Chapter 123: The Heavenly Eye Stone

“He’s not dead!”

Qin Feiyang’s gaze turned cold. “For the past eight years, he has been hiding in Eagle Claw Peak, refining Blood Fiend Pills. He’s now an Eight-Star Martial Emperor!”

“What?”

“An Eight-Star Martial Emperor!”

Luo Xiong and the others paled in shock.

“What exactly happened? Tell us everything, quickly,” said the Hall Master of the Martial Hall.

However, Qin Feiyang frowned.

If he told them everything, would Luo Xiong take the opportunity to demand that he hand over the Netherworld Devil Flame?

“There’s no way this can remain hidden. I might as well tell them the truth.”

After pondering for a while, Qin Feiyang muttered inwardly and recounted in detail everything that had happened at Eagle Claw Peak.

“How could such a thing have happened?”

“That bastard!”

“Ling’er, you were terribly thoughtless. How could you have taken them to such a dangerous place?”

“I’ll inform the Grand Hall Master at once.”

“I’ll go too.”

The three giants of the Martial Hall flew into a rage and hurried away.

The fact that the fiend Luo An was still alive was of the utmost importance. They could not afford to delay.

“I want to be alone for a while.”

Feng Linger said this before turning and walking out of the main hall. Her slender figure looked especially desolate.

Qin Feiyang pondered for a moment, then followed her.

The two entered a pavilion, one after the other.

Feng Linger sat on a stone bench, tears streaming from her eyes, her face filled with remorse.

Qin Feiyang sighed inwardly. He had no idea how to comfort her.

The current outcome could be said to have been caused entirely by Feng Linger.

If she had not taken everyone to Eagle Claw Peak, none of this would have happened.

And if she had killed Lin Chen then, Elder Feng would not have been abducted.

It was already obvious that Lin Chen had told Luo An that Feng Cheng was Feng Linger’s grandfather.

That was why Luo An had abducted him.

This was the consequence of showing mercy to one’s enemies.

Suddenly, Feng Linger turned and threw herself into Qin Feiyang’s arms, bursting into tears.

Qin Feiyang was at a loss at first, but in the end he raised a hand and patted her back.

“Don’t worry. Nothing will happen.”

“Luo An is a great demon, ruthless and vicious. How can I possibly feel at ease?”

Feng Linger sobbed.

Qin Feiyang sighed. “Things have already come to this. Worrying won’t help.”

“I hate myself so much. Why didn’t I just kill Lin Chen?”

Feng Linger blamed herself bitterly.

“You’ll have another chance in the future.”

Qin Feiyang smiled.

At that moment, the sound of footsteps approached. Ling Yunfei and the Fatty came running over. When they saw the two embracing, they immediately turned their heads away, their expressions awkward.

Feng Linger’s cheeks flushed. She hurriedly straightened up, wiped away her tears, and lowered her head.

“I feel much better now. Thank you.”

Qin Feiyang smiled and turned to Ling Yunfei.

“How is your mother?”

Ling Yunfei nodded, then said worriedly, “But I no longer feel comfortable leaving her in Black Bear City.”

Qin Feiyang nodded. “That’s true. If Luo An discovers your relationship with her, he’ll certainly target her as well. But Luo An’s powers are vast. Unless you take your mother to the Martial King Hall, nowhere else will be safe.”

Ling Yunfei’s heart sank.

“Once the Grand Hall Master arrives, I’ll ask him for help. Hopefully, he’ll agree.”

“The Grand Hall Master of the Martial Hall is coming?”

Qin Feiyang was startled.

“Something this serious should bring him here, shouldn’t it?”

Ling Yunfei frowned, though he was not entirely certain.

“So you’re here.”

At that moment, Lu Hong ran over.

“The Hall Master wants you to come over.”

“Let’s go,” Qin Feiyang said.

The group quickly returned to the main council hall.

The Jiang Family Head had already left.

Inside the hall, only Luo Xiong and Elder Mo remained.

Qin Feiyang asked, “Hall Master, did you summon us for something?”

Luo Xiong replied, “The Grand Hall Master wants you to leave for Yan City immediately. Linger and Ling Yunfei, you are to go as well.”

“Why?” Feng Linger asked.

Luo Xiong said, “The Grand Hall Master is worried that Luo An may return. If that happens, none of you will escape. As for your grandfather, the Grand Hall Master has already said that he will not stand by and do nothing.”

Qin Feiyang frowned. “What about Luo An? Are we simply going to let him go?”

“Of course not,” Luo Xiong said with a smile. “But Luo An is an Eight-Star Martial Emperor. Even if the Grand Hall Master and the others came to Black Bear City in person, they might not be able to find him. So they intend to wait for him to come to them. After all, you took his pill flame. Sooner or later, he will come looking for you.”

Qin Feiyang said angrily, “Something this serious—why haven’t they reported it to the provincial authorities?”

“The provincial authorities?”

Luo Xiong’s pupils contracted. He shook his head.

“They have their own plans. People like us have neither the right nor the authority to interfere. We only need to carry out their orders.”

Qin Feiyang raised an eyebrow.

But immediately afterward, he let out a helpless sigh.

There was a saying that fit the situation perfectly: the sky is high and the emperor is far away.

Although imperial authority controlled the overall situation, it could not oversee every minor matter in the provinces.

“Let’s go.”

Luo Xiong rose to his feet.

“I’ll escort you to Yan City. Old Mo, while I’m gone, you’ll have full authority over everything in the hall.”

“Understood.”

Elder Mo nodded.

Ling Yunfei hurriedly asked, “What about my mother?”

Luo Xiong smiled.

“Don’t worry. We’ve already spread false information, claiming that your mother has been sent to Yan City. As long as she does not appear in public from now on, even if Luo An discovers her relationship with you, he won’t come to Black Bear City.”

Qin Feiyang nodded.

“A feint to mislead the enemy and conceal the truth. That’s a clever plan.”

On the surface, Ling Yunfei’s mother had gone to Yan City, but in reality she was still in the Martial Hall.

If Luo An wanted to abduct her, he would naturally go to Yan City.

In other words, she was bait.

The Fatty patted Ling Yunfei on the shoulder and laughed.

“Friend, as long as we keep quiet, no one else will learn about this. You can finally relax now, right?”

Ling Yunfei nodded, and at last a smile appeared on his face.

The five of them followed Luo Xiong out of the council hall.

Standing at the entrance, Luo Xiong raised two fingers to his lips and blew a sharp whistle that echoed into the distance.

A moment later, accompanied by a high-pitched cry, a gigantic black bird came tearing through the sky, beating its enormous wings.

It was an eagle.

With its wings spread, it measured more than thirty feet across, yet it possessed not the slightest trace of ferocity.

That was because these eagles were specially bred as mounts.

They were extremely dependent on humans.

The eagle landed on the ground. Luo Xiong walked over and smiled.

“Old friend, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you again.”

The eagle gave a soft cry and rubbed its enormous beak against Luo Xiong’s face. It was remarkably docile.

“Let’s go.”

Luo Xiong patted the eagle’s head, called to Qin Feiyang and the others, then leaped onto its back.

“Fatty here has never enjoyed treatment like this before!”

The Fatty hurried over and jumped onto the eagle’s back, stroking its smooth feathers with great excitement.

Once Qin Feiyang and the others had climbed aboard as well, the eagle let out a piercing cry, spread its wings, and shot into the clouds, rapidly disappearing into the distance.

Riding an eagle and soaring through the nine heavens.

Ling Yunfei and Lu Hong were both extremely excited.

The Fatty was even more thrilled.

Only Qin Feiyang and Feng Linger remained relatively calm.

Qin Feiyang stared at Lu Hong in front of him. His gaze flickered uncertainly before he suddenly leaned close to her ear.

“There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What is it?”

Lu Hong looked puzzled.

The two were sitting close together, and the wind was howling around them. Unless someone spoke very loudly, even Luo Xiong, who was seated at the front, would not hear them.

Qin Feiyang said, “You were there at Eagle Claw Peak. Luo An certainly won’t let you off either. I’m sure you understand that.”

Lu Hong nodded.

Qin Feiyang sighed.

“I’m worried that others may mistake me for Qin Feiyang. So, as long as you keep the matter of the White Wolf secret, we’ll be friends from now on. We can support and help each other. How does that sound?”

“Really?”

Lu Hong’s eyes lit up.

This man’s future was limitless.

If she could truly become his friend, she would certainly gain considerable benefits in the future.

Qin Feiyang smiled.

“Of course.”

Lu Hong said, “All right. I’ll guard this secret with my life.”

In truth, she had been wondering for days how she might reconcile with him.

Now that an opportunity had presented itself, she naturally could not let it pass.

Besides, it had been this man who saved her at Eagle Claw Peak and allowed her to escape disaster. Even without any conditions attached, she ought to help him.

Lu Hong asked, “What about the others? If I keep silent, will they?”

Qin Feiyang smiled.

“Other than the Fatty, I’ve already spoken to Ling Yunfei and Feng Linger.”

Lu Hong was astonished.

Ling Yunfei had a close relationship with this man, so it was perfectly natural for him to help keep the secret.

But Feng Linger was a favored daughter of heaven. How had she also agreed to help him?

At that moment, the Fatty leaned over with a sly grin.

“When did you two become so close? Aren’t you afraid your sister-in-law will get jealous?”

Lu Hong’s face reddened, and she hurriedly lowered her head.

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Qin Feiyang rolled his eyes, grabbed the Fatty, and pulled him close before muttering a few words into his ear.

Upon hearing them, a sharp glint flashed across the Fatty’s narrowed eyes. He looked up at Qin Feiyang and said unhappily, “Do I look like the sort of person who spreads gossip?”

Qin Feiyang laughed, patted the Fatty on the shoulder, and said nothing more.

He could already confirm that the deadbeat Fatty knew his true identity. He simply had not exposed it.

Time passed swiftly.

Around midnight, a magnificent ancient city appeared in their view.

The ancient city covered several hundred miles and was utterly immense.

Great halls rose and fell in layers, arranged in perfect disorder, their grandeur extraordinary.

The city walls on all four sides resembled enormous dragons, their surfaces gleaming with a cold sheen. An ancient aura surged toward them, assaulting their senses.

“That’s Yan City!”

The Fatty clenched both fists, his eyes shining brightly.

Under the hazy moonlight, the city looked like a savage prehistoric beast lying upon the earth, shaking the hearts of all who saw it.

Luo Xiong warned them, “Remember this. Yan City is the capital of Yan Commandery. Flying on beasts is strictly forbidden here.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he lightly pressed down with his foot. The eagle immediately dove toward the ground and landed on the plain before the city gates.

The plain was deathly silent in the depths of night.

One after another, they jumped down from the eagle’s back.

Luo Xiong patted the eagle’s shoulder and smiled.

“Old friend, go hunt in the nearby mountains for now.”

The eagle cried out, spread its wings, and soared into the sky.

“Follow me.”

Luo Xiong called to them and walked toward the city gates.

“In Yan City, not only is flying on beasts forbidden, but private fights are prohibited as well. And under no circumstances may anyone cause a death.”

Ling Yunfei asked, “What if someone repeatedly provokes us?”

“There is an arena in the city. You can fight there however you wish—provided you have the ability. If you need money, you can also earn it at the arena.”

“What do you mean?”

Qin Feiyang and the others stared at him in confusion.

“You’ll understand once you get there.”

Before long, they arrived before the city gates.

Two vigorous, imposing characters were carved above the entrance, radiating a frightening pressure.

Yan City!

“Hall Master Luo, please stop and submit to an inspection.”

Two guards stood before the gates.

They wore black armor and iron helmets, each holding a three-foot-long spear. Their expressionless faces and icy gazes were intimidating.

Feng Linger shouted, “What are you inspecting? Get out of the way!”

One of the guards said, “Miss Linger, we’re only carrying out our duties. Please forgive us.”

The other added, “Upon learning that the fiend Luo An was still alive, the King of Yan immediately issued an order. From this day forward, everyone entering Yan City must undergo a strict inspection.”

“That is only right.”

Luo Xiong smiled.

One of the guards took out a strange stone shaped like an eye. It was about the size of a palm, plain and unadorned, and looked utterly ordinary.

Yet the moment Qin Feiyang saw the stone, his mind and soul trembled violently.

The Heaven’s Eye Stone!