Chapter 201 : Chapter 201

Chapter 201. The Old Clan Leader

Shi ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Ritian did not say the rest aloud, but both of them understood it perfectly well.

Yet ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Old Clan Leader, who had seemed somewhat opposed just moments ago, suddenly let out a cold laugh and said with an air of arrogance that looked down on the entire world, “So what if we lose? What can the Ancient Royal Clan possibly do to us? As long as we capture Chu Feng, will that not be enough? That is the real core of this whole matter. At worst, when the time comes, we can shove all the blame onto Chu Feng. You can simply say that you did it as a precaution, because you did not want to give Chu Feng even the slightest chance to break free.”

At ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍those words, Shi Ritian also burst into hearty laughter.

“Brilliant! ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Old Ancestor, you truly are the Old Ancestor. This move is absolutely brilliant. This junior is filled with admiration. In that case, we will do exactly as you say when the time comes.” Shi Ritian immediately cupped his hands and gave the Old Ancestor a deep ninety-degree bow.

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍two men exchanged a smile and, in that instant, reached a silent understanding.

However, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍both of them were immersed in this sudden joy and failed to notice that outside the tent, a figure had quietly melted into the darkness.

Leaning against the wall of the tent, Yuntian pressed one hand to his chest and gasped for breath, his eyes filled with shock...

It turned out that Yuntian had been unable to sleep because the image of Chu Feng together with Cailin kept replaying in his mind. His heart had grown so restless and stifled that he had tossed and turned on his bed without finding any rest.

So he had put on plain clothes and gone out to walk through the encampment, hoping the night breeze would blow away the frustration in his heart. Yet without realizing it, he had wandered near Shi Ritian’s tent.

At first, he had intended to go in, drink with Shi Ritian, and speak of the bitterness weighing on his heart. But who could have imagined that before he even stepped inside, he would hear this conversation outside the tent?

This was utter treachery.

At that moment, Yuntian did not even know how he was supposed to face any of this. He even regretted listening to Shi Ritian’s poisonous words in the first place. After all, he and Cailin knew better than anyone what kind of man Shi Ritian was. But now he was already tied to the same boat as him, and he deeply regretted it.

Back then, however, he had had no other choice. But there was no medicine for regret in this world, and now two voices were constantly shouting inside his heart. Should he abandon the darkness and turn toward the light, or continue making one mistake after another?

So Shi Ritian had been planning to seize the Nine Netherworld Emperor Flame...

To extract Cailin’s Seven-Colored Spiritual Aura...

So this was what Shi Ritian had truly been plotting?

A storm surged through Yuntian’s heart. It would have been bad enough if Shi Ritian were merely greedy, but the things he had promised before had, in Shi Ritian’s eyes, already become part of his own perfect scheme.

He had even been planning to dispose of him once he was no longer useful.

What was he supposed to do?

Should he go and tell Cailin?

But Cailin was with Chu Feng now. Would she really be willing to believe him?

Should he immediately go tell the leaders of the other clans and have the forces of the other eight clans stop Shi Ritian together?

But he had no evidence. Who would believe him?

Shi Ritian might even turn around and accuse him of sowing discord.

And more than that...

Yuntian once again recalled the look in Cailin’s eyes when she gazed at Chu Feng in the Imperial Garden.

Her eyes had been so bright, so gentle. It was a look he had never seen before. That gaze had been filled with love. Perhaps even Cailin herself did not realize it, but Yuntian had seen it with painful clarity.

It was unbearably dazzling.

Yuntian closed his eyes, and another sharp pain stabbed through his chest. Had Cailin really chosen that human?

Did she not want him anymore?

And yet Yuntian truly could not bear it. He and Cailin had been together day and night for hundreds of years. If he had to stand there and watch her die with his own eyes, he knew that no matter what, he would never be able to do it.

But matters had already come to this. What was done was done. Shi Ritian’s power now towered to the heavens, and by himself, Yuntian simply had no strength to shake it.

Yuntian opened his eyes again. They were filled with deep exhaustion and despair as he continued to gasp for breath. He truly could not think of any way to resolve all of this.

At once, a splitting headache washed over him.

Yuntian silently turned away and disappeared into the darkness. That night, he was no longer able to sleep at all.

Although Yuntian said nothing and did nothing, he had already made up his mind in secret.

No matter what, even if it cost him his life, he would definitely rescue Cailin from Chu Feng’s hands, and he absolutely would not let her fall into Shi Ritian’s hands.

But was everything really as simple as he imagined?

No.

Whether he could truly save Cailin as he hoped remained completely unknown.

Because if things were really as Shi Ritian had just said, then this battle between the Ancient Killing Array and Chu Feng would probably be far more complicated than anyone had imagined.

And with Shi Ritian being such a scheming man, there was no telling what kind of fresh trouble he would stir up when the time came.

At the same time, in the Great Chu Dynasty, within the Imperial Palace...

In the Imperial Garden, the moonlight was like water. Everything looked so serene and beautiful, proceeding in perfect order, utterly unaware that those death-seeking fools of the Ancient Royal Clan were once again secretly stirring up all kinds of chaos behind the scenes.

Chu Feng stood with his hands clasped behind his back beside the small pond in the Imperial Garden, watching the koi swim back and forth as he looked up at the bright moon in the night sky. Moonlight was reflected in his eyes, and it was impossible to tell whether it was the moon’s radiance or the light in Chu Feng’s gaze.

The silver-white moonlight spilled down over him, draping his figure in a faint silver halo.

“You are still not asleep this late at night? And you even have the leisure to stand here admiring the moon?”

Suddenly, a soft voice rang out. Draped in a thin cloak, Cailin slowly walked to Chu Feng’s side.

Her sudden voice broke the quiet of the moment. Chu Feng turned to look at her. She had probably been preparing to retire for the night, and the long hair she had previously pinned up was now hanging loose. Under the moonlight, she looked especially gentle and graceful.

The sight of Cailin like this tugged at the softest place in Chu Feng’s heart. The corners of his lips curved into a smile, and he looked at her meaningfully. “And are you not awake as well? Couldn’t you sleep either, or is it something else?”

Cailin’s face reddened slightly, and she said softly, “I... I could not sleep, so I thought I would come outside for a walk. I did not expect you to be here too...”

“Oh?” Chu Feng arched a brow, a trace of teasing flashing through his eyes. “What were you thinking about? Were you thinking about me? For the two of us to run into each other this late at night, would you say this counts as fate between us?”

Chu Feng had started being improper again, and Cailin immediately shot him a glare. “You are impossible! Can you say something serious for once?”

Chu Feng pursed his lips and put on an aggrieved expression. “How am I not being serious? Are you not wronging me a bit too much?”

Cailin bit her lip. For some reason, when she saw Chu Feng like this, she found herself too embarrassed to look directly at him.

After hesitating for a moment, she finally asked, “Actually, I was thinking... do you think the Ancient Royal Clan will make a move? Will they target you?”

Chu Feng’s gaze shifted slightly, and then he laughed. It was the kind of deep, resonant laugh that rose from his chest. It was obvious that Cailin had genuinely amused him.