Long Chen did this precisely to avoid implicating the Martial Ancestor.
This whole matter started because of him, and he had to be the one to end it.
Seeing that Long Chen had already left and that Liu Teng was fuming with rage, Shangguan Yuan grew bold. "Sir! He’s the one who killed Ma Cheng, Lord Liu, and his men!" he shouted. "If you want to hold someone responsible, go after him!"
"Trash!" Liu Teng snarled. "In front of the World King Palace, it’s not your place to act so presumptuously!"
He snorted coldly, his gaze locking onto Long Chen and Xia Duoduo in the distance. He commanded the men behind him, "Pursue them! Capture those two! There will be a great reward!"
Upon hearing this, the eight members of the World King Palace immediately gave chase, heading in the direction Long Chen and Xia Duoduo had gone.
"Shangguan Yuan! How could you?" Chu Lingjun was the first to condemn his actions, her voice cold. "Long Chen just spared you. Not only are you ungrateful, but you turn around and slander him?"
Shangguan Yuan sneered sinisterly. "Is there a problem with what I did? If I hadn’t said that, our entire Martial Ancestor would have had to bear the responsibility! This whole mess started because of that kid, so he’s the one who should pay for it! Everything I did was for the sake of the Martial Ancestor!"
"Such twisted logic," Chu Lingjun shot him a venomous glare.
Chu Zhentian and Tuoba Jin were also livid with Shangguan Yuan.
"Scum!" Long Xin flew into a rage. "You dare harm Brother Chen? I’ll take your life!" She drew her Sharp Sword and lunged at Shangguan Yuan.
Shangguan Yuan met her charge with a swift palm strike, sending her flying. Seething with anger, Long Xin wanted to attack again but was stopped by Chu Lingjun.
"You have internal injuries and are no match for him. Don’t be reckless."
Long Xin had no choice but to relent. "Brother Chen is in danger. I must go after him." As she spoke, she made to leave, but Chu Lingjun landed a swift chop on her shoulder, knocking her unconscious.
"It’s better if you stay out of this."
Chu Lingjun supported the unconscious Long Xin and started back toward the Heaven Institute.
Watching this, Chu Zhentian sighed helplessly. Against the World King Palace, the Martial Ancestor is nothing more than an ant, utterly incapable of resisting! Since things have already come to this, I can only consider the greater good and stay out of it. He gazed in the direction Long Chen had departed and murmured, "Good luck, kid."
After taking Long Xin back to her room to rest, Chu Lingjun spoke to the unconscious girl. "I’ll handle the rest for you."
Then, she walked out of the room. She glanced in a certain direction, then leaped up, intending to leave the Martial Ancestor quietly. After all, if Chu Zhentian finds out, he will never let me leave.
Just as she reached the sect’s gate, she saw Chen Yao there, apparently waiting for her.
"So, I was right." Chen Yao looked at Chu Lingjun with a faint smile. "You’re going after him, aren’t you?"
"Are you going to stop me?" Chu Lingjun’s face was cold.
"Chu Lingjun, you know your importance to the Martial Ancestor!" Chen Yao stared at her. "The future of the Martial Ancestor rests on you. You cannot afford to take such a risk."
Hearing this, Chu Lingjun’s brow furrowed slightly, but she remained resolute. "And what if I insist?"
Chen Yao smiled. She didn’t block her; instead, she stepped aside, clearing a path.
"Go."
"Huh?" Chu Lingjun was confused.
Chen Yao said with sincerity, "I hope you and he can both return safely."
"Help me take care of Long Xin," Chu Lingjun said, then leaped away, heading in the same direction Long Chen and Xia Duoduo had gone.