After Nangong Longjian finished speaking, Nangong Beidou exchanged a glance with the clan chiefs of the Eastern Imperial Clan and the Beitang Imperial Clan, then walked through the air to stand before Chu Feng. Together, they cupped their fists and said:
"Young Friend Chu Feng, our clans did indeed have their shortcomings before. We hope Young Friend Chu Feng will be magnanimous about it."
Their bow was rather perfunctory. But the apology was, nonetheless, delivered.
For people of their stature to do such a thing was proof enough that they were, in truth, quite fearful of Chu Feng — and it also demonstrated their sincerity in seeking reconciliation.
"Let's leave the past in the past. I only hope that the three of you will stop giving me, Chu Feng, and my friends a hard time from now on," Chu Feng said with a faint smile. There was unmistakable hidden meaning behind those words.
"Young Friend Chu Feng is too kind. From today onward, we shall be friends with Young Friend Chu Feng, never enemies."
"And Young Friend Chu Feng's friends shall be our friends as well," the three clan chiefs said in unison.
"I hope the three of you can match your words with your actions." Chu Feng offered another faint smile. Even with the reconciliation, he still harbored some reservation toward people who had once gone to extraordinary lengths to have him eliminated.
Faced with Chu Feng's manner, the three clan chiefs could only smile bitterly. After all, they knew the fault lay with them, so they each pledged: "Young Friend Chu Feng, we won't say more — just watch what we do from here on."
"The three of you, there is one matter I'd like to ask about, if you would tell me," Chu Feng said suddenly, using a secret voice transmission.
"What matter?" the three replied in kind, also using voice transmission.
"Who was it that sold out my Azure Wood Mountain?" Chu Feng asked.
"We have no knowledge of that — only Ximen Baiyuan would know," the three clan chiefs answered, their replies nearly identical.
"Thank you." Though he failed to learn the traitor's identity, Chu Feng still offered his thanks, for even this was of considerable help to him.
Witnessing Chu Feng's reconciliation with the four Great Imperial Clans with their own eyes, many who were present wore smiles on their faces. They truly had not expected such a titanic confrontation to end this way.
After all, they were all of the human race, and harmony should always be prized above discord. This was, in truth, the outcome most people had hoped for — to see those who had been locked in fierce battle moments ago now facing each other with smiles, as though a single laugh could dissolve all enmity.
Not only the parties involved, but even the onlookers felt a surge of joy in their hearts.
However, the people of the Ximen Imperial Clan were feeling anything but comfortable. The clan chiefs of the Nangong, Beitang, and Eastern clans had personally apologized to Chu Feng — only the Ximen Imperial Clan had not, because its clan chief had already been slain by Chu Feng.
"Won't the Ximen Imperial Clan say something?" But even so, Nangong Longjian clearly had no intention of letting the matter slide. He still wanted the Ximen Imperial Clan to give Chu Feng a proper explanation.
At that, Ximen Baiyuan put away his Imperial Armament and walked over to Chu Feng. Though he had come, he merely stood there — no bow, no apology. There was not even a trace of remorse on his face. Clearly, he was still unable to bring himself to apologize to Chu Feng.
"The matter is in the past, and I have no desire to press the issue further. As long as Senior Ximen answers two questions of mine, I won't require an apology from the Ximen Imperial Clan," Chu Feng said.
"What are your questions? Ask," Ximen Baiyuan replied. His expression improved considerably upon hearing this. Though he deeply despised Chu Feng, Chu Feng had, in truth, offered him a way to save face.
"First question — what exactly is the Dark Hall? Tell me the truth," Chu Feng asked.
"It was the Dark Hall that came to us of their own accord, offering their help. The Imperial Armament they had put up as a bounty before was also provided by them, though they never actually handed it over to us. We never received it — it was merely a verbal promise. Now it's clear they never intended to give us the Imperial Armament at all. They were merely duping us to win our trust."