Chapter 257 - Killing With Intent (1/2)

“Huangpu Qingtian, why have you harmed my godsons?” Dugu Zhantian barely contained the beast raging inside.

Huangpu Qingtian was calm, “Because they were in my way!”

“And why were they in your way?”

“They carried out Marshal’s orders to prevent me from having a grudge fight.”

Tightening his fists, Dugu Zhantian’s eyes spat fire, “In other words, they aren’t at fault here!”

“No, they aren’t.” Dugu Zhantian was about to blow a gasket. Huangpu Qingtian said coldly, “I also said that they are not fit to enter a grudge fight with me, not when they’re so weak. Therefore it does not fall into defying Marshal’s order! As for my fight with Steward Zhuo, that was indeed a grudge fight. But your five sons were already downed by that point. So it can be said that they weren’t hurt from doing their duty.”

Huangpu Qingtian knew Marshal Dugu was a man of integrity so he used sophistry! Saying that the five tigers had voluntarily, and of their own volition, stepped in his way and he thus inadvertently harmed them while running through them!

Although pedantic, Dugu Zhantian was no moron to not notice the way he shifted blame. His eyes only grew colder as his knuckles popped, “What you’re saying is that my godsons were wounded without your intention?”

“Precisely so. They ran into me and wounded themselves!” Huangpu Qingtian jutted his chin and spoke righteously.

“And what of my fifth godson? What happened to his leg? And don’t go saying he broke his leg running into you!” Dugu Zhantian’s eyes were bloodshot, his voice rumbling and thick with bloodthirst.

Shaking his head, Huangpu Qingtian said, “That wasn’t me, it was Lin Xuanfeng. Out of respect for you, Marshal, I was extremely lenient on your godsons!”

“Where’s that Lin Xuanfeng then? I have a score to settle with him!” Dugu Zhantian’s eyes darted around.

With a slow stretch of the hand, a finger pointed out the gasping Lin Xuanfeng. Huangpu Qingtian said, “Marshal, there’s no need for that now! Steward Zhuo had, in front of everyone, taken matter into his own hands on behalf of his master. Is Marshal still going to continue?”

Ugh!

Dugu Zhantian spotted the pool of blood in which the pale face of the crippled Lin Xuanfeng lay.

His anger washed away in an instant!

The guy was on his last leg, quite literally, given the circumstances. And even if saved, he’d be left a waste. His fate was far worse than his godson’s!

He suddenly felt awkward, even in the wrong. As if he was the accuser in this case, especially when they were worse off than his side by a dozen times!

Zhuo Fan, of course, didn’t think so. Availing of Dugu Zhantian’s presence, he was giving his very best in blowing this sky high, “Ol’ Marshal, don’t listen to his lies. You have no idea of the cruelty and harassment he put us through! When I arrived, the four had ganged up on my young master, humiliating and trampling him!

“My loyalty to my master is unquestionable, coming to his rescue at once. But I was also a victim of their assault. It was impossible for me to fight the four alone, leaving me riddled with wounds. Out of carelessness and sheer coincidence, they made a mistake and lost a leg. But we are the victims here, we were the ones abused! Please give us justice, Marshal!” Zhuo Fan’s voice took a mournful and stuttering tone, filled with pain and agony, “They saw our clan small and weak and decided to harass us. They are low and despicable people!”

Pff!

Everyone there spurted blood. Even Huangpu Qingtian’s face twitched. Even he, with his upbringing, was finding it hard not to flip out.

[What’s with this guy? He twists everything!]

Although cunning, his speech was based on sophistry. Yet never had he seen someone of Zhuo Fan’s ilk, running his mouth and spouting such outrageous lies!

[You rotten bastard! Look around you! Look at the witnesses! How can you be so despicable?]

Despite his perfectly reasonable thinking, Luo Yunchang also picked this time to add oil to the fire, “Steward Zhuo downplayed it slightly, out of worry for the Luo clan, but this is indeed the situation. Please help us, Godfather!”

Pff!

With another round of blood from the crowd, all eyes were on Luo Yunchang, [The hell? What is young miss Luo doing copying Steward Zhuo?]

[Sigh, another one falls under Zhuo Fan’s bad influence!]

It was followed by a round of sighs and head shaking, [Oh, you poor poor thing. Coming from an upright clan yet unable to escape this man’s devious corruption!] Luo Yunchang and Zhuo Fan shared a sly grin!

Face twitching, Dugu Zhantian already had a taste of Zhuo Fan’s grandstanding and wasn’t buying it this time. [Then again, this is the perfect chance to get back at Regent Estate.]

So, Dugu Zhantian nodded, “I see, Huangpu Qingtian. I have banned grudge fights and yet you all started harassing the weak with numbers. A much viler act than a mere grudge fight. Is this what you thought of my orders? I will take this matter to each of your houses and get a thorough explanation from them!”