He Is Not Dead

The crisp bird calls woke the camp in the valley from its tranquility, and people with various thoughts began to gather at the entrance of the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb. 

"Why haven't they come out yet? We've been waiting for a whole day!" Han Yan was the most worried. She hadn't slept a wink the entire night, and now, with bloodshot eyes, she muttered anxiously. 

"The outcome must already be decided. Even the longest battles would have ended by now. The victor is probably reaping the rewards of victory at this moment," Wu Ming said, his eyes glinting as he looked at the entrance. 

"Hehe, Marquis Yingzun is right. Even the longest battles end eventually. But the question is, who is the victor?" Lu Qing, who had somehow gotten close to Wu Ming, said with a mocking tone. 

In his view, with Lin Yang leading a team of ten, Mo Qingkuang wouldn't stand a chance. Despite losing Lu Feng, the biggest winner of the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb would still be his Yuan Sword Sect! 

Han Yan glared at him hatefully, "Mo Qingkuang won't lose!" 

"Really? We're talking about Lin Yang here, and he has nine strong experts with him. Ninth Princess, are you really that confident in Mo Qingkuang?" Lu Qing's words were disrespectful, filled with more mockery. 

Han Yan, with a cold expression, replied, "So what about Lin Yang? He has never gained an advantage over Mo Qingkuang. The same goes for your Yuan Sword Sect!" 

"You..." Lu Qing was momentarily speechless. 

Han Yan chose to forget the time in Tiannan City when Mo Qingkuang was beaten by Lin Yang during the Yuan Sword Sect's disciple recruitment competition. 

But everyone knew that recently, whether it was the Flower-Plucking King's Tomb or the capital's martial examination, Lin Yang had suffered significant losses at the hands of Mo Qingkuang. 

Han Yan's words seemed to give everyone a bit more courage to believe that Mo Qingkuang could indeed work miracles. 

Maybe this time, Lin Yang wouldn't be able to deal with him either? 

However, Han Yan's words deeply angered Lu Qing. 

Saying Lin Yang was suppressed by Mo Qingkuang was one thing, but implying that Yuan Sword Sect, a thousand-year-old sect, had always been at a disadvantage against someone like Mo Qingkuang was another. 

Such words would make anyone laugh. Han Yan was basically rubbing Yuan Sword Sect's face in the dirt. 

But Lu Qing couldn't act out on the spot. This was Central Province, and Han Yan was an imperial princess. Attacking her would be akin to declaring war on the Tianxuan Empire! 

Last night, he urgently contacted the sect to send reinforcements. With Lin Yang set to kill Mo Qingkuang and claim the final victory, he was wary that the Imperial Academy might cause trouble and detain their Yuan Sword Sect's team. 

When that happens, they might not be able to return safely. 

He believed that the strong members from the sect would arrive soon, and then they would have nothing to fear. 

"Only one side can survive. Let's see who comes out first," Lu Qing suppressed his anger and said coldly. 

"It will definitely be Mo Qingkuang!" 

At this moment, not only Yuan Sword Sect and Imperial Academy, but also the remaining members of Tiandao Sect and other sects were waiting for the final result of this deadly contest. 

Would Mo Qingkuang defeat Lin Yang once again, or would Lin Yang finally have his revenge? 

After a while, a Yuan Sword Sect disciple came running from a distance. 

Shouting loudly, "Reporting to Steward Lu, Lin Yang and Chu Yanran have returned!" 

The Imperial Academy group felt their hearts sink instantly. Lin Yang had returned! 

Han Yan felt faint and almost collapsed but was quickly supported by Wu Ming. 

The crowd, hearing the news, was instantly energized! Lin Yang had returned! 

Does that mean... 

The disciples of Yuan Sword Sect were visibly overjoyed. It seemed that the final victor was indeed from their sect. 

Lu Qing's face lit up with joy. He glanced smugly at Wu Ming, whose face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and ordered, "Bring them over quickly." 

"Yes!" The disciple responded promptly and hurried away. 

Lu Qing smiled and cupped his hands towards Wu Ming, "Marquis Yingzun, it seems our Yuan Sword Sect had better luck this time. My condolences." 

Although he offered his condolences, his tone was full of schadenfreude, making the students of Imperial Academy grit their teeth in anger. 

If Lu Qing wasn't so powerful, they might have already attacked him. 

Although Mo Qingkuang was rebellious and had humiliated many senior brothers upon entering the academy, he was also seen as the rising hope of Imperial Academy. 

If he had fallen, it would have been a great loss for everyone. 

Compared to the enraged crowd, Wu Ming remained the calmest. He said softly, "No one has come out of the entrance. Where did Lin Yang come from?" 

His words immediately made everyone more alert. 

Yes, they had been guarding the entrance all along, and no one had come out. How did Lin Yang get out? 

Could it be that there were other exits from the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb? If so, Mo Qingkuang might have had a different outcome. 

Lu Qing was taken aback at first, then laughed, "Marquis Yingzun, don't deceive yourself. Who said there can only be one exit from the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb?" 

"The disciples who came out said the maze passage in the underground palace was sealed. It's normal to come out from a different exit. If you don't believe it, you can ask Lin Yang yourself when he arrives." 

He's really cunning! 

The disciple who reported back was one of those Lu Qing had arranged to patrol nearby, specifically covering the area near the back of the mountain. 

Thus, Lu Qing knew immediately that Lin Yang had likely exited from another point. 

Hearing Lu Qing's words, the crowd couldn't tell who was right. Somehow, Lu Qing's reasoning seemed plausible. 

Finally, Lin Yang came into view, accompanied only by Chu Yanran. 

Lu Qing squinted, slightly surprised. They lost eight people! Was Mo Qingkuang really that difficult to deal with? Fighting one against ten and still taking out eight? 

At least that person had fallen; otherwise, he would be a major threat in the future. Those eight people were worth the exchange! 

Lu Qing then put on a smiling face and waved Lin Yang over, "Lin Yang, come here. Marquis Yingzun here has some questions for you. Describe the situation inside the underground palace in detail." 

In his smugness, Lu Qing didn't notice the downcast expressions on Lin Yang and Chu Yanran's faces. In his view, Yuan Sword Sect had already won. 

Han Yan and the others from Imperial Academy glared at Lin Yang with eyes full of rage! 

Everyone mentally noted Lin Yang's appearance: A lackey of Yuan Sword Sect, first disrupting the martial examination and now besieging Mo Qingkuang. 

Given the chance, they would definitely kill him! 

Wu Ming's face was dark, "Lin Yang, tell me, is Mo Qingkuang dead?" 

Looking at the questioning eyes around him and Lu Qing's confident expression, Lin Yang knew they thought he had killed Mo Qingkuang and emerged as the biggest winner of the Fallen Leaf King's Tomb. 

Their actions once again tore open the wound in Lin Yang's heart. 

Mo Qingkuang still hadn't come out? What kind of gains had he secured inside? 

Lin Yang didn't know. He also wished, like these people, to have killed Mo Qingkuang, but he couldn't. 

He bowed his head deeply, closed his eyes, and said in a defeated tone, "He's not dead."