Chapter 47: The Fox King’s Gambit and Qin Yangjun’s Vanishing Act

A heavy thud echoed through the grand hall, and the golden-feathered youth, seated in the very center, spoke with a simmering fury.

“Since Mu Xianxian murdered my father, a blood feud has been declared between us! I find this plan entirely viable, but tell me, Heavenly Fox King…”

He cast a glance at Yin Kang Xuehan, who had, by then, fully regained her languid composure.

“And your promise to me?”

“Rest assured, I always uphold my word. Once the task is accomplished, I will relay the news of your sister.”

“Remember what you have said.”

With those words, Yin Kang Xuehan rose and departed, her presence fading entirely from the hall.

The golden-feathered youth’s expression gradually sharpened into a frigid mask.

“This woman is not truly aligned with us; we can no longer bind her. The true essence of a Heavenly Fox is a treasure beyond measure. Once she completes her task, esteemed elders… you all know what must be done, do you not?”

A profound silence met his declaration.

Only pairs of bloodthirsty eyes glinted crimson from the surrounding shadows.

After three arduous days, the flying ship finally arrived at its destination. Even before it touched down, the passengers could marvel at the bustling cityscape and the constant stream of commercial flying vessels crisscrossing the skies.

This captivating sight immediately drew everyone’s gaze, so completely that they failed to observe Qin Yangjun, who had already deftly slipped off the vessel.

Accompanying Qin Yangjun were Ah Ling, Hua Yaoyao, Yu Lingyue, and Jiang Yanfeng.

Whether the two heroines followed Qin Yangjun was of little consequence; Jiang Yanfeng remained the true focal point of his attention.

His premature departure from the flying ship had been a calculated move, specifically designed for Jiang Yanfeng to notice.

Upon the flying ship’s arrival, Canggu City would naturally extend its welcome. Qin Yangjun’s swift disembarkation at that precise moment clearly hinted at an underlying scheme.

Jiang Yanfeng, having observed Qin Yangjun’s subtle maneuver, would undoubtedly take note.

Yet, this alone was insufficient to compel Jiang Yanfeng to follow.

Therefore, before Qin Yangjun left, he intentionally dropped a hint.

“We’ve arrived just in time, thankfully. I overheard that the Cultivator’s Alley in Canggu City is offering a rare treasure for sale today. I only hope it hasn’t been acquired yet.”

‘A rare treasure?’

The mere mention of those two words instantly ignited Jiang Yanfeng’s interest.

‘How formidable must a rare treasure be to pique even Qin Yangjun’s curiosity?’

‘However, this fellow’s intelligence network is remarkably vast, allowing him to obtain such news from afar. Could his sudden presence here be solely for this so-called rare treasure?’

Driven by the desire to, at the very least, vex Qin Yangjun if he couldn’t claim the treasure himself, Jiang Yanfeng stealthily shadowed Qin Yangjun’s path.

The instant he perceived Jiang Yanfeng’s pursuit, Qin Yangjun knew his intricate plan was already halfway to completion.

Meanwhile, at the flying ship, Zhuang Hancheng, the Lord of Canggu City, along with his retinue, was extending a formal welcome to the delegation from Yuqian Sect.

“Zhuang Hancheng, Lord of Canggu City, respectfully greets the esteemed members of Yuqian Sect upon your arrival.”

The leading Peak Master gave a subtle nod in acknowledgment.

Another Peak Master, however, cast his gaze over the ranks of the disciples behind them. After a quick scan, he let out a faint sigh.

Truth be told, they were never meant to be standing there in the first place.

But Qin Yangjun had vanished without a trace, his whereabouts unknown.

Nonetheless, they held the jade token bestowed by Mu Xianxian. Should Qin Yangjun face any peril, the token would instantly trigger an alert and pinpoint his exact location, thus assuaging their concerns for his safety.

Despite Qin Yangjun’s absence, the customary formalities had to proceed.

“Lord Zhuang, you must be well aware of our objective for this journey. Therefore, superfluous courtesies are unnecessary. Let us commence by discussing the intelligence you have managed to acquire.”

“This way, esteemed guests, if you please.”

With these words, Zhuang Hancheng gestured to an individual at his side, but the man appeared utterly bewildered for a moment.

It was only after a discreet nudge from a nearby attendant that he belatedly stirred, then began guiding the disciples of Yuqian Sect.

“Heh heh, please forgive this slight oversight, esteemed guests. This new attendant is still acclimating to his duties. I shall replace him tomorrow.”

The two Nascent Soul peak stage deacons exchanged faint smiles.

One of them then remarked,

“To have a newly recruited individual greet us, it seems the City Lord’s manor is indeed severely understaffed.”

This was clearly a subtle jab at Zhuang Hancheng’s propensity for forming factions.

Zhuang Hancheng’s past conduct was hardly a secret within Yuqian Sect; all who were privy to such information were well aware.

However, the matter of his ultimate disposition was not theirs to decide.

Zhuang Hancheng could only manage a strained chuckle, before a ruthless glint flashed in his eyes. A surge of spiritual energy erupted from him, and in the very next moment, the attendant was flung backward, slamming into the wall.

The assembled disciples were visibly startled by this abrupt display, while the four leading figures remained unperturbed, their faces betraying no emotion.

To hold the position of Canggu City Lord and to brazenly engage in clandestine activities right under the Yuqian Sect’s nose, this individual was unequivocally no benevolent soul.

That he would resort to such a drastic measure came as no surprise to them.

Though he had not taken the man’s life, his meridians were utterly severed, rendering him incapable of cultivation for the remainder of his days.

“My apologies for these lax arrangements; I offer my sincerest regrets to all of you present. Everything has been prepared on this side; please proceed, and I shall follow directly.”

“A truly tiresome farce,” one muttered.

A Peak Master shook his head, then took the lead, heading in the direction indicated by the other attendants, with the remaining three following closely behind.

Moments later, all the members of Yuqian Sect had completely departed.

The group originally tasked with welcoming them then converged, but no sooner had they approached than…

Zhuang Hancheng abruptly lashed out with his sleeve.

A man was sent hurtling through the air, crashing directly into the wall.

“I warned you before that this operation is exceedingly perilous! Fortunately, those individuals weren’t observant, or our clandestine efforts would have been exposed immediately. Do you not comprehend that impersonation hinges on meticulous detail? A single flaw can lead to utter collapse. How dare you enlist such an inexperienced fool? If you yearn for death, I will not impede you, but do not, under any circumstances, drag me into your demise!”

The man coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, painfully struggled to his feet, then bowed his head, utterly silent.

At that moment, the leading attendant hastily interjected.

“Heavenly Fox King, please temper your wrath. The incident was unforeseen, and this was the extent of the manpower we could procure. Next time, we shall ensure a thorough vetting process.”

Yin Kang Xuehan merely scoffed.

‘Next time? Do they genuinely believe themselves to be invincible?’

However, at that juncture, she found herself disinclined to bicker with such insignificant imps.

“How fare those individuals beyond the city walls?”

“The formation bestowed by the Heavenly Fox King is exceptionally profound; Zhuang Hancheng and his faction will likely fail to extricate themselves within a day.”

“This concubine harbors no concerns for her own formations. My true apprehension lies with you simpletons botching things up!”

The sheer ineptitude of this group left Yin Kang Xuehan utterly exasperated. Had she not been so preoccupied as to neglect cultivating her own trusted personnel in this locale, she would never have suffered such riff-raff to serve under her command.

Hearing this, the leading man dared not offer another word, burying his head even deeper in submission.

“Very well, none of this is paramount. How are the arrangements on the other side progressing?”

The attendant who had spoken earlier finally raised his head, and after a moment of visible internal conflict, he reported:

“Heavenly Fox King, certain unforeseen complications have emerged. Our plan will regrettably need to be deferred.”

Yin Kang Xuehan’s eyes narrowed to slits.

“Elaborate.”

“Our primary target for this operation, Qin Yangjun, is not present among this contingent of individuals. He has vanished, and his whereabouts are entirely unknown.”

Yin Kang Xuehan’s expression flickered. She realized that she had been so absorbed in managing the four leading figures earlier that she had genuinely failed to ascertain if Qin Yangjun was even present.

A moment later, a sense of weary acceptance seemed to settle upon her.

“Oh, is that the case? Then let it be. We shall withdraw and declare the mission a failure.”

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