Chapter 159: Branch Line Assistance
Ning Zhuo took the lead, pushing open the courtyard gate first.
Behind him were more than twenty fellow disciples. Ning Chen and Ning Yong followed closely.
Wang Lan was the last to step out quickly, closing the gate before leaving.
But in fact, before they even left the courtyard together, many transmission talismans had already flown out.
It was because Ning Zhuo requested that everyone spread this news as much as possible before heading to the clan ancestral hall, making it widely known for good measure.
These talismans flew through the air, quickly dispersing, like countless small pebbles being thrown into the large pond of the Ning family estate.
The ripples of influence began to spread.
“Young Clan Leader Ning Xiaoren wants to recruit Ning Zhuo as a dog, so he framed Ning Zhuo’s own uncle?”
“The Young Clan Leader actually imprisoned Ning Ze and used his life and freedom as leverage?”
“Is this news fake?”
“This is too outrageous. Who spread such rumors?”
“Hmph, hasn’t Ning Xiaoren done plenty of over-the-top things before?”
“Even so, if he really did this, he’s gone too far this time!”
Even the members of the main family felt that Ning Xiaoren had crossed the line when they heard the news—it was simply too much!
According to the rumors, Ning Zhuo’s father, Ning Zhong, was Ning Xiaoren’s savior, and Ning Xiaoren had once promised, before Ning Zhong’s heroic death in battle, to take care of Ning Zhuo.
But in reality, Ning Xiaoren had given Ning Zhuo no resources during his years of growth, completely breaking his promise.
When Ning Zhuo demonstrated talent in mechanics and great potential, Ning Xiaoren saw the value in recruiting him.
To make up for his earlier neglect, he schemed, framing Ning Zhuo’s uncle, falsely accusing him of embezzling the resources meant for Ning Zhuo, turning Ning Zhuo and Ning Ze’s family against each other.
Ning Zhuo had achieved great success in exploring the Immortal Palace, but Ning Xiaoren unfairly punished him. Furious, Ning Zhuo withdrew from the restoration team, and Ning Xiaoren then threatened Ning Ze’s life and freedom, forcing Wang Lan to kneel in public, pressuring Ning Zhuo to submit.
Is this something a Young Clan Leader should do?
Is this something a righteous cultivator should do?
If it’s true, Ning Xiaoren, as the Young Clan Leader of the Ning family, a high-ranking figure, was using such despicable methods against his own clan members. He definitely didn’t deserve his position.
“If Ning Xiaoren really did this, he’s completely lost his mind!”
“He wouldn’t really do this, would he? That would be incredibly stupid.”
“I feel like this is more likely Ning Zhuo slandering him.”
The name Ning Zhuo had been frequently mentioned among the Ning family members in recent times.
Ning Zhuo used to be an insignificant figure in a branch line, but he suddenly rose to prominence during the three-family joint test.
If it was just his affinity with the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art that made people envious of his luck, then after he showed his potential, most people had high hopes for his future.
And after Ning Zhuo repeatedly helped his fellow disciples, more and more people started to have a favorable impression of him.
Recently, when Ning Zhuo reached the eighth level of the Immortal Palace exploration, he became famous in one fell swoop!
After all, such an achievement completely overshadowed Ning Xiaohui. The key point was that Ning Zhuo came from a branch family, while Ning Xiaohui was from the main family. For the branch members, who were usually suppressed, hearing this news gave them a sense of satisfaction.
They hadn’t been happy for long before hearing that Ning Zhuo had suffered injustice and voluntarily withdrew from the restoration team.
Although Ning Xiaoren tried to manipulate public opinion by spreading misleading information, the branch members were still focused on the “unfair treatment.”
Many branch members expressed sympathy and admiration for Ning Zhuo’s decision to leave the team.
But there were also some branch members who secretly resented Ning Zhuo.
“When facing the main family’s oppression, I retreated and gave in. But you, Ning Zhuo, stood firm and publicly resisted. Compared to you, what does that make me?”
Human nature is just this subtle.
Ning Zhuo’s case had already been a hot topic within the clan.
Now, the explosive news about Ning Xiaoren and Ning Ze was like pouring gasoline onto a burning fire.
With a loud bang, the flames exploded and roared furiously!
One person told ten, ten told a hundred, and a hundred told a thousand…
“If the Young Clan Leader really did this, his morals are truly appalling.”
“Is it really true?”
“Ning Zhuo and his group are headed to the ancestral hall. Why don’t we go check it out?”
“Let’s go! I’m also from a branch family and have been oppressed and excluded by the main family. I’m going to support Ning Zhuo!”
Countless family members began to move, all heading to the Ning family’s ancestral hall.
From a bird’s eye view, you would see one family member after another walking out of their homes, gathering on the streets and paths, forming streams of people all converging towards the ancestral hall.
“What’s going on?” The elder guarding the ancestral hall noticed something was wrong.
Before Ning Zhuo’s group even arrived, other family members were already gathering at the ancestral hall.
“How dare you! Gathering here without reason, disturbing the peace of the ancestors—what are you trying to do?” The ancestral hall elder stepped forward and scolded the assembled family members.
Some of the family members showed fear.
A steward from a branch family stepped out from the crowd, saluted the elder, and then said, “Elder, something serious has happened.”
“We must get to the bottom of this today.”
“Otherwise, if someone is wronged, and the ancestors know about it, they will be furious with us, their descendants, for being unfilial.”
The elder of the ancestral hall frowned deeply. He had invoked the name of the ancestors, but this steward had also done the same.
The elder’s expression grew increasingly displeased. “Ning Xiangguo, what exactly happened?”
Ning Xiangguo, who had spoken up for justice, quickly and concisely explained the situation.
The ancestral hall elder’s expression changed slightly.
He belonged to the main family and, as the elder of the ancestral hall, was a core member of the high-ranking leadership. He was well aware of Ning Xiaoren’s methods.
“With the Young Clan Leader’s temperament, this is something he could very well have done.”
“At this point… is it still possible to fix it?”
With this in mind, the elder of the ancestral hall nodded slightly, his expression softening as he addressed the crowd, “As the elder of the ancestral hall, I have always acted impartially.”
“Since things have reached this point, we shall invite the clan leader and all the elders to witness it.”
“You all have the right to supervise, but gathering at the entrance like this—what does that look like?”
“Disperse now, and let my subordinates open the three gates, clear the hall, and prepare seats for you all.”
“You, go quickly and notify the clan leader and the elders!” The elder of the ancestral hall, in a straightforward and honorable manner, sent a subordinate to relay the news.
As they were speaking, another large group of family members arrived at the ancestral hall.
The elder of the ancestral hall secretly marveled, “This has become a matter that has stirred the entire clan.”
“It’s hard to imagine that this was caused by a boy at the third layer of Qi Refining.”
The elder of the ancestral hall knew that he could only go along with the flow now. Trying to cover this up was impossible, and even delaying things slightly could lead to the clan members secretly accusing him of negligence.
As a member of the main family, he could only hope that Ning Xiaoren had been falsely accused and hadn’t done such things.
The clan leader quickly received the news, startling him so much that he stood up from his seat.
As a father, he knew Ning Xiaoren’s style all too well.
He immediately cast a spell, sending out a talisman to notify Ning Xiaoren.
Ning Xiaoren was in seclusion, meditating and replenishing his mana, when the communication talisman interrupted him, making him unhappy.
However, he quickly recognized that it was from his father, and couldn’t help but wonder, “What does Father want? It seems urgent…”
“Ah!” Upon reading the contents of the talisman, Ning Xiaoren felt like his rear had caught fire and immediately jumped up.
“That little brat Ning Zhuo is trying to ruin me!”
Ning Xiaoren had no intention of continuing his cultivation. He forcefully pushed open the door of his secret chamber and rushed out.
He headed straight for the private prison with all his might.
At this critical moment, Ning Ze was the key figure.
As long as Ning Ze yielded to Ning Xiaoren and kept denying everything, Ning Xiaoren still had hope.
When Ning Xiaoren arrived at the private prison, he saw that a group of branch family members had already surrounded the place.
“Move aside!” Ning Xiaoren shouted, “Gathering here like this, are you trying to cause a
disturbance?”
The branch members, seeing that it was the Young Clan Leader, immediately became a bit flustered.
But at that moment, an old voice rang out, “Young Clan Leader, you’re a step too late. I’ve already taken Ning Zhuo’s uncle out myself.”
Ning Xiaoren’s heart sank as he saw the crowd part, revealing an old man slowly emerging, followed by a confused Ning Ze.
Upon seeing the old man, Ning Xiaoren’s vision darkened, but he still clasped his hands in salute and spoke with difficulty, “Elder Fu.”
The old man’s name was Ning Youfu, a member of the branch family, and he had once served as an elder of the Talisman Hall, amassing considerable prestige.
Ning Xiaoren tried one last effort, “Elder Fu, you may not know the whole story. This is all Ning Zhuo’s trick. Ning Ze is suspected of multiple counts of embezzlement and has been under investigation. Ning Ze’s wife, Wang Lan, has asked me several times to release him, but I didn’t agree because the embezzlement charges have yet to be cleared.”
Ning Youfu chuckled at Ning Xiaoren, “I’m personally taking Ning Ze away, Young Clan Leader. If you want to stop me, you’ll have to step over my dead body.”
Ning Xiaoren quickly responded, “I wouldn’t dare, Elder Fu. You’re joking and have misunderstood me.”
“Whether it’s a misunderstanding or not, the ancestral hall will have the final say. Young Clan Leader, please lead the way.” As he spoke, Ning Youfu, with Ning Ze in tow, walked out of the crowd and approached Ning Xiaoren.
Ning Xiaoren gritted his teeth, wanting to stand his ground, but under the eyes of the crowd, and facing an elder with such high prestige, he could only step aside, allowing the way to be cleared.
Ning Youfu laughed heartily and continued walking.
As he passed by Ning Xiaoren’s shoulder, Ning Xiaoren’s expression changed. He glared at Ning Ze as if to warn him—say something you shouldn’t, and you’re finished!
Ning Ze quickly lowered his head, not daring to make eye contact with Ning Xiaoren.
His mind was filled with countless doubts. Ning Youfu hadn’t said much to him earlier.
“So, what exactly is going on?!”
Ning Zhuo led a large group of people, walking through the clan’s estate.
Compared to when they left their residence earlier, Ning Zhuo’s group had more than doubled, with at least fifty more people joining them.
Moreover, as Ning Zhuo continued walking, more and more people joined his ranks.
The people chatted incessantly, asking Ning Zhuo numerous questions, their curiosity piqued.
Ning Zhuo, with an angry expression, kept responding to them.
Ning Yong, feeling somewhat dissatisfied, quietly advised Ning Zhuo in a low voice, “Brother Zhuo, walking and stopping like this, answering the other family members’ questions, it’s really delaying our progress.”
Ning Zhuo only glanced at Ning Yong without explaining.
Ning Chen transmitted his thoughts, “Idiot! In this situation, the more people who know, the better. The more support we have, the better our chances of success. Do you understand?”
Ning Yong let out an “ah” and nodded repeatedly, “I get it, I get it.”