Abundant Martial Arts Virtue
Chapter 498 - 387 Tears (5000-word mega - , vote please!)_2

Chapter 498: Chapter 387 Tears (5000-word mega Chapter, vote please!)_2

"The Council no longer has sufficient funds to face this severe war,"

"So we begin by raising war funds first—"

The Speaker’s squinted eyes gradually widened a crack, revealing an indifferent and ruthless gaze as he glanced towards Wu Xiaode.

His lips moved slightly, and he uttered the sentence he’d been preparing for a long time:

"Let’s start with the Shangmo family."

Dead silence fell.

Every council member’s mind lit up with clarity.

—They were going to target the Shangmo family!

If you donate little, the Elders’ Council can summon the book of Destruction Laws to prosecute you.

If you donate a lot—

You have money, okay, why not donate more?

The Shangmo family might be drained dry!

Qiong sat in her seat, steadied her spirit, and still couldn’t comprehend Arian’s attitude; but upon hearing the Speaker’s words, she was slowly coming around.

Arian was able to drive away "Siang" and didn’t listen to the Elders’ Council; he had even formed a mortal enmity.

He had no middle road left to take.

This was a life-and-death contest!

So why not just make his stance clear from the beginning, not giving the other side any chance to employ schemes and tricks!

She thought through the whole affair with her head bowed in her seat.

The voice of Arian already rang in her ears:

"I heard our treasure vault of the Shangmo family has been frozen... Well then, I’ll donate all the treasures from the entire vault, also as a contribution of power to the Council."

The Speaker immediately said:

"The treasure vault of the Shangmo family has been pillaged empty by Corpse Pile Mountain and cannot provide any funds. I request the Shangmo family head to come up with an additional amount of money."

Wu Xiaode curled the corners of his mouth.

This bunch of old foxes, targeting the Shangmo family right from the start, was clearly aiming to make an example out of him.

But was he scared of them?

—All your families’ wealth in the treasure vaults is in my hands.

I’ve donated the title "Hand of World Destruction" as well.

Now, it’s just a matter of splurging a bit.

He was about to speak when he saw Qiong suddenly reach out, lightly patting her own arm.

Hmm?

What was Qiong planning to do?

Wu Xiaode was somewhat surprised, but then he saw Qiong stand up, bow elegantly, and say with a smile:

"It seems our Shangmo family’s treasures have been stolen empty, but no matter, when I married from the Prison Flame family, I brought quite a dowry with me. I will donate all of it this time."

Wu Xiaode was taken aback and immediately showed a look of admiration.

That was enough to make a statement!

By offering her entire dowry to the Destruction Council, Qiong was expressing three things in this show of vulnerability.

First, the Shangmo family didn’t have much money left;

Second, for the sake of the Shangmo family, she donated all the money from the Prison Flame family to show that she was now completely on the side of the Shangmo family, with no further ties to the Prison Flame family!

Third, a woman, for her family and the Council, donated all her dowry; how could you still have the heart to trouble us?

If they were going to trouble her, what about the others?

Were they going to scrape away all the remaining wealth of the Council members?

That would cause unrest within the whole Destruction Council, disperse the military’s morale, and even lead to a complete breakdown during the upcoming war!

Do you Elders really want to go so far?

Brilliant!

Qiong’s move was absolutely beautiful, truly living up to the name of the Shangmo family’s matriarch!

The Speaker imperceptibly furrowed his brow and said in a gentle voice:

"Matriarch of the Shangmo family, your actions are indeed worthy of our admiration, but I would like to know, how much is your dowry?"

Qiong smiled and said, "You’d have to ask my father about that. When he was preparing my dowry, he said these were the top bridal gifts from the entire Prison Flame family, which he was responsible for handing over to Siang."

"Hmm? Hand over to Siang? Siang is already dead!" the Speaker said.

"Yes, but Siang told me before his death that my father hadn’t delivered my dowry for these hundreds of years," Qiong said with a smile.

A stir went through the crowd.

Not providing a dowry for your daughter?

What did they take their daughter for? What did they take the Shangmo family for?

However, returning to the matter at hand, the Prison Flame family’s head had many children; each was only a pawn, and Qiong wasn’t exceptional back then, so it was possible she wasn’t valued.

But...

To give nothing at all.

That spoke volumes about how difficult, how embarrassing, Qiong’s life in the Shangmo family must have been.

No wonder she had completely sided with Arian!

Her actions were justifiable!

People thought to themselves.

Wu Xiaode also turned the thought in his head.

—Then there was a fourth.

Fourth, although this was a world where strength ruled, reputation sometimes mattered greatly; by exposing this matter, Qiong could gain people’s sympathy, henceforth no one would look down on her, and they would even feel that all she had done was justifiable.

Placed in the same situation, anyone would betray the Prison Flame family and join the Shangmo family’s embrace.

From then on, she could righteously disregard her own father!

That was also an open statement of her stance to him!

Wu Xiaode looked at her and saw her eye contact gentle as silk, lightly touching his gaze before retreating.

From a distance, the voice of the Prison Flame family’s head rose:

"I had already given your dowry to Siang, he lied to you, Qiong," he said.

Qiong’s gentle expression vanished in an instant, and she stood up once more, her voice harsh as she said:

"My father, do you dare repeat those words in front of the book of Destruction Laws?"

"—You have many ways to lie without being detected, but in front of that book, you cannot fabricate the truth!"