Chapter 232: This is a Framing
Chapter 232: This is a Framing
The atmosphere in the hall had already become quite awkward.
It was Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao who came to investigate the Ghost Official case, ready to show off his amazing skills and win praise from everyone present. But who could have guessed that after all this probing, the result turned out to be a joke? Even the dossier had been tampered with, and now evidence of wrongdoing had been exposed. What was left to investigate? If they insisted on continuing, wouldn’t it mean tracking down Shen Xiaoyin, who altered the files, and meticulously unraveling the mess layer by layer?
Logically, that was what should happen—but how long would that take?
Moreover, Divine Eye Young Master had come here to make a stunning debut. Instead, his efforts have fallen flat. At the very least, his initial grand momentum had completely crumbled into embarrassment. Forget earning fame; in the future, people would likely bring this up only as a joke…
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“Now this is getting interesting…”
At this point, Second Young Master Fang, who had been sitting quietly to the side, slowly rose to his feet. Ignoring the menacing and furious Qi Refiners from the Seven Clans, he glanced at Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao and said with a laugh: “Since Noble Young Master Lu is determined to thoroughly investigate the Ghost Official case, everyone touched by this probe should cooperate fully. My Shoushan Sect has already done its part. Now, it’s the Seven Clans’ turn to show their stance…”
“You?”
Divine Eye Young Master remained silent, but the Qi Refiners from the Seven Clans were shaken, their faces darkening.
What was the meaning of these words? Did he truly want them to immediately pivot and look into one of their very own?
Probing one individual wouldn’t matter much; they would investigate him anyway, even without external pressure.
The crucial point wasn’t that. The vital question was: should they truly let Divine Eye Young Master lead this inquiry? Wasn’t he Lu Xiao, born from one of the Seven Clans? Wasn’t this pressuring one faction to expose its own household’s troubles?
As these thoughts raced through their minds, many things suddenly became clear. Regardless of how he managed it, this Second Young Master Fang maintained his calm composure throughout all of this. He even cooperated fully, watching the entire spectacle unfold with the ease of someone enjoying a play. The final outcome subtly pointed toward a conclusion that deeply galled and embarrassed none other than Divine Eye Young Master himself… Could all of this… have followed a script he set up from the start?
The more the Seven Clans’ Qi Refiners thought along these lines, the more livid their expressions became. Their faces were practically green with fury.
As for the three Elders from the Nine Immortals Sect, their eyes all but spat flames, furious and incensed.
On the other hand, the Sect Leader of Lingwu Sect, along with the recently arrived Sect Leaders of Leshui Sect and Yun Huan Sect, smiled faintly.
The two Elders from Shoushan Sect stood apart. Elder Cold Stone abruptly jolted awake from a seeming daydream and asked Elder Green Pine, “It’s over?”
Elder Green Pine glared at him. He thought, I just woke up myself—how should I know?
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“Having witnessed such divine technique, I am deeply impressed!”
Fang Cun then turned his gaze to Divine Eye Young Master. He smiled casually and said, “Noble Young Master Lu… is still too young.”
After saying this, he turned to leave.
He paid no heed to the tsunami of shock and fury his parting remark ignited among the gathered crowd!
To call Divine Eye Young Master “too young”… Could this Second Young Master Fang truly regard him as a mere junior?
Especially since these words seemed to implicitly confirm that everything had indeed unfolded precisely as he anticipated?
Even if those present were simmering with boundless rage, at this point, none knew what else could be said. Seeing Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao remaining silent, they could only grit their teeth and watch Fang Cun prepare to leave. Their eyes were like silent blades, countless slashing toward his retreating back as if seeking to hack at him from all sides!
“Hold on!”
Just then, before Divine Eye Young Master could speak, another furious shout rang out.
Everyone startled and turned toward the voice. The speaker turned out to be Elder Xue Wu of the Xue Clan. His face chalk-white with anger, he stood up, glaring stormily at Fang Cun.
“The gathered clans and sects came for the Ghost Official,” he declared, his voice cutting through the hall. “But my Xue Clan had another matter besides that! Previously, at Lingwu Sect, there was an honored Elder named Xue Zhizheng. He started as a humble official seal-carrier within the County Mansion.” He paused pointedly. “Through accumulated merit, he rose to Chief Warden. Due to his profound knowledge, and upon the recommendation of my Xue Clan, he was appointed a Lingwu Sect Elder! That man was honest and earnest, devoted solely to self-cultivation. Few souls in this troubled world could match his purity! How then… could he be abruptly thrown into the deepest dungeon by Lingwu Sect within mere one day?”
His gaze hardened, stabbing daggers toward Fang Cun. “Rumors insist this happened because Second Young Master Fang denounced him. Is this true?”
“Huuh!”
At this accusation, the eyes of the Lingwu Sect Leader instantly flew wide open with fury. Not waiting one moment for Fang Cun to possibly answer, he responded with chilling indifference: “Indeed, there was an Elder Xue whom this Sect Leader had detained not long ago!”
Elder Xue Wu’s voice turned sharp as ice. “Then I must ask: What inexcusable crime did he commit? Such severity that Lingwu Sect sealed his fate without even informing my Xue Clan? He was…”
“He committed three grave offenses alongside numerous lesser transgressions,” the Lingwu Sect Leader cut him off, his tone flat and uncompromising. “All crimes have been recorded in the dossier. He admitted everything through his signed confession!” He scrutinized Elder Xue Wu with disdain. “If you find this so very fascinating, Elder Five Xue, I command my attendant stewards to copy that dossier for your personal satisfaction.” His eyes narrowed menacingly. “However, I’ll remind you while we could have parted amicably… the words you’ve spoken here bring dishonor upon my Lingwu Sect!” He leaned forward with palpable threat. “Do you genuinely believe Lingwu Sect would imprison an upright Elder? Well? Since he committed grievous errors—Lingwu Sect imprisoned him! That is fact! Widely known!” His lip curled with scorn. “Why should our Sect explain its disciplinary actions to the Xue Clan? Yes, your clan recommended him. But Lingwu Sect has yet to reprimand the Xue Clan for thrusting such a disgraceful character upon us—and now you dare come here questioning us?”
“You—”
Elder Xue Wu stared, shock mingling with outrage boiling inside him. The situations unfolded beyond comprehension: imprisoned Elder Xue Zhizheng without a courtesy word? Then blew up instantly when asked about it? He couldn’t decipher what potent concoction this Second Young Master Fang had administered to scramble Lingwu Sect Leader’s mind so thoroughly!
But at this critical conversational turn, he could no longer restrain himself. He pivoted abruptly and bowed toward Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao – a gesture vibrating with expectation and challenge.
“Noble Young Master Lu, your famed insight precedes you!” he announced publicly. “Since you possess that dossier… giving it to useless me won’t serve truth! Instead, let Noble Young Master Lu personally review this dossier!” He swept his sleeve dramatically in an icy flourish. “Whether that signed confession is genuine or forged—would it not be laid bare instantly under Divine Eyes?”
“Hiss!”
The Lingwu Sect Leader’s expression flickered almost unnoticeably! His composure almost broke!
He never anticipated this Elder Five Xue would persist so fiercely on Elder Xue Zhizheng’s behalf! After agreeing to support Second Young Master Fang’s plan, he prepared himself for Xue Clan’s inevitable backlash! He drafted strategies to mend relations later! But having this messy affair dragged publicly into the Grand Hall’s theater—now entangled with the Nine Immortals Sect’s crown jewel? This was disastrous!
He had assigned his most confidential Elder Stewards to this framing! All the gathered ‘crimes’, the forged signature… they were professionally manufactured! Ordinary eyes would find nothing amiss!
But Heaven above! Could such patchwork trickery possibly fool Divine Eye Young Master? If flaws tore open… this instant…
His face threatened to betray his unease. Instinctively, his gaze shot toward Fang Cun – desperate for reassurance or guidance.
Being an old fox himself, he masked his slight flurry swiftly. But surrounding him, others matching his layers of experience caught that fleeting second of worry. Even… his almost imperceptible flinch!
Fang Cun stood poised near the grand hall’s exit. In the heavy silence wrought by worried stares, cruel smirks, and blade-sharp glares stabbing him… he remained perfectly still. After many long moments… he finally turned his head. His eyes scanned the hall once more, finally landing on Elder Xue Wu and Divine Eye Young Master.
His voice cut through the tension: “You truly wish to see?”
Abrupt panic flashed across the faces of He Zhenzhang and Meng Qing’er!
The Sect Leaders of Leshui and Yun Huan felt their expressions tighten minutely!
The Seven Clans’ Qi Refiners lacked context since Elder Xue Wu raised this suddenly. To them overall, Elder Xue was only the Xue Clan’s cultivated pawn. He wasn’t worth wasting substantial Seven-Clan effort on… particularly with the paramount Ghost Official hunt consuming everything else. Yet… observing the situation unfolding… a fresh spark ignited! They had just been publicly outwitted and shamed by Second Young Master Fang. This issue might provide a perfect counterattack platform!
Three Nine Immortals Sect Elders started. Honestly ignorant of this affair moments ago, they instantly studied Lingwu Sect Leader’s subtle, suppressed nervousness and Elder Xue Wu’s insistence. Some uncertainty gathered within them…
Could Second Young Master Fang truly be this audacious? Could he possibly have orchestrated framing an innocent man alongside Lingwu Sect?
Perhaps… Elder Xue Zhizheng actually suffered false charges?
If truly so… what then?
“Regardless of truth or falsehood,” Divine Eye Young Master’s calm voice broke the swirl of thoughts. “Since this junior happens to be present… examining it poses no particular issue.”
Huaah!
The atmosphere inside the hall twisted—became complex, treacherous, like an eddy waiting to pull everything beneath dark water.
Lingwu Sect Leader’s expression openly turned grim. He seemed trapped in extreme reluctance, contemplating how to refuse without causing greater spectacle.
And Fang Cun… simply turned back fully into the hall.
His voice, soft as breeze carrying chill, cut through the hushed attention:
“Show it to him.”
Lingwu Sect Leader started slightly, shock fleeting beneath his anxiety. He couldn’t grasp Fang Cun’s intent!
Fang Cun only offered him a brief, faintly amused smile. He nodded without urgency. “Just give them the dossier.”
That composed assurance caused a subtle shift in Lingwu Sect Leader. Clarity washed away his panic—though the clarity brought fresh uncertainty. He still didn’t truly understand the plan behind Fang Cun’s submission… but the trajectory was set now. So many eyes watched them! Trying to force a refusal would worsen everything instantly! Gritting his will silently, he decided: If clues threatened exposure… deploy contingency agents before proof could spread… settle things lethally… silencing witnesses permanently…
His mind raced through murderous contingencies even as he nodded stiffly to an attendant Elder by his throne.
Shortly afterward… an Elder Steward from Lingwu Sect, resent visible clinging to him, brought forward the records dossier with visible reluctance.
Instantly… every gaze inside the enormous hall converged upon Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao’s face.
He reached out unhurriedly, took the proffered tome, opened it deliberately, and began slowly leafing through its contents. Utterly unlike his frenetic pace reviewing Ghost Official case files throughout prior night… this reading was careful, meticulous, pondered.
His brows gradually knitted together as he turned pages.
Watching this sign… respiration tightened irreversibly inside the hall. Their hearts mimicked that tense folding!
Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao reviewed each page meticulously. He scrutinized every entry, even holding papers up to the light occasionally… observing textures… signatures. Three times total—he flipped through the entire ‘confession’. Eventually… he slowly raised his head. His gaze swept assembled Elders and Sect Leaders impartially.
“The dossier appears formally complete.” His voice held restrained unease. “It traces origins of inquiry. Lists the accusations. Cites sect laws broken. Even displays Elder Xue Zhizheng’s signed acknowledgment.” He paused heavily. “However… I detect inconsistencies that leave me puzzled.” His tone hardened. “If Elder Xue truly committed these recorded crimes: secretly embezzling treasures cultivated forbidden vicious arts conspired with demonic entities… then why does the uncovered contraband consist merely of a hundred vaguely recorded Dragon Stones? The described forbidden cultivation techniques appear indistinct… undefined.” His eyes sharpened toward Lingwu Sect Leader. “And the cited demon contacts remain entirely unnamed?”
He folded his hands formally. His next words, precisely enunciated, dropped onto the waiting silence like stones:
“Forgive my bluntness… esteemed Elders.”
He placed the dossier down deliberately… expression transforming into stern condemnation.
“This case holds too many inaccuracies. These charges defy logic! Their construction is suspiciously crude…” His mouth thinned into utter disdain. “This bears hallmarks… not of legitimate prosecution… but of malicious… entirely fabricated… framing!”
Huah!
The collective heart inside the witnessing crowd plunged dramatically! Focus spearheaded back upon Second Young Master Fang!
Within that shifting constellation of accusatory and furious gazes… only one pair of eyes radiated distinct texture. Core Disciple Meng Zhixue, standing carefully behind her master Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao… She stared toward Fang Cun. Shock froze her beautiful features entirely. Shock rapidly dissolved into terrible… crushing disappointment piercing through her spirit. Beneath it flickered profound… unutterable disbelief!