“Young friend Chu Feng, it is the clan leader himself who forbids Princess Xiaoxiao from leaving this place.”
“Unless the clan leader speaks otherwise, no one can defy his command.”
Long Duan gave his reason for refusing Chu Feng.
Chu Feng did not press Elder Long Duan further and said to Long Xiaoxiao, “Princess Xiaoxiao, I shall visit you again once I am done.”
“Yes, Chu Feng, take care.”
Long Xiaoxiao replied.
By now, the earlier despondency had vanished from her eyes, replaced by their former sparkle.
She knew Chu Feng could likely help her and that her mother probably had a chance.
From Elder Long Duan’s attitude towards Chu Feng, she could tell that Chu Feng and his master now held considerable weight in the Long clan.
Thereafter, Chu Feng returned to the Dragon Vein Source with Grand Elder Long.
But upon arriving, besides the ox-nosed old daoist who had stayed earlier, the Long clan leader, and numerous elders, two more people were present.
A middle-aged woman and a young lady.
Though middle-aged in appearance, the woman was mature and alluring, more captivating than many younger women, the sort who could enchant countless men.
The young lady Chu Feng had met before; she was Long Mumu.
Given the woman’s haughty, untouchable air, Chu Feng guessed she was likely Long Mumu’s mother.
The very culprit who had reduced Long Xiaoxiao and her mother to their current plight.
“Young friend Chu Feng, you are finally back. Everyone is waiting for you.”
The Long clan leader said with a smile upon seeing him.
Facing such a figure, Chu Feng dared not be disrespectful and returned the smile with a courteous bow.
Soon, however, his gaze shifted to Long Mumu.
“Princess Mumu, how goes your investigation?”
“Did I steal that token?”
Chu Feng asked.
“Hmph.”
Long Mumu ignored him, merely giving him an impatient glance.
She clearly already knew the full story.
Those present smiled awkwardly at Chu Feng’s words.
They too must have learned the gist of events and realised there was some misunderstanding between Chu Feng and Long Mumu, but no one took it seriously enough to explain.
“Master, now that everyone is here, may we begin?”
Long Mumu’s mother asked the ox-nosed old daoist.
Her tone carried a hint of urgency.
Clearly, this mother and daughter, accustomed to lording over others, had yet to grasp the importance of the ox-nosed old daoist and Chu Feng to the Long clan.
Instead, they treated them as ordinary spirit masters hired for the task.
But who was the ox-nosed old daoist?
Even the Long clan leader meant nothing to him; why would he heed Long Mumu’s mother?
He did not even glance at her and asked Chu Feng,
“My good disciple, did you see Princess Xiaoxiao?”
“Master, I did.”
“But she seems to be in some trouble.”
Chu Feng said.
“Trouble? What trouble?”
The ox-nosed old daoist pressed immediately.
“It appears she has been framed.”
Chu Feng said.
“What? Framed? Who dares frame Princess Xiaoxiao?”
The old daoist asked with displeasure, deliberately raising his voice.
Chu Feng then recounted the current plight of Long Xiaoxiao and her mother.
He only described their situation, not the reasons, since he did not know them.
By calling it a framing, he implied the mother and daughter were surely wronged.
“Clan leader, what is the meaning of this?”
The old daoist, understanding perfectly, wasted no words and questioned the clan leader directly.
“Insolence.”
But before the clan leader could reply, Long Mumu’s mother shouted angrily.
Her brows furrowed as she glared at the old daoist. “Who are you to meddle in our Long clan’s family affairs?”
“Silence.”
“No rudeness towards the master.”
Yet the clan leader suddenly spoke.
Though Long Mumu’s mother was unwilling, she closed her mouth.
His rebuke made her realise this ox-nosed man was no ordinary figure, or the clan leader would not shout at her for his sake.
“Master, young friend Chu Feng, this is a family matter.”
“There may be some misunderstanding. Rest assured, I shall handle it and ensure Xiaoxiao’s mother is not wronged.”
The clan leader explained to the old daoist and Chu Feng.
Clearly, he had anticipated Chu Feng raising this and prepared his response.
“Clan leader, as outsiders, we should not pry into your family affairs.”
“But Princess Xiaoxiao saved my disciple’s life. We only care that she is comfortable, regardless of the details.”
“So I will not ask if it is a misunderstanding, but I hope mother and daughter live well.”
“Thus, I will not probe further. Even if it is no misunderstanding, clan leader, could you grant me this favour and release Princess Xiaoxiao and her mother?”
The old daoist said.
“Very well. Since the master asks, I must grant this favour.”
“Someone, lift the restrictions on Xiaoxiao and her mother.”
The clan leader agreed readily.
“This…”
His words stunned Long Mumu and her mother.
They had worked so hard to topple Long Xiaoxiao’s mother and daughter; now they would be freed just because of outsiders’ pleas?
“Father.”
Long Mumu could not sit still and was about to speak.
But her mother pressed a hand on her shoulder, signalling silence.
Long Mumu’s mother understood the clan leader well: as a woman, one must always save face for one’s man.
Since he had agreed, she could not object.
Even if she disagreed, it would be discussed privately, never publicly contradicted.
This was the survival wisdom she had gained over years at his side.
“Master, may we begin now?”
The clan leader asked.
“Of course.”
“But first, I must brief my disciple on some matters.”
The old daoist agreed, then turned to Chu Feng.
He explained that, once the rift opened, Chu Feng and Long Mumu would enter together.
“Clan leader, I have one request.”
Having heard the plan, Chu Feng said to the clan leader.
“Will you ever stop? We invited you to work, not make demands.”
Long Mumu, finally at her limit, snapped at Chu Feng.
“Mumu.”
The clan leader glanced at her. Though not scolding, she shut her mouth with great displeasure.
“Young friend Chu Feng, what is your request?”
The clan leader asked.
“I wish the one entering the Dragon Vein Source with me to be Princess Xiaoxiao.”
Chu Feng said.
“This!!!”
His words changed the expressions of everyone, even the clan leader and Long Duan.
This request was frankly excessive.
Long Mumu entering with Chu Feng had already been decided.
She was present now.
How could it be changed so casually?
Switching now would leave Long Mumu no face.
She was the daughter the clan leader currently doted on most.
“Young friend Chu Feng, you have just returned and may not know the full situation.”
“I chose Mumu to accompany you for good reason.”
The clan leader said with a smile, still intending Long Mumu to go with Chu Feng.
“Clan leader, I mean no disrespect, but if I am to enter, it must be with Princess Xiaoxiao.”
Chu Feng said.
“Outrageous! What are you to threaten the clan leader?”
Suddenly, Long Mumu’s mother roared, her long-suppressed anger erupting.
“This is no threat; it will aid opening the Dragon Vein Source.”
“I do this for the Long clan’s good.”
Chu Feng said.
“Insolence! Are you saying my daughter is inferior to that Long Xiaoxiao?”
Long Mumu’s mother pointed and shouted.
“Master, what do you think of this…”
The clan leader looked to the ox-nosed old daoist.
He wanted the master to persuade Chu Feng.
After all, agreeing to let Long Mumu accompany Chu Feng had been the old daoist’s promise.
“Ahem…”
The old daoist cleared his throat twice before speaking.
“My apologies, clan leader. My disciple’s wish is also mine.”
