Afterwards, Ning Xiaoren secretly summoned Ning Ze.
Ning Ze came with a bandage wrapped around his forehead, showing a very respectful attitude toward Ning Xiaoren.
Ning Xiaoren snorted coldly in his heart, knowing well that Ning Ze could have healed the wound on his forehead completely, but deliberately kept it to garner sympathy, showing his grievances and reminding his loyalty and efforts.
"Ning Ze, come, sit." A gentle smile appeared once more on Ning Xiaoren's face.
Ning Ze sat down promptly: "I am indeed puzzled. It was you, Young Clan Leader, who instructed me. But why did you suddenly..."
Ning Xiaoren raised his hand to stop Ning Ze from continuing: "I'll explain in one sentence. The inventor of the Explosive Flame Monkey is actually Ning Zhuo!"
Ning Ze listened, utterly astonished, thinking he misheard: "Wh-what?"
Ning Xiaoren offered no further explanation. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, picked up a teacup, and slowly sipped his tea.
Ning Ze, fully realizing, stood up, unable to sit still, his eyes widened, and he exclaimed: "Little Zhuo, Little Zhuo is the creator of the Explosive Flame Monkey?!"
Ning Xiaoren merely glanced at him without saying a word.
Ning Ze's mouth gaped, his eyes vacant. After a moment, he refocused.
"No wonder, no wonder he has such a large amount of money."
"But, but according to him, this matter involves a Golden Core Cultivator..."
Ning Xiaoren put down the teacup and sighed: "It's Fei Si. Fei Si wanted to take the credit and presented the Explosive Flame Monkey to the City Lord. Chen Cha is actually his subordinate, not Ning Zhuo's. So, Chen Cha secretly coerced Ning Zhuo, stealing his honor."
"This matter is still under investigation, but it's almost certain."
"So that's how it is, so that's how it is." Ning Ze breathed a heavy sigh of relief, showing a look of guilt, "I wronged him."
"But in that situation, I could only do what I did."
"I had to give the family, especially you, Young Clan Leader, an explanation."
Ning Xiaoren smiled: "I understand, I understand. Come, sit, sit back down."
Ning Ze sat down again.
Ning Xiaoren continued: "I know you are loyal, you gave me an explanation. But now, how do I give Ning Zhuo an explanation?"
"Ah?" Ning Ze was puzzled.
"You see, this is the current situation." Ning Xiaoren stood up slowly, walked around his desk, and came to the front.
"Ning Zhuo has a Qi Refining Level of the third peak tier, and the Five Elements Qi Regulation Art is particularly suitable for him. He can also create the Explosive Flame Monkey, so he must be the main force in our family's exploration of the Magma Fairy Palace!"
"Our family needs to use him greatly, make full use of him!"
"He is a rare talent in mechanisms for our family."
"But now, he feels wronged, there's a gap between us, and he isn't close to our family anymore."
"If you were him, having experienced this matter, what would you think?"
Saying this, Ning Xiaoren came up to Ning Ze.
Ning Ze quickly stood up, feeling a growing sense of unease, and said: "If I were Ning Zhuo, enduring these investigations, it wouldn't mean anything. There's no grievance at all. On the contrary, I'd be very grateful to the family for giving me the opportunity to prove my innocence!"
"I am a member of the Ning Family, it's my duty to be loyal, contribute, and make sacrifices."
"Hahaha." Ning Xiaoren pointed at Ning Ze, nodding, "You are quite enlightened, Ning Ze, very good."
"I didn't misjudge you!"
Ning Ze quickly expressed his humility.
Ning Xiaoren changed his tone: "But Ning Zhuo isn't you. He is only sixteen, what could he understand? How could he have the same sense as you?"
Ning Ze: "Yes, I will make sure to teach him well in the future and lead him on the righteous path!"
Ning Xiaoren nodded: "That's for the future."
"Currently, Little Zhuo is hurt. As elders, we should naturally take better care of him, soothe the obstacles in his heart, heal the wounds in his heart, let him grow up happily and cultivate happily, shouldn't we?"
The more Ning Ze listened, the more ominous he felt.
Ning Xiaoren added: "As elders, we should have a sacrificial spirit. Ning Ze, do you have that level of understanding?"
Ning Ze, under Ning Xiaoren's direct pressure, could only ask for guidance under duress.
Ning Xiaoren then transmitted his plan to him.
Ning Ze was shocked and immediately shook his head: "L-lord, how can you do this? Where does this leave me?"
It turned out that Ning Xiaoren's plan was to subsequently investigate Ning Ze, under the pressure of which Ning Ze would reveal the "truth"— that over the years, Ning Xiaoren continuously supported Ning Zhuo, providing many spirit stones and resources for his cultivation. However, Ning Ze embezzled from it and mistreated Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo's recent prominence, Ning Ze, upon hearing of his wealth, couldn't hold back his jealousy and greed, using the investigation as a cover to blackmail Ning Zhuo.
Eventually, the kind-hearted and benevolent Ning Xiaoren would timely intervene to stop it and, upon investigation, uncover the truth that had been hidden for over a decade.
Such a scapegoat, Ning Ze didn't want to take it at all!
It was clearly Ning Xiaoren's lack of righteousness, ingratitude, neglect towards Ning Zhuo for over a decade, turning the blame onto him in the end.
It was too despicable, too vile!
"Will you do it or not? Are you still my subordinate?" Ning Xiaoren glared, directly threatening.
"Do you dare not do it? Think of the consequences!"
"Think of your son, isn't he called Ning Ji? He is currently living quite well in the family enterprise."
The chilling cold enveloped Ning Ze's heart.
Looking at the stern Ning Xiaoren, something suddenly became clear: Ning Xiaoren appointed him as the head of the investigation team not because he valued Ning Ze and Ning Zhuo's relationship and wanted to trace the source of the funds.
"No, this damned Ning Xiaoren, he wants to covet Little Zhuo's money and frame me, stepping over me to win over Little Zhuo!"
Realizing the truth, Ning Ze's face turned red with rage, his fists clenched, breathing heavily.
Ning Xiaoren, seeing his posture, sneered disdainfully.
Just this slight sneer, like polar ice water, doused the fire of anger in Ning Ze's heart.
After all, Ning Xiaoren was the Young Clan Leader, and his direct superior, what could he do?
It was clearly Ning Ze who took care of Ning Zhuo for over a decade. Despite the lack of effort, Ning Zhuo was indeed under his protection.
But now, Ning Xiaoren wanted to win over Ning Zhuo, claiming credit, while framing Ning Ze to cover his own misdeeds.
So insidious, so despicable!
No option.
Ning Ze had no option.
He could only swallow this unfair accusation and responsibility.
Because he was a subordinate, making a living under Ning Xiaoren's command. Ning Xiaoren was the Young Clan Leader, second only to the Ning Family Clan Leader. Even if Ning Ze resisted to death, he would be forced to comply.
At this moment, Ning Ze suddenly thought of the Ning Zhuo he had recently forced.
"So this is how it feels to be coerced by others and unable to resist." His heart was full of bitterness and despair.
Thinking this way, he suddenly felt that he deserved what he got.
"Young Clan Leader, indeed it was I who embezzled your secret support. It is all my fault!" Ning Ze's voice became extremely hoarse, his expression gloomy.
Ning Xiaoren then patted his shoulder: "I won't mistreat you."
"Move to the family's dungeon temporarily."
"I'll notify your wife to visit you."
Ning Ze was stunned, he didn't expect it to be so soon and couldn't help but look up at Ning Xiaoren.
Ning Xiaoren's face was full of smiles, but his eyes were cold as ice.
Ning Ze could only lower his head, his tone extremely heavy: "Yes, I obey."
...
The Ning Family Clan Leader returned home with a smile.
This negotiation had won him considerable benefits for the Ning Family, far exceeding previous expectations.
Ning Xiaoren came to report, explaining how he framed Ning Ze and won over Ning Zhuo.
The Ning Family Clan Leader stroked his beard, pondering: "You handled it fairly well."
"Remember, Ning Zhuo is no longer the same. For now, the family has to rely on his strength. You need to tone down your greed." The Ning Family Clan Leader was well aware of his son's greedy nature.
With just a glance, Ning Xiaoren broke out in a cold sweat and quickly nodded, promising never to act like this again.
"Father, this is the result of my urgent investigation." Ning Xiaoren handed over a lot of information.
The common thread among all this information was Ning Zhuo.
All information was closely related to him.