Has Qin Ning's body recovered? And his cultivation too? How is that possible? His Star Gate was destroyed; it was already a miracle he didn't die. Now he's even recovered his cultivation, and seems even stronger than before!
But killing Shen Yuan like that... that's going to cause huge trouble!
“Quick, follow him!” Qin Xinyue suddenly yelled, seeing Qin Xin-xin frozen in shock. “Little Brother Ning seems... different. Keep an eye on him, don’t let him do anything foolish!”
“Ah, yes!”
Qin Xin-xin immediately followed.
“Brother Ning…”
At this moment, Qin Xin-xin's voice trembled slightly, and he felt his hands shaking too. He caught up to Qin Ning and said, “You… you killed Shen Yuan!”
“Yes, so what?” Qin Ning asked nonchalantly.
“He… he’s Shen Chengfeng’s only son!”
“I know!”
“He’s the sole heir of the Shen family!”
“I know that too!” Qin Ning said, still perfectly calm.
Qin Xin-xin felt like his head was about to explode.
“Oh, my dear brother, my beloved brother, you knew and you still killed him? Even the clan head only agreed to annul the engagement, but you… you killed him…”
“What else was I supposed to do if I didn’t kill him? You saw how he was just now. I had already backed down and conceded. Besides, it wouldn’t be good for Sister Xinyue’s reputation if news of the annulled engagement spread. By killing him, we avoid tarnishing Sister Xinyue’s reputation,” Qin Ning said, still nonchalant.
“But…”
“Alright, no more ‘buts’. That’s the family’s deliberation hall ahead, right?”
“Yes!”
“Let’s go!”
Qin Ning walked forward. At this moment, Qin Xin-xin was filled with dread, completely drained of strength.
This... Qin Ning had stirred up a hornet's nest again!
What should they do now?
Qin Ning, for his part, understood clearly that it was because of him that the Ling family and Chu family had caused so much trouble. He couldn't let his father bear the burden of all this.
Moreover, he had now awakened his nine past lives’ memories, integrating them with this current life. One could say there was no storm, no matter how great, across his nine lives and nine worlds that he hadn’t witnessed. This current crisis was nothing; facing it calmly was the right approach.
The Ling family and Chu family had already torn off their masks with the Qin family. Since the Shen family was also following these two great clans, then he would lend a hand in tearing off an even bigger mask.
As for what to do next, he already had a plan in mind.
…
At this moment, inside the Qin family's deliberation hall.
Seated in the main position was Qin Changsheng, dressed in black martial attire. His face was furrowed, his back straight, and his expression clearly one of sorrow. Below him, several people sat to his left and right, with a few younger descendants standing.
Looking closely, there were three people on each side, their demeanors very grave.
“Clan Head!”
An old man, seated at the head of the left side, wearing a black robe with snow-white hair, spoke in a serious, aged voice: “This time, that brat Qin Ning violated Ling Feifei, causing our Qin family to suffer a loss of honor. Furthermore, we were forced by the Ling family to pay compensation, the Shen family annulled the engagement, and our ties with the Chu family were severed. This can be said to be an enormous loss; he must be severely punished!”
“First Elder is absolutely right!”
The elder in the second position on the left spoke up: “This brat Qin Ning, despite being the Clan Head’s son, committed such an act and should be expelled from the family!”
“Yes, expel him from the family!” another elder echoed.
“First Elder! Second Elder! Fifth Elder!”
A middle-aged man sitting on the right stood up and said, “Right now, we don’t know Ning’er’s fate. What we need to do now isn’t to consider his problem, but rather the Ling family’s bullying. What should we do?”
“Furthermore, the matter of Ning’er humiliating Ling Feifei is just a one-sided claim from the Ling family. At the very least, shouldn’t we hear what Ning’er has to say?”
“A one-sided claim?”
The Grand Elder suddenly roared, “Qin Yuanshan, you are Qin Ning’s second uncle, you can’t just side with him, can you? That Chu Ningxi has always had a good relationship with Qin Ning, they’ve been close since childhood, and she’s also Qin Ning’s fiancee. She personally testified, and you still call it a one-sided claim from the Ling family?”
“This…”
Qin Yuanshan found it difficult to explain himself at this moment.
Originally, no one believed this matter, but Chu Ningxi had testified. Not only had she been betrothed to Qin Ning since childhood, but they were also childhood sweethearts, and their relationship was very good.
This led to all the residents of Lingyun City believing the truthfulness of the matter.
“Of course, it’s a one-sided claim from the Ling family!”
Just then, a figure strode in from outside the main hall.
It was Qin Ning!
“Ning’er!”
At this moment, Qin Changsheng sprang to his feet, the sorrow on his face instantly turning into astonishment and joy.
“Father!”
Qin Ning looked at his father with eyes that conveyed he was fine. Then, cupping his hands, he continued to look at the crowd and said, “Second Uncle, Elders!”
“The truth is that Chu Ningxi colluded with the Ling family, tricking me into leaving Lingyun City and going into Lingyun Mountain. After that, Ling Shicheng and his son Ling Tian kidnapped me to the Ling Manor. Ling Shicheng himself snatched my Star Gate for his son, Ling Tian!”
“Chu Ningxi personally witnessed my Star Gate being taken. She also saw me, alone and helpless in the stormy night, left to fend for myself…”
“Ling Shicheng and his son fabricated the false accusation of humiliating Ling Feifei. They slandered my name to cover up the truth that they had stolen my Star Gate!”
Qin Ning looked at everyone and said solemnly, “This is the truth. The Ling family only wanted to steal the Star Gate that I had awakened!”
Originally, Qin Ning was too lazy to explain to these people, but for his father’s sake, he had to provide an answer.
“What a joke!”
At this moment, the Grand Elder roared, “That Ling Tian possesses remarkable talent, no less than yours. And yet, he would willingly become an enemy of my Qin family just for your Star Gate?”
“Furthermore, the Chu family and my Qin family have had an excellent relationship for decades, how could they do such a thing? I think it’s you, Qin Ning, who committed that heinous act. Now you’re scared and trying to shift the blame!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the elders began to murmur amongst themselves.
“Grand Elder!”
Just as Qin Ning was about to speak, Qin Changsheng immediately interjected.
“Qin Ning is the heir of my Qin family. Grand Elder, what do you mean by not believing his words, but instead trusting the words of the Ling father and son and Chu Ningxi?”
Qin Changsheng’s words were slow but heavy. Qin Ning was his son!
“This matter has many strange aspects. Ning’er’s Star Gate was stolen, the Ling father and son are not benevolent, and the Chu family’s complicity is not impossible!”
Qin Changsheng, upon hearing Qin Ning’s account, was furious. The Ling family, they’ve gone too far with their bullying!
His own son had his Star Gate stolen, was plotted against, and left alone in a stormy night. Thinking of that situation, Qin Changsheng felt immense heartache.
"Patriarch, aren't you showing favoritism towards your son by saying that?" the Grand Elder said grimly.
"Favoritism?"
Qin Changsheng looked at the Grand Elder, then suddenly roared, "Qin Leishan, although you are the Grand Elder, in this vast Qin Family, I believe it is still my words, as Patriarch Qin Changsheng, that carry more weight, isn't that right?"
As these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the great hall became visibly charged with hostility.
"Hmph, then what about the Ling Family's demand for compensation and the Shen Family breaking off the engagement? Someone must take responsibility, mustn't they?"
Qin Changsheng emphasized once more, "If the Ling Family wants compensation, then let them send someone to collect it. As long as they dare to send someone, I, Qin Changsheng, dare to face them!"
"As for the Shen Family breaking off the engagement..."
Qin Changsheng looked at Qin Yuanshan standing beside him.
Qin Yuanshan was not only his second younger brother but also one of his most vocal supporters. This matter concerned his second brother's daughter, Qin Xinyue, whose engagement had been broken off; indeed, he had been wronged.
"The Shen Family can no longer break off the engagement!"
At this moment, Qin Ning slowly spoke again.
"I killed Shen Yuan. With Shen Yuan dead, our engagement with the Shen Family is automatically annulled!"
As soon as Qin Ning's words were spoken, the great hall of deliberation suddenly erupted in an uproar.