44: Chapter 44 The First Prince

Feng Tao's face was etched with absolute disbelief, her expression seemingly frozen in that moment.

She would rather believe that the entire world would be destroyed in an instant.

Than believe that the simple-minded Gan Xiaoqin she knew was actually that cold-blooded demon who killed without blinking an eye.

Feng Tao's mind kept replaying the scene where Gan Xiaoqin had saved her.

And the goofy smile he had shown; those memories were so vivid.

She still refused to believe that this simple lad could be connected to Emperor Qin of the Four Kings Pavilion.

Tears gradually welled up in Feng Tao's eyes as she shrieked, "Gan Xiaoqin! Why would you hurt Xi Yun!"

"We treated you well! Why would you do this to us!"

Qin Xiaogan took out the Void Mask and slowly put it on. "Xie Xiyun?"

"She is not my target."

Everyone looked at Qin Xiaogan, who was now wearing the mask with the character 'Emperor', and their hearts tightened involuntarily.

Young Master Li Qingfeng's legs couldn't stop trembling; neither Marquis Wuan nor Jiang Sheng could provide him with a shred of security anymore.

Because the terror of this man had long been deeply etched into the bottom of his heart.

Team Leader Xie Miao frowned deeply. "What exactly is your purpose?"

Just as Qin Xiaogan was about to reply,

Suddenly, a crisp and loud round of applause drifted from the side.

The applause seemed exceptionally abrupt in the tense atmosphere.

Everyone looked over instinctively.

They saw a handsome young man with an upright posture walking slowly toward them.

He was dressed in a magnificent python robe made of silk-smooth fabric, embroidered with lifelike flying dragons in gold thread, exuding dignity and dominance.

A wide, jade-inlaid belt was fastened around his waist, further accentuating his upright figure.

Everyone's expressions changed in an instant.

Following this, they all bowed and saluted, "Welcome, Your Highness the First Prince!"

Only Qin Xiaogan remained expressionless, watching everything happening before him as quietly as a statue.

The First Prince looked at Qin Xiaogan with great interest, scrutinizing him up and down.

"Should I call you the Pavilion Master of the Four Kings Pavilion, or the remnant of the fallen Emperor—Qin Xiaogan?" the First Prince's voice drifted over.

Except for Young Master Li Qingfeng, everyone else's faces were filled with immense shock upon hearing this.

Marquis Wuan's expression turned extremely rigid in that instant, as if he had been frozen.

The First Prince suddenly exclaimed in surprise, "Marquis Wuan, surely Qin Xiaogan hasn't come to seek revenge on you, has he?"

"Does he not know the hidden truth of what happened back then?"

Marquis Wuan's expression darkened further and further.

Qin Xiaogan became slightly interested and smiled. "What hidden truth?"

The First Prince said playfully, "You'll have to ask Marquis Wuan about that."

Subsequently, Qin Xiaogan turned to look at the silent Marquis Wuan.

Marquis Wuan pondered for a long while before asking, "Did you really kill my daughter?"

Qin Xiaogan smiled. "My patience is limited."

Meanwhile, the First Prince's lips curled slightly, revealing a smirk. "The dignified Marquis Wuan, and yet he doesn't even take you seriously."

Marquis Wuan's expression remained unchanged as he bowed to the First Prince. "Your Highness, my daughter's matter is of the utmost importance to me; it is not something that can be swayed by the opinions of others."

"I hope Your Highness will not divert the topic."

The First Prince raised an eyebrow and laughed. "What about the lives of the thousands of commoners in Yang City then?"

Marquis Wuan replied, "Your Highness, please do not joke. What does my daughter's matter have to do with the commoners of Yang City?"

The First Prince said playfully, "Oh? Someone, come here."

As soon as he finished speaking,

A shadowy figure, like a ghost, appeared extremely abruptly beside the First Prince.

Marquis Wuan's brows knitted together tightly, forming a deep "river" shaped crease between them.

The shadow, like ink slowly diffusing in water, gradually solidified into a clear human silhouette.

At this moment, Young Master Li Qingfeng couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "Ah? It's actually Lord Wen—Lv Chang!"

Upon seeing another feudal lord appear, Qin Xiaogan's smile didn't fade in the slightest; instead, it deepened.

The First Prince raised his hand slightly, signaling for Lv Chang to begin.

Lv Chang nodded solemnly and said slowly, "Qin Xiaogan is the son of Marquis Zhenguo."

"He is proficient in soul power and possesses a unique, undying ability. After the coup against Emperor Qin, he disappeared for seven long years."

"When he recently reappeared, he had assumed the alias Gan Xiaoqin. He destroyed Heaven on Earth and founded a second-tier Awakened organization in Great Zhou—the Four Kings Pavilion."

"Following that, he joined the Investigation Bureau to obtain a large amount of intelligence, and meticulously orchestrated that S-class incident which shook all of Yang City—The Advent of Death."

"In the course of this series of events, he successively kidnapped the daughter of the Marquis of Huainan—Li Lili, the daughter of Marquis Wuan—Xie Xiyun, and the son of Director Ma—Ma Teng."

Upon hearing that his sister was not dead, Young Master Li Qingfeng immediately heaved a sigh of relief.

However, when he realized that his sister was still under Qin Xiaogan's control, his heart, which had just relaxed, was instantly tightened again.

After hearing this, Team Leader Xie Miao remained calm and said in a flat tone, "Your Highness, what is your intention in telling me all this?"

"I hope Your Highness can enlighten me and clarify the deeper meaning behind this."

The First Prince's lips curled slightly, revealing a meaningful smile. "You and Marquis Zhenguo are truly brothers with deep affection."

Then, he continued with a hint of mockery, "His son has kidnapped your precious daughter, yet you can still remain so composed; it is truly admirable."

At this moment, Team Leader Xie Miao just stood there quietly, saying nothing, without any response.

The First Prince then spoke again, "Marquis Wuan, have you ever considered why Qin Xiaogan would lure you here?"

Hearing this, Marquis Wuan's originally calm expression flickered, and a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

The First Prince looked solemn and serious as he said, "Marquis Wuan, have you forgotten who you are fighting alongside against Big Face?"

"If you leave, Director Ma and the Marquis of Huainan will struggle to withstand the threat of Big Face. If they retreat, Yang City will turn into ruins; if they don't retreat, today will be their death anniversary."

Team Leader Xie Miao's expression changed drastically. He turned and glared at Qin Xiaogan, shouting sternly, "Nephew, is this your goal? Do you want the entire Yang City to be buried with the grievances between the Qin Family and the Xie Family?"

Qin Xiaogan ignored Team Leader Xie Miao.

He was just yawning on the side, bored out of his mind, looking listless.

He had been listening for a long time, and it was all nonsense.

The First Prince smiled at Qin Xiaogan. "You are truly very clever. If it were before, I wouldn't mind taking you under my command."

"However, in today's world, strength is the ultimate truth. Schemes without strength are merely duckweed without roots."