MTLNOVEL Chapter 176: Trial
Jing Family, a total of four people arrived at the City Lord Mansion, namely the Clan Leader Jing Chengye, Great Elder Jing Chunyu, Fourth Elder Jing Tianying, and Jing Yan.
If a real conflict were to arise, having more people would be just as useless!
"Jing Clan Patriarch!"
Outside the main gate of the City Lord Mansion, a housekeeper from the City Lord Mansion was waiting there.
"How are things?" Jing Chengye asked the housekeeper in a lowered voice.
"Not good! Jing Clan Patriarch, you have to be careful. Follow me!" The housekeeper warned Jing Chengye. He had a close relationship with the Jing Family, which is why he took the initiative to caution Jing Chengye. Of course, to win him over, the Jing Family had also expended a considerable amount of resources.
In the front yard of the City Lord Mansion, atop the square.
Deputy City Lord Chen Bing and Divine Wind Academy's Outer Court Deacon Cang Long were seated. Behind them, a large number of armored guards from the City Lord Mansion emitted a chilling aura, clearly the elite troops of Donglin City Lord's Mansion.
Apart from Chen Bing and Cang Long, guests from the Red Lotus Academy and Dao Yi Academy were also present here, probably just to relieve boredom and watch the excitement.
When Jing Chengye reached the square, despite his mental preparation, he still felt his heart 'thud'. This scene was not for discussions but seemed more like a trial for the Jing Family. It looked like the City Lord Mansion was planning to sacrifice the Jing Family, or at least Jing Yan, to preserve the relationship with Cang Long.
Jing Chengye, after all, was the Jing Family Patriarch, and upon seeing such a scene, he could guess the stance of the City Lord Mansion.
"Jing Family Patriarch Jing Chengye, pays respects to City Lord Chen Bing!" Jing Chengye greeted Chen Bing with folded hands.
Although Chen Bing was only the Deputy City Lord, his power was immense, and his status was only second to the City Lord Huo Chunyang. Any family or power in Donglin City would definitely not wish to offend Chen Bing lightly.
"Hmm, Jing Clan Patriarch has arrived," Chen Bing said as he waved his hand, his gaze shifting toward Jing Yan, "This Jing Yan, your Jing Family has also sent, very good! Jing Clan Patriarch, you're very wise!"
"Mr. Cang Long, you see, the Jing Family has even sent the troublemaker Jing Yan on their own initiative. They are quite sincere, right?" Chen Bing then looked toward Cang Long, whose face was incredibly gloomy.
"Hmph, even if they send this little mongrel over, their Jing Family is still responsible for this matter! Do they think sacrificing the life of a little mongrel can exchange for the life of my disciple Suo Wen? There's no such good deal in this world," Cang Long coldly snorted, his tone sinister.
It seemed, even if the Jing Family handed over Jing Yan, the Jing Family couldn't remain uninvolved; they would have to pay an additional price. In his view, the life of Jing Yan could not possibly compensate for the life of his disciple Suo Wen.
Jing Yan, standing behind Jing Chengye and the others, tensed slightly, his gaze suddenly sweeping toward Cang Long.
This old bastard!
Jing Yan would, of course, not forget this detestable face; it was this man who had aggressively advocated for his expulsion from the Divine Wind Academy. Not only did this Cang Long expel Jing Yan from the Divine Wind Academy, but he also insulted Jing Yan, saying that recruiting Jing Yan was the biggest failure and disgrace of the Divine Wind Academy in a century.
And now, this old bastard continued to insult Jing Yan with his words.
Jing Yan was, of course, extremely angry, with a cold light flashing in his eyes. However, Jing Yan still held back because the opponent was an Innate Peak Expert, and he was definitely not a match.
"Little bastard, from the look in your eyes, it seems like you want to kill me, eh?" Cang Long, who also sensed Jing Yan's icy gaze, laughed coldly and stared at Jing Yan as he spoke.
"You won't be smug for long. Humph, you say your disciple Suo Wen is stronger than me, but why is it your disciple Suo Wen who's dead?" Jing Yan's voice was slow and measured.
"Hahaha... This little bastard dares to threaten me? If I don't flay your skin off bit by bit, then my surname isn't Cang. You think you can kill Suo Wen? Ridiculous, do you really think I would believe your side of the story?" A sinister gleam burst forth from Cang Long's eyes.
"City Lord, might I inquire why you had someone summon my Jing Family to bring Jing Yan to the City Lord Mansion?" Jing Chengye turned to Chen Bing and asked at this time.
Jing Chengye was well aware that the Jing Family had definitely offended Cang Long. Therefore, he couldn't bother to mince words with Cang Long; no matter what, the Jing Family would do everything in their power to protect Jing Yan.
"Hm?" Upon hearing Jing Chengye's words, Chen Bing was momentarily taken aback.
What did Jing Chengye mean?
Bringing Jing Yan here, wasn't it meant to hand him over? And yet he's asking me why I want Jing Yan to come to the City Lord Mansion? What happened that you, Jing Chengye, the Clan Leader, wouldn't know?
Chen Bing's face, which was already less than pleasant to look at, grew even uglier at this moment, and he sneered in his heart. Is the Jing Family really seeking death?
If your family had the sense to hand over Jing Yan voluntarily, and then I, Chen Bing, put in a few good words for you in front of Cang Long, and the Jing Family compensated with some resources, this matter could have been let slide. But now, you, Jing Chengye, and the Jing Family seem quite uncooperative, don't they?
"Jing Clan Patriarch, surely you're aware of the incident where Jing Yan killed Mr. Cang Long's disciple Suo Wen?" Chen Bing sneered, looking at Jing Chengye.
Jing Yan murdering Suo Wen occurred just outside the main gate of the Jing Family Mansion; within the Jing Family, there was no one who didn't know about it. If Jing Chengye claimed ignorance, he would be blatantly lying.
"City Lord, may I ask, where and for what reason did Jing Yan kill Suo Wen?" Without answering Chen Bing's question, Jing Chengye asked another one.
Exactly, he was asking Chen Bing where Suo Wen was killed. Inside the City Lord Mansion? Was it an unprovoked killing? If it took place inside the City Lord Mansion, why hadn't the City Lord arrested Jing Yan directly? Even if Jing Yan could temporarily escape, a large number of guards should have been dispatched immediately to pursue him.
"Jing Clan Patriarch, what are you trying to say? Jing Yan killed Suo Wen outside of the Jing Family Mansion, don't you know that? Or, are you testing my patience?" Chen Bing was beginning to get angry, as he spoke in a stern voice.
"Yes, I indeed heard about it!" Jing Chengye nodded, "Suo Wen, outside our Jing Family Mansion, set up a challenging stage, provoking our entire Jing Family, wanting to disgrace us within Donglin City, and that was an insult to the Jing Family. Jing Family disciple Jing Yan, for the sake of family honor, bravely faced off against Suo Wen, and in the ensuing fight ultimately killed Suo Wen. Might I ask you, City Lord, is there any problem with this?"
"If Suo Wen hadn't set up the challenging stage outside the Jing Family Mansion, would there have been any conflict between Jing Yan and Suo Wen?"
"Suo Wen set up the stage to humiliate the Jing Family, he should have been prepared to be challenged, right?" Jing Chengye said several sentences in quick succession.
Chen Bing was instantly left speechless.
By all common sense, Suo Wen's actions, even if it led to his death, would have been a deserving one. If you go to someone else's doorstep to set up a stage, aiming to force them into a fight, and you get killed in the fight, that is quite normal. It's your fault for not having the strength and still wanting to trample over others; it was a death you brought upon yourself.
However, Suo Wen was Cang Long's disciple!
"So, I was curious why City Lord Chen Bing had summoned Jing Yan to the City Lord Mansion. I guessed it might be related to Jing Yan killing Suo Wen, but, City Lord, I believe you are aware that in this matter, my Jing Family's Jing Yan is completely without fault," Jing Chengye looked at Chen Bing, then added another sentence.