Old Xiao?
Many people keenly noted the familiarity in Zhou Changqing's tone. Such an address was only used between close acquaintances. Instantly, Jia Xingtian and the upper echelons of the Misty Cloud Sect began to speculate about the relationship between this Master Refiner and Xiao Yan.
"Master Zhou, it seems you know Xiao Yan," Yun Leng said, his gaze cold as he stared at Zhou Changqing.
Zhou Changqing shrugged and nodded without any attempt to hide it. "That's right. Old Xiao is a good friend of mine. We both hail from Wu Tan City. But that hardly prevents me from offering some advice, does it?"
With his current strength and the backing of a powerhouse like Medusa, he had no need to be secretive within the Jia Ma Empire. Nor did he care to.
As expected, Zhou Changqing's admission brought understanding to the crowd. If their relationship wasn't strong, this Master Refiner would have no reason to risk offending the Misty Cloud Sect by stepping forward.
"Heh," Yun Leng sneered. "Master Zhou, do you truly think I would believe that? This matter concerns the prestige of the Misty Cloud Sect. It would be best if you did not interfere. I will give you a choice: withdraw now, and I will pretend your earlier interference never happened. Otherwise, I trust you are aware of the consequences of making an enemy of the Misty Cloud Sect!"
Although Zhou Changqing's talent was extraordinary, verging on genius, he was, in the end, only a Dou Wang. Yun Leng did not place him on equal footing, but rather saw him as an inferior. Otherwise, no matter how busy he had been, he would have sent someone to establish contact long ago.
Hearing this, Zhou Changqing could only offer a helpless smile. The Misty Cloud Sect had been perched on its high horse for too long, grown accustomed to its own tyranny. It had made this Yun Leng arrogant and foolish. Even a figure like Medusa understood his potential and value; even without the matter of the lightning qi, she would have treated him with courtesy. Yet Yun Leng, a mere First Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, was foolish enough to threaten him. Was he not afraid that once Zhou Changqing grew stronger, he would become a massive hidden threat to the Misty Cloud Sect?
However, considering the entity lurking behind the Misty Cloud Sect, Zhou Changqing had no desire to tear away all pretenses just yet. If he drew that thing's attention, his future would be anything but peaceful. It might even lead back to the colossal power behind it. He currently lacked the capital and strength to face such a behemoth.
"Elder Yun Leng, I have no wish to meddle in this affair either, but Old Xiao is like a brother to me. I cannot simply stand by and do nothing." Noticing Yun Leng's expression darken at his words, Zhou Changqing paid it no mind and continued with a smile, "But rest assured, Elder. The solution I propose will not be biased toward Old Xiao. Why not hear me out before you make a decision?"
At this, a flicker of hesitation appeared in Yun Leng's eyes. While Zhou Changqing wasn't a major figure in his view, he still carried some weight. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent an invitation in the first place. Therefore, if he had a choice, it was better to avoid making an enemy. After a moment, Yun Leng slowly said, "Since Master Zhou has put it that way, then this old man is all ears. I hope you are true to your word. If not, don't blame me for not showing you any courtesy."
Hearing this, everyone knew Yun Leng had conceded. They all perked up their ears, eager to learn what kind of solution Zhou Changqing could offer to resolve this conflict.
"Of course. Old Xiao, you have no objections, do you?" Zhou Changqing nodded with a smile before turning to Xiao Yan below, raising an eyebrow in question.
Xiao Yan smiled inwardly. He didn't think Old Zhou would set him up in a situation like this, so he nodded immediately. "I have no problem with that."
"Excellent. Since neither side has an issue, I will share my thoughts. Regarding the matter of Mo Cheng, you both have your own versions of the story but lack any concrete evidence. Therefore, we should take a more moderate approach. Old Xiao is certainly a suspect, so it is reasonable for him to remain and cooperate with the Misty Cloud Sect's investigation."
At this point, Jia Xingtian and the others shot Zhou Changqing strange looks. Even Yun Leng was a bit surprised. What was this? Weren't they as close as brothers? It didn't seem like it. In fact, it sounded like he was siding with the Misty Cloud Sect.
Though Xiao Yan's expression remained unchanged, he couldn't help but wonder to himself, *This guy, Old Zhou... he's not selling me out, is he?* But the thought lasted only a moment before he dismissed it. He trusted Old Zhou.
As expected, Zhou Changqing's tone shifted as he continued, "However, to prevent... certain situations from arising, Xiao Yan can stay to cooperate with the investigation, but he must be accompanied. This ensures fairness and provides a witness. Among everyone present, my relationship with Old Xiao is the closest, making me the most suitable person for the role. This way, regardless of the truth, the Misty Cloud Sect's reputation will not be affected. Elder Yun Leng, what do you think of my proposal?"
Having said his piece, Zhou Changqing watched Yun Leng with a smile. The others also turned their gazes to the elder, awaiting his answer. They had all caught the underlying meaning in Zhou Changqing's words. That phrase, "certain situations," was quite suggestive. The drama was getting more and more interesting.
Yun Leng's eyes narrowed. Under normal circumstances, this would indeed be an excellent solution. But was his true goal to investigate Mo Cheng's death? No! That was just a pretext. His main objective was to detain Xiao Yan and use certain methods to salvage the face the Misty Cloud Sect had lost today. If Zhou Changqing stayed to accompany him, employing those special methods would become very difficult.
In truth, even Yun Leng didn't believe Xiao Yan possessed the strength of a Dou Huang and could kill Mo Cheng. If this wasn't resolved quickly and the matter dragged on for a few days, the Sect Leader would return... Recalling the Sect Leader's temperament, she would likely disapprove of his actions. Not only would she release Xiao Yan, but she would also reprimand him for making such a spectacle of the Three-Year Agreement on his own authority.
Furthermore, he was not entirely ignorant of Mo Cheng's activities. If the investigation were to expose the Mo family's human-beast hybridization experiments, the Misty Cloud Sect would lose face yet again! And the fallout wouldn't be any smaller than today's; it could be far worse! No! Absolutely not!
A reprimand was a small matter, but the Misty Cloud Sect's reputation could not be tarnished! With this in mind, Yun Leng prepared to refuse.
But Zhou Changqing seemed to see right through him and suddenly added in a soft, pointed tone, "Elder Yun Leng, I am merely a Dou Wang. I can hardly stir up any trouble here in the Misty Cloud Sect, and I certainly have no ability to tamper with the investigation in Xiao Yan's favor. Surely, you wouldn't refuse such a proposal, would you?"
The implication was crystal clear. If he disagreed, wouldn't it suggest the Misty Cloud Sect couldn't even handle a single Dou Wang? Or worse, that Yun Leng's true intentions lay elsewhere—that he was targeting Xiao Yan out of anger and humiliation?
The moment he spoke, Yun Leng's expression shifted slightly as he felt gazes from all directions converge on him. From the guest stands, Jia Xingtian's eyes were filled with undisguised amusement. He was clearly enjoying the show. While he wouldn't openly help make trouble for the Misty Cloud Sect, he was more than happy to see it happen.
The Misty Cloud Sect had been put on the spot, and Yun Leng was being roasted over a fire. Agreeing was unacceptable, but refusing was just as bad.
Seeing this, Zhou Changqing chuckled inwardly. This was precisely the effect he wanted. The Misty Cloud Sect wasn't run by Yun Leng alone; the Sect Leader, Yun Yun, was still above him. As long as he didn't blow the situation up enough to startle Yun Shan, he just had to wait for Yun Yun to return. Given her relationship with Xiao Yan, Zhou Changqing wasn't worried about what would happen to his friend.
At this point, Yun Leng had no choice. He could only choose the lesser of two evils. The Mo family's affairs could not withstand scrutiny!
"This old man finds your proposal... unacceptable!"