Zheng Dan and Xie Daoyun couldn't help but look at Sang Hong. The King of Liang's doubts clearly reflected their own; they simply couldn't understand Sang Hong's actions.

Sang Hong struggled to his feet, spitting out a mouthful of blood, but there was no panic on his face. Instead, there was a faint smile: "I don't understand what Your Highness is saying. Everyone here knows that our Sang family has a grudge against the Zu family. Just now, he even came to my son's wedding to cause trouble. How could I possibly help him escape?"

The surrounding guests nodded in agreement, clearly agreeing with the statement; they were the first to disbelieve that Sang Hong had saved Zu'an.

King Liang's face darkened: "If you weren't helping him escape, then why were you blocking my way just now?"

Sang Hong replied calmly, "Well, I just saw the battle in the arena and had a sudden realization, so I instinctively soared into the sky. I didn't expect that King Liang would also fly up at that time, which blocked your way. I'm really sorry."

A spiritual practitioner's sudden enlightenment is rare and often beyond their control, so it's understandable that it can happen suddenly.

However, King Liang knew that he was lying through his teeth, but unfortunately, the other party's explanation was reasonable enough that even if it went to the emperor, he probably wouldn't be able to file a complaint against him.

"What a damn old fox!" King Liang cursed inwardly, finally understanding how he had dealt with Zu'an and Sang Hong before.

At this moment, Sang Qianyuan asked telepathically, "Dad, why did you save that brat Zu'an?"

Sang Hong's words might fool ordinary onlookers, but they certainly couldn't fool him. In addition, he harbored hostility towards Zu'an, so his tone was full of resentment.

Sang Hong sighed: "Qian'er, our Sang family is in trouble this time. If I'm not mistaken, we may have been abandoned by the Emperor, and we may not be able to escape death after returning to the capital this time."

"What!" Sang Qian was shocked. Although he had been captured this time, ups and downs were common in officialdom. Moreover, his father had been favored by the emperor all these years. So, his dismissal and return to the capital was probably just a show for certain people. How could it have developed to the point where he could not escape death?

Sang Hong continued, "I can't explain the specifics clearly in a short time, and I hope it won't develop to that point."

"But what does this have to do with saving Zu'an?" Sang Qian was still bothered by this matter.

Sang Hong looked in the direction Zu An had escaped: "Because he is a variable, and this variable might save our lives."

Sang Qian: "???"

He was completely bewildered and couldn't keep up with his father's train of thought.

Sang Hong didn't explain further, but glanced at Zheng Dan. With his sharp eyes, how could he not see that there was a problem between the two? Thinking back to when he asked Zheng Dan to use her beauty to seduce him a while ago, it was probably true that they had taken their act seriously.

He didn't share these deductions with his son, because doing so would only enrage him and wouldn't help the situation at all; in fact, it might even negatively impact the overall picture.

A variable, a variable—that's exactly the kind of variable I need right now, otherwise I'll surely die after returning to the capital…

At this moment, King Liang waved his hand, and the embroidered messengers immediately came to them and used their soul-hooking ropes to tie them up.

The two instantly felt their vital energy being suppressed, making them no different from ordinary people.

"Let's tie up the bride too." King Liang glanced at Zheng Dan. Putting aside the fact that she was Sang Hong's daughter-in-law, her stunning beauty alone might be of great use in the capital.

Seeing the embroidered messengers approaching, Zheng Dan bit her lip, but noticing her family members beside her, she ultimately allowed them to tie her up.

King Liang mounted his horse and said, "Put him in jail for now. The rest of you come with me to the Chu family!"

He came here with two important tasks assigned by the Emperor: first, to bring the Sang family father and son back to the capital; and second, to capture Zu An.

In contrast, the Emperor gave more instructions regarding the capture of Zu'an, and even sent an embroidered-robed envoy to accompany him. But today, he, a grandmaster, had actually watched him escape right before his eyes. If he couldn't bring him back, he would not only lose face, but the Emperor would also likely punish him severely.

...

Meanwhile, Zu An had witnessed Sang Hong blocking the Liang King's path for him during his escape, and he too was filled with doubt.

But he doesn't have time to think about these things right now; the most urgent thing is what to do.

He is now almost certain that the emperor has learned about the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra. Such a technique that could potentially grant immortality would be an enormous temptation for any emperor.

For a moment, he felt a sense of despair. If he had offended someone more powerful, perhaps there would still be a way to deal with it.

But this time, the one who would take his life was the emperor, the emperor of a powerful and stable unified dynasty, who was also recognized as the strongest person in the world!

He was not naive enough to think that the emperor would let him go after he offered up the Phoenix Nirvana experience. Would the emperor, who was so self-centered, allow a second person in the world to achieve immortality like him?

His first thought was to seek refuge with the Prince of Qi, since he was well aware of the power struggle between the Prince of Qi and the Emperor, and there was also Da Manman who could act as an intermediary. However, he quickly rejected this idea.

With the power of the King of Qi, he will surely find out what the emperor is looking for very soon.

The emperor wanted immortality, but didn't the King of Qi want it too?

"A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime." The Phoenix Nirvana Sutra is something that every practitioner would want to seize as soon as possible.

Where else can I go?

Zuan was somewhat bewildered. In that instant, he felt that in all the world he had been in, there was no place for him to belong.

Without realizing it, he took out the audio-visual mirror, wanting to contact Chu Chuyan and talk to her, but when he took out the audio-visual mirror, he found that the mirror surface was already cracked.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!