After exchanging words, Mo Qilin and Yu Qilin were both filled with hope for the Qilin tribe, looking back towards Penglai Immortal Island with eager anticipation.
"With Daoist Xu Fang's help, our Qilin tribe will surely rise again!"
"Indeed, indeed. The next time we meet, we must properly thank Daoist Xu Fang!"
As Mo Yu Qilin spoke, deeply grateful for Xu Fang's kindness, he immediately issued an order to the members of the Qilin tribe.
"Remember this, Daoist Xu Fang is a great benefactor to our Qilin tribe. You must treat him with utmost respect in the future and never be neglectful!"
"That's right, Daoist Xu Fang will share in the prosperity and decline of the Qilin tribe from now on. Whatever concerns Daoist Xu Fang is the business of our Qilin tribe!"
The tribesmen of the Qilin tribe who followed them had already understood Xu Fang's importance to their race from their conversation.
Now, upon receiving the commands of these two esteemed princes, they busied themselves with assent.
"Rest assured! Daoist Xu Fang is our Qilin tribe's great benefactor, how could we dare to treat him lightly?"
"As long as our Qilin tribe exists, Daoist Xu Fang will not be bullied. The Qilin tribe will always stand behind Daoist Xu Fang!"
"Haha! This time, we can finally join the Dragon and Phoenix tribes and board Daoist Xu Fang's ship!"
The Qilin tribesmen all spoke up, filled with excitement and brimming with hope and anticipation for the Qilin tribe's future.
Mo Qilin and Yu Qilin exchanged nods, quite satisfied.
With this, all worries were gone. Everything now depended on Daoist Xu Fang!
With no further concerns, they happily departed with their tribesmen, eagerly awaiting their next encounter with Xu Fang.
Meanwhile, on Penglai Immortal Island, after communicating with the little Qilin, Xu Fang finally understood the situation.
"So, you were specifically left behind by Mo Yu Qilin and the others, not forgotten or lost?"
The little Qilin did not hide anything and replied.
"Yes, the two princes said that as long as I follow Daoist Xu Fang, without needing to do anything, I can help the Qilin tribe rise again."
"What a disaster!"
Xu Fang looked at the little Qilin speaking earnestly and understood immediately, becoming extremely annoyed.
"I knew it. Those two fellows' understanding of things was deeply flawed!"
Xu Fang felt frustrated. He had explained himself so clearly to Mo Yu Qilin, yet they still misunderstood.
It seemed they had rushed headlong down a path of understanding only to veer in the completely opposite direction. Now, leaving this little Qilin behind was simply creating a problem for him!
"I understand now, so that's how it is!"
The Golden-winged Great Peng suddenly exclaimed, "No wonder my elder brother always told me to follow Senior. So that's why!"
"Indeed, no wonder my father told me to always follow Senior. So that's why!"
Ao Xue also chimed in, mirroring the Golden-winged Great Peng's sudden realization.
It was no wonder that both Kong Xuan and Ao Guang had allowed the Golden-winged Great Peng and Ao Xue to follow Xu Fang.
It turned out they had known all along about Xu Fang's importance to the three tribes and had made arrangements in advance!
Hearing this, Xu Fang looked at the Golden-winged Great Peng and Ao Xue, utterly speechless.
"Fine, Mo Yu Qilin can be excused, but how can you two also be so clueless?"
Xu Fang was exasperated. Mo Yu Qilin's misunderstanding was one thing, but the Golden-winged Great Peng and Ao Xue had been following him for so long, they should understand him best. How could they have come to such a conclusion?
Weren't they the ones who knew best whether he had the ability to influence the three tribes?
However, after hearing Xu Fang's words, the Golden-winged Great Peng and Ao Xue merely smiled, clearly not taking his words to heart, and exchanged knowing glances.
They had heard from Mo Yu Qilin that this matter involved the Heavenly Dao, and that Senior Xu Fang's reluctance to admit it was just like his encounter with Mo Yu Qilin. Those who understood, understood!
Seeing the infuriating smiles on their faces, Xu Fang became enraged.
However, not wanting to waste any more time, Xu Fang had to suppress his anger and said.
"Alright, let's not dwell on this for now. What should we do with this little Qilin?"
Xu Fang knew that the most important matter at hand was how to deal with the little Qilin, not to ponder irrelevant things.
Xu Fang looked in the direction Mo Yu Qilin had left. The area was now empty, with no sign of anyone.
"It seems I won't be able to catch up to them. I'll have to send this little Qilin back to the Qilin tribe."
Xu Fang mused that he wouldn't be able to catch up to the Qilin tribe, so he turned his attention back to the little Qilin.
"Little Qilin, do you remember where the Qilin tribe currently resides? I'll take you home."
Upon hearing this, the little Qilin was startled and quickly knelt on the ground, kowtowing.
"Daoist Xu Fang, please don't send me away. I don't want to leave you!"
"Oh, that's right, I remember now. I can't remember where our home is at all! Haha!"
The little Qilin cried tears of joy. Not being able to remember the way home was supposed to be a sad thing.
But since he couldn't remember, and Senior Xu Fang had no destination, he could stay by Daoist Xu Fang's side and fulfill the mission assigned by the two princes!
Xu Fang was speechless. You don't even know how to get home, yet you're so happy about it!
However, Xu Fang also understood that the Qilin tribe was in a difficult situation, and their dwelling place would not be easy to find. It was normal for the little Qilin not to know.
But this way, he really couldn't send him back. What should he do with him?
Hearing this, the Golden-winged Great Peng and Ao Xue's eyes sharpened. They looked at each other, nodded, and spoke in unison.
"Senior, this Qilin tribe is truly detestable, to scheme against Senior like this. How can Senior endure it?"
"Indeed, indeed. Senior, why not...?"
As the Golden-winged Great Peng and Ao Xue spoke, they made a beheading motion, their meaning perfectly clear: they wanted Xu Fang to kill the little Qilin and resolve the problem once and for all.
They held no great animosity towards the little Qilin, but they felt that this matter involved the rise of the three tribes, transcending personal good and evil to become a matter of racial interest.
The Dragon and Phoenix tribes were relatively fine. Although there was still a coldness between them, there was a possibility of thawing relations due to the Golden-winged Great Peng and Ao Xue.
However, the Qilin tribe, by comparison, was an outsider. To interfere at this juncture and simply abandon the little Qilin, the Golden-winged Great Peng and Ao Xue were naturally displeased.
Xu Fang felt even more speechless seeing them like this.
He had already told them that this matter had nothing to do with the rise of the three tribes, yet they remained so stubborn. Did they really think he had figured it all out?
Upon hearing this, the little Qilin became even more terrified at the actions of the Golden-winged Great Peng and Ao Xue.
Was he about to die before even starting his mission, thus ruining the Qilin tribe's chance?