Chapter 588: First Volume_Chapter 588 The True Killing Move

First Volume_Chapter 588 The True Killing Move

Li Qian's faction naturally did not wish to let Qin Feng go easily, but with Li Yong defending him, Li Qian could only watch helplessly as Qin Feng walked away unchallenged.

With Qin Feng and the others gone, the civilian household was now empty of outsiders.

Crack!

With a sharp snap, the wine cup shattered into pieces.

Li Qian's furious roar echoed throughout the courtyard: "Damn it!"

"I am a prince of the blood—how can I not even deal with a mere Qin Feng?!"

"This scoundrel stole a key prisoner right under my nose, and no one could stop him? Unthinkable!"

With the succession looming, Li Qian could not afford even the slightest misstep—one slip, and he would lose everything.

Compared to Li Qian's rage, Lin Taibao clearly held his composure far better.

The earlier tension between him and Qin Feng had vanished completely, replaced by cold, calculating cunning.

"Your Highness need not be so hasty."

"From the Old Minister's perspective, tonight's goal has already been achieved."

At these words, Li Qian's furious, nearly despairing gaze instantly reignited with hope.

He immediately bowed deeply to Lin Taibao, speaking with utmost reverence: "What do you mean, Taibao?"

Lin Taibao narrowed his eyes and let out a series of sinister chuckles.

"Your Highness, think carefully—if Wei Xiao were truly that important, would I have stood by and let Qin Feng take him away?"

"Even if it had sparked bloodshed, I would have paid any price to keep Wei Xiao here."

"Wei Xiao's only purpose was to expose Li Xiaolan's identity. Once we secure Qin Feng's marriage to the Princess, we've succeeded in our first step."

"The betrothal between the Xie Family and the Qin Family has already collapsed on its own."

"Without the Qin Family's protection, the Xie Family will face brutal retribution—and then…"

Lin Taibao did not continue.

Though all present were loyal to the Second Prince, it was better to be safe than sorry.

Li Qian understood at once and declared the banquet over, dismissing all unrelated personnel—soon, the entire villa held only Li Qian, Lin Taibao, and the Minister of Justice.

The Minister of Justice sipped his tea calmly, his earlier anger completely gone.

Only then did Li Qian realize: everything that had just happened was an act!

Lin Taibao and the Minister of Justice had deliberately led Qin Feng step by step into the trap.

Lin Taibao no longer beat around the bush—he laid out the entire plan.

"Your Highness, Qin Feng is now powerful—how difficult would it be to topple him directly?"

"Therefore, the key to defeating Qin Feng does not lie in Qin Feng himself."

"His true weakness is Xie Yun'er!"

"Tonight, Your Highness must return to the palace and speak to the Emperor—just tell him…"

Lin Taibao's voice grew lower and lower, until even Li Qian had to strain to hear him.

Li Qian's eyes brightened increasingly; upon learning Lin Taibao's full plan, he immediately bowed deeply.

"Taibao's scheme is brilliant! It is flawlessly linked at every turn."

"It is both a covert plot and an open stratagem—even if Qin Feng sees through it, he can only shut his eyes and leap into the fire. Hahaha."

At the same moment, Qin Feng had already escorted Wei Xiao back to the Qin Family.

Qin Feng waved his hand, and the Tianji Camp Guards removed Wei Xiao's shackles.

Wei Xiao stretched his limbs, his gaze at Qin Feng filled with complexity—more confusion than gratitude.

"Qin Feng, you've torn open your feud with the Second Prince and forcibly took me away—he will never let this go."

"I am already a dead man—why risk yourself for me?"

Facing Wei Xiao's question, Qin Feng sat on the chair and let out a long, weary sigh.

"Whether you're here or not, the fire has already started."

"We've known each other too long—no need for empty words. Go."

At these words, Wei Xiao frowned tightly.

Qin Feng had not handed him over to Li Qian—Wei Xiao was already grateful, but he never expected Qin Feng would simply set him free.

After a moment of silence, Wei Xiao demanded: "Why?!"

Qin Feng answered bluntly: "Naturally, for Li Xiaolan."

Wei Xiao's frown deepened: "I've been hunting her!"

Qin Feng burst out laughing—but the laugh carried a hint of resignation.

Even if Qin Feng were made of iron, facing the constant deceit and treachery of the Jingdu Imperial Court would eventually wear him down.

"With your strength, if you truly wanted to kill Li Xiaolan, she'd have died a hundred times over."

"It's not hunting—it's been covert protection all along."

"Today, as I let you go, our grudges are settled—we owe each other nothing."

"If you ever show your face before me again, I will show no mercy!"

Wei Xiao still remembered the first time he saw Qin Feng.

That utterly pathetic wastrel had vanished completely.

The man sitting before him now was a powerful aristocratic lord capable of making the entire Da Liang Imperial Family tremble!

"A scholar's worth changes in three days—must be viewed anew"?

No! From the moment Qin Feng helped the Liang Emperor solve the National War crisis, he was doomed to be pulled into the heart of Da Liang's most perilous vortex.

Anyone else would have been reduced to shattered bones long ago.

But Qin Feng grew fiercer with every battle.

Entrusting Li Xiaolan to such a person is enough to ease one's mind.

Wei Xiao bowed deeply, drew a deep breath, and his voice, rid of its former gloom, became resolute and strong.

"Longhu Army foot guard Wei Xiao, takes leave of Lord Qin!"

As his words ended, Wei Xiao did not hesitate, and turned away.

Ning Hu, who had stood beside Qin Feng all along, stared with his mouth wide open, incredulous at Wei Xiao's retreating back.

After a long while, he snapped out of his daze and exclaimed in shock: "Qin… Brother Qin, did I just hear that wrong?"

"Isn't Wei Xiao a Heaven Ranking Assassin? How did he suddenly become a man of the Longhu Army?"

Qin Feng gave a bitter smile; ever since learning of Wei Xiao's connection to Li Xiaolan, he had already sensed that Wei Xiao was more than just a killer.

Back then, how many soldiers had hidden their identities to protect Li Xiaolan?

And Wei Xiao was the deepest-hidden of all those covert protectors.

Clearly, Wei Xiao's identity had been exposed—that was why the mysterious mastermind had unhesitatingly sacrificed him.

"The Longhu Army is the elite of the Garrison Army, producing countless capable men."

"It is also one of the most loyal factions of the Imperial Party, devoted utterly to protecting the princess lost among the Folk—ready to give its life without regret."

Hearing this, Ning Hu was even more stunned.

He lowered his voice: "Could it be… that Zhao Yuxiong is also…?"

Before Ning Hu could finish, Qin Feng waved his hand to cut him off: "Whether he is or isn't doesn't matter. You only need to remember: Zhao Yuxiong is our comrade who has shared life and death with us."

The Longhu Army's sole goal is to protect Li Xiaolan; therefore, no matter what 'plots and schemes' they harbor, for Qin Feng, they bring only advantage and no harm.

Some things can only be understood, never spoken aloud.

Ning Hu no longer dwelled on Zhao Yuxiong's true intentions; he grinned broadly, triumphant: "Now Li Qian finally knows our strength."

"I bet Li Qian will lie low for a few days."

Lie low for a few days? This Ning Hu is far too naive.

Qin Feng's gaze was firm; he had already prepared himself for the worst, his voice decisive: "Tonight is merely the beginning!"

"What follows is the true killing move of Li Qian and Lin Taibao!"