"Young friend Chu Feng, the one who forbids Princess Xiaoxiao from leaving this place is the Clan Leader."
"Unless the Clan Leader gives the order, no one may defy this command."
Long Duan also provided his explanation for refusing Chu Feng.
And Chu Feng did not press Elder Long Duan further. Instead, he said to Long Xiaoxiao: "Princess Xiaoxiao, I'll come visit you again once I'm done with my business."
"Mm. Chu Feng, be careful too."
Long Xiaoxiao said to Chu Feng.
The depression that had clouded her moments ago had already been swept away, and the light from better days had returned to her eyes.
She knew that Chu Feng could probably help her — her mother would most likely be saved.
She could tell from Elder Long Duan's attitude toward Chu Feng that the Chu Feng of today, along with his Master, truly held significant weight in the eyes of the Long Clan.
After that, Chu Feng followed Elder Long Duan back to the Origin of the Dragon Vein.
However, when Chu Feng arrived at the location, he found that in addition to the cow-nosed old Daoist who had been there before, the Long Clan's Clan Leader, and the numerous elders, two more people had appeared.
One was a woman, and the other was a young lady.
The woman appeared to be middle-aged. Although she carried a certain maturity, her charm was abundant — even more alluring than many young women. She was the type who could bewitch countless men.
As for the young lady, Chu Feng had already seen her before. She was none other than Long Mumu.
Judging from the haughty and overbearing demeanor of that woman, Chu Feng guessed that she was most likely Long Mumu's mother.
In other words, she was the very culprit responsible for driving Long Xiaoxiao and her mother into their current predicament.
"Young friend Chu Feng, you've finally returned. Everyone has been waiting for you."
Upon seeing Chu Feng arrive, the Long Clan's Clan Leader said with a smile.
Facing a figure of the Clan Leader's stature, Chu Feng did not dare to be disrespectful. He returned the greeting with a polite bow and a smile.
However, he soon turned his gaze toward Long Mumu.
"Princess Mumu, how has your investigation been going?"
"Was that token stolen by me or not?"
Chu Feng asked.
"Hmph~"
Long Mumu ignored Chu Feng entirely, dismissing him with an impatient glance.
Clearly, she had already learned the full account of what had happened.
As for Chu Feng's words, the people present exchanged awkward smiles.
They too must have learned the general outline of the matter, realizing that there was some misunderstanding between Chu Feng and Long Mumu, but no one took the matter too seriously, so no one bothered to explain anything.
"Master, now that everyone is present, may we begin?"
Long Mumu's mother asked the cow-nosed old Daoist.
There was even a hint of urgency in her words.
It was obvious that this mother and daughter pair, so accustomed to looking down on everyone from on high, had not yet realized just how important the cow-nosed old Daoist and Chu Feng were to the Long Clan.
Instead, they still regarded the old Daoist and Chu Feng as nothing more than ordinary Spirit World Masters they had hired.
And who was the cow-nosed old Daoist?
He did not even consider the Long Clan's Clan Leader worthy of his attention — why would he bother with Long Mumu's mother?
The cow-nosed old Daoist did not so much as glance at Long Mumu's mother. Instead, he asked Chu Feng:
"My dear disciple, did you manage to see Princess Xiaoxiao?"
"Master, I did."
"But Xiaoxiao seems to have run into some trouble."
Chu Feng said.
"Trouble? What trouble?"
The cow-nosed old Daoist immediately pressed.
"It seems like she's been framed."
Chu Feng said.
"What? Framed? Who dares to frame Princess Xiaoxiao?"
The cow-nosed old Daoist asked with great displeasure. He even deliberately raised his voice when saying this.
Chu Feng then proceeded to explain the current situation that Long Xiaoxiao and her mother were in.
Of course, he only described their current circumstances — as for why they had ended up in such a state, Chu Feng did not mention it, because he did not know himself.
Precisely because he did not know, he used the word "framed" to describe the matter, implying that Long Xiaoxiao and her mother had undoubtedly been wrongfully accused.
"Clan Leader, what is the meaning of this?"
The cow-nosed old Daoist, catching on immediately, wasted no words and directly confronted the Clan Leader.
"Insolent!"
The moment these words left the old Daoist's mouth, before the Long Clan's Clan Leader could even respond, Long Mumu's mother let out an angry shout.
Her delicate brows furrowed as she glared at the cow-nosed old Daoist with deep displeasure: "Who do you think you are, to dare meddle in our Long Clan's private affairs?"
"Silence."
However, the instant she finished speaking, the Long Clan's Clan Leader suddenly spoke up.
Though Long Mumu's mother was clearly unwilling, she still shut her mouth after the Clan Leader's command.
"Master, Young friend Chu Feng, this matter is a private family affair of ours."
"There may have been some misunderstanding. Rest assured, I will handle it properly myself. I will absolutely not allow Xiaoxiao's mother to be wrongfully accused."