Azure Heaven Saber
Chapter 652 - 652 193 Framing and Shifting the Blame 14

Chapter 652: Chapter 193: Framing and Shifting the Blame [14 additional updates by Silver Alliance Leader WiseHaiChen] Chapter 652: Chapter 193: Framing and Shifting the Blame [14 additional updates by Silver Alliance Leader WiseHaiChen] He understood that he had been framed, but that was not a reason to back down.

Why should we explain whenever you demand it?

Who do you think your Ximen family is?

Ximen Huaide laughed in anger: “Nangong Sword, you’re quite good at denying the truth.”

“Let me ask you, you say it wasn’t you who dug this, but the tunnel is clearly fresh. And it was dug after you moved in! There’s no way to argue against this fact!”

“Could there really be someone with such great capabilities to dig a tunnel right under the eyes of the Nangong Family without being discovered by so many of you over several days? I wonder who this great figure could be, are they Nine Colors Supreme, or an ancestor of some other family!?”

“Or are all the people in the Nangong Family deaf and blind?”

“Bullshit! If the Nangong Family wanted to kill someone, we would go straight to their doorstep. Would we need to dig such a tunnel? This plot is so obvious, it’s a farce!”

“Someone from your Ximen family dies, do you just randomly accuse others? Come on, come at me, do you think the Nangong Family would be afraid?”

“Obvious? Intending to cover up but ended up exposing more? Why don’t you say it was a planned, calculated plot by you? Or maybe you just have a fondness for digging tunnels?”

“Nonsense! It’s your family who has this fondness!”

“Enough nonsense, your Nangong Family caused the death of my third brother, give me his life back!”

“Hold on, wait! It wasn’t us who killed him! There’s a misunderstanding, someone else is scheming behind this!”

Nangong Sword was almost spitting blood in anger.

He spoke forcefully, but at this moment, he really couldn’t fight.

Especially not under such unclear circumstances.

When large families act, they have their own rules.

I can find trouble with your family, we can fight straight up, who’s afraid of whom?

But for something as apparent as being framed, we can’t just start fighting!

If we, as the supreme family with influence in all directions, were manipulated like this, wouldn’t we become fools?

This is a reputation we absolutely can’t afford!

The rest of the Nangong family were all speechless.

After receiving that note in the afternoon, they thought they would be in for a spectacle. The climax of a great drama had occurred, which even led to a death.

It was indeed very satisfying.

But after the satisfaction… why did the follow-up performance suddenly turn to them?

It even seemed like their family was becoming the main actors, writers, and producers of this show, something they absolutely couldn’t accept!

This…this situation just screwed them over!

The person who delivered the note had already been thoroughly cursed in the hearts of the Nanong family members.

Seeing the anger of the Ximen family, even if the Nangong family no longer wanted to fight, it seemed inevitable…

“Hold on, don’t start fighting!”

A white-robed elder floated in from outside the courtyard, saying: “The person was presumably not killed by the Nangong Family. There must be something strange happening here, let’s clarify it before we proceed…”

“Uncle Du! Why are you saying this too?”

Ximen Huaide’s eyes widened.

This man was called Du Qingwen, one of the protectors of the Ximen family, and Ximen Qianqiu’s sworn brother. He was the second-in-command among those who came this time, only under Ximen Qianqiu.

“The Nangong Family brought a total of forty-eight people this time. Out of these forty-eight people, other than the leader, Nangong Xue, I’ve seen all the others.”

Du Qingwen said: “Among the forty-seven people besides Nangong Xue, none of them carry the aura of a recent kill. As for Nangong Xue, given his status, he wouldn’t scheme in such a complicated way against Huai Dao. No, should I say, if Nangong Xue were really willing to stoop to such a level to plot against Huai Dao, we’d just have to accept it!”

Du Qingwen’s words were not showing weakness, but were quite pointed.

He intended to force Nangong Xue, the main person in charge of the Nangong Family’s trip, to show up and clarify this matter in person.

Otherwise, it would be spread all over the street that Nangong Xue had conspired against a junior in secret, which is more than just disgraceful. If this were combined with the brilliance of Mo Qingkong’s father, Mo Linfeng at Supreme Mountain, Nangong Xue would have no choice but to show up!

One had to say, old ginger is spicier. As soon as Du Qingwen finished speaking, Nangong Xue’s voice came from the building, thick with mockery: “Not bad, not bad, it’s rare that you, Du Qingwen can show such clear insight. Indeed, if I were to take action, the one who should’ve died would be Ximen Qianqiu. Huai Dao is a nonentity, why would I personally deal with him?”

“For me to personally kill him…wouldn’t that be giving him too much face?”

Du Qingwen snorted, saying: “Even so, this tunnel indeed ends on your side. At least in this respect, your Nangong Family cannot escape association with this matter and must give us, the Ximen family, an explanation.”

Nangong Xue said coldly: “What explanation? You’ve come demanding an explanation? Your uninvited visit is truly outrageous. Is the Nangong Family a doormat for your Ximen family to step on, Du Qingwen? Don’t miscalculate!”

His eyes became cold as he said threateningly: “Today, if the Ximen family cannot conclusively prove that we did it and won’t apologize, well…Not a single person from the Ximen family who came here today will be allowed to leave!”

With the utterance of that sentence, a chilling sword intent suddenly locked down the entire inn courtyard. His murderous intent was not concealed at all.

Clearly, Nangong Xue had murderous intentions in his heart.

Du Qingwen’s face was as still as water: “Nangong Xue, what you need to understand is that this tunnel alone is significant evidence, enough to prove that you are involved! Even if you didn’t do the deed, it must be related to you. Is this not correct?”

Nangong Xue said indifferently, “How can I be sure that you didn’t use this tunnel and Ximen Huaide’s life to set a trap and tarnish the reputation of the Nangong family? We all moved in at about the same time. Why couldn’t this tunnel have been dug by you? If you suspect us of murdering Ximen Huaide, you should present concrete evidence that we dug the tunnel. I’ll say it again, if you don’t have real evidence, all of you will stay here today!”

Both sides had their own views and neither was willing to give an inch.

A thoughtful expression crossed Du Qingwen’s face.

Could it be that Nangong Xue really had nothing to do with this?

But that’s impossible.

Not to mention someone of Nangong Xue’s level, even a cultivator at the Innate stage should be able to hear someone digging a tunnel beneath their bed, right?

He suddenly remembered…

It seems that the murdered Ximen Huai Dao didn’t hear anything. This realization gave him a shock.

Now, not only were people from the Ximen family furious and sad, people from the Nangong family were also mysteriously accused and filled with anger.

Why?

Why was the blame being shifted onto their heads?

“Doesn’t your Ximen family have any decency?”

“Doesn’t your Nangong family have any decency?”

These two sentences, from Nangong Sword and Ximen Huaide respectively, were almost simultaneous.

“Could it be that paper note…”

One of the Nangong family members accidentally blurted this out before hurriedly covering his mouth.

Ximen Huaide’s eyes lit up and pointed with his sword, “A paper note? What paper note?!”

Nangong Sword snorted and said, “There’s no paper note! You misheard!”

“But I clearly heard!”

“Seems like not only is your brain sick, your ears have problems too. What’s so surprising about mishearing something?”

“I want to see that paper note!”

“You think you can just see anything you want? Who do you think you are?”

The two sides continued their stand-off, exchanging verbal jabs. However, everyone knew that neither side was the murderer.

Since they were not the real killer, a fight would surely not break out. But no one wanted to back down, hence they kept fighting verbally.

Especially this accidental mention of the paper note had only added more mystery to the case.

In the end, the Nangong family compromised.

“If you want to see the paper note, you can! But, the Ximen family must provide an explanation for this event!”

Nangong Sword, having received a message from the family patriarch, replied, “Now it is your Ximen family who forcefully barged into our residence. Isn’t it equivalent to breaking into an unoccupied household? If there isn’t any explanation, wouldn’t that mean the Nangong family fears your Ximen family? We must have compensation!”

Since they now knew that the other party was not the murderer and had some sense of assurance, Du Qingwen also wanted to resolve the dispute. After some haggling, they finally agreed on a price, which the Ximen family promptly paid.

Indeed, both sides had the intention to compromise. The so-called price was but a mere token, a matter of face. As for the other form of payment demanded during the haggling process, the cryptic note with a few words, it also fell into Ximen Huaide’s hands.

Only after paying a sum of money in the guise of road tolls, did the Ximen family received permission from Nangong Xue to leave from the courtyard where the Nangong family was staying.

After going out, they knocked on the door again, entering as visitors. This was deemed as a normal social visit, now an entirely different matter.

“On stormy nights, in the midst of a snowstorm, is the perfect time for murder.

Tonight, murder Ximen Huai Dao, ascend to a high place for a view, and enjoy a hearty drink!”

This cryptic note poignantly accentuated the fury of the Ximen family who was ready to burst out in anger.

Looking at the feast prepared by the Nangong family that had not yet been interrupted, one by one they trembled in rage.

So, you guys were really planning to ‘ascend high for a view, and enjoy hearty drinks’?

“You received the note early, why didn’t you notify us!” Ximen Huaide’s field of vision darkened with anger, he bit out.

“Huaide!”

Du Qingwen barked sharply, evidently aiming to stop him.

But it was too late. Even though Du Qingwen tried to stop him, Ximen Huaide had already spoken.

Nangong Sword sneered coldly, “Ximen Huaide, you should think before you speak. Who do you think you are? What do you think your Ximen family is? Why should we tell you anything?”

“Your brother’s death is his fate, what does it have to do with us? Do you think your Ximen family is best friends with our Nangong family? To put it bluntly, we have already been very nice to your Ximen family by not adding insult to injury!”

Ximen Huaide was furiously gasping for breath.

He really wanted to say ‘you didn’t add insult to injury, only because you didn’t have enough time to follow through.’

……

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