Liu Qi rejected Chen Yan’s kind offer.

At the same time, the Jianghu people in the hall exchanged glances.

The sheer amount of juicy gossip today was almost overwhelming.

’Judging by Wu Changzai’s expression, what Chen Yan said was most likely true...’

But if that was the case, one question inevitably came to mind.

If Wu Changzai wasn’t the son of Wu Hanjiang, the First City Lord of Flying Snow City, and Wu Lingxiao wasn’t Wu Changzai’s son...

...then whose son was Wu Lingxiao, a man whose name shook the Jianghu?

It seemed Wu Changzai had been about to reveal the name earlier, but Wu Lingxiao had cut him off...

The crowd now looked at Wu Lingxiao with searching gazes.

In that moment, their gossiping nature took over. Everyone’s attention was fixated on the untold stories of Flying Snow City, and they momentarily forgot about the Seven-String Ancient Chapter they had come for.

Wu Lingxiao, however, paid them no mind. With a slight squeeze of his hand, there was a sharp CRACK. He had snapped Liu Qi’s neck.

He died with a bewildered expression on his face.

Wu Changzai cried out in grief:

"Qi’er!!!"

He struggled down from the wall he was pinned to, scrambling over to Liu Qi’s side. He gathered his son into his arms, his cries heart-wrenching.

Wu Lingxiao’s gaze held a flicker of pity as he watched him, but he still brought a palm down on his head.

He had ended the lives of both father and son.

Wu Lingxiao let out a slow breath, his gaze shifting to Fang Shuwen.

"The Seven-String Ancient Chapter never truly belonged to Flying Snow City. We were merely its custodians.

"Its original owner once said that if the day came when Flying Snow City no longer wished to be its keeper, we could release it to the Jianghu.

"However, the item is incredibly dangerous. It’s a magnet for trouble.

"I could never bring myself to make a decision...

"Now, with Flying Snow City facing such upheaval... since you want it, young man, you may as well have it.

"From this day forward, all matters concerning the Seven-String Ancient Chapter will have nothing to do with Flying Snow City."

With that said, he turned to face the Jianghu people in the hall and spoke softly:

"I ask that you all spread a message for me in the Jianghu.

"I am relinquishing my position as the City Lord of Flying Snow City.

"From this day forward, Flying Snow City will no longer involve itself in the affairs of the Jianghu."

As he spoke these words, Murong Qingchen let out a long sigh, while a mixture of complex emotions stirred in the hearts of the other Jianghu people present.

Fang Shuwen simply smiled.

"Since that’s the case, Elder Wu, I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave.

"As for what happened here... I’ll keep my lips sealed and won’t breathe a word of it."

As if spurred by a sudden realization, Murong Qingchen added in a cold voice:

"Feel free to speak of what’s appropriate. As for what isn’t... I advise you all to watch yourselves. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to pay you a personal visit."

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances. Some truly took the warning to heart; after all, neither Murong Qingchen nor Wu Lingxiao was someone they could afford to cross.

Spreading rumors about today’s events could very well bring disaster down upon them.

But others had different ideas. ’There’s safety in numbers,’ they thought. ’If the story gets out, who’s to say I was the one who told it?’

Still, at least on the surface, everyone nodded in agreement, promising they wouldn’t breathe a word.

Murong Qingchen sighed. He knew it was hard to say how effective his threat would be. Once a rumor starts to spread, it’s nearly impossible to stop.

This was precisely why Wu Lingxiao was stepping down as the City Lord of Flying Snow City.

’Fang Shuwen, however, felt that Wu Lingxiao himself was half to blame for ending up in this situation.

’If he had just killed Wu Changzai and Liu Qi the moment he sensed trouble brewing...

’...he wouldn’t have ended up in this predicament.

’But who knew if it was because he was too soft-hearted and needed a proper pretext... or if he had simply grown disillusioned and had no desire for the fame and glory the Jianghu had to offer.’

Of course, these matters no longer had anything to do with Fang Shuwen.

He’d had his fill of the drama, his curiosity was sated, and he had what he came for.

He had already bid farewell to Wu Lingxiao.

So he turned and headed for the exit of the stone chamber.

Seeing him about to leave, the crowd was suddenly reminded that the main event of the evening wasn’t feasting on Flying Snow City’s juicy secrets, but vying for the Seven-String Ancient Chapter.

Instantly, someone blocked Fang Shuwen’s path:

"You can go, but the Seven-String Ancient Chapter stays!"

Fang Shuwen didn’t even spare him a glance. With a single sweep of his arm, a powerful force erupted, sending the man flying.

Two more people leaped forward. Fang Shuwen simply pushed off with his foot and charged straight through.

The glint of blades and swords that came at him were all deflected by his Plum Blossom Scattering Hand. As he passed, a series of BANGS echoed out, and bodies were sent scattering through the air.

In the blink of an eye, he had carved a path for himself.

Then, using the Cyan Cloud Step, he shot straight for the exit.

"Chase him!!"

"The Seven-String Ancient Chapter should be mine!"

"Brat, where do you think you’re going!?"

In the blink of an eye, the entire group had given chase and vanished.

Wu Lingxiao, meanwhile, walked over to Grand Commander Liang and reached out, dispelling the effects of the Great Cold Scripture within his body.

Murong Qingchen watched Fang Shuwen depart, his brows furrowed slightly.

Then he heard Wu Lingxiao speak:

"He has no desire for the Seven-String Ancient Chapter itself. He most likely intends to use it for some other purpose. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"If you decide to go after it, there’s no need to fight him. Just wait until he has accomplished his goal, then ask for it directly. I imagine he won’t refuse you."

"How do you know?"

"There isn’t a shred of desire for the Seven-String Ancient Chapter in his eyes."