Chapter Eighty-Two: The Shameless City Lord

A few hundred breaths later.

The group arrived in great numbers outside the main gate of the Alchemy Hall.

The city lord glanced around and asked, “Where is the body?”

Truth be told, the head of the Ling family didn’t know the exact location, for when the burial took place, only Steward Ling and Qin Feiyang had been present.

“Hurry up and search, look for any signs of freshly dug earth!”

With a wave of the Ling family head’s hand, dozens of family disciples immediately spread out, launching a thorough search.

Zhao Liu and Li Qi’s bodies had originally been buried just outside the main gate.

Therefore, it didn’t take long before they found some traces.

However, when the Ling family members dug up the soil, they were stunned on the spot.

There was nothing there!

“How could this be?” The Ling family head stood by the deep pit, utterly stupefied.

Luo Xiong snorted coldly. “Ling family head, tell me—where are the bodies?”

Jolted awake, the Ling family head barked at the family disciples, “They must be here—keep digging, keep looking!”

Luo Xiong declared, “Let me be clear: if you can’t produce their bodies today, your Ling family will be struck from Black Bear City’s records!”

A tremor ran through the Ling family head.

The city lord raised his brow. “Luo Xiong, isn’t that a bit much?”

Luo Xiong sneered. “He’s slandered a disciple of my Alchemy Hall, which is an affront to our name and a challenge to our dignity. Tell me, is that not serious?”

The city lord’s frown deepened.

At this moment, Qin Feiyang stepped forward, giving the Ling family head a sardonic look. “Everyone, the one who actually killed Zhao Liu and Li Qi was Steward Ling.”

“Nonsense!” the Ling family head shouted angrily.

“If you have a clear conscience, why are you so agitated?” Qin Feiyang retorted coldly.

“Jiang Haotian, do you have proof?” Luo Xiong asked.

“I do. Everyone, follow me to the Ling residence.”

Qin Feiyang turned and strode off.

The crowd hurried after him.

The Ling family head’s eyes flickered with suspicion, but recalling his instructions to Steward Ling, his unease faded, and he sneered. “I’d like to see what proof you have!”

“You all keep searching here; I’ll go back with them.” Leaving these instructions to his clan, he quickly caught up.

At the Ling residence, only the major figures of Black Bear City were allowed inside; the rest gathered outside, awaiting news.

Qin Feiyang roamed about, searching for the artificial hill. After all, he’d only visited the Ling residence twice, both times at night, so the layout and environment were unfamiliar.

The Ling family head said coldly, “If you don’t find anything, you’ll owe me an explanation today.”

“You’re forgetful indeed. Let me remind you—it was you who slandered me first. If we find nothing, at worst, we’re even,” Qin Feiyang replied calmly.

“Even? Wishful thinking!” the Ling family head sneered inwardly.

After several hundred breaths, Qin Feiyang finally located the artificial hill.

He led everyone behind it.

Luo Xiong asked, “Jiang Haotian, is it here?”

Qin Feiyang nodded.

“Old Feng!” Luo Xiong barked.

Feng Cheng waved his hand; battle energy surged, and the earth churned violently.

“What a stench!”

“It’s the odor of corpses!”

The bodies had yet to emerge, but a nauseating stench was already wafting from the soil.

“How can this be?”

The Ling family head’s gaze trembled, locked on the pit.

As the earth was steadily cleared, two bodies gradually came into view. Three days had passed, and in the sweltering heat, they had already begun to rot.

“How did this happen?” the Ling family head murmured in disbelief.

The city lord’s eyes darkened; he turned to him and demanded, “How do you explain this?”

The Ling family head jolted and hurriedly said, “City lord, I’ve been framed! Jiang Haotian is setting me up—please see the truth!”

The city lord frowned and turned to Luo Xiong. “It’s not entirely impossible.”

Qin Feiyang’s gaze turned icy. “The evidence is right here, and you still accuse me of framing you? City lord, just how many favors have you taken from the Ling family to protect them so?”

“How dare you!” the city lord thundered, his look hostile.

“Oh? Will you strike me, then?”

Feng Cheng stepped between Qin Feiyang and the city lord, his old eyes flashing with cold light.

Luo Xiong and Elder Mo also unleashed their auras; the situation was tense.

The head of the Martial Hall glanced at Ling Yunfei, eyes flickering, then smiled at the city lord. “Now that we have both the bodies and the culprit, it’s excessive to keep defending the Ling family.”

The head of the Treasure Pavilion chimed in, “I agree.”

A chill ran down the city lord’s spine.

He never imagined that even the Martial Hall and the Treasure Pavilion would side with Qin Feiyang.

At last, he understood why Qin Feiyang had arranged for Ling Yunfei to join the Martial Hall.

Because once Ling Yunfei entered, with his extraordinary talent, the Martial Hall’s master would treasure him dearly.

And given the friendship between Ling Yunfei and Qin Feiyang, should conflict arise, the Martial Hall would side with both.

Who would have thought that a youth not yet sixteen could be so calculating?

Just thinking about it made his scalp tingle.

This boy was far too dangerous.

He had to be eliminated before he grew further!

A murderous intent welled up inside him. He looked at Luo Xiong and the others. “Fine, then tell me—if Jiang Haotian didn’t kill them himself, how did he know where the bodies were buried?”

Qin Feiyang laughed in anger. “How ridiculous. When the Ling family head slandered me earlier, why didn’t you ask him that? City lord, do you really want to see me gone?”

The city lord replied, “I overlooked that detail earlier.”

Feng Cheng clenched his fists. “Jiang Haotian, just tell him!”

Elder Mo said, “Indeed. If someone wishes to cover the sky with one hand, he’ll have to get past the Alchemy Hall first!”

The city lord’s eyes grew darker.

He could feel plainly that the three titans of the Alchemy Hall were deeply displeased with him.

Qin Feiyang said, “Alright, I’ll explain. You all remember, that night after we signed the life-and-death pact, we left the Ling residence directly.”

Everyone nodded.

Qin Feiyang continued, “After leaving the Ling residence, I escorted Ling Yunfei to Black Bear Mountain for training. When I returned, I happened to see Steward Ling murdering Zhao Liu and Li Qi.”

“Curious, I followed him and saw him carrying the two bodies back to the Ling residence. He didn’t use the main gate but crept in over the wall.”

“That made me even more curious, so I followed him inside and kept tracking him.”

“In the end, I saw with my own eyes as he buried the bodies here…”

As Qin Feiyang spoke, the Ling family head suddenly roared, “Impossible! I gave explicit instructions for him to frame you—”

Qin Feiyang chuckled, lips curled with scorn.

All the great figures’ gazes instantly turned cold.

Sensing the change in atmosphere, the Ling family head realized he’d spoken out of turn and hurriedly tried to explain, “City lord, what I meant was—”

“Enough!” the city lord barked.

The Ling family head shuddered, his face drained of color.

Expressionless, the city lord pronounced, “Not only did you murder the city guards, you tried to frame Jiang Haotian. Such malice is beneath contempt. Now, as city lord, I hereby declare: from this moment, the Ling family is expelled from Black Bear City!”

“What?”

The Ling family head trembled in mind and body, as if struck by a bolt from the blue—his mind buzzing.

The city lord had no other choice.

If he didn’t handle this impartially, Luo Xiong would surely escalate it up the chain. If it reached King Yan, his own position as city lord would be in danger.

“Whew!”

“What a relief.”

Qin Feiyang let out a long breath, his face devoid of pity.

For all of this, the Ling family had only themselves to blame.

But suddenly, he frowned. “Ling family head, how long do you plan to stall?”

“Stall?” Ling Yunfei was briefly stunned, then instantly understood Qin Feiyang’s meaning and shouted, “Give my mother back to me!”

“Give her back?”

The Ling family head burst into wild laughter, almost deranged.

“Bastard! I’ll kill you!” A surge of fury ignited in Ling Yunfei; he opened his arms and lunged at the Ling family head.

“Come then. I can use you to escape!” the Ling family head sneered inwardly.

But Qin Feiyang moved swiftly, seizing Ling Yunfei’s arm.

“Calm down! You’re no match for him!”

“He’s hoping you’ll rush him—if he captures you, he can use you to threaten us.”

“If that happens, not only will you fail to save your mother, you’ll lose your own life as well!”

These words struck Ling Yunfei like a bucket of cold water, bringing him to his senses.

However, the Ling family head’s expression twisted with malice as he fixed his gaze on Qin Feiyang and shouted, “Who are you, really? Why meddle in the Ling family’s affairs?”

Qin Feiyang replied coolly, “I have no particular hobbies—except standing up for justice.”

The Ling family head burst out laughing, dripping with sarcasm. “Too late for that! To tell you the truth, I’ve already sent people to take Ling Yunfei’s mother away. She left Black Bear City long ago.”

“Bastard! I knew your word was worthless!” Ling Yunfei’s rage flared, murderous intent soaring.

“So there was an issue after all,” Qin Feiyang muttered.

But escape? Not so easy.

The Martial Hall master came to Ling Yunfei’s side to comfort him. “Don’t worry, Yunfei. I’ll send people to find her at once.”

“Will they succeed?” Ling Yunfei asked, lost and despairing.

The crowd fell silent.

Though their skills were formidable, once the Ling family people left Black Bear City, the world was vast—finding them would be like searching for a needle in the sea.

No one felt confident.

“Don’t worry—they won’t get away,” Qin Feiyang said suddenly.

“Hm?” Everyone looked at him in surprise.

“Boss Jiang, Fatty’s back!”

Just then, a loud voice called from afar.

Moments later, Fatty came running, panting, and exclaimed admiringly, “Boss Jiang, you’re truly a genius! Those old devils from the Ling family really did take a woman and leave Black Bear City.”

Qin Feiyang asked, “Which direction?”

Fatty replied, “The west gate—they headed straight west.”

Qin Feiyang turned to Luo Xiong, but before he could speak, Luo Xiong said, “Old Feng, Old Mo, please head out.”

Feng Cheng and Elder Mo nodded; battle energy erupted, their feet barely touching the ground as they transformed into streaks of light and vanished.

At the same instant, the Ling family head suddenly launched a ferocious punch at Qin Feiyang!

He hated Qin Feiyang to the bone.

If not for his interference, none of this would have happened at all!