However, with so many people watching, he could not afford to lose the composure befitting a prince. Left with no other choice, he had to swallow this bitter pill in silence. In truth, he had already begun to hatch a plan: once the right opportunity presented itself, he would flee the Phoenix Clan and make Li Qinghe pay a heavy price.
On the surface, it appeared that Li Qinghe had emerged the victor in this affair. Yet, in the end, she had still taken thirty heavy lashes and earned the deep-seated hatred of Junmo. When tallied up, she hadn't truly won; on the contrary, she had left a dangerous, hidden threat right by her side. Of course, that is a story for another time.
The others did not care whether Junmo stayed or not. Their primary purpose had been the visit, and now that the visit had concluded, they naturally had no intention of lingering in the Phoenix Clan. After exchanging a few final words, they all took their leave.
Chapter 40