Orange, what brings you here suddenly? His Highness is reading inside."
"I have urgent matters to report. Please take me to see His Highness," Orange said, her tone solemn as she stowed the Fire Dragon Token away.
The guard nodded promptly, not daring to delay. "This way, please."
---
Moments later, Orange and the guard arrived at the entrance to a study in one of the palace's side halls. Another attendant at the door, recognizing Orange, immediately entered to report her presence.
"Orange is here? Let her in. Didn't I already tell you that she doesn't need to be announced when visiting?" a man's youthful voice called out from inside the study.
The door opened slowly, and the attendant emerged hurriedly, bowing respectfully as he gestured for Orange to enter.
---
The study's interior exuded an air of both luxury and tradition. Gold accents adorned every corner, and the Eight-Clawed Fire Dragon motif was ubiquitous across the furniture and decor. At the center of the room stood a massive desk, behind which sat a young man dressed in white.
The man, appearing around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wore a robe embroidered with a golden dragon. His long black hair framed a face that, while not particularly handsome, radiated authority. His dark skin gleamed with a healthy sheen, and his piercing gaze carried an undeniable aura of command.
"Orange pays respects to Your Highness," Orange said, quickly stepping forward to kneel in greeting.
The young man waved his hand lightly, releasing a soft ripple of soul power that gently lifted Orange to her feet. "There's no need for formalities between us. Tell me, what brings you here at this hour?"
"Your Highness," Orange said, stepping closer with a serious expression, "an excellent opportunity has arisen, and we must seize it."
"Oh? What kind of opportunity?" the young man asked, curiosity piqued.
Orange explained, "Recently, the Hall Master assigned a student named Yan Xiao to Teacher Xuan. Today, Yan Xiao had a conflict with one of the royal cadets, Wang Shaojie, who then summoned the Royal Enforcement Corps to arrest him. But you wouldn't believe what happened next."
"What happened?" The young man's eyebrows furrowed slightly, intrigue evident. "Did he kill the Enforcement Corps?"
"No," Orange replied, shaking her head. Taking a deep breath, she continued, "Yan Xiao revealed something shocking—two hundred-thousand-year soul rings, his first and second soul rings, to be precise. When the Enforcement Corps saw them, they were so terrified they couldn't move. Then, Yan Xiao emitted a golden light from his eyes, causing all of them to collapse on the spot, convulsing and foaming at the mouth."
"What did you just say? Two hundred-thousand-year soul rings? His first and second? That's… impossible!" The young man's expression turned incredulous.
Orange pressed on, "Your Highness, how he possesses such soul rings isn't the most urgent matter. The Hall Master holds great influence within the Empire, and many princes vie for his favor. With Wang Shaojie involving the Enforcement Corps in this fiasco, it's certain to escalate.
"If Your Highness steps in to resolve this issue, not only will it strengthen your relationship with the Hall Master, but you may also win Yan Xiao's loyalty. A prodigy with two hundred-thousand-year soul rings… Having him by your side could change the future."
The young man's expression shifted from shock to deep contemplation. A smile of approval appeared on his face as he said, "Well done, Orange. You've thought this through thoroughly. Let's not waste time; we'll head to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy immediately."
"Yes, Your Highness." Orange nodded and stepped behind the young man. The soft sound of wheels turning followed as she pushed him out of the study. The young man sat in a wheelchair, his lower body missing.
This man was none other than Xu Tiannan, the Crown Prince and heir apparent of the Sun Moon Empire.
---
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy.
By now, the seven members of the Royal Enforcement Corps, including Wang Shaojie, were sprawled across the ground, convulsing violently, foaming at the mouth, and exhibiting signs of severe mental trauma.
"You bastards dared to cause trouble in my academy!" Jing Hongchen roared, his voice reverberating through the entire institution like thunder.
Striding forward, Jing Hongchen stopped in front of Xiao Yan, his expression a mix of fury and concern. "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"
Xiao Yan waved dismissively, glancing down at the incapacitated corps members. "You should be more concerned about them."
"Those sons of bitches? Dead or alive, who cares? Besides, they're not dead yet." Jing Hongchen's eyes gleamed with a cold light, his fists clenching unconsciously. Had Xiao Yan been harmed, he wouldn't have hesitated to exact bloody retribution, even against the royal family.
Turning to the surrounding onlookers, Jing Hongchen barked, "The show's over. Everyone, go back to your business!"
As the crowd began to disperse, Xiao Yan approached Jing Hongchen and patted his shoulder. "Old man, I'm heading to the city's auction house. You can handle this mess."
"Wait." Jing Hongchen's commanding tone made Xiao Yan pause. Without turning, he replied coldly, "What now? Are you planning to detain me over this?"
"Yan Xiao, how could you think that?" Jing Hongchen sighed, catching up to him. From his chest, he retrieved a thin, red metallic disc that gleamed faintly with golden light.
"This is Hongchen's Protection, a Tier 9 defensive soul tool. Place it over your chest, and it will fuse with your body, drawing on your soul power. When you're attacked, it will automatically deploy a defensive barrier equivalent to your strongest non-skill attack at just one-fifth the soul power cost."
He paused before adding, "It also has an active mode. When triggered, it creates a 15-second invincible shield, offering defense three times your current strength. However, after activation, it requires three days of natural soul power replenishment—or one full day of meditation—to recharge."
Xiao Yan's eyes narrowed as he observed the soul tool. "I've seen this before. Wasn't it used by Meng Hongchen back in the Ming Dou Forest?"
Jing Hongchen chuckled. "Indeed. Now it's yours."
"While hunting soul beasts, I was concerned about potential accidents, so I gave this Tier 9 Soul Tool to my granddaughter to wear for protection. Now that she's back in Mingdu, she no longer needs it," Jing Hongchen explained as he handed the soul tool to Xiao Yan. His tone became serious as he continued, "Consider this your additional payment for detoxifying her. Mingdu may appear calm on the surface, but there's turbulence beneath. Now that you've offended the royal family, you'll need this."
"Such a treasure is indeed rare. Since the elder insists on gifting it to me, it would be impolite to refuse," Xiao Yan said with a slight smile. Taking the Hongchen's Protection with both hands, a flash of gold light marked him storing it in his spatial soul tool.
A faint smile played across Xiao Yan's lips as he slightly bowed to Jing Hongchen before turning away without hesitation, heading straight for the city's auction house.
---
Xiao Yan had barely left when a voice rang out behind him.
"The Crown Prince arrives!"
Jing Hongchen froze for a moment, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. Muttering to himself, he said, "How could this matter alarm the Crown Prince? Could he be here to stand up for the Royal Enforcement Corps?"
The gathered students parted like a tide as Xu Tiannan, seated in his wheelchair, was pushed forward by his attendants.
"Your humble servant greets the Crown Prince," Jing Hongchen said, nodding slightly in acknowledgment as Xu Tiannan approached. Despite his words, Jing Hongchen did not bow. His status as the Hall Master of Mingde Hall afforded him the highest respect—even the Emperor treated him with courtesy. It was unthinkable for him to lower himself to the Crown Prince, especially one whose prospects of ascending the throne were in doubt.
Xu Tiannan, seated respectfully in his wheelchair, inclined his upper body slightly and said, "Tiannan greets the Hall Master. My physical condition makes it difficult to perform formal courtesies; I hope the Hall Master will forgive me."
Jing Hongchen was taken aback by the Crown Prince's courteous demeanor. He had long regarded Xu Tiannan as a promising figure—ambitious, capable, and skilled in governance. If Xu Tiannan were to inherit the throne, the Sun Moon Empire would undoubtedly prosper under his leadership. However, the incident that left Xu Tiannan disabled had cast doubt over his future, causing Jing Hongchen to hesitate in committing his allegiance. Choosing the wrong side in a succession battle could lead to disastrous consequences.
"There's no need for such formality, Your Highness," Jing Hongchen replied, waving his hand.
Xu Tiannan's expression turned serious as he explained, "I heard from Orange that the Royal Enforcement Corps seemed to have arrested one of her classmates, so I came to see for myself. It seems the Corps has been acting out of line recently, even daring to target students of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Judging by your expression, Hall Master, am I to assume they took action without informing you?"
"Indeed," Jing Hongchen replied with a cold snort, his face darkening. "Your Highness, forgive me for speaking bluntly, but these Royal Enforcement Corps members have become lawless and overdue for discipline."
"I see." Xu Tiannan nodded slightly, his eyes narrowing to slits as a sharp glint flashed within them. After a brief pause, he pointed at the seven convulsing corps members on the ground and said coldly, "Guards, execute these men."
-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/QueenTL
Thanks!