บท 10: Chapter 10: Betrayal from the Grandson
With Tang Feng's power and influence, he certainly wasn't a match for the Sword Sect.
Spirit Medicine Valley had money and connections, but in this world, strength was the most important factor.
The other onlookers also didn't expect the situation to escalate to this level, so they quickly held Tang Feng back, advising him not to act impulsively.
Tang Feng didn't charge forward with a sword again; he had somewhat regained his sanity and, of course, wouldn't make such an irrational move.
However, he completely ignored Chong Xu's warning, coldly questioning, "Is Perfected Chong Xu trying to cover up for a thief?"
"Valley Master Tang, be careful with your words. Zhou Ran merely misplaced our sect's cultivation technique, and naturally, there will be consequences according to our sect's rules. But this is not a reason for others to slander our Sword Sect's disciples."
The Grand Elder's attitude only angered Tang Feng more. He did not back down, asking, "I dare to ask Perfected Chong Xu: it was only announced yesterday that my daughter has the Female Physique of Xuan Pin and needs the Mysterious Yin Nine Turns cultivation technique to mend it.
Last night, he obtained the technique, and not long after, it was stolen. Are you saying this is a coincidence?"
Upon hearing this, the looks other people gave Zhou Ran and the Grand Elder changed.
They had also heard of the Divine Dragon Nine Probes technique, and naturally knew it wasn't something cheap.
If it wasn't useful, who would spend a fortune to buy it?
Zhou Ran's purchase meant that he was involved in this matter.
Perfected Chong Xu looked displeased, as he knew why Zhou Ran had exchanged for the Divine Dragon Nine Probes – it was to bait someone.
But who would have known that the fish took the bait, escaped the hook, and dragged the fisherman into the water instead?
Perfected Chong Xu was caught between a rock and a hard place.
If he explained the reason, it would reveal his eavesdropping on his juniors' plan for his grandson's benefit. Where would that leave his dignity?
If he didn't explain, Zhou Ran's suspicion wouldn't be washed away.
As he weighed the situation, Jiang Qingyun stepped in to mediate.
"Valley Master Tang, please calm down first. Why don't we hear Zhou Ran's side of the story."
Perfected Chong Xu didn't think Jiang Qingyun was helping; she didn't seem like a good person.
However, since Jiang Qingyun made sense, everyone turned their gaze on Zhou Ran.
Zhou Ran had never experienced such tremendous pressure, especially Tang Feng's murderous eyes, which filled him with fear.
Under immense psychological stress, he looked towards Chong Xu for help, but Jiang Qingyun stood between them, blocking their line of sight.
Jiang Qingyun reassured him, "Don't be nervous. As long as you're innocent, we won't wrong anyone. Tell us, why did you borrow the cultivation technique?"
"I wanted to lure the snake out of its hole."
At this moment, Zhou Ran's mind raced, pushing his thinking to its limit.
Of course, he wouldn't admit that he had stolen Zhang Chi's idea. Instead, he said he heard about Tang Ruoling having the Female Physique of Xuan Pin and thought up the plan to lure the snake out of its hole.
This way, he maintained his and his grandfather's dignity while clearing himself of suspicion.
To prove the truth of his claims, Jiang Qingyun summoned the Enforcement Hall members involved in last night's operation and the Scripture Pavilion's administrators. She also called forth the disciples who were in the pavilion last night to testify.
They confirmed the time Zhou Ran borrowed the secret manual, when he left, and when he arrived home.
Upon checking the duration, they found it to be very short.
Jiang Qingyun calmly analyzed, "If your words are true, the thief must have been in the Scripture Pavilion at the time. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had the chance to make a move on you in such a short period."
The range of suspicion narrowed significantly. Tang Feng became more alert and temporarily put aside his resentment towards Zhou Ran, instead shifting his attention to the disciples in the Scripture Pavilion.
Jiang Qingyun asked, "After Zhou Ran left, who else left?"
By coincidence, the time between Zhou Ran's departure and the attack was within a quarter of an hour.
However, within half an hour of him leaving the pavilion, nobody else had exited.
They could all verify this fact for each other.
Not only that, Zhou Ran had also arranged yesterday for someone to spy on the Scripture Pavilion to see who got wind of the news and who intentionally spread it.
However, it was evident that those present in the Pavilion at that time might have gossiped but did not blatantly spread the word. The Enforcement Hall members who were keeping watch could also testify that no one left the Pavilion or sent any messages.
If the thief was not in the Scripture Pavilion, then how did they find out that Zhou Ran had taken the Divine Dragon Nine Probes and carry out the attack so swiftly and accurately?
The most likely explanation was that Zhou Ran had staged it himself.
Once again, the pressure turned to Zhou Ran's side.
He didn't expect that by moving a stone, he had smashed his own foot. All his arrangements only served to prove that others were innocent.
And if others were innocent, it implied that he himself had a big problem.
Perfected Chong Xu immediately took a stand, saying, "I believe that Zhou Ran would not collude with the thief. If he did, why would he let people watch over the Scripture Pavilion? It would be better to leave it alone and shift the blame on others instead.
Furthermore, if he had really colluded with the thief and gotten away with the cultivation technique, then why didn't he claim that the middle part of the process took longer?"
There was some truth in these words, yet Tang Feng did not believe them and refuted, "How do we know that he didn't act against his own interests in order to clear himself from suspicion?
Either way, we have no reason to believe what he says. If he is not the thief, then he must be colluding with them. Or is Perfected Chong Xu suggesting that the thief could have guessed that his grandson would borrow the secret manual, and that's why they ambushed him in advance?"
Without evidence and relying only on subjective conjecture, who wouldn't be able to argue?
Could a single statement wash away all suspicions? It couldn't be that easy, could it?
Chong Xu's face darkened, as he was once again met with a decision to make.
He could always have another grandson, but losing his reputation was permanent.
Still struggling with his choice, Zhou Ran had already made up his mind.
Besides his grandfather, no one could prove his innocence.
Every time Zhou Ran met Tang Feng's murderous gaze, he felt guilty.
If he was pursued by this madman as an accomplice to the thief, he might face a relentless vengeance.
He still had a bright future ahead of him and couldn't afford to fall here.
Under the scrutiny of seniors and peers alike, Zhou Ran could no longer bear the pressure and confessed.
"I did it only to lure the snake out of the hole. I knew Tang Ruoling was not the Female Physique of Xuan Pin, so the Mysterious Yin Nine Turns technique is of no use."
Zhou Ran's confession sent shockwaves throughout the room.
There was a lot to unpack: how could he know that Tang Ruoling was not the Female Physique of Xuan Pin?
And Tang Feng's eyes became even more fierce.
At this point, it didn't matter whether his and Zhang Chi's plans were exposed, Tang Feng stared at Zhou Ran and asked, "Who told you about this? Only Zhang Chi and me knew about it."
Zhang Chi and Zhou Ran's relationship was well-known, so it was highly unlikely that Zhang Chi would betray him.
Seeing that there was no way out, Zhou Ran gave up resisting.
If he had to confess to some of it, he might as well confess everything.
"My grandfather told me"
Zhou Ran made the matter clear, and his suspicion was naturally lifted. Knowing that Tang Ruoling was not the Female Physique of Xuan Pin, it was indeed unlikely that he would take the technique only to fake an attack.
The spectators' gazes on the grandfather and grandson duo grew even stranger.
Zhou Ran was blindly arrogant, self-righteous, and reckless with his ambitions. He even sold out his own grandfather to clear himself from suspicion without any hesitation.
On the other hand, his grandfather abused his power by suppressing talented disciples and handing power to an incompetent successor, plagiarizing the achievements of his juniors for his own grandson to use.
Their despicable deeds were an affront to everyone.
From that day on, the reputation of this grandfather and grandson duo was utterly ruined.
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