Chapter 186: Prince Bei, We’re Self-Amputating an Arm to Admit Our Mistakes
Whoosh~~
With a single phrase, the dreamers were jolted awake, and everyone present suddenly came to their senses.
They all understood the gravity of the situation.
The boy who had cut off his own arm was too lazy to waste time on these foolish people. After all, if Qin Bei got angry, none of them would escape, but he could.
So, the boy raised his right hand, shouting with all his might, “I am Peng Yuan, a disciple of the sect! I self-amputate one arm to apologize to Prince Bei! May Prince Bei overlook my previous foolishness! If Prince Bei is still dissatisfied, I can cut off another arm! To show my sincerity!”
His voice was full of vigor.
Although the pain from the severed arm was excruciating, he was delighted to avoid Qin Bei’s wrath.
The onlookers who were clueless stared at him in utter confusion.
While those who were in the know watched him with a mixture of concern and confusion.
Amidst the tumult of emotions, they turned to see Qin Bei charging in from afar.
And then…
They saw the fierce aura surrounding Qin Bei; his speed was undeniably explosive. Among those present, few could claim they could match such velocity.
Bang~!!
Just as they were sizing up Qin Bei, they witnessed a small hill that obstructed his path being obliterated by the Wan Mie Gun that had suddenly appeared around him.
“No way! He’s really here, no doubt about it! He must be here for revenge!”
“Too much! He’s even using a small hill to intimidate us!”
“He’s looking over here—what do we do now? His gaze is so piercing! Could he be trying to freeze our movements with some power?”
“Everyone, I’m sorry, I really don’t want to drop out of the Imperial Mausoleum Trial like this! I still want to see if I can get a Soul Orb, so I can’t keep up this facade!”
A handsome young man, after saying this, mimicked Peng Yuan’s earlier action and snapped his left arm with a crack.
“I am Tu Shiyi, a disciple of the Hou Tu Sect! I self-amputate one arm to apologize to Prince Bei! May Prince Bei forgive my previous foolishness! If Prince Bei is still dissatisfied, I can cut off another arm! To show my sincerity!”
The few remaining individuals could only watch in a mix of shock and resignation as another surrendered to Qin Bei’s oppressive presence.
Once more, they peered over at the approaching Qin Bei.
Qin Bei clearly cast a glance in their direction. Everyone felt as if his movement lingered for a moment.
And his expression seemed to soften a bit?
But they couldn’t see the confusion swirling in Qin Bei’s eyes.
Upon hearing the words of these two, Qin Bei was equally bewildered… causing his momentary hesitation for contemplation.
To everyone else, this was perceived as his approval of Tu Shiyi and Peng Yuan’s actions—a sign that he would let them off easy.
This realization finally broke through the final defenses of those remaining.
After all, flight was futile; they would ultimately sustain injuries.
Therefore, it was better to self-amputate an arm than to face Qin Bei’s wrath. This way, they could still remain in the Imperial Mausoleum to look for opportunities to obtain the much-coveted Soul Orbs.
If it came to Qin Bei taking action, they would probably end up having to withdraw from the trial like those before them.
With these thoughts in mind, several of them exchanged glances.
And under the stunned gaze of the crowd, one by one they turned against themselves with brutal resolve.
And they really didn’t hold back at all.
It was as if that left hand was a foreign entity that must be severed.
Even one, who lacked experience and couldn’t break his arm with the first attempt but only dislocated it, screamed in agony.
Yet, without a moment’s hesitation, he went for his left arm again, eliciting widespread bewilderment from onlookers.
Snap!
As the sharp sound of shattering resonated in the air, this person finally breathed a sigh of relief, drenched in sweat, and shouted toward Qin Bei in the distance.
“I am Wang Tian, a direct descendant of the Wang Clan! I self-amputate one arm to apologize to Prince Bei! May Prince Bei overlook my past foolishness! If Prince Bei is still not satisfied, I can cut off another arm! To show my sincerity!”
…
As such, all the individuals who had fled the tombstone area had now self-amputated an arm to show their remorse to Qin Bei.
When Qin Bei finally arrived, he was utterly taken aback by the scene.
“What on earth is going on?”
Qin Bei asked, utterly bewildered.
Mu Zhaoxue and Ji Zhuyue shrugged their shoulders, equally at a loss.
They too had no idea about the unfolding scenario.
It was Peng Yuan who bravely stepped up first to explain to Qin Bei, “We understand that we offended you while speaking among the tombstones earlier, Prince Bei. It’s only reasonable that you rushed back to find us for revenge. But please, Prince Bei, consider we’re all disciples from sects within Great Xia and allow us to remain to participate in the Imperial Mausoleum Trial to enhance our skills.”
“Yes! We self-amputate an arm as an apology! Please forgive us, Prince Bei.”
“Please forgive us, Prince Bei.”
…
At this juncture, not only did Qin Bei grasp the reason, but everyone around him also understood what was happening.
It turned out these individuals had somehow crossed the vindictive Prince Bei, which explained their collective apologies just earlier.
Pfft!
Mu Zhaoxue had been holding back her laughter.
After all, this wasn’t really the most appropriate moment for humor.
But in the end, the chuckle escaped her.
“Ah… this…”
Qin Bei too felt a surge of laughter bubbling within him.
He had never anticipated his actions would be misinterpreted to such great lengths.
“Actually…”
Just as Qin Bei intended to clarify the truth, he received Ji Zhuyue’s urgent whisper.
“Husband, don’t reveal the truth; just go with it.”
Ji Zhuyue’s warning made Qin Bei’s brow furrow.
However, after pondering, he realized Ji Zhuyue was indeed correct.
These folks thought he was out for revenge, hence, their self-amputation.
If he now confessed to them that he simply returned to that tombstone cluster to obtain the Soul Orbs, they would not only fail to be thankful for his mercifulness but might actually resent him for their sacrificed limbs.
Plus, that vicious reputation he had been cultivating would likely diminish.
After all, once you show leniency, others might expect it again in the future.
If too many people started viewing him this way, Qin Bei believed his troubles would multiply.
Thus, to maintain a lower profile in the future, he couldn’t afford to be honest.
By allowing these individuals to deduce that he was merely here for vengeance, they wouldn’t blame him for their lost arms. In fact, they might feel grateful to him for not pursuing them further, allowing them to stay in the mausoleum for opportunities.
A simple decision could lead to vastly different outcomes.
And choosing to stay quiet without denying was undoubtedly the best option.
It not only allowed him to teach these people a lesson and solidify his own reputation but also endeared him to their sentiments.
An absolute two-for-one deal, a flawless choice.
Having reached this conclusion, Qin Bei naturally wouldn’t utter the truth.
He looked at the people before him, his expression cold.
“This king has never been one to oppress the weak, yet neither am I one to back down from challenges. Should anyone dare to harbor ill intentions toward this king, be assured—retribution will come a hundredfold. I’ll never deny that I repay every wrong.”
Listening to Qin Bei’s calm yet imposing tone, the heads of those present dipped even lower.
“Yes, we were too bold! I’ll cut off another arm immediately! Please forgive us, Prince Bei!”
Peng Yuan took the lead once more.
He meant to utilize his spiritual energy to shatter his right arm.
The others followed suit, hoping to appease Qin Bei.
However, their actions ultimately didn’t come to fruition.
Qin Bei merely waved a hand to halt them, stating, “Forget it—this is just the first time. For the next, even sacrificing three limbs won’t help!”
Upon hearing Qin Bei’s pardon, they all sighed in relief.
Prince Bei wasn’t as ferocious as rumored. Despite his vengeful nature, he showed a bit of humanity.
Such a person could be followed without hesitation.
‘Wait? Three limbs? Are there any shapeshifting beasts around? Why three limbs?!’
But with a glance downward, they quickly fathomed his meaning.
So that counts as a limb?
In an instant, several felt their groins tighten.
This cannot be severed.
“Thank you, Prince Bei! Thank you, Prince Bei! We absolutely won’t dare cross you again in the future!”
Indeed, the outcome matched Qin Bei and Ji Zhuyue’s expectations.
Despite these individuals getting hurt because of Qin Bei, in the end, they were profoundly grateful to him.
And knowing Qin Bei’s temperament, they would undoubtedly refrain from provoking him again.
An utterly perfect resolution.
“Alright, disperse, I have other matters to attend to.”
Qin Bei waved his hand, dismissing the crowd.
Obtaining the Soul Orbs was his main goal, and he didn’t wish to loiter over this incident any longer.
…
Meanwhile, within the palace pavilion.
Emperor Xia looked at the scene where a group of injured people expressed gratitude toward Qin Bei, and a smile crept onto his lips.
His son was indeed not to be underestimated.
Though he occasionally misbehaved, the surprises he brought came one after the other.
Qin Bei’s actions were undoubtedly the wisest decision.
Not only did he establish authority, but he also won the people’s hearts.
Emperor Xia knew only two princes capable of such a feat.
Because this touched on the very essence of imperial power.
He truly showed the potential to be an emperor.
Previously, Emperor Xia had worried that Qin Bei was all bravado with no wisdom. Even if he helped him secure the crown prince position, perhaps he wasn’t fit for the emperorship.
If the throne was forced upon him, numerous senior officials and royals might not accept it.
Yet, the dilemma that lingered in Emperor Xia’s mind now seemed resolved.
The Emperor cast a knowing glance at Ji Zhuyue.
He had noticed the two communicating with each other just earlier.
This maid didn’t appear to be as simple as he initially thought.
His son truly did not seem to be fooling around but had genuinely developed feelings for her.
The other old-timers in the pavilion stared at Qin Bei in astonishment.
At such a tender age, displaying such cunning perhaps suggested that the rumors about the so-called Prince Bei were not entirely accurate.
Of course, the Prince Bei currently observed might not be the authentic representation either.
Everyone was delighted to have such a prince in the royal family.
Only Shoushi had an odd expression.
From Qin Bei’s current demeanor, he felt justified in suspecting he had been played.
Reflecting on his sect’s previous experiences, aside from their initial encounter, he felt an invisible hand had been stirring the pot.
Now it appeared that this Prince Bei may have been luring them in.
The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became of this notion.
His attitude toward Qin Bei underwent a significant change.
The only thing that remained unchanged was his determination to eliminate Qin Bei!
This conviction only grew stronger.
Even if Qin Bei was merely a Golden Core cultivator now, in his eyes, he was still someone he could obliterate with a flick of the wrist.
Yet, Beast Lion sensed an ineffable danger.
He was struck by a terrifying thought that, before long, he might meet his demise at Qin Bei’s hands.
…
Qin Bei was blissfully unaware of Beast Lion’s thoughts. Had he known, he would have leaned toward his ear, whispering, “You really are a prophet! When I find the time, I’ll wipe you out! Just watch!”
However, at this moment, all Qin Bei could see were endless tombstones.
Each tombstone symbolized a sixth-level Soul Orb.
Upon spotting Qin Bei standing once more among the tombstones, those who had previously witnessed his prowess widened their eyes, eager to discern exactly how he pulled this all off.
Meanwhile, those who hadn’t been privy were keen to observe just what prowess this formidable Prince Bei, whose reputation eclipsed his actual strength, had to continue to act so arrogantly.
“Don’t blink, don’t you dare blink! In just a few breaths, you must see it all clearly.”
“Pay close attention! If I can figure it out, perhaps I’ll snag a sixth-level Soul Orb too.”
“My expectations are modest; I only want a single sixth-level Soul Orb.”
A few armless youths chattered amongst themselves.
They felt strangely lighthearted now that they had no foes to worry about and could sit back to watch Qin Bei snag himself some Soul Orbs.
They all yearned to dissect Qin Bei’s method in securing Soul Orbs.
If they could recreate it, they wouldn’t bat an eyelash at losing an arm—two holes would be worth it!
“What’s wrong? What do you mean by a few breaths? Six-level Orb? You all should be thanking the heavens if you even snag a fourth-level Orb, let alone a sixth!”
Some unsuspecting individuals just voiced this question when suddenly, everyone present was astounded once more.
For in these fleeting seconds, brilliant lights erupted above the previously serene group of tombstones.
One after another.
They were all folks familiar with Soul Orbs, knowing exactly what sort of light this was.
However, everyone was seeing this many lights appearing simultaneously for the first time.
And the colors of the lights… why were they so stunning?
“Pale blue hue? This time, they’re all pale blue! Prince Bei has leveled up! They are all sixth-level Soul Orbs! How terrifying!”
“There must nearly be two hundred sixth-level Soul Orbs, right? I’m so envious!”
“So it turns out Prince Bei was holding back earlier; his real power is this frightening. How ridiculous we thought we could challenge him earlier.”
“Never mind, since Prince Bei isn’t taking it to heart, let’s put that aside and discuss how he did it. Did anyone see clearly?”
In response to Peng Yuan’s inquiry, the few just shook their heads.
Even if they had prepared, it all concluded before they could process it.
How could they possibly see anything clearly?
While they were astounded yet found it reasonable, those who were still in the dark were utterly flabbergasted.
Completely unable to discern if they were dreaming or experiencing reality.
Thinking to themselves, if this were a dream, they ought to be the ones with all those Soul Orbs.
Why had the narrative suddenly shifted to someone else?
Yet, amidst all this, they shared one sentiment: merely watching.
Even as numerous sixth-level Soul Orbs appeared right before their eyes, they remained passive onlookers.
Enticed but rendered immobile.
Because they had learned from prior experiences.
It was fine for everyone to covet.
Let those lacking sense take action.
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