A great disaster always requires someone to take the blame, doesn’t it?
She naturally became that person. As for the truth she had discerned, in their eyes, it was nothing more than a joke.
The Fire Tribe, the foremost of the Four Great Imperial Clans, would be destroyed?
They had two seventh-order powerhouses and a powerful Sacred Soldier as their foundation. Who would dare to destroy them?
Even the Ancient Races wouldn’t dare to make such a claim.
Jin Qiongyu didn’t argue but silently bore it all. After emerging, she didn’t show any emotion, merely saying, "I’m a bit tired."
Suddenly, under the moonlight, a peculiar sight greeted her—a lone figure.
It was a woman from the Human Clan. She was sitting on the back of an old ox, moving very slowly, but she seemed in no hurry.
Jin Qiongyu found this very interesting, so she leaped down.
Guang Xiaoyu, feeling the disturbance, also woke up and slowly opened her eyes, "Wilderness tribe?"
"Emperor Clan," Jin Qiongyu affirmed.
The terms ’Wilderness’ and ’Imperial’—each a concise descriptor—represented vastly different clans.
After hearing this, Guang Xiaoyu was neither tense nor afraid and instead started laughing, "This is the first time I’m meeting a young genius from the Emperor Clan, not bad..."
"What’s your name?" Jin Qiongyu asked.
"Guang Xiaoyu, what about you?"
There was no killing intention between them; even their smiles were quite natural.
Jin Qiongyu stepped forward and examined the old ox Guang Xiaoyu was riding, "That’s a nice ox."
"Yes!" Guang Xiaoyu nodded. "Lao Huang is very obedient."
"I once encountered a Human Clan member, a very interesting one, but due to some misunderstandings... when we met again, we could only become enemies," Jin Qiongyu said.
Guang Xiaoyu smiled, "Why?"
"He trespassed into our clan and stole two great treasures. My clan elders issued a death order against him, and I... as one of the strongest among the younger generation, I had to act against him."
"You just said ’misunderstandings’."
"I didn’t stop him in time. Secondly, he probably thinks I betrayed him and set up a trap to kill him, but I didn’t," Jin Qiongyu said. She expressed the grievances she had harbored for the past half-month in a very casual tone.
The person she was venting to was a stranger from the Human Clan, a woman she’d never met.
Yet, for some reason, after speaking out, she no longer felt as oppressed in her heart.
Jin Qiongyu looked up, "Do you think he will realize the misunderstanding?"
Guang Xiaoyu shook her head, "I’m not sure about him, but... I think if you meet him, you could explain."
"It’s pointless. Our positions are different; it’s a matter of clan stance," Jin Qiongyu said. "For example, between you and me, if I were alone, I could talk to you about these things. But if my clansmen were here, I would have to act against you. That is stance."
If she didn’t act, it was equivalent to forsaking the stance of the Emperor Clan, with serious consequences.
Guang Xiaoyu said with a smile, "Well put. So why don’t you try to meet him alone?"
This question took Jin Qiongyu by surprise, suddenly giving her a moment of clarity. Right, why not meet him alone? Why does it have to be in front of everyone? There’s still a chance!
Jin Qiongyu smiled and promptly turned to leave.
"What’s his name?" Guang Xiaoyu asked from behind.
"Chen Pingping..." She had walked a long distance when the three words drifted back.
Guang Xiaoyu suddenly stiffened, her complexion darkening instantly. Chen Pingping? Senior Brother? What does this mean? This woman from the Emperor Clan, has she taken a liking to Senior Brother?
Guang Xiaoyu felt like she would explode on the spot, as if she had committed a monstrous sin!
Unfortunately, after several days passed, Jin Qiongyu still hadn’t found Chen Pingping and couldn’t explain the situation properly. She knew that once Chen Pingping stepped into the Boundary Monument area, she would have no chance anymore.
「It was another windy day.」
On that tall mountain, Jin Qiongyu was silent for a long, long time.
The maid beside her was discreetly quiet, accompanying her without making a sound.
Until an Emperor Clan powerhouse arrived and said, "We found the Human Clan cultivator Chen Pingping. The Elder wants you to come over."
In an instant, she lifted her head, joy mixed with a greater sense of unease and tension.
It wasn’t me who found him, but my clan. This means... I have no chance to explain anymore. Once I face Chen Pingping, we’ll be on opposing sides. I have to make a move.
「In the ancient town.」
Chen Pingping was calmly relishing his food with gusto, his clothes flapping in the wind.
Next to him, the Eight Treasures Chicken was sweating bullets, and even the Earth Chicken couldn’t help but feel nervous.
Just a moment ago, a powerhouse from the Fire Tribe had arrived. Upon seeing Chen Pingping, he exclaimed, "He’s here! Damn it... That Human Clan cultivator is here! Young Master! Elder!"
The voice was loud, and many people heard it, including the surrounding Wilderness tribe powerhouses, royal family members, Emperor Clan powerhouses, young geniuses, and so on.
All of them were astounded, intently watching Chen Pingping.
Just then, the news about Chen Pingping breaking into the Fire Tribe and stealing two great treasures had spread, leaving the Wilderness tribe powerhouses speechless.
That’s too audacious, right? A Human Clan cultivator, daring to intrude into the Fire Tribe—one of the Four Great Imperial Clans—and rob them of their treasures under everyone’s gaze! This...?
Everyone was shocked to the core.
But what astonished them even more was seeing that even though Chen Pingping had been exposed, he showed no intention of fleeing and instead continued to enjoy his meal.
The people from the Wilderness tribe beside him were dumbfounded.
The Eight Treasures Chicken couldn’t help but say, "Big Brother, shouldn’t we run?" It wanted to suggest that the Boundary Monument area wasn’t far away, and once they entered it, the Fire Tribe’s powerhouses would not dare to make a move against them.
But Chen Pingping remained unmoved, even retorting, "Why should we run?"
His indifferent tone and incredulous gaze seemed to broadcast his thoughts: I’m not the one in the wrong here. The Emperor Clan didn’t give me their treasures, so it’s their fault. And now they dare to send people to kill me? Utterly unreasonable!
Chen Pingping simply said, "Let’s talk after I’ve eaten."
With that, he ordered a few more dishes.
Hearing the news, the innkeeper almost burst into tears. He approached with a shaky gait, "Sir, could you possibly eat somewhere else? This meal is on the house, okay?"
Chen Pingping tossed out a few Spirit Stones, some Spiritual Medicine plants, and a few Spirit Pills, "You go! Find a safe place to run your business."
Witnessing this scene, everyone present was staring wide-eyed.
Spirit Stones weren’t particularly exceptional, as they could still be mined in the Wasteland. Spiritual Medicine was also available, albeit rare. However, Spirit Pills were a different matter entirely—truly, no one in the Wasteland practiced Alchemy, so such pills were not produced.
The Wilderness tribe was not suited for Alchemy.
Therefore, each Spirit Pill in the Wasteland was an invaluable item, even those of very low grade.
The innkeeper didn’t say another word and immediately fled, not even caring to take the money from the cash register, making a clean getaway.
He also sent away the waiters.
In no time, news of the Human Clan cultivator’s outrageous wealth spread, and many from the Wilderness tribe showed envious expressions.
It didn’t take long for more and more Wilderness tribe powerhouses to gather. They were waiting.
Chen Pingping was waiting, too.
Only the Eight Treasures Chicken was trembling, eager to leave this place.
Finally, a group of people arrived from outside the ancient town: powerhouses from the Fire Tribe, led by an Elder, with the tribe’s young genius, Huo Yan, by his side.