Chapter 248 - 242: Everyone Is Here—Let the Killing Begin
The wife of Fourth Young Master Mo Zhening, Lady Tian, led a crowd of Tian Family members over.
Lady Tian was a woman in her thirties, dressed in mourning attire, walking forward with graceful courtesy to everyone present. Beside her stood a young man carrying a long sword,
When that young man appeared, a commotion broke out in the crowd.
Many people began to talk,
This was the Tian Family’s number one youth, once listed on the Celestial Pride List—Tian Yu.
Gu Zhan gave Tian Yu a brief look, and to his surprise, Tian Yu walked straight towards him, bowed respectfully, and said, "Tian Yu of the Tian Family greets Squad Leader Gu. I’ve heard someone intends to frame Squad Leader Gu for the deaths of the two Young Masters. I am here to testify for Squad Leader Gu!"
Hearing this, the faces of the Liu Family changed at once. Patriarch Liu, Liu Qingming, said in a deep voice, "Tian Yu, what do you mean?"
Tian Yu glanced at Liu Qingming and said, "Exactly as I said. Your Liu Family colludes with corrupt Law Enforcement Hall elders, bribing some Elder Council members in a scheme to frame Squad Leader Gu. Our Tian Family refuses to associate with the likes of you; I am here to testify for Squad Leader Gu, simple as that!"
"Nonsense," Liu Qingming said coldly. "The Elder Council of the Law Enforcement Hall acts on evidence. There’s a witness who saw Gu Zhan kill the Eldest Young Master and Fourth Young Master at Xuanhu Sect."
With that, Liu Qingming bowed to several elders of the Elder Council: "Elders, I have a witness who serves at Xuanhu Sect and saw Gu Zhan kill the fourth and eldest Young Masters. The scene is sealed right now, and he can reconstruct the murder for you!"
"Heh."
Gu Zhan sneered and said, "That’s evidence? Well, too bad—my Embroidered Uniform Guard’s six hundred eyes saw Patriarch Liu kill both Young Masters!"
"Utter nonsense!"
Liu Qingming shouted angrily, "Gu Zhan, we have both witness and proof. You want to twist words and turn truth into lies with nothing but talk? Do you really think the Law Enforcement Hall and Elder Council don’t exist?"
Gu Zhan scoffed and said, "My words are empty talk, but yours are ironclad proof? How thick is your face, Liu Qingming?"
Liu Qingming replied coldly, "I have witnesses and evidence."
He then bowed to the elders of both the Elder Council and Law Enforcement Hall, saying, "Elders, the witness is here. Please listen to them and make your judgment."
The elders exchanged glances and all nodded.
After that, from the Liu Family crowd, a soldier in government armor stepped out and bowed to the elders: "Greetings, elders. I am Meng Shan, a decurion of the Seventh Camp of the City Lord’s Mansion’s army.
This morning at the hour of the dragon, our Seventh Camp was supposed to relieve Xuanhu Sect, but just before arrival, we received orders to halt and return to camp. I was supposed to go back, but after having some cold dishes early, my stomach felt off, so I left the group to relieve myself.
Never had I imagined, coming out from the latrine near the eastern gate of Xuanhu Sect, I witnessed a murder. The victims were the eldest and fourth Young Masters and their guards, and the killer was Squad Leader Gu of Kaiyang Sub-Branch. I can reconstruct the scene of the murder on the spot. If any of this is false, I am willing to die in atonement!"
An elder with white hair looked at Gu Zhan and asked, "Squad Leader Gu, do you dare confront the witness at the scene?"
Gu Zhan sat in his chair, smiled lightly, set down his teacup, and stood up, saying slowly, "If any random person accuses me of murder, and I have to go to the scene and confront them every time, then I’d never do anything else. I’d spend my days running around just for confrontations!"
With that,
Gu Zhan slowly walked toward the government soldier named Meng Shan.
Liu Qingming immediately barked, "Gu Zhan, what are you doing?"
Gu Zhan glanced at Liu Qingming and said, "Liu Qingming, your framing methods are rather clumsy."
"Hmph," Liu Qingming snorted coldly. "I suppose you’re just afraid to confront the witness!"
Gu Zhan chuckled: "At the hour of the dragon, torrential rain. Meng Shan claims he could see my face clearly, and he, merely an Innate Martial Artist, which means he had to be within five yards of me.
Yet I, Gu Zhan, a dignified Peak Fifth Realm Cultivator, one step away from becoming a Grandmaster, would fail to notice someone within my five-yard perception for so long? Should I blame my lacking cultivation, or is this supposed ’witness’ so advanced he can conceal himself from my senses?"
Gu Zhan abruptly turned, staring at Meng Shan, unleashing an unmistakable killing aura, surging like mountains and seas, then barked coldly, "Speak! Who ordered you to give false testimony against me?"
At Gu Zhan’s rebuke, Meng Shan shuddered violently and frantically looked toward Liu Qingming.
Liu Qingming immediately shouted angrily, "Gu Zhan, what’s the meaning of this? You won’t face the scene and confront the witness, but instead try to intimidate him? You are—"
"Smack"
Gu Zhan suddenly slapped out, instantly sending Liu Qingming sprawling to the ground.
Liu Qingming lay on the ground, his cheek swelling with a bright red imprint. His eyes flashed with shock; though his cultivation was not outstanding, he was still a Great Cultivator of the Third Realm, yet he couldn’t even see the trace of Gu Zhan’s slap.
"Gu Zhan, how dare you insult me, you—"
"I’m speaking. Is it your turn to interrupt?"
Gu Zhan suddenly rushed forward, kicking Liu Qingming in the chest, sending him flying several yards, crashing into several government soldiers with a loud bang.
No one expected Gu Zhan to act without any warning,
Instantly, the elders’ faces darkened; their prestige was challenged. It was one thing for Gu Zhan to intimidate the witness in front of them, but now he had also assaulted someone directly.