Outside the Qilin Prince's Manor, at the execution grounds, the crowd had grown larger and larger. While all eyes were fixed on Qi Fengyang atop the execution platform, many also watched the two figures standing at the base of the platform.
One wore a Daoist robe, the other golden armor. Both carried themselves with extraordinary presence and possessed Heaven Martial cultivation.
They were the Sect Master of the Lingyun Sect, Yan Yangtian, and the Lord of the Qilin Prince's Manor, Lin Moli.
These two, the most powerful figures in all of Qingzhou, standing in the same place together was a rare sight indeed, and it naturally set many people buzzing with excitement. Unfortunately, none of them could hear the quiet exchange between the two.
"If you ask me, we should just execute Qi Fengyang right away. Dragging things out like this only adds more trouble down the road." Lin Moli glanced at Qi Fengyang, his eyes filled with worry.
"My Lord, you don't understand just how monstrous that Chu Feng is. The boy must be eliminated. Given the methods he commands, in less than three years he'll surpass both of us — and when that happens, we're the ones who'll be suffering," Yan Yangtian explained.
"If anyone's going to suffer, it'll be you. Chu Feng has a grudge against your Lingyun Sect, not against my Qilin Prince's Manor."
Lin Moli let out a cold snort. Even facing Yan Yangtian, he maintained his arrogance — for leaving aside raw strength, it was he who truly ruled Qingzhou.
"Heh, my Lord, don't say that. Before today, Chu Feng and your Qilin Prince's Manor had no grudges — in fact, you had a decent relationship."
"But today is different. You're about to execute Chu Feng's sworn brother. Knowing Chu Feng's temperament, if he takes revenge, your Qilin Prince's Manor will suffer far more than my Lingyun Sect." Yan Yangtian smirked coldly.
"You bastard — so that's why you were so eager to convince me to execute Qi Fengyang. You were dragging me down with you all along." At this, Lin Moli grew irritated.
"Oh come now, my Lord, I was only looking out for you. Qi Fengyang is the Qi clan leader, and you're from the Lin clan. Aren't you worried that one day he might try to seize your power?" Yan Yangtian replied with a smile.
"And you can be sure that Chu Feng will actually come to save Qi Fengyang? Would he really be foolish enough to walk into his own death?" Lin Moli remained skeptical.
"Based on everything I've investigated about Chu Feng, yes — that's exactly the kind of person he is. But don't call him foolish, because he's a little devil with plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Even with both of us sitting here on guard, we absolutely cannot let our guard down." Yan Yangtian smiled.
"My Lord, this is terrible!!!" Just then, a manor guard came running over, his face pale with panic.
"What happened?" Lin Moli's brow furrowed slightly.
"Lord Lin Chong has vanished — and the fierce beast he kept has been killed," the guard reported nervously.
"You useless lot! You can't even watch over one man — what good are you?" At these words, Lin Moli's expression changed drastically, and he moved to leave at once.
"Where do you think you're going?" Yan Yangtian quickly stepped in his path.
"Obviously to find Chong'er. He's my only son — I can't let anything happen to him," Lin Moli replied.
"Now is not the time. Do you know what's happening right now? How can you leave? This could be Chu Feng's ploy to lure us away," Yan Yangtian said.
Hearing this, Lin Moli grew even more worried, and said furiously, "Then I have to go even more! If anything happens to my Chong'er, are you going to take responsibility?"
"If Qi Fengyang is rescued by Chu Feng, then when the two of them return years from now, the dead won't be just your Chong'er — it'll be your entire Qilin Prince's Manor and my entire Lingyun Sect."
"Besides, your Chong'er may not have been captured by Chu Feng at all. My Lord, I'm asking you to think clearly about the situation right now." Yan Yangtian's expression was grave as he spoke, weighing each word with care.
At that moment, Lin Moli wavered. As the ruler of Qingzhou, he could naturally see the stakes at play. In the end, he swallowed his worry, stayed put, and waited for noon to arrive — waited for Chu Feng to appear.