Chapter 644 625: Many Mouths Melt Gold

"Impossible. I fed it myself, and it was with the food your Pill Immortal Alliance provided." Fatty Bai's face was deathly pale. In that moment, he finally understood. It was a classic case of being framed—once you get mud in your pants, everyone calls it shit.

Seeing Kun Yaoyang's smug expression, what more needed to be said? The man wasn't even bothering to hide his glee.

Had Fatty Bai kept quiet, it might have been fine. But the moment he spoke, the eyes of the two Pill Masters in charge of the Qilin Beast went wide. They glared viciously at Fatty Bai. "It was you! You must have done something to the Qilin Beast!"

"If the Qilin Beast doesn't survive, the Bai Family will be buried with it!" Kun Yaoyang added coldly, his sharp gaze fixed on Wang Meng.

The last time, it was Wang Meng who had ruined his plan to utterly crush the Bai Family. Now, he was eager to see if Wang Meng could save them again!

"Harming an auspicious beast makes one an enemy of Wang City. If the Qilin Beast cannot recover, a price must be paid," Zhe Wulei added mercilessly, surprisingly siding with the Kun Family.

Jiang Jiedao said nothing, merely nodding. The Jiang Family couldn't afford to oppose the Zhe Family. After all, with the whole affair between Wang Meng and Jiang Biyao, the Jiang Family was indebted to the Zhe Family. Even if nothing had actually happened, a family's reputation was paramount.

Mo Chengkong snorted. "If anything happens to the Auspicious Qilin Beast, the consequences are more than the Bai Family can bear. For ruining the long-prepared Five Elements Divine Beast Festival, everyone associated with the Bai Family must be severely punished!"

Mo Chengkong was aiming squarely at Wang Meng. This time, the target wasn't just the Bai Family; he intended to take down Wang Meng as well, catching them both in one fell swoop.

"Mo Chengkong, is your problem with me?" Zhan Yingluo demanded angrily.

"Yingluo, what does this have to do with you? You were just helping out of the kindness of your heart. But some underhanded schemes are impossible to prevent." Mo Chengkong had no quarrel with Zhan Yingluo.

Muhe Xiaoyu frowned. "Let's focus on treating the Qilin Beast. Everything else can wait. Alchemist Wu, you're the best we have in this field. The Chairman is still in Haojing, so we're counting on you!"

Fatty Bai collapsed to the ground. 'They've all ganged up on me,' he thought. 'They're trying to make sure the Bai Family can never recover.'

It wasn't just the four great families. Upon hearing the news, the other powers of Wang City rushed over as well. When they saw the Qilin Beast's condition, the crowd erupted, all of them pointing fingers at the Bai Family.

Zhan Yingluo looked like she wanted to say something, but held her tongue. 'The Bai Family definitely didn't do this,' she thought, 'but no explanation will help now. If anything happens to the Qilin Beast, the Bai Family is finished. And Wang Meng... he'd be finished too.'

News of this would surely reach Haojing, embellished and exaggerated. The Five Elements Divine Beast Festival was incredibly important to Wang City, the culmination of efforts from all the major powers. For it to collapse while Wang Meng was present meant they would never let him off the hook.

He had too many past transgressions. To cause such a disaster even while exiled in Wang City was truly an unforgivable sin.

Zhan Yingluo glanced at Wang Meng. Master Wang, however, was completely unfazed. He simply smiled faintly. "Everyone arrived so quickly. The Qilin Beast falls ill, and you all know about it instantly."

Kun Yaoyang sneered. "Wang Meng, still making baseless accusations at a time like this? It seems your despicable, shameless nature hasn't changed one bit!"

If it were anyone else saying this, they might have been able to argue their case. But Wang Meng? He was a walking disaster who had done far more outrageous things. No one would believe a word he said.

Mo Chengkong gave a savage grin. He might look down on trash like Kun Yaoyang, but he had to admit his schemes were effective. He had been about to leave last time, but Kun Yaoyang had stopped him and proposed this plan. Mo Chengkong didn't care what ultimately happened to Wang City, or even if the Mo Family couldn't establish itself here. What mattered was that he couldn't allow his own reputation to be dragged through the mud like that.

If he got rid of Wang Meng, he could return to Wang City in glory. There would be no shortage of people ready to sing his praises.

Mo Chengkong stared at Wang Meng. 'This time, you're a dead man.'

At that moment, Wu Yuan, who had been continuously casting the Rain Dew Technique, finally stopped. The Qilin Beast showed no sign of improvement. He sighed. "It's too late. If my master or the Chairman were here, there might be a chance. But distant water can't quench a nearby thirst. Fatty Bai! Wang Meng! You've killed Wang City's Auspicious Beast and ruined the Five Elements Divine Beast Festival! Your crime is unforgivable!"

The crowd immediately flew into a rage, hurling curses at the two men. The auspicious beast was simply too important to Wang City. Ever since its arrival, the city's status had been on the rise and its fortunes had improved. Everyone believed the Qilin Beast was the source of their good luck.

Muhe Xiaoyu was frantic. She exchanged a helpless glance with Zhan Yingluo; they had been implicated as accomplices. 'If only Big Brother were here,' she thought. He was the one who had captured this Qilin Beast, and with his prestige in Wang City, he could certainly get this situation under control. But he hadn't returned yet. *Sigh*.

'Then again, she couldn't blame him. There probably wasn't a man in the world who could resist Han Chuxue's charm, not even someone as exceptional as her brother.'

The human heart was a fickle thing. Not long ago, these people had been calling him 'brother', but now they looked at him like they wanted to swallow him whole.

Fatty Bai gave a silent, bitter laugh and gritted his teeth. He had gotten too complacent these past few days. He'd forgotten what it was like at his lowest point, and where were all these people then?

Under Wang Meng's protection, things had been going too smoothly for him and the Bai Family. The Major Sect trading rights, the Five Elements Divine Beast Festival, the friendship of the chairmen of both the Divine Artifact Pavilion and the Spirit Control Association... All these fortunate turns had made him lose his edge. It was true what they said: one thrives in calamity and perishes in comfort. His only regret was that he had let Wang Meng down.

"Brother Wu, I'll send my best men to Haojing! Three days, I just need three days!" Fatty Bai pleaded.

Wu Yuan shook his head coldly. "Forget three days. It's questionable if it can even last for three ancient hours." The other Pill Master beside him nodded in agreement.

Fatty Bai laughed bitterly. 'Time,' he thought, 'is a real bitch. Always cruelest when you need it most.'

"The Bai Family must take full responsibility for this."

"Indeed. Tending to the Qilin Beast was an honor, but also a responsibility. In my opinion, Wang City has no more need for the Bai Family."

The voices of a few minor family heads piped up, their tone chilling.

It was the Young Master of the Wui Family!

The Bai and Wui Families had a long history of cooperation. Now that the Bai Family was in trouble, the Wui Family was kicking them while they were down.

Instigated by these words, the various family patriarchs from Wang City gathered in the courtyard became incensed and began shouting curses.

"Throw the Bai Family out of Wang City! No, lock them up first! If the Qilin Beast... then exterminate the entire Bai clan!"

"I say we exterminate them right now!"

...

The situation had spiraled completely out of control. Muhe Xiaoyu and Zhan Yingluo might have wanted to help, but they couldn't go against the fury of the crowd. Under these circumstances, no one could save the Bai Family or Wang Meng.

Just then, Wang Meng suddenly laughed, and it was a cheerful laugh. "I don't know anything about some 'blackening disease.' Looks to me like this Qilin Beast just has indigestion, which is making its face dark. Is that really so hard to fix?"

"Are you saying you can cure it?" Wu Yuan sneered. "I've long heard that Brother Wang is the greatest braggart in all of Great Zhou. I see now that your reputation doesn't do you justice."

"I'm no expert on serious diseases, but for a little indigestion? I think I can handle it."

Master Wang said lightly. Muhe Xiaoyu and Zhan Yingluo were dumbfounded. 'Has he lost his mind under the pressure?' they wondered.

'If he just bowed his head and admitted fault now, they would at least spare his life for the sake of the Wang Family.'

Everyone exchanged glances, but no one laughed. Some people were already showing murderous intent.

"Ah, Brother Wang, such talent! If you can save the Qilin Beast, I, Mo Chengkong, will write my name backward from now on!"

Mo Chengkong sneered.

"Heh, it seems Brother Mo wants to follow my example and change his name."

"Enough crap. If you can't save it, don't blame me for what comes next!" Mo Chengkong's eyes flashed with killing intent.

Kun Yaoyang sneered. "If it's merely indigestion, then we will naturally offer a full apology. This Five Elements Divine Beast Festival will be led by the Bai Family, and we will assist. But if you can't save it, Wang Meng, you will be its funeral sacrifice!"

Kun Yaoyang was a true villain, far more direct than Mo Chengkong at a time like this.

"Fair and reasonable. The Zhe Family agrees," Zhe Wulei said with a detached air, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Everyone present understood the subtext. It seemed the other families didn't want to see the Bai Family rise again. It made sense when you thought about it; there wasn't enough to go around as it was, and now another competitor had appeared to fight for the scraps.

"We are all members of Wang City. I think we should discuss this matter at length," Muhe Xiaoyu said.

"Little Sister Yu, Brother Lan isn't here, so allow me to be presumptuous. The truth of this matter is already perfectly clear. Even for the honor of the Muhe Clan, you shouldn't be shielding the Bai Family any longer."

Jiang Jiedao said, also using this as an opportunity for the Jiang Family to publicly distance themselves from Wang Meng.

Muhe Xiaoyu glanced at Zhan Yingluo, who also looked anxious. But as Zhan Yingluo's gaze fell on Wang Meng, a peculiar light suddenly bloomed in her eyes.

"Alright. When I cure its indigestion, the Bai Family will be the lead family for this Divine Beast Festival!"

Wang Meng walked up to the Qilin Beast. It was clearly in extreme agony. Its scales had begun to take on a dull, grayish color. Upon closer inspection, one could see small patches had already started to turn black—a sign the disease was worsening.

Wang Meng stretched out his hands. Before his breakthrough, this might have been a little difficult. But now, treating a Fifth Transformation-level issue was no major problem.

Wang Meng struck a pose. The hand seal he was forming looked remarkably similar to Wu Yuan's Rain Dew Technique.

A sneer tugged at the corner of Wu Yuan's mouth.

A stream of True Essence flowed from Wang Meng's hands, and a faint red halo appeared. It really was the opening stance of the Rain Dew Technique.

Wu Yuan's expression shifted. Just as the halo was about to expand, it shattered with a POP.

Everyone froze for a second, then looks of ridicule spread across their faces. If the Qilin Beast's life weren't hanging by a thread, they would have burst out laughing.

"Is Brother Wang trying to learn on the fly? I'm afraid even the Pill Saint Ni Yong couldn't hope to match such talent."

"I've long heard that Wang Rencai has ambitions higher than the sky but talent shorter than a rat's tail. Seeing him today proves..."

Before Wu Yuan could finish his sentence—FWOOSH!

The ring of light erupted. Everyone in the courtyard felt an intense flash as a giant red lotus bloomed in the air.

The Rain Dew Technique!

It was the genuine article. This red lotus was four times larger than Wu Yuan's. The moment the Magic appeared, the Qilin Beast's eyes snapped open.

The entire courtyard was stunned into silence.

Wu Yuan's jaw dropped so wide he could have swallowed his own fist. He was a Pill Master; he knew this was the High-Tier Rain Dew Technique!

'How is this possible???'

Kun Yaoyang was stunned for a moment before a sneer returned to his face. It was unexpected, but still within his calculations. 'A mere Rain Dew Technique isn't enough to change anything!'

After his initial shock, Wu Yuan's expression filled with intense killing intent. Even a high-tier Rain Dew Technique couldn't save the Qilin Beast. In that moment, he felt a strange sense of gratitude toward Kun Yaoyang. 'If you're going to make a move, make it a ruthless one. Never give your opponent a single chance!'

But then, another miraculous scene unfolded. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.com to vote for it. Your support is my greatest motivation.)