With that realization, Mo Han bowed slightly and spoke with utmost respect, "I thank His Majesty for his boundless grace. The Emperor's reward is already a monumental honor to me. However, I have been accustomed to freedom since childhood, and I fear I must disappoint His Majesty's kind intentions. I beg Your Majesty for understanding."

The Emperor’s expression fell upon hearing Mo Han’s reply. "Since that is your wish, I will not force the matter. But I have always maintained a clear distinction between reward and punishment. You have rendered a great service to Feiji City; very well, I shall first bestow upon you one hundred thousand gold coins. However, should you ever change your mind, you are always welcome here."

Mo Han listened to the Emperor’s proposal and no longer demurred. He never refused a benefit offered directly to him. He heard himself say, "Then I thank Your Majesty for this bounty."

Hearing Mo Han’s acceptance, the Emperor chuckled happily. "Heh heh, remember my words. Whenever you change your mind, feel free to come and find me."

Mo Han quickly responded, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will certainly remember your words."

At this moment, Murong Tian, who stood nearby, interjected, "Your Majesty, since things are settled, how do you intend to resolve the matter of today's marriage gathering?"

The Emperor’s voice boomed out confidently, "What is difficult about that? Just as Mo Han suggested, tell them the truth. Whether they believe it is their concern. Our Tianlong Empire fears no one. Leave this matter to Lord Murong to resolve."

Hearing the Emperor's directive, Murong Tian replied respectfully, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty. I will handle this matter perfectly and ensure it in no way damages the reputation of our Empire."

Upon receiving Murong Tian's assurance, the Emperor nodded with pleasure. "That is good. I have other matters awaiting me and must return to the palace now. I leave the remainder to you gentlemen."

With that, the Emperor rose and began walking towards the crowd below, and everyone present quickly bowed in respectful farewell.

Once the Emperor was well away, Gongsun Wuji approached Murong Tian, saying, "Lord Murong, since the situation is resolved and Miss Murong's illness has been cured, I shall not impose further upon you. I bid you farewell for now."

Murong Tian responded with significant meaning, "Today’s resolution truly owes much to Lord Gongsun’s staunch assistance. Murong Tian will surely remember your great kindness."

Gongsun Wuji merely smiled in response, saying nothing, before turning to Mo Han. "Young friend, if you have time, feel free to visit my estate anytime. Yunyan even wrote recently to ask about your condition. Yunyan will be returning in the next few days, so you absolutely must come by for a visit."

Mo Han replied to Gongsun Wuji's words, "Heh, I haven't seen Yunyan in quite some time either. If I am free in the coming days, I will certainly pay a call."

Gongsun Wuji nodded with a smile and said, "In that case, young friend, you must come. This old man will await your distinguished presence at my estate." He then addressed Murong Tian and the others. "Everyone, I shall depart now."

Saying this, he turned and left. Gongsun Hai, standing beside him, offered Mo Han a small smile of farewell before following his father away.

Mo Han, however, walked with Murong Tian and the others toward the main square, preparing to explain the situation to those who had attended the gathering. Murong Feixue had already left under the escort of the guards from the Mad Dragon Legion.

As they neared the crowd, a sudden premonition of danger flashed through Mo Han's mind. Recalling the warning given to him by Liu Yanran, he quickly called out, "Be careful, danger!"

As the words left his lips, several figures shot out from the crowd opposite and charged towards them—their target clearly being the group surrounding High Priest Mora.

Thanks to Mo Han’s warning, Mora and his entourage were already on guard. Seeing the attackers, the four Judgment Knights assigned to Mora’s safety immediately stepped past him to intercept the enemy.

The two groups rapidly closed the distance. As the four Judgment Knights approached, the enemy positioned centrally—a figure clad in black, sporting an embroidered golden rose on his chest—a look of sheer contempt flashed in his eyes. He roared, "Seeking death!"

He swung the weapon in his hand towards the four Judgment Knights. A streak of white light shot forth from his blade, reaching the four knights in the blink of an eye. Mora and the others behind them, witnessing the white Dou Qi, cried out in unison: "Sword Saint!"

The four Judgment Knights had no time to evade; they could only brace themselves and meet the Sword Saint’s attack head-on. A few sharp cries were heard as the white light struck the knights' weapons without slowing in the slightest, piercing directly through the weapons and into the bodies of the four knights.

The bodies of the four unfortunate Judgment Knights were severed into several pieces by the fierce Dou Qi, and a rain of blood instantly stained the air. The white Dou Qi, after claiming two lives, vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed at all. The strength of a Sword Saint was truly beyond ordinary terror; it was not simply a few ranks above a Sword Master.

Everyone present was stunned silent by this spectacle. Mo Han was equally shocked by how monstrously powerful this Sword Saint was. Mo Han estimated that if he had intervened just now, at most he could have injured and repelled them, but this Sword Saint’s single move instantly killed the four Judgment Knights, who possessed the strength of Sword Masters, without them even being able to offer resistance.

Meanwhile, the surrounding soldiers of the Mad Dragon Legion used this moment to quickly shield Murong Tian and the others, covering their retreat toward the waiting carriages. All the spectators in the plaza had scattered.

The black-clad figure saw this and spoke, "Our Dark Church holds no grievance against your Murong family, and we do not wish to harm you. You may leave, but you must leave Mora of the Light Church behind, or do not blame us for being impolite."

Murong Tian let out a cold snort upon hearing the demand. "No one threatens me, Murong Tian! Setting aside my friendship with Priest Mora, the sheer arrogance you displayed here today at my daughter’s assembly, the blatant attack on a guest of the Murong family—I, Murong Tian, will certainly deal with this matter."

Mo Han, meanwhile, kept his eyes darting around, searching for Liu Yanran’s figure. He couldn't spot a single woman among the enemy figures, and a wave of anxiety struck him. He worried if something had happened to Liu Yanran, because she had promised to come.

The leader of the black-clad group listened to Murong Tian’s retort and said coldly, "Since you insist on seeking death, do not blame me. Others may fear the Murong family, but our Dark Church is not necessarily afraid of you." He then commanded those beside him, "Move! Kill them ruthlessly!"