Chapter 220: Chapter 220 Playing with Fire_1
"You all truly deserve to die!" King Pan uttered each word in a low, heavy tone. A terrifying killing intent permeated the air.
In an instant, the guards present felt an icy chill, as if plunged into an abyss.
Despite having prepared for death, when its specter truly arrived, they couldn’t help but panic.
Even the uninvolved armored man felt a chill crawl down his spine.
He glanced at the dozen pale-faced individuals and cupped his hands. "Although they erred, it was to protect the Princess. I hope Your Majesty will show mercy."
King Pan clenched his fists and roared, "Even if I have to turn King Pan City upside down, I will dig Wang San out!"
"Yes!"
The armored man bowed in acknowledgment, then turned to the guards. "What are you愣着做什么 standing around for? Hurry and search with this Commander!"
"Yes, yes, yes."
As if granted amnesty, the guards scrambled to their feet and followed the Great Commander, fleeing the bedchamber as if for their lives.
King Pan frowned and muttered, Does Wang San really have such audacity? as he took out a healing pill and administered it to Xia Qianqian.
Before long, Xia Qianqian awoke.
Instantly, she jolted, shot upright, and exclaimed urgently, "Father, Wang San has robbed the treasury! Quickly seal off King Pan City! Don’t let him escape!"
"I already know," King Pan forced a strained smile.
"Then, have you caught him?" Xia Qianqian pressed.
"No." King Pan shook his head, then smiled. "The Great Commander is searching. Rest assured. Against our royal family, he wouldn’t be able to escape even if he sprouted wings."
"You must find him! I want him sliced into a thousand pieces!" Xia Qianqian said venomously.
King Pan frowned, looking gravely at Xia Qianqian. "Let me ask you something. Are you certain that person was Wang San?"
"I am certain," Xia Qianqian nodded.
"Strange. A mere guard like him, would he have the guts to rob the treasury?" King Pan’s brow furrowed deeply.
"Father, do you mean he might have been disguised, or that someone else is pulling the strings?" Xia Qianqian asked, startled.
If that’s true, the person behind this is definitely not simple.
King Pan muttered to himself, Qin Feiyang set fire to the Golden Throne Hall... Then, right after, the treasury was robbed by Wang San... The crucial point is, before that, Wang San had visited Qin Feiyang’s hiding place... Could this be a coincidence? If it is a coincidence, it’s far too convenient...
"Father, you suspect Qin Feiyang did it?" Xia Qianqian’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Qin Feiyang is indeed arrogant, but would he dare rob the royal treasury?
"You rest for now. I’m going to the Golden Throne Hall again."
"If Qin Feiyang is still at the Golden Throne Hall, then it probably wasn’t him."
"If he’s not there, then it must be him!"
King Pan rose, transforming into a streak of light. In a few blinks, he landed before the gates of the Golden Throne Hall.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!" The guards stationed outside the hall bowed in salute.
King Pan asked, "Has anyone entered the Golden Throne Hall during this time?"
"No," they all shook their heads.
King Pan nodded, walked to the main doors, and called out in a deep voice, "Qin Feiyang, come out for a moment. I have something to discuss with you."
Still, there was no response.
Could it truly be him? King Pan’s gaze turned cold.
However, just as this thought emerged, Qin Feiyang appeared out of thin air.
"Here?" King Pan was taken aback.
"I need to get back to my cultivation. If you have something to say, make it quick," Qin Feiyang said indifferently.
King Pan’s eyebrows shot up. "Have some respect!" he said, displeased. "I am, after all, the Commandery Prince of Pan County."
Qin Feiyang stated coolly, "Wasn’t I respectful when I first arrived? You’re the one who acted high and mighty, damaging your own image. Who’s to blame for that?"
King Pan, quite annoyed, said, "A short while ago, Wang San robbed the treasury. I suspect he was acting under your orders. I need you to cooperate with my investigation."
"What?"
"He robbed the treasury?" Qin Feiyang looked dumbfounded.
The guards outside were equally incredulous.
King Pan had been carefully observing Qin Feiyang’s expression.
Seeing Qin Feiyang’s current reaction, it was clear he had only just learned of the matter.
Could it be that I’m overthinking this?
No! Until the truth is revealed, this man remains a suspect.
Just as he was about to speak, Qin Feiyang suddenly burst into laughter.
"HAHA..."
"Impressive! Who would’ve thought that fellow had such capabilities?"
"Senior King Pan, is this what you’d call retribution?" Qin Feiyang looked at him mockingly.
King Pan said gravely, "Enough with the wisecracks. I seriously suspect you are involved in this."
"Me?" Qin Feiyang was stunned, then retorted angrily, "King Pan, you need evidence for such claims! Otherwise, I can accuse you of slander and twisting the facts!"
"You just burned down the Golden Throne Hall, and then Wang San robbed the treasury. How can that be a coincidence? Do you dare let me search your hiding place?" King Pan challenged.
"On that basis alone, you suspect me?"
"How ridiculous!"
"If you insist on searching, I don’t mind."
"But on one condition: if you find nothing, you must give me that perfect martial arts technique, free of charge," Qin Feiyang stated confidently.
Then, he frowned again. "Wait, let me ask clearly, did Wang San take that martial arts technique?"
King Pan didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on Qin Feiyang.
Is it really unrelated to this young man? Or is he just acting?
"That martial arts technique has always been on my person. If the outcome proves you are indeed unrelated, I can give it to you," King Pan finally decided, opting to investigate.
Better to wrongly accuse a thousand than to let one culprit escape.
"First, you are not to touch anything inside. You may only look."
Qin Feiyang stepped forward and, with a wave of his hand, brought King Pan into the ancient castle.
Inside the ancient castle, it was clean and tidy. The bodies of Wang San and his companion were also gone.
The Wolf King lay lazily to one side, a pile of top-grade Qi Gathering Pills before it. It was refining the pills while disdainfully eyeing King Pan.
Entering the ancient castle for the first time, King Pan, like others before him, curiously surveyed his surroundings, finding it utterly magical.
"Can you hurry it up?" Qin Feiyang frowned.
"A clear conscience fears no knock at midnight. What are you afraid of?" King Pan瞥了眼他 glanced at him, continuing his inspection.
Qin Feiyang said, "Nonsense. Aside from my closest companions, you’re the first outsider to enter this place. Of course, I’m on guard against you."
"Then, should I feel honored?" King Pan sneered, his gaze locking onto the altar as he prepared to walk towards it.
"Wait. You stay there. I’ll get it for you to see," Qin Feiyang hastily stopped him.
"Why? Afraid?" King Pan looked at him coldly.
"I’m afraid you’ll be overcome by greed," Qin Feiyang scoffed.
He strode to the altar and opened the two jade boxes.
Twenty-four top-grade Vermilion Glazed Pills and ten top-grade Potential Elixirs were revealed to King Pan.
Qin Feiyang sneered, "These Vermilion Glazed Pills and Potential Elixirs are priceless. You tell me, shouldn’t I be wary of you?"
King Pan’s eyes instantly lit up! He naturally recognized the Vermilion Glazed Pills. However, it was the first time he had seen a Potential Elixir.
He stared, mesmerized. He wished he could pounce on them and snatch them away.
Qin Feiyang closed the jade boxes and said indifferently, "Anything else you want to inspect?"
King Pan took a deep breath, pointed to the iron box containing the Six-Character Mantra, and said in a heavy voice, "Open it and let me see."
"Inspecting this iron box isn’t out of the question," Qin Feiyang said with a faint smile. "But the precondition is, after you inspect it, you must give me the materials for ten Vermilion Glazed Pills."
King Pan’s expression was conflicted. He nodded and said, "Agreed!"
"Then let’s make a gentleman’s agreement, to prevent you from going back on your word later."
Qin Feiyang took out a brush and paper and wrote swiftly. Once finished, he handed it to King Pan. Smiling, he said, "Your handprint, please!"
King Pan glanced at the agreement, then at Qin Feiyang.
Now, he was the one hesitating. Qin Feiyang appeared too composed, showing no sign of fear whatsoever.
Yet, he suspected Qin Feiyang might be feigning composure to deter him from inspecting.
After a moment of internal struggle, he steeled his resolve, bit his finger, and pressed a bloody handprint onto the agreement.
"HAHA..." Qin Feiyang laughed heartily, put away the agreement, then pricked his fingertip. A drop of blood fell onto the iron box.
CLANG!
The iron box sprang open.
"It opens like this?" King Pan was utterly astonished.
"The Six-Character Mantra?" Upon seeing the iron-bound book inside the box, his eyes once again filled with utter astonishment and suspicion.
Qin Feiyang waved his hand, quickly closing the iron box, and sneered, "Well? Did you find what you were looking for?"
King Pan’s face darkened. Inside the iron box, apart from that Six-Character Mantra, there was nothing.
It seems this matter truly had nothing to do with the young man.
"You’re even more foolish than Jia Hei and his lot."
"Back when someone looted the medicinal fields of Elixir King Palace, they also suspected me and wanted to inspect this place."
"But in the end, they all wisely chose not to come."
"However, I should thank you for letting me easily earn the materials for ten Vermilion Glazed Pills," Qin Feiyang chuckled.
King Pan’s hands clenched tightly, knuckles cracking audibly.
He had truly suffered a double loss today!
Suddenly, he noticed the Elixir Scripture!
His eyes filled with bewilderment. Just seeing the words ’Elixir Scripture,’ he could guess it was related to elixirs.
Could it be... the elixir formula for the Potential Elixir is in that Elixir Scripture?
At this thought, his heart began to pound.
Noticing the change in King Pan, Qin Feiyang subtly raised an eyebrow.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a terrifying pressure erupted from King Pan, enveloping Qin Feiyang.
Simultaneously, he lunged forward, one hand snatching at the Elixir Scripture, the other at the jade box containing the Potential Elixirs.
Qin Feiyang was instantly immobilized, unable to move.
Just as King Pan was about to grab the Elixir Scripture and the jade box—
"ROAR!"
Qin Feiyang gritted his teeth and let out a beast-like roar, actually breaking free from the restraint. He grabbed King Pan’s arm, and with a thought, they instantly appeared in the Golden Throne Hall.
"King Pan, you are playing with fire!" Qin Feiyang snarled, then immediately vanished back into the ancient castle.
"What?"
He actually managed to break free from my restraining pressure? King Pan exclaimed inwardly, his face a mask of disbelief, tumultuous waves of shock surging through his heart.