Ning Family dungeon.
Ning Xiaoren sat on the straw, leaning against the wall, looking dazed.
Ever since he had been sent here, he had been in a trance, his eyes unfocused, like a statue.
Light footsteps approached.
Ning Xiaoren's ears twitched slightly, immediately discerning that a jailer had left his post.
Then, the door opened, and someone whose footsteps he knew all too well came nearer.
Ning Xiaoren seemed to suddenly wake up, his expression becoming animated again. He hastily got up and walked over to the bars of the cell.
"Father!" Sure enough, the next moment, he saw a familiar figure stepping out of the shadows near the cell door, moving into the area illuminated by the torch.
The newcomer was none other than the Ning Family Clan Leader.
At this moment, the Ning Family Clan Leader finally revealed his true emotions, his face clouded with gloom. "Xiaoren, I've come to see you."
Ning Xiaoren's Adam's apple bobbed a few times as he spoke with a slight choke. "Father, I've let you down."
The Ning Family Clan Leader nodded, his tone tinged with a hint of disappointment. "You have indeed let me down."
"Do you know where you failed this time?"
Ning Xiaoren nodded. "I know!"
"First, I've long since lost the support of the people. Over the years as Young Clan Leader, I've offended too many branch family members. This time, when the wall is down, everyone gives it a push; I couldn't resist."
"Second, I was too sloppy. When framing Ning Ze, I should have been more decisive. Even if I had taken his life after the framing, it wouldn't have been a bad idea. That way, even if Wang Lan and others accused me today, without Ning Ze's betrayal, I wouldn't have been so passive!"
"Third, I was too complacent. I've been the Young Clan Leader for many years, accustomed to the branch family members' silent resentment, their endurance of me. I underestimated them, and I underestimated Ning Ze. I saw him as my long-time subordinate and was lenient with him."
"Fourth, and most crucially, I underestimated Ning Zhuo!"
"This young man is not simple; he manipulated our family's sentiment and leveraged the situation of the Magma Fairy Palace."
"He has only reached the third level of Qi Refinement and seems weak, but his tactics are quite sophisticated."
"I never thought such mature handling would appear in a sixteen-year-old boy."
The Ning Family Clan Leader nodded with a sigh. "Your analysis is very clear and logical; it seems you haven't lost your Heart Qi Strength."
"However, Ning Zhuo might be a key figure... but today's situation might not be his sole doing."
"Ning Zhuo has some reputation, but he can't command everyone. Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun, and others appearing almost simultaneously must have been secretly contacted and communicated with in advance."
"The clansmen mobilized too quickly; some people were probably prepared, waiting for things to escalate."
"The Family Elder in the ancestral hall smelled the strong scent of conspiracy, so he did not defend you."
Ning Xiaoren's face darkened, and he nodded heavily. "I no longer hate him. The Family Elder in the ancestral hall made a rational decision. At that time, I was already facing irrefutable evidence, and if he had defended me, he might have lost his position as the Family Elder too."
"You understand, which is good," said the Ning Family Clan Leader.
Ning Xiaoren asked, "Father, what should I do next? You must have a plan, right?"
"Of course." The Ning Family Clan Leader nodded. "According to my arrangement, you will be imprisoned for three years."
"This is actually your opportunity!"
"In the dungeon, you must diligently practice talisman crafting, research and produce excellent Frost Talismans, and contribute them to the family without compensation, thus substituting merit for punishment."
"I have already prepared the related talismans for you, originating from the remains of a cultivator in North Wind Country."
"About a year later, when the incident has completely quieted down, you can slightly modify the talismans and present them."
"For now, stay in the dungeon and practice diligently."
Ning Xiaoren nodded. "Understood, Father. I will consider this as a period of seclusion."
"Yes, it is heartening to hear you say that. Such setbacks are opportunities for growth," said the Ning Family Clan Leader.
"A person's life is filled with mistakes and failures. Only by persevering through repeated failures can one be considered a true hero."\\p>
Ning Xiaoren sighed deeply. "Father's teachings will always be remembered by your child."
"When you present the talismans, I will follow the clan rules and reduce your punishment," the Ning Family Clan Leader said.
"Then, you can stay in the family instead of being expelled."
"This Ning Family is led by our main branch. As long as you stay, there will be opportunities for merit, and you can climb up again step by step."
Ning Xiaoren frowned. "Do others in the main branch have any opinions?"
The Ning Family Clan Leader snorted coldly. "I have already consulted with them."
"This time, the branch family showed off too much, making our main branch wary. They are well aware of your past efforts in suppressing the branch family. Thus, they all agree to show the branch family who's in charge."
"In the future, I will discuss more with them and possibly gain some merits for you to further reduce your punishment."
"For now, stay quietly in the dungeon and wait for the storm to pass."
"Father, I understand!" Ning Xiaoren felt completely at ease. "So, how do we clean up the aftermath?"
"As for Ning Zhuo..."
The Ning Family Clan Leader interrupted, "Regarding Ning Zhuo, the main branch will not trouble him immediately, nor will we suppress him in the slightest."
"He is currently in the limelight, and all the branch family members are watching him."
"If there is even a bit of unfair treatment, the branch family will sympathize with him more, support him more, and bolster his momentum."
"In fact, in the near future, we will give him many resources to ease the conflict between the main and branch families."
Ning Xiaoren's eyes flashed with cold light, and he gritted his teeth. "Give him, give him more, the more, the better!"
"This kid is extremely greedy, just like me."
"I don't believe he won't fall for it!"
"Let him benefit from the family's tilt and assistance. I refuse to believe the branch family won't feel jealous and envious seeing this."
"Use this tactic to divide his ties with the branch family!"
"We are wary of him because he has become a banner for the branch family."
The Ning Family Clan Leader chuckled with satisfaction. "Xiaoren, I'm proud to have raised you."
"We have already planned to do so."
"But it might not succeed."
"Based on our discussions, most believe Ning Zhuo has a mentor guiding him."
"Today, the speed at which the branch family gathered was too fast. Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun, and others seemed to have coordinated and acted together in advance."
Ning Xiaoren nodded, his eyes cold. "If we catch him colluding with outsiders, that would be perfect!"
"Ning Zhuo!"
"I never thought I would fall at the hands of this youngster, such a disgrace."
"One day, I will repay you double for this humiliation!"
Ning Xiaoren swore, unable to contain his deep-seated hatred for Ning Zhuo.
The Ning Family Clan Leader nodded, satisfied with Ning Xiaoren's state of mind. "Child, channel this hatred into your cultivation."
After a few more words, the Ning Family Clan Leader turned and left.
"Father!" As he watched his father disappear into the shadows, Ning Xiaoren called out, "Be careful of Ning Zhuo!"
"In hindsight, I feel that Ning Zhuo is not simple, very not simple!"
The Ning Family Clan Leader stopped and turned, looking at Ning Xiaoren, nodding slightly. "I will focus on him."
"If today's incident wasn't orchestrated by someone behind the scenes but by him alone, that would be quite terrifying."
"Let's see his next move."
"Today, he returned triumphantly, his reputation soaring, a rare opportunity."
"We shall see if he can recognize this opportunity, seize it, and truly build his momentum."
Ning Ze's residence.
In the master bedroom, Ning Zhuo's uncle and aunt sat by the bedside.
Aunt Wang Lan was checking her husband's body, casting a spell to heal his wounds.
Her eyes were red, and she choked up. "Husband, you suffered this time."
With a sigh, Ning Ze said, "This time, I owe a lot to you. How did you decide to tell the truth to Ning Zhuo?"
Wang Lan replied, "Sigh, I never intended to do so."
"After visiting the jail, I was planning to follow our plan—to kneel before Ning Zhuo in public the next day, forcing him to return to the renovation team."
"But that night, when I opened the door, Ning Zhuo gave me a fright."
"He had already entered the room, waiting for me."
Ning Ze raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? Explain."
Wang Lan said, "I don't know where Ning Zhuo got his information, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he revealed the secret that 'I visited the jail, and Ning Xiaoren wanted to use you and me to force him to bow down'."
"At that time, I was very flustered."
"Ning Zhuo then told me that after you were framed for embezzling his cultivation resources, he secretly investigated and found many flaws, which raised many suspicions."
"He then stated his guess; he had deduced the truth!"
"Then he asked me, could I still trust Ning Xiaoren's character? Was I going to continue being used by him?"
"To truly save you, relying on Ning Xiaoren was out of the question, we had to rely on ourselves!"
Wang Lan sighed. "Husband, he persuaded me."
"He made too much sense."
"Then, he told me that Ning Xiaoren had made fatal errors, leaving too many flaws. He had already contacted important figures in the branch family and was planning to cause an uproar the next day to deal with Ning Xiaoren!"
"I was shocked and wanted to participate but was very worried about failing and endangering you."
"Ning Zhuo pressured me!"
"He threatened that if I didn't cooperate, he would confirm the charges Ning Xiaoren had set for you, ruining your reputation so that you would never be able to hold your head high in the family again."
"Husband, I know you too well. If Ning Zhuo actually did this, you would feel worse than death."
"In the end, I had no choice but to follow his plan."