At that moment, the gazes of Little Fishy, Fairy Meowmeow, and Long Muxi were like invisible blades.
Even bystanders could sense the viciousness behind those stares.
"Chu Feng, do you have a grudge against Qin Xuan?" Xianhai Shaoyu asked.
Chu Feng stepped forward a few paces and carefully sized up Qin Xuan.
"If I'm not mistaken, we haven't met before."
"However, I do recall Qin Shu. I encountered him previously in the Ancient Realm. He joined forces with Zhou Dong of the Azure Moon Divine Temple, attempting to deal with me and Miss Muxi," Chu Feng said.
"Azure Moon Divine Temple?"
"Isn't that a heretical sect?"
"Qin Shu actually joined hands with someone from the Azure Moon Divine Temple?"
Upon hearing those four words, the crowd's expressions turned strange. Everyone knew that the Azure Moon Divine Temple was a heretical sect.
And a notorious one at that—the most powerful evil faction within the Bloodline Heavenly River, second only to the Demon Transformation Clan.
Since ancient times, the righteous and the wicked had never coexisted. Though each of their own factions had committed dark deeds, and many among them were hardly good people themselves, none of that changed their disdain for the heretical sects.
"Ahem…"
At that moment, Qin Xuan cleared his throat.
"First of all, I did not order my brother Qin Shu to ally with Miss Feng Ling against Chu Feng."
"This matter is most likely a misunderstanding."
"Second, our Myriad Sky Immortal Sect has always stood opposed to all heretical forces, the Azure Moon Divine Temple included."
"So Chu Feng's accusation carries the stench of slander," Qin Xuan said.
After all, as the strongest genius of the Myriad Sky Immortal Sect, he had seen his share of tense situations. So despite the panic roiling inside him, he maintained a composed and dignified exterior.
"Who are you calling a slanderer?"
"Say that again, I dare you." Little Fishy pointed at Qin Xuan.
Her posture made it clear that if he uttered one more word, she would strike.
"What's the matter? Too scared to admit it?"
"Big enough to do it, but not big enough to own up to it? Where's Qin Shu? Step forward!" Feng Ling was no pushover either. Her smile vanished instantly as she confronted him publicly, her attitude making it clear she would not let this slide.
Whoosh— Just then, a figure went hurtling through the air and crashed into the center of the square.
The momentum was too great. After landing, the figure tumbled rapidly and, as fate would have it, rolled right to a stop in front of Chu Feng.
Chu Feng extended his foot and planted it on the person, halting the rolling. Otherwise, the figure would have kept going.
"Who is that?"
"Judging by the clothes, he seems to be from the Myriad Sky Immortal Sect."
The crowd buzzed with discussion, for this person had been thrashed within an inch of his life. His body was covered in bloody whip marks, his face had swollen into a pig's head, and shoe prints were stamped all over it—clearly, someone had stomped him good.
But he had been beaten so badly that nobody could recognize him.
As they say, only a real brother would react the way Qin Xuan did.
While everyone was still guessing whose identity lay behind that unrecognizable wreck, Qin Xuan leaped in front of Chu Feng and snatched Qin Shu up in his arms.
"Qin Shu, who was it? Who did this to you?" Qin Xuan's face was a mask of anguish.
Qin Shu's aura was in terrible shape—this was a serious injury.
"D-d-d-don't ask… It was me… it was I-I-I… I, the great Young Master, who beat him up."
Soon, a figure emerged from the white mist.
The crowd erupted once more, because the figure was Wang Qiang.
They didn't recognize Wang Qiang, however, so they wore the same stunned expressions that Qin Shu had when he first laid eyes on him—utterly floored by Wang Qiang's appearance.
But compared to everyone else, Chu Feng and Fairy Meowmeow beamed with joy.
They recognized Wang Qiang at a single glance.
Chu Feng, in particular, launched himself forward and landed right in front of Wang Qiang.
"I knew it, brother. It really is you."
Seeing Wang Qiang again filled Chu Feng with boundless excitement. After all, the Blood Demon Sovereign had left Chu Feng deeply worried about Wang Qiang's safety.
Seeing him here, unharmed, and capable of thrashing Qin Shu—his cultivation had clearly advanced considerably as well.
It was a double cause for celebration.
But above all else, this was a brother he hadn't seen in ages. To be reunited now—how could he not be overjoyed?
Wang Qiang was the true ride-or-die brother who had followed Chu Feng from the Lower Realm, through battles across the mortal world, and all the way to the Upper Realm. They had been through countless life-or-death trials together—a bond forged in the blood of survival.
"Heh heh, if not m-m-me, who else could it b-b-be?"
"My g-g-good brother, come give me a h-h-hug, and later we'll have a heart-to-h-h-heart."
Wang Qiang spread his arms wide and grinned his huge grin at Chu Feng.
Chu Feng was not a man for sentimental displays, but when it came to Wang Qiang, he held nothing back. He pulled Wang Qiang into a firm embrace.
But it was only a brief hug before he released him. He then gripped Wang Qiang by the shoulders and looked him over carefully.
Joy spilled across his entire face.
"Why are you still so scrawny? Is the food at the Divine Body Heavenly Sect that bad?" Chu Feng asked.
But before Wang Qiang could answer, a furious roar echoed through the air.