Chapter 399: Chapter 197: Character Plate · Chang Family’s Crisis · Departure Preparations

The chain of evidence seemed rather complete.

"Elder Xiao, I’ve been wronged!"

Once the Pan Family cultivator had finished, Chang Shunping immediately protested, "They showed up at our door and tried to arrest us without any rhyme or reason. It’s clear they’re just coveting our newly acquired Spirit Vein."

"And I’ve asked around—that disciple used to work under Elder Pan of the Demon-slaying Hall."

"He’s clearly one of the Pan Family’s own."

Xiao Chen asked curiously, "First, tell me about this new Spirit Vein."

It turned out that the so-called new Spirit Vein was the one originally in Qiuping County.

But during the invasion of the Four Great Wanderers, Qiuping County, being an important location, had been specifically targeted, and its original cultivator families had all been killed.

However, families often intermarry, and the Chang Family, being neighbors, naturally had such ties.

Thus, after Qiuping County was reclaimed, the Chang Family attempted to take over the Spirit Vein through their relations by marriage.

As a result, they ran into the Pan Family cultivator in charge of that area, and a conflict arose.

The Pan Family refused to recognize such a claim of inheritance and quickly gathered evidence that the Chang Family had committed Tong Mo.

Immediately after, they came to their door to make arrests, and a conflict erupted.

But unexpectedly, Chang Shunping had another Defensive Array hidden in his home, which allowed him to escape.

.

Both sides were sticking to their own story, and with a Golden Core cultivator like Xiao Chen present...

...a large number of Lingyuan Sect disciples were immediately drawn to watch from the sidelines.

It also alerted all the stewards and Elders within the Lingyuan Sect, and any who were free came running over to watch the excitement.

The Pan Family cultivator was a little nervous at first, but as the crowd grew larger and larger, he paradoxically calmed down.

The more people there were watching, the safer he was.

Pan Qiaochun arrived at the scene just in time, and she brought a new witness.

He was a cultivator from the Huidong Commerce Association, who testified that on the seventeenth day of the second month, Chang Shun’an had secretly met with a Demon Cultivator in a private room at the Commerce Association.

He hadn’t known at the time that the other person was a Demon Cultivator, so he didn’t report it.

He only learned the truth during the major hunt for Demon Cultivators a few days ago.

"Liang does work for me, but Mr. Xu of the Huidong Commerce Association isn’t one of our Pan Family, is he?"

Pan Qiaochun looked at Chang Shunping. "With both a witness and physical evidence, how can you still try to talk your way out of this?"

At her question, the people in the crowd nodded one after another.

Mr. Xu’s full name was Xu Xixuan, the person in charge of the Huidong Commerce Association’s station in the Lingyuan Market.

They might believe the Pan Family could bribe a True Disciple, but the Pan Family didn’t have the influence to bribe a key figure in the Huidong Commerce Association.

Even Chang Shunping himself was stunned for a moment, then he looked at his younger brother.

Chang Shun’an quickly explained, "I didn’t do it! I don’t even know Mr. Xu. And on the seventeenth of the second month, I was with Li in the Lingyuan Market, secluded for healing."

Pan Qiaochun turned to look at him. "In that case, why isn’t Li here to testify for you?"

Chang Shun’an’s eyes widened. "Li was unfortunately killed while defending Wangyan Mountain—Elder Pan, you of all people should know that!"

"I know that, of course."

Pan Qiaochun demanded loudly, "You also know that Li died in battle, yet now you use him as an alibi. Don’t you think that’s absurd?"

"First, you slandered our Pan Family, claiming we wanted to seize the Spirit Vein. Now, you’re using a fallen fellow cultivator to fabricate evidence."

"From start to finish, all you’ve done is profess your innocence with nothing but words."

"How could a cheap trick like this fool everyone here? How could it fool the Wind Thunder True Man?"

For a time, Xiao Chen had been known as the Wind and Thunder Sword, so before he received an official title, some cultivators had taken to calling him the Wind Thunder True Man.

Pan Qiaochun’s speech was full of righteous passion, and the surrounding crowd nodded frequently as they listened.

Only Xiao Chen wore a peculiar expression.

’Back at the Li Huo Sect, I was the one being framed for Tong Mo.’

’Now, barely three years later, I’m the one sitting in the Judge’s seat.’

Yao Dehai noticed this right away. Although he didn’t know why, his first instinct was to speak up and give the Chang Family a way to save face.

However, the words died on his lips, and he ultimately held his tongue.

Du Mingjie was also nearby. He had been thinking of saying a word or two to help, out of consideration for the friendship he’d formed with Chang Shunping when they defended Qingyang Mountain together.

But as witness after witness came forward, he abandoned the thought.

Qiu Qichen, on the other hand, hadn’t been listening carefully to the evidence being presented at all.

He had spent the whole time observing Xiao Chen’s expression from the corner of his eye.

Now, noticing that Xiao Chen didn’t frown or show any anger after Xu Xixuan’s testimony, he immediately guessed that Xiao Chen might want to protect the Chang Family.

So he decisively declared, "In my opinion, this matter is riddled with doubt. Especially with one of Pan’s own subordinates involved, it inevitably raises suspicion."

"It would be better to have someone else re-investigate the matter. We can wait until the truth is uncovered before making a decision."

Yao Dehai’s brow twitched upon hearing this.

He had actually wanted to say the same thing, but in the end, he couldn’t get past his own conscience.

’I can’t believe the Qiu Family would disregard all facts, right and wrong, just to curry favor with a Golden Core cultivator.’

Gu Qiu Ling, who was also in the crowd, immediately stepped forward to speak up for her good friend. "Qiu Qichen, don’t say things you know are wrong."

"Isn’t the evidence Qiaochun has laid out clear enough?"

"It’s obvious the Chang Family has been colluding with the Divine Fire Sect. I’d like to ask you, what exactly do you think a re-investigation is going to accomplish?"

A Gu Family cultivator beside her quickly pulled her back, gesturing for her to hold her tongue.

However, Gu Qiu Ling just flicked her sleeve. "Don’t stop me. The matter is already perfectly clear. It’s obviously the Chang Family who has no proof and is just trying to create a scene."

"I’m speaking for my sister Qiaochun today, but it’s not because we’re friends."

"I just hope that all Demon Cultivators and traitors receive the punishment they deserve."

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