Liam Duanmu frowned and said, "Cloud Guildmaster, Miss Qin truly is innocent. Why must you implicate her?"
Maxwell Jing snorted, "Alliance Chief, you really know how to lie with your eyes open. The Cloud Guild elder nearly died at Miss Qin's hands, and you still claim she's innocent!"
Liam Duanmu glanced at him, saying, "Miss Qin only did it because she wanted to save Fortress Master Qin. Besides, the Cloud Guild elder is unharmed."
At these words, Maxwell Jing couldn't be bothered to argue further. He just shook his head and muttered, "Liam Duanmu really has no sense of propriety!" Seeing Serena Qin's fierce aura, ready to destroy anyone in her way, wishing she could chop Muriel Murong to pieces—this was clearly jealousy, not some noble attempt to save Qin Yan!
Besides, Muriel Murong is the woman Noah Duanmu has his eye on. That Serena Qin shouldn't have anything to do with him, right? Now that's what you call sacrificing family for justice!
"Noah Duanmu is much more agreeable, and easier on the eyes!" As he spoke, his words grew more mischievous.
In fact, both Liam Duanmu and Noah Duanmu were quite striking in appearance. But people always find those they favor more pleasing to the eye.
Suddenly, someone pinched his waist. Maxwell Jing gasped in pain, then turned to see Ethan Gu looking as calm as ever. Amused, he said, "Ethan Gu, don't you think you're being a bit petty? I was just making an offhand comment—beautiful people are naturally more pleasing to look at!"
Everyone couldn't help but wonder—aren't the Ghost Guild and Cloud Guild supposed to be mortal enemies? Why would the Ghost Guild's Right Guardian help the Cloud Guild? On second thought, it wasn't so strange. After all, both guilds belonged to the Evil Path, and now faced a common foe. Naturally, their relationship would grow closer, setting aside old grudges to unite against the enemy! The Cloud Guildmaster seeking Ghostmaster Damien Gray's opinion was clearly a gesture of goodwill.
Liam Duanmu looked at Morgan Shangguan, wanting to see her decision, while Morgan Shangguan gazed at Damien Gray. Finally, Damien Gray curled his lips into a lazy smile and said, "Judging from Miss Qin's reaction, she seems to care a lot about her belongings. Why not let the Cloud Guildmaster take a few more items?"
Everyone was stunned, turning to look at Morgan Shangguan. She seemed to consider for a moment, then nodded, "That does sound like a good idea."
The crowd was still trying to process it—Cloud Guildmaster wasn't asking Ghostmaster Damien Gray whether to spare Serena Qin, but rather how to torment her!
Qin Yan roared in fury, "Fiona Yun, your wanton killing of innocents will bring retribution!" He was truly desperate; otherwise, he would never have said such a thing. In the martial world, who could honestly say they've never killed an innocent? As Fortress Master, he had often done what was necessary to protect his reputation and status. Besides, Qin Yan was no true gentleman—surely his hands were stained with innocent blood as well!
Morgan Shangguan shook her head, "Fortress Master Qin, are you mistaken? Ghostmaster Damien Gray only suggested taking a few more things from Miss Qin, not her life! Rest assured, as Cloud Guildmaster I know my limits. After a few items are taken, Miss Qin will be just fine."
"You..." Qin Yan was so furious his face was twitching, yet he feared for Serena Qin's safety—caught between anxiety and terror.
Seeing Liam Duanmu about to intervene, Noah Duanmu spoke coldly, "Alliance Chief, do you want the Grandmaster's Estate and Qin Fortress to disappear together?" No matter what, without the Grandmaster's Estate, he would be nothing. So he couldn't help but speak up—if Liam Duanmu stubbornly opposed Morgan Shangguan, both estates might truly vanish.
He had endured Serena Qin's tantrums for a long time. In the past, her wild behavior annoyed him but was still tolerable. But now, when she tried to kill Muriel Murong, he couldn't stand it any longer! Thinking of how Muriel Murong had nearly died at Serena Qin's hands, he felt a lingering fear and naturally no longer cared about Serena Qin's fate.
Liam Duanmu frowned, and then Quentin Drake reached out to stop him, shaking his head. You couldn't blame him for seeming disloyal—if the Grandmaster's Estate tried to help Qin Yan now, they'd only add another victim. Qin Fortress was already lost; if the Grandmaster's Estate disappeared too, the Righteous Path would truly be doomed!
After a long wait with no action from Morgan Shangguan, everyone grew increasingly puzzled.
Suddenly, Morgan Shangguan turned to the kneeling Liam Liu and said, "Head of Liu Manor, please help me retrieve a few items from Miss Qin. As payment, I promise to protect your life!"
At her words, no one understood what she intended—why ask Liam Liu to do it, and why promise to protect him? By all rights, Liam Liu had tried to kill her before; she shouldn't be letting him off so easily!
Seeing that Ghostmaster Damien Gray didn't object either, everyone was even more confused. Wasn't he just moments ago set on skinning Liam Liu alive? Now he didn't protest—was it for the Cloud Guildmaster's sake? Even if they were now on the same side, how could things go from utter hostility to such sudden cooperation? Besides, their alliance was solid; there was no need for such gestures!
Liam Liu couldn't figure out what the two leaders were thinking either, but now that he had a glimmer of hope, he clung to it tightly!
Qin Yan watched as Liam Liu crawled toward Serena Qin, his eyes wide with fury. "Liam Liu, don't you dare!" he shouted.
Damien Gray narrowed his eyes at the scene, making no move to stop it. He glanced discreetly at Morgan Shangguan, a faint, unreadable smile flickering in his eyes.
Morgan Shangguan settled back into her seat, sipping tea as she watched the Righteous Path tear itself apart. Did she not know what schemes these people harbored? Unable to deal with her and Damien Gray, they hoped to see her side turn on itself—so she let them enjoy a taste of their own medicine, watching her own faction's internal strife play out!
Liam Liu glanced at Morgan Shangguan, but didn't ask what she wanted taken from Serena Qin. He simply picked up the fallen dagger and began to cut, his actions brutal as he sought to please Morgan Shangguan. Anything non-lethal, he removed from her one by one. The screams that followed sent chills down everyone's spine.