Immortal God of War-Chapter 748 - 713: Scapegoat_1

"What’s the matter?" The Second Prince looked at him suspiciously.

Feng Yun promptly explained everything to him in detail.

"So that’s how it is." The Second Prince nodded with understanding.

"The amount of compensation this time is too high. If my family finds out, they won’t let me off easily, so please, Your Highness, help me think of a solution," Feng Yun pleaded, which was his real purpose in contacting the Second Prince.

"This..." The Second Prince hesitated slightly, then shook his head. "As you know, I am currently competing with my brothers for the Potential Elixir, so I really can’t help you." His words sounded pleasant, but he was inwardly sneering. Feng Yun hadn’t even handled the tasks given to him properly, and now he expected him to pay? What a daydream!

"Your Highness, I am in your service now, after all. Can’t you offer some help?" Feng Yun was growing anxious.

"I want to help you, but truly, there’s nothing I can do. Find another way!" After saying this, the Second Prince simply switched off the Image Crystal Stone.

"They’re all such bastards!" Feng Yun, furious, roared repeatedly in the alchemy room.

As for Qin Feiyang, upon returning to the alchemy room and taking a healing elixir, he prepared to go to the Fragrant Moon Tower.

HUM!

Suddenly, the Image Crystal Stone activated. He took it out and saw it was the Eldest Prince.

The Eldest Prince grinned at Qin Feiyang. "Brother Qin, your previous battle was truly extraordinary."

Qin Feiyang laughed. "I didn’t expect Your Highness to get news of it so quickly."

"In the Temple, there is nothing I want to know that can be hidden from me," the Eldest Prince said, smiling comfortingly. "And this time, you did exceptionally well. Not only did you suppress my Second Brother’s arrogance, but you also caused the family of the Martial Marquis Qian to suffer huge losses. Tell me, what reward do you want?"

Qin Feiyang’s eyes sparkled, but he replied casually, "A reward? It’s just a small matter, no need for a reward!"

"This matter indeed is not significant, but the case of my thirteenth brother is no small issue," the Eldest Prince said. "You may ask for anything; as long as I can satisfy your request, it is yours."

Qin Feiyang hesitated for a moment. "In that case... I have always been fascinated with the Imperial Palace and would like to visit it. Would that be possible?"

"That won’t work." The Eldest Prince shook his head.

"Why?" Qin Feiyang frowned subtly and asked.

"If you come to the Imperial Palace, you will definitely be questioned by the guards. If that happens and you have to show the Crown Prince’s token, won’t that expose our relationship?" the Eldest Prince reasoned.

"That makes sense." Qin Feiyang nodded.

The Eldest Prince smiled. "So, for now, you will just have to be patient. There’s plenty of time in the future; you’ll have your chance."

"Yes," Qin Feiyang acknowledged. Although he was eager to see his mother, he knew that some things could not be rushed.

After a moment of contemplation, he cupped his hands and said, "In that case, Your Highness, please grant me a few perfect Battle Arts."

The Eldest Prince’s face twitched. "A few?" he responded helplessly. "The Imperial Palace does not lack perfect Battle Arts, but they are not as common as radishes and cabbage!"

Qin Feiyang furrowed his brow. "Then I don’t know what I want. You decide!"

After considering for a moment, the Eldest Prince smiled. "Aren’t you an Alchemist? Then I shall grant you a Fifth Grade Pill Furnace."

Qin Feiyang’s eyes lit up. "A Fifth Grade Pill Furnace!"

The Pill Furnaces he currently owned were all fourth rank and still usable for the time being. However, once the Netherworld Demon Flame advanced to the Sixth Grade, these fourth-rank Pill Furnaces would become useless because poor control could lead to a furnace explosion. So, a Fifth Grade Pill Furnace was indeed a good choice.

Qin Feiyang cupped his hands. "Then thank you, Your Highness."

"It’s nothing. I will have Zhuge Mingyang deliver it to you shortly," the Eldest Prince said. "And for the time being, try not to draw too much attention. According to my inquiries, the Ironclad Army has not yet dropped their suspicions about you."

Qin Feiyang frowned. "They still suspect me?"

The Eldest Prince nodded. "Yes, so you must be very careful."

"I understand," Qin Feiyang nodded.

"That’s it, then!" The Eldest Prince chuckled, and his image promptly faded.

Qin Feiyang put away the Image Crystal Stone, his brow deeply furrowed. Originally, he had planned to visit the Fragrant Moon Tower to meet its owner and see if he could acquire the cluster of Fifth Grade Pill Fire. But now, it seemed he couldn’t visit the Fragrant Moon Tower for the time being. This was because if the people from the Imperial Palace received any news about him, it wouldn’t just be mere suspicion anymore. He could even be arrested and subjected to brutal interrogation.

Less than an hour later, Zhuge Mingyang arrived with the Pill Furnace. The furnace was entirely crimson, as if cast from molten lava, and a lifelike Flood Dragon was engraved upon it. According to Zhuge Mingyang, the furnace was named Flood Dragon Furnace and was considered Top Grade among Fifth Grade Pill Furnaces.

Qin Feiyang expressed his thanks and then saw Zhuge Mingyang off. After performing a blood-binding ritual to claim ownership of the Flood Dragon Furnace, Qin Feiyang brought it into the Old Castle to continue copying the Killing Art.

「In the meantime!」

In the Eldest Prince’s bedchamber, the Eldest Prince looked down at Zhuge Mingyang and asked, "Was he satisfied with the Pill Furnace?"

"I don’t know," Zhuge Mingyang shook his head. "His expression was extremely calm, so I couldn’t guess what he was thinking."

"If he’s not satisfied with a Fifth Grade Pill Furnace, then he is far too greedy," the Eldest Prince sneered coldly. "And greedy people... we can’t keep them around."

Zhuge Mingyang frowned. He seemed to want to say something but held his tongue.

After a moment of silence, a spark flashed in the Eldest Prince’s eyes as he said, "Do you think we should do something?"

"What do you mean?" Zhuge Mingyang looked at him suspiciously.

"The Ironclad Army is still suspicious of Qin Feiyang. If we don’t eliminate this hidden risk quickly, I’m afraid the slightest mistake from Qin Feiyang will implicate us," the Eldest Prince said worriedly. Although the Thirteenth Prince was killed by Qin Feiyang, they were also accomplices. If the matter got out, they would also be somewhat affected.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Mingyang’s pupils constricted slightly. He asked in astonishment, "Your Highness, you don’t intend to silence him by killing him, do you?"

"Silence him by killing him?" The Eldest Prince was startled, then shook his head and chuckled. "Qin Feiyang is so valuable, how could I bear to kill him?"

"Then what does Your Highness mean?" Zhuge Mingyang was puzzled.

The Eldest Prince continued, "I mean, find a scapegoat. As long as the ’real culprit’ is caught, the Ironclad Army will naturally stop suspecting Qin Feiyang."

Zhuge Mingyang mused for a moment, a smile touching his lips. "A scapegoat... Your Highness is truly ingenious. I will handle this."

"It must be done properly; there can be no mistakes," the Eldest Prince emphasized.

"Don’t worry. As long as we’re willing to pay the price, someone will naturally be willing to take the fall," Zhuge Mingyang said with a confident smile.

In less than three days, an explosive piece of news spread throughout the capital: The real murderer behind the assassination of the Thirteenth Prince and Lin Dian had been captured. Moreover, he had been executed by the Great Commander of the Ironclad Army!

On the same day, Lu Xingchen found Qin Feiyang.

「Alchemy Room No. 701!」

The stone door was tightly shut. Lu Xingchen waved his hand, and two chairs and a tea table appeared out of thin air on the ground. Sitting on one of the chairs, Lu Xingchen looked at Qin Feiyang and said with a smile, "Have a seat." As he spoke, he took out a tea set.

Qin Feiyang looked puzzledly at Lu Xingchen and sat across from him. "What’s up?"

"Just now, I heard something very interesting," Lu Xingchen said with a smile as he brewed tea.

"What is it?" Qin Feiyang asked, suspicious.

Lu Xingchen smiled. "The ’true culprit’ behind the assassination of the Thirteenth Prince and Lin Dian has been caught and executed."

"Hm?" Qin Feiyang was stunned. Wasn’t he the real culprit? He was still alive and well, wasn’t he?

"I guessed you, a cultivation maniac, wouldn’t know yet," Lu Xingchen said, shaking his head with a laugh.

"What’s going on? Who was the true culprit they caught?" Qin Feiyang urged.

Lu Xingchen took a sip of tea and smiled. "This ’real culprit’ has quite the background; you’d never guess who it is."

"Just get to the point and stop beating around the bush," Qin Feiyang snapped impatiently.

Lu Xingchen set down his teacup, his expression turning solemn. "The Steward Elder who guards the Martial Palace."

Qin Feiyang frowned. "How is that possible?"

"I’m puzzled too," Lu Xingchen said. "But this Steward Elder confessed in front of the Ironclad Army’s Great Commander that he killed the Thirteenth Prince and Lin Dian because they discovered his secret. As for the secret, this Elder didn’t reveal it even at his death. The Lin family wanted to retrieve the Fifth Grade Pill Fire from him, but they were unsuccessful. According to the Elder’s confession, the Pill Fire had already been destroyed by him."

Qin Feiyang said, "Nonsense. He isn’t the real culprit, so how could he have the Pill Fire? And what secret could there be? It’s just a fabricated motive for murder."

"I know that. But the strange thing is, why did he take the blame?" Lu Xingchen said.

"Yeah, why?" Qin Feiyang muttered, lowering his head, completely baffled. Assassinating a prince was a capital offense. Others would try to avoid suspicion at all costs, yet this person willingly took the blame? Did he want to die? But there were other ways to seek death!

Lu Xingchen suddenly said, "I suspect someone is orchestrating this from behind the scenes."

Qin Feiyang raised an eyebrow. "Orchestrating?" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

HUM! Just then, Qin Feiyang’s Image Crystal Stone activated.

"I’ll step aside." Lu Xingchen got up and stepped into the corner next to the stone gate.

Qin Feiyang skeptically took out the Image Crystal Stone. As he poured Battle Intent into it, Zhuge Mingyang’s illusion promptly materialized.

Zhuge Mingyang grinned. "Brother Qin, have you heard the news about the ’real killer’ emerging?"

"Hm?" Qin Feiyang was taken aback. Looking at the smile on Zhuge Mingyang’s face, he seemed to understand something and asked, "Are you the one orchestrating this?"

"Brother Qin, you really have sharp eyes; I can’t hide anything from you," Zhuge Mingyang said with a slight smile.

"He was a Steward Elder of the Temple, after all. To think you could make him willingly become the scapegoat," Qin Feiyang said with a laugh. "Brother Zhuge, I must admit, you truly have impressive methods."

"Compared to Brother Qin, my little tricks are nothing," Zhuge Mingyang said. "The reason I contacted you was to inform you that you no longer need to conceal anything."

"Did I need to conceal anything?" Qin Feiyang replied with a faint smile. "Besides, what you did wasn’t solely for my sake, but also for your own."

"Whether it was for me or for you, none of that is important," Zhuge Mingyang said. "What matters is that the trouble has been resolved, hasn’t it? Alright, I have other matters to attend to." As Zhuge Mingyang’s voice faded, his illusion also quickly disintegrated.

Lu Xingchen returned to his chair and asked, "Do you think the Eldest Prince knows about this?"

Qin Feiyang said, "Is there even a need to think about it? He definitely knows. Perhaps this was even orchestrated at his instruction."

"These people are indeed ruthless," Lu Xingchen said, shaking his head with a chuckle. "And the intrigues within the Imperial Palace are terrifying. I’m glad I didn’t get involved."

"In an imperial family, if you lack a calculating mind, you’ll only end up as cannon fodder." Qin Feiyang let out a cold laugh, feeling a deep-seated aversion to everything within the Imperial Palace.