Chapter 139: We Were Kicked Out

While the others from the outside world were locked in a standoff with Jing Wenchen, Xia Jiuxuan had already fled a hundred miles away. Sensing no pursuit from behind, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Come out!"

He arrived in a dense forest. Using his spiritual sense, he detected over a hundred figures hiding nearby. With a sharp, commanding shout, the woods erupted in cries of alarm.

"Brother Xia, don't attack! It's us!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several youths flew out from the trees. Leading them were none other than Qin Wei and Xu Fei. Xia Jiuxuan was momentarily taken aback.

"It's you two! I told you to wait for me at the Taixuan Academy, so why are you in the Lion Ridge Kingdom?" Xia Jiuxuan asked.

"It’s a long story. Brother Xia, Uncle Jing arrived just in time, didn't he? I'm glad you're safe," Qin Wei replied.

Xia Jiuxuan raised an eyebrow. "The Emperor of the Lion Ridge Kingdom is your uncle?"

"Haha, exactly!" Qin Wei chuckled. "I was speaking with Uncle Jing when he suddenly sensed countless powerful figures from the outside world breaching the borders. I guessed it must have been your return, so I begged him to go and assist you."

Xia Jiuxuan finally understood. It wasn't that Jing Wenchen had deliberately sought to oppose the outside sects; rather, he had acted at Qin Wei's request to rescue him. It was a classic case of what goes around comes around. Xia Jiuxuan had shown kindness to Qin Wei and the others, and now he was reaping the rewards. Had Jing Wenchen not activated the barrier today, Xia Jiuxuan would have had almost no way to escape with his life.

"Thank you," Xia Jiuxuan said, cupping his hands.

"No, no! You are our big brother; why be so formal?" Qin Wei and Xu Fei quickly returned the gesture.

"Haha," Xia Jiuxuan smiled. "Let's leave first and talk more later!"

"Right, Big Brother Xia, please lead the way!"

With Qin Wei and Xu Fei guiding them, they led more than a hundred guards in a grand procession toward the imperial capital. Half an hour later, traveling on flight artifacts, they reached the capital and entered a palace.

"Are you all here?"

Upon entering, they found dozens of talented youths already waiting for Xia Jiuxuan's return.

"Big Brother Xia has returned safely!"

Seeing him, the group greeted him with joyous expressions. Xia Jiuxuan was ushered by the crowd to the head seat.

"What exactly happened? Why aren't you at the Taixuan Academy?" Xia Jiuxuan asked.

"Sigh," Qin Wei sighed. "We were driven out. The Xianwu imperial family even sent people to hunt us down!"

"That's right. With no other choice, we followed Brother Qin to the neighboring Lion Ridge Kingdom."

Xia Jiuxuan frowned. "The Xianwu imperial family dares to act so recklessly!"

Qin Wei gave a bitter smile. "It's their territory; we had no say in the matter. If I hadn't notified Uncle Jing to have his men wait for us at the border, we likely would have been wiped out by the Xianwu royals."

Xia Jiuxuan’s expression turned grim. "Those old scoundrels of the Xianwu Dynasty, just you wait! Where are Duanmu Wan and Mu Feng? Why aren't they here?"

"We don't know. Before, when the Xianwu royals sent experts to hunt us, Miss Duanmu and Mu Feng volunteered to stay behind to cover our retreat and engaged those people in battle. Later, we waited at the border for a long time, but they never returned." Qin Wei looked at Xia Jiuxuan with deep regret.

Xia Jiuxuan narrowed his eyes. Given the current strength of Duanmu Wan and Mu Feng, they should have nothing to fear from the guardians of the Xianwu Dynasty. Could something have happened to them? He knew that Duanmu Wan's physical constitution was near the Saint Realm and she could wield high-level Profound Fire Sword techniques. With such power, killing mere ordinary Saint Realm warriors should have been easy. Why hadn't she returned?

"You all stay here; I am going to the Xianwu Kingdom to settle accounts with that scoundrel of an emperor."

Xia Jiuxuan sensed that something was wrong and felt he needed to return to the Xianwu Kingdom personally to investigate. Furthermore, the Lion Ridge Kingdom was someone else's territory; he wouldn't feel truly at ease until he was back on Xianwu soil.

"Big Brother Xia, I think it's better to let it go for now. With our strength, we can't contend with the entire Xianwu Kingdom." Everyone knew Xia Jiuxuan was formidable, but this time was different. A group of powerful figures had suddenly emerged in the Xianwu Kingdom, possessing strength so vast that they couldn't even fathom its depth. Even if Xia Jiuxuan went back, he might not be able to defeat them.

"Enough. I know what I'm doing," Xia Jiuxuan said, waving his hand to signal that they need not persuade him further. The group could only nod; they would follow Big Brother Xia no matter what!

"Hmph, do you think our Lion Ridge imperial family is a charity house, letting a bunch of beggars come in to eat, drink, and live for free?"

Just then, several people walked into the palace hall. A young man in yellow robes spoke with a mocking, sarcastic tone. Qin Wei looked at Xia Jiuxuan awkwardly and immediately stepped in front of the young man.

"Brother Wu Hui, they are friends I invited. They are only staying for a few days. I have already obtained Uncle Jing's permission for this," Qin Wei explained.

The young man ignored Qin Wei, snorting through his nose. "How many times must I tell you? When in front of outsiders, address me by my title. Do you have no sense of rank or status?"

Qin Wei was stunned, his expression extremely awkward. "Uh... Yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. It was my rudeness, please forgive me." Though Qin Wei appeared respectful, his heart grew cold. He knew Jing Wuhui was deliberately humiliating him in front of his friends.

"Qin Wei, let me warn you. Your father and my father may be sworn brothers, but you and I are not brothers. You had better get that straight!" Jing Wuhui sneered coldly, then continued, "I tell you, you had best not cause trouble under my nose. This country is not something you can get your hands on!"

Hearing this, Qin Wei was dumbfounded, anger surging within him. "Your Highness, this is going too far. When has Qin Wei ever tried to get his hands on the country? Don't make such baseless accusations!" Qin Wei knew the other party had come with ill intent, but he hadn't expected to be accused of such a grave crime. To "get one's hands on the country" was tantamount to treason.

At these words, Jing Wuhui’s expression darkened. He bellowed, "Audacious Qin Wei! How dare you speak to me in such a manner? It seems your treasonous heart is no longer even worth hiding!"

Qin Wei clenched his fists, then released them, letting out a long breath. "I dare not! Your Highness, one cannot speak so carelessly. You must have evidence!"

"Hmph." Jing Wuhui scoffed. "Is there anything you, the great genius, wouldn't dare to do? You want evidence? You recruit a bunch of riffraff, gather them all in one place, and form factions for personal gain—is this not evidence enough?"

"Your Highness!" Qin Wei suddenly looked up, staring straight at Jing Wuhui. "Do not spit blood and smear me!"

"You're rebelling!" Hearing Qin Wei’s tone, Jing Wuhui grew even more furious. He shouted, "Guards! Qin Wei is colluding with low-life scum from the underworld to plot treason! Take them all and execute them!"

"Yes, Your Highness!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Hundreds of Crown Prince’s mansion guards immediately surrounded the hall. Two old men stepped forward onto the dais—they were both Saint Realm cultivators.

"Everyone, kneel and await the Prince's judgment! Those who disobey will be killed on the spot!" the two old men shouted.

Jing Wuhui then looked at Xia Jiuxuan, who was sitting in the head seat, and said coldly, "Execute the bandit leader first!"