Zhou Xuanji's words fell.
The street lay empty. Even the wind seemed to have stopped.
From behind the shuttered storefronts came a few breaths held so low they were barely audible.
The cultivators hiding there did not dare breathe freely.
Golden Radiance tilted his head, his golden slit pupils filled with confusion.
"Nonsense."
A wisp of hot air laced with golden lightning streamed from his nostrils.
"How come I don't know about His Excellency enslaving some Qilin with an Imperial Bloodline?"
"I'm His Excellency's favorite Qilin!"
"The others... the other Qilin don't count for anything!"
As Golden Radiance said the last words, he lashed his tail.
It cracked through the air with a snap, setting a nearby flagpole humming.
Zhou Xuanji froze, then gave him a strange look.
The Four Symbols Holy Guards fell silent at once.
Lin Long's brow twitched.
Lin Hu opened his mouth, then closed it again.
Lin Que narrowed her phoenix eyes slightly.
Lin Wu remained expressionless, though his gaze drifted toward Golden Radiance.
Almost the same thought sprang into all four minds.
Could he really not have figured it out?
Golden Radiance paused under their four stares.
He looked left and right, then glanced down at himself.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
He flicked his tail, utterly baffled.
"Was I wrong?"
There was even a hint of smugness in his voice.
Lin Long was silent for a moment before he finally spoke.
"Uh... do you think... it's possible..."
He paused and pointed at Golden Radiance.
"That the enslaved Pureblood Qilin Elder Zhou mentioned is you?"
Golden Radiance's eyes flew wide.
He stood rooted to the spot as though lightning had struck him, not moving for a full three breaths.
Then he whipped his head toward Zhou Xuanji.
Slowly, he looked down at the