When the oppressive aura was released, Elder Ling Tao’s gaze shifted once more.
Long Nanxun was no stranger to this place, having come multiple times to visit Long Xiaoxiao.
Normally, when Ling Tao unleashed such an aura, Long Nanxun would have been scared witless and fled immediately.
But today, not only did Long Nanxun not flee, his expression remained unchanged.
This greatly surprised Ling Tao.
Had this kid eaten a bear’s heart or a leopard’s gall to gain such boldness?
“Long Ling Tao, do you really think you can act recklessly just because you have Princess Mumu’s backing?”
“Do you believe Princess Mumu will always hold such power?” Long Nanxun asked sternly.
At this, Chu Feng finally understood why they were adversaries.
So, Elder Ling Tao was one of Long Mumu’s people.
It was likely that all those guarding this place were aligned with Long Mumu.
With Long Mumu’s people tasked with watching Long Xiaoxiao, Chu Feng realised her situation might be even worse than he had imagined.
“I only follow the orders of the Long Clan, the orders of the clan leader.”
“Long Nanxun, you can question me, but you cannot question the clan leader.”
“Questioning the clan leader is a capital offence. If not for your grandfather’s sake, I could execute you on the spot.”
“Leave now, and I’ll pretend you were never here.”
“But if you don’t go, don’t blame me for being unkind,” Elder Ling Tao said viciously.
As expected, he didn’t act directly against Long Nanxun, still wary of certain constraints.
“Following the clan leader’s orders?” Long Nanxun sneered before continuing, “Then let me tell you, I am here today with the clan leader’s permission.”
“What? You say you have the clan leader’s permission?”
“You?” Elder Ling Tao burst into laughter, no longer angry but amused.
He not only retracted his aura but stood there, laughing uproariously.
His laughter echoed far and wide.
He wasn’t afraid of being overheard, laughing with such arrogance and insolence.
Most notably, his laughter carried a mocking tone.
Anyone who heard it could feel the scorn in it.
“Laughing?”
“Long Ling Tao, open your dog eyes and take a good look at this.”
With a sudden flick of his sleeve, Long Nanxun produced a token and held it up to Elder Ling Tao’s face.
It was the Long Clan leader’s token.
It had been given to Long Nanxun by the clan leader specifically when he instructed him to guide Chu Feng.
The clan leader must have known that without something special, Long Nanxun’s status wouldn’t grant him access to Long Xiaoxiao.
“Where… where did you get that token?” Elder Ling Tao, previously so arrogant, was now dumbfounded.
The token was unique and impossible to forge.
Even if it could be forged, no one in the Long Clan would dare attempt it.
His first thought wasn’t suspicion but certainty that this was indeed the clan leader’s token.
But how could such a precious token end up in Long Nanxun’s hands?
Even Long Nanxun’s grandfather wouldn’t be entitled to hold such a token.
Instead of answering directly, Long Nanxun said, “Seeing this token is like seeing the clan leader himself. You dare remain standing?”
“Kneel at once!”
Thud—
Though deeply reluctant, Elder Ling Tao immediately knelt in mid-air.
At the same time, the previously empty void, where only the three of them had been, began to ripple.
Figures started to emerge behind Elder Ling Tao.
In the blink of an eye, hundreds of figures appeared.
They were all tasked with guarding Long Xiaoxiao.
They had remained hidden in the void until now.
But now, they dared not stay concealed.
It wasn’t Long Nanxun’s authority that compelled them, but the token’s.
At this moment, they all knelt in mid-air, heads bowed, not daring to look up.
They awaited orders. No matter how much they disliked or looked down on Long Nanxun, with the clan leader’s token in his hand, they had to obey any command.
“Elder Ling Tao, as they say, fortunes change. Don’t think Princess Mumu can protect you forever.”
“Princess Xiaoxiao is, after all, the clan leader’s most cherished daughter,” Long Nanxun said.
“Young Master Nanxun, I’ve been guarding this place under the clan leader’s orders.”
“I’ve never made things difficult for Princess Xiaoxiao. I wouldn’t dare,” Elder Ling Tao said, his tone now drastically different.
Previously high and mighty, he was now utterly subservient.
Such was the power of the Long Clan leader’s token.
“Where is Princess Xiaoxiao now?” Long Nanxun asked.
He asked because Long Xiaoxiao’s domain was vast, comparable to a kingdom.
And Long Xiaoxiao wasn’t one to stay quietly in her palace.
Thus, Long Nanxun asked to locate her immediately.
“Young Master Nanxun, a few hours ago, during my patrol, I saw Princess Xiaoxiao at the Moon-Gazing Pavilion.”
“But I’m not sure if she’s still there,” one of the elders said.
Upon hearing this, Long Nanxun said no more and led Chu Feng deeper into the domain.
Long Nanxun’s expression remained serious until he was sure they were out of the elders’ sensory range. Then, a smile broke across his face.
That smile was one of pure satisfaction, almost childlike in its innocence.
“That felt good, so exhilarating. Those dogs, relying on Long Mumu and her mother’s influence, have completely disregarded me lately.”
“Today, I finally vented my frustration.”
“Chu Feng, this is all thanks to you,” Long Nanxun said, clutching the token while looking at Chu Feng with gratitude.
“It’s all for Princess Xiaoxiao,” Chu Feng said.
“Indeed.”
Long Nanxun nodded in agreement.
He then quickened his pace, more worried about Long Xiaoxiao than anyone.
