Silence.
Everyone in the main hall looked at each other and frowned. Xia Yingda glared at Xia Yingqiu.
On his way to the meeting, Xia Yingqiu paid his brother an advance visit; he wanted to ask Xia Yingda to say a few words on his behalf. At the time, Xia Yingda asked who exactly the spy was.
In response, that little brother of his simply said mysteriously, âyouâll definitely be pleasantly surprised.â
âThis truly is a pleasant surprise.â
When Xia Yingda saw the spy, he frowned. Although heâd already imagined countless possibilities, this result left him stunned.
Their Great-great-uncleâs eldest son, their generationâs great-uncle.
He glared at Xia Yingqiu only to discoverâŠ.
That bratâŠ..
Was winking back at him.
From Xia Yingqiuâs eyes, it was clear what he was trying to communicate: âGo on then, didnât you say youâd speak on my behalf?â
Go on?
Was that really so easy?
This sort of esteemed senior wasnât someone a mere junior like himself could criticize. Even if he truly had corroborated with demons, Xia Yingda was unqualified to say anything against him.
He instinctively glanced at the former clan-head. Of those currently present, their fatherâs status was the closest to the elderâs.
Even so, the former clan headâs situation wasnât much better. The moment he laid eyes on the spy, his mind went blank.
His uncle was once in charge of administering justice within the Dragon Race. Heâd been strictly impartial, their most incorruptible judge.
Heâd followed his uncle in his youth. Starting from a young age, his uncle had instilled him with loyalty to the clan over and over again.
But nowâŠ.
He had to stay calm.
The entire hall was in an uproar. If he freaked out too, it would be utter chaos.
The former clan-head took a deep breath, then looked at the elder.
âGreat-uncle, this is your heir. ThisâŠ..â
âYou unfilial child.â
Suddenly, the elder, whoâd been sitting upright this whole time, raised his cane and flung it at the kneeling figure.
Xia Yingqiu had been holding his tongue. Now, he instantly appeared before the old man and caught the cane.
âGreat-great-uncle, you canât just toss away your cane. Without it, how will you run away?â
He tossed the cane back to the elder. It fell to the ground which a loud thud, echoing throughout the groupâs ears. This sound carried a deep meaning, something they couldnât say out loud:
There was something fishy about the elder.
âYingqiu, mind your manners!â scolded the former clan head.
âI almost forgot, Iâm just a junior, hahaâŠ.â When he heard his father scold him, Xia Yingqiu smiled cheekily, then continued unrepentantly, âbut Great-great Uncle, youâve gone over the line as well. That cane of yours was imbued with spiritual energy. You were more than just angry, werenât you? âCleansing your familyâs filthâ is one thing, but arenât you being a little hasty? Our great-uncle has yet to speak. Arenât you concerned that Iâm falsely accusing him? Youâre both of the senior generation. Say whatever you like; who would dare speak against you?â
âLittle Yingqiu, I know that you suspect me,â the old man narrowed his eyes and straightened his stooped boy. âThat's understandable; that is my son, after all. Anyone would suspect me.â
âBut I, Xia Dong, have a clear conscience. For this unfilial son of mine to consort with demons; all I can say is I didnât teach him properly. All of you are of the younger generation and canât act against him. Therefore, itâs up to me, his father, to set things right.â
âWah, Great-grant Uncle, your unyielding integrity is an inspiration to all of us juniors,â said Xia Yingqiu exaggeratedly. âBut thereâs still no rush to âset things right.â Great-uncle is our only lead. What if there are others in our midst with connections to the demons? If you kill him, how will we find them?â
âHmph, for one such unfilial son to appear is already the Dragon Clanâs grave misfortune. How could anyone else dare do something so treacherous?â snorted the elder.
âWho knows? Itâs possible that, whoever they are, they did it because theyâve grown feeble-minded in their old age.â
As he spoke, Xia Yingqiuâs eyes grew indescribably cold.
The others frowned as they watched this play out. Meanwhile, the elderâs expression darkened.
âWho exactly do you think has grown feeble-minded in their old age?â
âWhoever it is, they know exactly who they are. Thereâs no need for me to point them out, â said Xia Yingqiu, unwilling to back down even an inch.
By now, the atmosphere was heavy. Xia Yingda had been trying to think of a way to help his brother this whole time.
Finally, he spoke.
âGreat-great uncle, this little brother of mine says whatever is on his mind, he speaks without thinking, please go easy on him.â
âWhoâŠ..â Xia Yingqiu was just about to protest when Xia Yingda glared at him as if telling him to shut up. âEven so, what Yingqiu says is reasonable. Great-uncle is our only lead. Although we dragons say weâre all firm and unyielding, are any of us truly completely immune to temptation? You say you have a clean conscience, so why not interrogate him on our behalf? If you are truly uninvolved, this will clear your name. If that happens, Yingqiu and I will kneel to the ground and beg for your forgiveness.â
âYeah, my big brotherâs right. If youâre truly innocent, you can punish me however you like,â said Xia Yingqiu.
âGreat-great uncle, please proceed with the interrogation.â
âThatâs right, grand-elder, please interrogate him,â said the other elders in support.
It seemed their opinions had already shifted in Xia Yingqiuâs favor. At this point, even flaunting his seniority would do the grand-elder no good.
âHmph, interrogate him yourself,â said the aged elder. âIâm getting tired so Iâm going to go back and get some rest. When youâre finished, come tell me the results.â
âHey, you canât leave!â Just as he was about to leave, Xia Yingqiu blocked his path. âWithout the support of a member of the senior generation, we canât interrogate him properly. Furthermore, you seemed full of energy just now. Why are you suddenly tired now? Hey, this junior isnât trying to imply anything⊠itâs justâŠ. Canât you stay a little longer?â
âXia Yingqiu,â shouted the old man, only to discover that no one came to his aid. Judging from their gaze, he knewâŠ..
He had to stay.
âIf I have to stay, Iâll stay, not that I think itâll do you any good. Hmph.â He returned to his seat bitterly, then addressed the kneeling figure. âUnfilial son of mine, tell them everything you know. Tell the truth.â
In response, Xia Yingqiuâs lips pressed into a smile. âGreat-uncle, Great-great Uncle said it himself. Now, please repeat everything you told me earlier,â he said.
The kneeling figure looked up, then glanced at the third elder, his father, instinctively.
The old man noticed his gaze at snorted, âwhat are you looking at me for? You committed treason of your own free will. Do you really think I can save you? Tell them everything you know and itâs possible I can spare your life.â
âThatâs right, thatâs right. Be honest,â laughed Xia Yingqiu. âBut remember, you absolutely have to tell the truth. You once meted out punishments throughout the clan; you ought to know the laws of the Dragon Race better than anyone. The consequences of lying are no laughing matter.â
âIâll talk, Iâll talkâŠâŠâ the man finally spoke, his voice trembled. He stretched out his hand and pointed at the third elder, then looked directly at the crowd.
âHeâs the one who made me do it.â
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