Ling Xuan was taken aback, seemingly surprised by Xie Shuangxue’s strong assertion. “Alright, alright, I am Ah Xue’s man,” he responded without delving deeper, still soothing him and even reaching out to touch Xie Shuangxue’s hair. “But I am also a man of the Feather Clan, and I wish to do my part to protect the esteemed Golden Feather Envoy.”

In Ling Xuan’s heart, he always remembered the pitiful look Xie Shuangxue gave him when he was injured. He swore to prevent such incidents from happening again.

“Did Chun Yao tell you something?” Xie Shuangxue continued with a frown. “I’ll go find him.”

Ling Xuan quickly brought him back. “It’s not just me going. Brother and Chen Xin will also join. So, Ah Xue, don’t worry,” he said. “We’ve discussed this already. Don’t rush off; calm down and listen to me.”

Regardless of the larger picture or his personal feelings, he had to go. “When the world is in such chaos, the Feather Clan cannot stand idly by. If we don’t reach out to our people now, no one will heed our call when the Feather Clan itself is in peril.”

Ling Xuan explained carefully, “His Highness originally wanted you to lead the team to Li Nan, but I felt too anxious about it. At times like these, Floating Dreams Cloud Realm is the safest place.”

“So, Ah Xue, please be good. This time I cannot refuse.”

Xie Shuangxue stared at him, asking, “Are you insisting on going?”

No wonder. At this moment, Ling Luo was not in trouble, yet Ling Xuan was still stubbornly pushing to leave. He truly had grown, but was still walking the old path.

Afraid of angering him, Ling Xuan hesitated to speak but eventually nodded. His mind was made up, and no one, not even the highest authority, could sway him, especially when he was also driven by a desire to prove himself by protecting Xie Shuangxue.

“Ah Xue, don’t be upset. You must trust me, and don’t confront His Highness,” Ling Xuan sighed. “Also, be more careful from now on, and make sure no one notices you going out.”

He had come to bid farewell to Xie Shuangxue today and couldn’t help adding a few more words, worried about him getting hurt outside or encountering trouble within the Feather Clan.

But Xie Shuangxue stepped back and turned to leave for Chun Yao.

He moved so swiftly that Ling Xuan couldn’t catch up.

When he arrived, Chun Yao was discussing matters with Ling Luo, Chen Xin, and a few others from the Feather Clan. Seeing him approach, Chun Yao gestured for Xie Shuangxue to come closer.

“You’re just in time. Listen in on the significant recent developments,” Chun Yao said. “I sent someone to find you, but Ling Xuan said you were unwell, had taken medicine, and were resting from an internal injury incurred during a recent trip, so I didn’t want to disturb you. Did Ling Xuan tell you about going to Li Nan?”

Xie Shuangxue walked up and nodded.

“I originally wanted to send you, but Ling Xuan said you were injured and stubbornly refusing to speak of it, fearing further injury, so he wants to go in your place. After thinking it over, I didn’t refuse,” Chun Yao said. “Shuangxue, if you really are injured, staying here to guard the Floating Dreams Cloud Realm is fine too. If you need anything, just let me know.”

Then Xie Shuangxue spoke up, “I indeed have something to discuss with His Highness. Please, Your Highness, rescind your order and do not send Ling Xuan to Li Nan.”

Chun Yao was taken aback: “Why?”

At that moment, a slightly late Ling Xuan arrived and heard Xie Shuangxue’s request.

“Because I believe there’s something wrong with Li Nan,” Xie Shuangxue said. “If Ling Xuan doesn’t return, no one can bear that responsibility.”

He stared at Chun Yao, his tone forceful, almost threatening, which surprised the other Feather Clan members present.

“Ah Xue,” Ling Xuan hurriedly interjected, “His Highness, he didn’t mean it like that!”

But Xie Shuangxue, who had spoken those words, didn’t back down, still facing off with Chun Yao.

He knew who truly cared for him, and Ling Xuan was one of them.

Such a suspicious situation could be glossed over in a few words because the other truly believed in him from the bottom of his heart, even making excuses and hiding things in front of Chun Yao for him.

Ling Xuan was a good person. Even when Xie Shuangxue had been bullied in the original story, he still thought this way.

When ambushed, Ling Xuan could have escaped but didn’t. He protected those weaker than him until the end, truly demonstrating his responsibility.

Now, Ling Xuan still harbored illusions about many people in the Feather Clan and the larger world.

Protected well by Elder Ling and no longer opposing Xie Shuangxue, his nature seemed even more naive, always thinking many were good. Even though Ling Xuan had grown at Lu Yun Platform and met kind-hearted members of the Demon Clan, it only made him more willing to step forward to save others.

But in these turbulent times, goodwill is precious, and a hint of malice could destroy it all.

Regardless, Xie Shuangxue was determined to protect those genuinely kind to him. If anything happened to Ling Xuan, Ling Luo would also be devastated, and no one would fare well.

However, Chun Yao’s expression remained calm, asking, “If you think there’s something wrong with Li Nan, do you have any suggestions or evidence?”

Xie Shuangxue’s concerns weren’t only because of what might happen to Ling Xuan. In the original story, Li Nan had already been infiltrated by forces from Zi Yue Island, and the calls for help were merely attempts to use the Feather Clan’s lives to expand their own territory amid the chaos.

Based on the information continuously gathered by Yun Ruwei, Li Nan was still headed in that direction.

But laying out such evidence would raise even more questions about how Xie Shuangxue obtained it, especially since the Feather Clan was currently investigating any demonic ties. If Xie Shuangxue adamantly claimed that Li Nan was conspiring with demons, what would be his reasons? After all, he wasn’t entirely unrelated to the Demon Clan himself.

Chen Xin, who was quick to react, saw Xie Shuangxue’s face and interjected before he could continue, taking the floor: “Your Highness, Ah Xue is just overly concerned.”

After speaking, he gave Xie Shuangxue a look.

Stop talking!

Chun Yao didn’t pursue the matter further, turning to Xie Shuangxue and continuing with Chen Xin’s line of thought: “Shuangxue, I understand your concerns, but without evidence, I cannot simply refuse to aid Li Nan based on your words alone.”

The situation was extremely chaotic, and nobody could clearly see the end. Chun Yao knew that letting chaos continue would only benefit those with malicious intent, harming the Feather Clan. Thus, sending people to quell the disturbance seemed necessary.

“I understand that,” Xie Shuangxue said. “Your Highness, but I don’t know if the Feather Clan is helping humans or ghosts.”

He wasn’t even sure about the people within the Feather Clan.

“I don’t know either, so we must go and see for ourselves,” Chun Yao replied. “Therefore, I cannot refuse, and I will go as well.”

Xie Shuangxue understood his meaning.

Having said this much, he knew this wasn’t something he could prevent. Whether it was the system’s setup or the Feather Clan’s own will, the trip was inevitable.

Outmatched by the circumstances, he could only seek an alternative approach.

“If Ling Xuan insists on going, then I cannot refuse either,” Xie Shuangxue said. “I would also like to see what kind of place Li Nan is.”

Since he was willing to go, Chun Yao wouldn’t stop him.

But Xie Shuangxue added, “Just remember, Your Highness, my intuition is usually very accurate. If I do find something amiss, and if Li Nan truly has issues, wouldn’t it be understandable for the Feather Clan not to assist them?”

Chun Yao paused but didn’t argue, thinking for a moment before nodding in agreement.

“I understand,” Xie Shuangxue said. “Rest assured, Your Highness, I won’t make things difficult for you.”

Then he turned and left.

Chun Yao watched his retreating figure, hesitating to speak.

Could Li Nan really have problems?

Afterwards, Xie Shuangxue didn’t sit idle; he browsed the forum, where players were still hotly debating the choice between Li Nan and Li Bei.

World missions were lengthy, giving players ample time to choose. Joining a side early to participate in missions could lead to the highest gains, but a loss could mean a complete forfeit, so caution was necessary.

This matter resembled a gamble, but there were clues influencing the outcome, leading many to assess the pros and cons of each faction, including NPC behaviors.

Upon opening the forum, Xie Shuangxue saw numerous complaints about Li Nan.

“Don’t come here; you’ll regret it. So many plotlines make no sense, winning here is aggravating.”

“People in Li Nan are not good at all.”

“Regret +1. I thought Li Nan was protected by the Feather Clan and chose it because I heard they’d send support and thought we couldn’t lose. But once I got here, I found the tactics strange, and many NPCs are selfish, unlike the atmosphere in Li Bei.”

“I want to leave, but honestly, if the Feather Clan’s reinforcements really come, Li Nan’s strength could surge, giving us a good chance of winning. Yet, I always feel like I’m helping a tyrant when I do missions.”

There was a “defection” gameplay in this faction war, but defections resulted in losing early gains and affecting later stages, so players generally wouldn’t defect unless absolutely necessary.

The choice of faction was just about winning or losing; in the chaos, no one could declare which side was just. It wasn’t about who was good, but who was the villain exploiting the situation.

If Li Nan dared to endanger Ling Xuan, they were capable of much worse.

Xie Shuangxue didn’t want to get involved; managing the Northlands was enough for him. He didn’t want to serve others without benefit, but after some thought, he had a new idea.

Who said the Feather Clan had to help Li Nan?

If the situation there was dire, yet they had to endure helping them out of loyalty, even risking Ling Xuan’s life, Xie Shuangxue was unwilling.

Li Nan might think the arriving Feather Clan members were mere stepping stones, but if they overstepped, it could spell their doom.

Players were still uncertain, but the news of the Feather Clan’s impending arrival became more directional, making many lean towards a decision, even suggesting that Xie Shuangxue would come—a favorable sign.

Would Xie Shuangxue’s side lose?

But in the middle of the night, a post appeared, hotly discussed by Ooloong Sweet, initially posted in a thread dedicated to Xie Shuangxue.

“Don’t just follow rumors to choose your faction! I don’t think Xie Shuangxue’s attitude is as reported.”

Ooloong Sweet had always been a fan of Xie Shuangxue, choosing a shop location near the City Lord’s Mansion in the Northlands, hoping to catch Xie Shuangxue’s attention if he came by.

Because her business was booming, she hadn’t logged off, but she heard some commotion in the middle of the night—it seemed like Xie Shuangxue had returned.

So, Ooloong Sweet sneaked in.

She had a bad feeling and even turned on her camera, then overheard Xie Shuangxue and Yun Ruwei discussing the current hot faction news, so she turned around and broadcasted it.

“Li Nan and Li Bei are indeed getting Feather Clan reinforcements, and Ah Xue is worried about Ling Xuan and plans to join them, so the earlier news was true.

“But here’s the main point!”

“When Ah Xue and Yun Qiang discussed this matter, their expressions were terrible! He really dislikes Li Nan, and Yun Ruwei also mentioned that Li Nan is shady, so everyone, don’t pick sides just yet.”

Ooloong Sweet had originally posted the video she recorded in the dedicated thread, where many players were already distressed over the issue, and it quickly spread beyond the thread.

In faction wars, many messages are mixed with truth and falsehood, requiring players to discern reality, and it’s often unclear who will win or lose until the final step.

The battle between Li Nan and Li Bei hadn’t started in earnest yet; skirmishes were still ongoing, and many hadn’t chosen sides, leaving room for defection.

“Does this imply we should choose Li Bei?”

“Just asking, does this NPC, Xie Shuangxue, have such influence? Can he change the Feather Clan’s decision?”

“To be realistic, yes, he really can, and it’s not the first time.”

“You can always trust Xie Shuangxue!”

The forum had already been critical of Li Nan, and this news shifted the prevailing view.

And when the Feather Clan truly arrived the next day, the events that unfolded further validated Xie Shuangxue’s suspicions.

Ling Xuan was one of them, initially coming with the intention of protecting others. But the first request for help from Li Nan he received was very suspicious. They had split into two teams upon arrival; Ling Luo and Chen Xin went one way, and he came here with Xie Shuangxue.

Li Nan and Li Bei, separated only by a river, had communities that were well-acquainted and even close-knit.

He discovered that Li Nan was using civilians as a human shield to advance, and the soldiers defending Li Bei, recognizing the familiar faces of the elderly, women, and children, hesitated to strike, causing the battle to stalemate.

The Feather Clan arrived on the scene and understood the full context, but with ordinary people mixed in, they were also hampered, requiring much more effort. Li Nan had also set many insidious traps, causing unexpected injuries even to the Feather Clan helpers.

After finally stopping, Ling Xuan was furious. Now a bit more mature, he didn’t erupt on the spot, but seeing Xie Shuangxue’s arm injured, he could barely restrain himself, especially since Ah Xue’s face was so pale, and Li Nan’s people still urged him on.

“Don’t rest yet, there’s still much to do in the city.”

That was one of Li Nan’s leaders, who had just hidden behind others; now safe, he began giving orders: “Since the Feather Clan is so powerful, you should protect us more. Only then will Li Nan truly respect and support the Feather Clan, don’t you agree?”

If Ling Xuan had been focused on his own achievements, he might not have reacted much to these words, merely suppressing his anger. But Xie Shuangxue had been injured while trying to save people, and someone dared to shout at him before he could even bandage his wounds!

The next second, a long knife appeared before the man, brushing past his nose, a clear threat.

“If you dare speak to him like that again,” Ling Xuan’s face darkened for the first time, “say another word, and I’ll gouge out your eyes.”

The leader broke out in a cold sweat but tried to appear tough: “You wouldn’t dare! You’re from the Feather Clan; how could you do such a thing?”

“Blades have no eyes, and what I do here, no one needs to know,” Ling Xuan’s expression turned even uglier. “Besides, what does it matter if someone knows? I mean what I say, and you can try me if you wish.”

The man dared not speak further.

In the end, it was Xie Shuangxue who stepped in to defuse the situation, saying, “Ling Xuan, let it go. At this time, there’s no need to say more.”

But similar incidents continued to occur.

Ling Xuan truly realized what Xie Shuangxue had told him: Li Nan wasn’t worth it. He might have been injured himself, but it was more important that Shuangxue suffered more because of their delays and cowardice, yet he still waved it off.

And it wasn’t just Ling Xuan and Ling Luo who were angered.

Players had already received the news and witnessed these scenes, and many firmly chose Li Bei.

“I get it, those who harm Xie Shuangxue usually don’t end well.”

“Damn, I didn’t care before, but Li Nan (region) bullied my wife, now I’m going all out!”