Chapter 160: Heart in Disarray
Pang He heard this and his face drastically changed; he almost wet himself. Indeed, when the wall falls, everyone pushes; when Yu Xinghai was in power, he was the most splendid, and now that he had perished, he was the first to suffer.
"Family Head, I beg for your clear judgment. Although we have followed Elder Yu over the years, we have never harbored any rebellious intentions. Usual acceptance of bribes and embezzlement of disciples' stipends were all personally managed by Elder Pang and Elder Wang..." A group of regular Elders, like bamboo tubes spilling beans, began talking one after another.
Those Elders who usually were close to Yu Xinghai turned ashen, immediately kneeling before Qiao Yuchan and tremblingly said, "Family... Family Head, don't listen to these people's nonsense. We are wronged, everything was done by Elder Yu alone!"
At that moment, they dared not admit to these allegations, though some actions were indeed their own doing, but naturally, they pushed everything onto Yu Xinghai. After all, the man was already dead, and it didn't matter if he carried more accusations.
Qiao Yuchan looked at the scene in front of her, her heart filled with mixed emotions, and the problem that had puzzled her for a long time was clearly and swiftly resolved by Ling Fan!
Lei Yao admired him even more, feeling secretly ashamed of her own inadequacies. She couldn't relieve the Family Head of her burdens. Then she looked at Ling Fan; both were Protectors, yet why was the gap between them so large!
"Manager Kang, Elder Feng, just follow the instructions of Protector Ling and act accordingly. Do not wrong a good person, nor spare a bad one!" Qiao Yuchan, seeing the matter was settled, immediately spoke.
"Family Head, let me also help maintain order!" Hou Yueshan volunteered.
Qiao Yuchan nodded, "Everyone can disperse. Just notify me once the results are handled!"
Subsequently, under the supervision of Hou Yueshan, Feng Liangbi, and others, all the Elders of Yu Xinghai's line were taken to the Management Hall for investigation.
The events that unfolded at the grand hall today spread instantly throughout the Qiao Family, akin to a magnitude twelve earthquake, creating a storm among the regular disciples of the Qiao Family.
"Yu... Yu Xinghai is dead?" the disciples in the family gathered together, disbelievingly said.
"A change of era is coming, no wonder the Family Head suddenly appointed a 'Guest Official Protector.' There were arrangements early on. Elder Yu resisting the Family Head multiple times and his powerful influence underneath made this outcome quite reasonable!" another disciple whispered.
"I heard that in the grand hall, it was Protector Ling who killed him with his Sword Intent, and Elder Yu didn't even have the strength to fight back. I also heard from the disciples who went to clean the scene that Elder Yu was directly dismembered, it was terribly gruesome!" another person shrank their neck, whispering.
"Everyone, remember, when you see Protector Ling in the future, you must pay him kneeling respects, do not ever offend him!" The group murmured among themselves for a while and then quickly dispersed.
At this moment, all around the Qiao Family, you could see groups of disciples whispering together in various corners.
Inside Elder Yu's Elders' Chamber.
Lying in bed recuperating, Cao Teng's face was ferociously grim. Being crippled in his Cultivation pushed him to the brink of a mental breakdown. If it weren't for his master's consolation, he fear he would have smashed his head to death already; living like this was more painful than death.
At the same time, his resentment towards Ling Fan was boundless, even the waters of Three Rivers and Five Lakes could not fully express it.
"Master said he would force a revolt in the grand hall today for my revenge. I wonder what the news is now... damn it, you must be torn to pieces!" Cao Teng cursed with red eyes.
Just then, a servant who was attending to him burst in hastily.
Seeing this, Cao Teng abruptly asked with urgency. "Is there any news, did master kill that bastard?"
The servant's face was pale as he trembled, "The First Seat was killed by that bastard!"
"Hahaha! I knew master would avenge me. Damn it, it's a pity I couldn't witness it myself. Keep his corpse, I want to whip the body!" Cao Teng sat up on the bed and laughed madly.
The servant immediately wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said sheepishly, "It wasn't the First Seat who killed him; he was the one killed by that bastard you mentioned!"
Cao Teng's laughter abruptly stopped, his face blank and then quickly turned furious, "You're talking nonsense, that's impossible. With over thirty Elders in his hand, my master had his own influence within the Qiao Family. If it weren't for some concerns, he could even have taken the position of Family Head!"
As soon as his voice fell, several people burst through the door, led by Kang Zuo, followed by Feng Liangbi and others.
"Damn it, so Yu Xinghai has had rebellious intentions all along! Come, take this guy back to the Management Hall and interrogate him thoroughly. Make him confess everything he knows!" Kang Zuo immediately ordered loudly to the disciples behind him.
Cao Teng was stunned. Seeing two disciples approaching to apprehend him, he immediately shouted, "Who dares to touch me? I am a direct disciple of Elder Yu, how dare you treat me unjustly!"
"Slap!"
A Management Hall disciple came forward and gave him a slap. This guy, relying on the status of being a direct disciple of Yu Xinghai, had often bullied them!
Usually, they had to avoid him, but what status did he think he still had today, daring to act so arrogantly? They would be surprised not to slap him around when such an opportunity arose!
"Idiot, you dare to be so arrogant even when you're accused of rebellion. Wait and see how I deal with you later!" The Management Hall disciple spat out in contempt.
At this moment, only Qiao Yuchan, Ling Fan, and the master-student duo of Lei Yao were left in the grand hall.
Qiao Yuchan's beautiful eyes flashed strangely as she looked at Ling Fan, an indescribable emotion stirring in her heart. She was about to speak when she heard Ling Fan instruct the master-student pair, "You two guard outside the hall. I have important matters to discuss with the family head. No one should disturb us!"
Hearing this, Lei Yao, not daring to delay, immediately led Bei Rushuang to guard the entrance of the grand hall.
"What matter is so urgent..." Qiao Yuchan said with a puzzled expression.
But before she could finish her sentence, she saw Ling Fan's face turn pale, his body swayed, and without hesitation, she moved swiftly towards him, her face filled with concern, "What's wrong with you?"
"I've overused my inner strength just now. Help me to the Spirit Pool!" Ling Fan said with a bitter smile.
In the secret chamber's Spirit Pool.
Ling Fan sat quietly inside, while Qiao Yuchan frowned with concern, "How are you feeling? Could it be the hidden complication from healing my injuries?"
In the Spirit Pool, Ling Fan exhaled and felt some True Yuan recover within his body. He shook his head slightly, "No, to thoroughly intimidate everyone from rebelling and to solidify your position as the family head, I forcibly executed that impressive but empty technique, which depleted my True Yuan.
Also, I have taught Lei Yao and her apprentice swordsmanship, and Feng Liangbi swordsmanship—these two will eventually comprehend Sword Intent and Sword Intent.
I have also cured Elder Hou's granddaughter's illness, and I'll have the merits accredited to you. Now that Elder Yu has been punished, there's no worry within the Qiao family!
Soon your chronic illness will be cured, your cultivation restored, and you can rest assured that no one in Zhongnan poses a threat to the Qiao family yet!"
Standing at the side, Qiao Yuchan bit her lips, quietly listening, her nose feeling slightly sour. Never in her life had any man cared for and cherished her like this.
Looking at Ling Fan's handsome profile, her heart filled with emotion and tenderness, her feelings in disarray!
PS: Everyone, the pandemic is severe, and as Xinghuo Jun is stuck at home, many of the materials for my setting are in the rental house and were not brought back. However, I have managed to dig out some early settings from the cloud.
The early stages of creation won't be impacted much, though writing may be a bit harder. It'll get better after this period, and I hope the pandemic will pass soon!
The rental house had an old desktop, which often crashed while typing. Since coming home, I've been using a mobile phone to type, which is really tough.
Researching is difficult, and I can't use tools like mind maps. Finally, I bit the bullet and bought a laptop on an installment plan with Huabei. It's the first time I've used a laptop at this age, awkward!
Less digressions, but Xinghuo Jun counted, and I owe everyone 12 chapters. That means, starting today, I'll post four updates per day until the 15th to clear the debt. Also, a friendly reminder to go out less, stay protected, wear masks, and wash hands frequently!