The more Li Hao thought about it, the more he believed that it was a possibility. Given Feng Lao's temperament, even if he had to leave, he wouldn't just disappear without a word unless something unexpected happened.
"Prince, do you know who the combatant from the Taiping Dao Realm was?" Li Hao asked immediately.
"It should be Mo Luo." Jiang Licheng replied, "Although I didn't get a close look, the overwhelming demonic aura that was released leaves no doubt. So, I'm afraid your friend is most likely already..."
"Mo Luo?" Li Hao was taken aback.
"You don't know?" Jiang Licheng glanced at him and then realized that the young man before him was only in his teens and probably didn't have much exposure to information about top powerhouses beyond his cultivation and sword practice.
"Eight hundred years ago, Mo Luo appeared out of thin air, wreaking havoc everywhere. The Buddhist experts were sent to suppress him, but they were killed instead. Mo Luo broke through their ranks and escaped, only to disappear without a trace for the next two hundred years. When he reappeared, he had already become a Great Perfection Realm cultivator, continuing his rampage..."
Jiang Licheng continued, "Five hundred years ago, the Buddha himself took action, but Mo Luo anticipated this and fled. That battle was earth-shattering. Although they failed to kill Mo Luo, it showcased the terrifying power of the Buddha to the world. I don't know if your Shen Jiang Fu has records of it, but during that battle, the Buddha displayed a Fivefold Dao Domain!"
Jiang Licheng looked at Li Hao, "Slightly weaker than you at present, but after five hundred years, the Buddha was once an unparalleled genius. Such a long time has only made him more formidable. Even among the Great Perfection Realm, he is a top existence."
"Three hundred years ago, a Bodhisattva was publicly killed by Mo Luo. The Buddha issued an order to all Buddhist disciples to pursue and kill Mo Luo forever."
"However, after that, Mo Luo rarely appeared, and occasional reports of his whereabouts were difficult to verify. Some were just demons or people who had gone mad, using Mo Luo's name to intimidate others."
"If you want to find Mo Luo, you won't be able to do it alone. Our Great Yu Shenchao has been searching for him for so many years, but we haven't found any traces. The truth is, for such a powerful being, a warrant is practically meaningless."
"But if you still want to find Mo Luo, you can try asking on Mount Wuliang. They have experience dealing with him, and I've heard that they've been secretly investigating these past years, although it probably won't amount to much."
As Jiang Licheng finished speaking in one breath, Li Hao's expression turned grim. Mo Luo? What would Feng Lao have to do with Mo Luo for him to make a move? Could it be that they simply crossed paths, and Mo Luo took a liking to kill?
At that moment, another officer rushed into the courtyard and bowed to Li Hao before reporting, "General Haotian, we have news about the person you're looking for!"
"What?" Li Hao, who was still processing Jiang Licheng's words, was startled by the officer's report and immediately turned to him sharply.
"Where?!"
"At Mount Wuliang."
The officer was frightened by his own words and quickly added, "Mount Wuliang just released a statement. They have captured Feng Boping, the thief who has been stealing from them for many years. Tomorrow at noon, they will execute him at the Spirit Peak of Mount Wuliang!"
Li Hao's pupils constricted, and he felt his brain buzzing slightly. Soon, he felt his blood boiling.
Execute Feng Lao?
Wait, Mo Luo, Mount Wuliang?
Li Hao looked at Jiang Licheng and asked, "Prince, are you sure you didn't mistake what you saw before?"
Jiang Licheng's face was also filled with surprise as he now understood that Feng Boping was the person Li Hao was searching for.
"Strange. Could it be that Mo Luo delivered that person to Mount Wuliang? But they are sworn enemies..." Jiang Licheng muttered to himself, and then his eyes widened as he seemed to realize something. "So that's how it is. No wonder he said what he said..."
"What?" Li Hao asked, and at the same time, an incredible thought emerged in his mind.
But when he thought of Zhu Huo Shen and Yin Furen, it didn't seem so unbelievable after all.
Jiang Licheng looked at Li Hao but didn't speak. However, the two seemed to understand each other's thoughts through their gaze.
Li Hao's expression turned gloomy as his mind suddenly recalled a conversation he had with Feng Lao years ago while fishing by the lake.
Feng Lao had mentioned that he once took something from Mount Wuliang while the Buddha was in seclusion.
It was a sacred object, said to contain the aura of a saint, which he used to suppress a dangerous river, preventing it from spreading further.
This incident infuriated the Buddhist sect, and they launched a manhunt for Feng Boping.
But Feng Boping was elusive and had managed to stay hidden from the Buddhist sect all these years.
Yet now, he had been captured.
Li Hao felt sadness in his heart. Feng Lao led a nomadic life, wandering from place to place, which was why no one could catch him.
The young couple from Yanbei was once the weakness of the Demon Slayer, but he grew up to become the hardest stone.
And now, he had become Feng Lao's weakness, tying him down.
Li Hao gently covered his chest, feeling a slight tearing sensation. Feng Lao must have known that he had been exposed and was in danger, but he still secretly watched over Cangya City, fulfilling the promise between them.
Such a bond went beyond words.
"Let's go to Mount Wuliang!"
Li Hao gritted his teeth and said to Zhu Huoshen.
Jiang Licheng was taken aback and looked at Li Hao, saying, "Are you going to rescue him? If I remember correctly, you're now a duke. With your age, if you accumulate two more great achievements, you could become a first-rank duke or even aspire to become a divine duke, enjoying eternal glory. In the future, you might even have a chance to reach the Saint realm. Are you sure you want to take such a risk for a thief?"
"Fame and glory are nothing compared to the joy of friendship," Li Hao said coldly, his eyes fixed on Zhu Huoshen, who had revealed his true form. He mounted the horse and continued, "What does it matter if millions despise me? In life, having one or two true friends is enough."
Seeing Ren Qianqian's anxious steps towards him, Li Hao's cold gaze softened as he said in a low voice, "Wait here for me, and cultivate well."
Jiang Licheng was stunned by Li Hao's words. He had assumed that this young man, like many others he had encountered, pursued fame and wealth, craving eternal legacy. But now, he realized that Li Hao might be different.
His royal brothers and cousins, as well as the younger generation, were all vying for the same thing—a name in history.
"In life, having one or two true friends is enough... what a wonderful thought," Jiang Licheng murmured, then laughed heartily. "Kid, I like your style. I'll accompany you on this journey. That Buddha is no simple foe, and if necessary, I'll draw my sword alongside you!"
"Your Highness, as a royal, you shouldn't get involved in this. It's my personal matter," Li Hao said, signaling Zhu Huoshen to depart.
Zhu Huoshen immediately flew off, his hooves thundering across the sky.
But Jiang Licheng roared with laughter, "Where I go is my business. Royalty or not, I am who I am—I am the God of the Sword, Jiang Licheng!!!"
With that, he soared into the sky, following Li Hao's trail and matching his pace.
In the blink of an eye, the two had rushed out of Tianmenguan, one in front and the other close behind.
Li Hao glanced back at the tightly following Jiang Licheng, surprised that he had actually come along. This prince seemed different from the others; there was a hint of madness in him.
"The Buddhist sect is supported by the royalty. Won't your involvement cause some issues?" Li Hao frowned.
Jiang Licheng's speed suddenly surged, catching up to Zhu Huoshen, and he laughed, "What issues? Will that Buddha come after me afterward? Let him bother my older brother, the deep-scheming Yu Emperor! Causing trouble for him is what I love to do the most!"
Li Hao's eyes narrowed slightly, understanding who the other was referring to.
It seemed that the two brothers did not get along.
Yet, the Yu Emperor had sent him to assist Li Hao...
"Earlier, you mentioned that you were only able to escape because of me. Did His Majesty promise to release you in exchange for escorting me, given that you were previously imprisoned?" Li Hao glanced at the shackles on his wrists.
Jiang Licheng laughed, "Indeed. He also promised that after ensuring your safety, I could strike him with my sword. After this matter is concluded, I will return to the imperial capital and reclaim that sword strike I owe him!"
Li Hao paused, the image of the elderly man playing chess under the willow tree flashing in his mind. Suddenly, he felt a twinge of emotion. The investment the Emperor had made in him seemed rather substantial.
He took a deep breath, pushing those thoughts aside, and signaled Zhu Huoshen to increase their speed.
Meanwhile, the news of Mount Wuliang's public execution of the Thief Saint, Feng Boping, spread among the various factions.
Many factions that had been visited by Feng Boping were delighted to hear that the notorious thief had been caught.
Some factions located near Mount Wuliang immediately set out upon receiving the news, rushing to Mount Wuliang in the hopes of interrogating Feng Boping about the whereabouts of the stolen treasures before his execution.
This news also reached the Qingzhou Divine General's Mansion.
When LiMuxiu heard the news, he was stunned, and his face immediately drained of color.