57 A gentleman’s lie (1/2)
Chapter 57: A gentleman’s lie
Translator: SkyfarrowEditor: Skyfarrow
Jia Fu was conflicted.
He had dispelled his suspicions of Fang Yuan and was certain that Jia Gui was the mastermind.
”But yet, so what if I know the truth?” Jia Fu felt anger and sadness surging, ”I have no evidence at hand, so if I accused Jia Gui in front of father without any proof, father might even think I am trying to frame him!”
Jia Fu was smart, and he looked at Fang Yuan, a light flashing in his eyes.
Jia Jin Sheng had journeyed with him together, and now that he was missing, it was Jia Fu’s fault for not taking care of him! Since he could not accuse Jia Gui, he had to give his father some answer.
And this answer was in front of him!
”That’s right, if Fang Yuan is the scapegoat, it would at least help me get through this crisis. Once I get over it, I can get back at Jia Gui with twice the payback.” Jia Fu thought deviously.
He raised his pitch, interrogating Fang Yuan, ”Fang Yuan, how do you prove that you did not harm Jia Jin Sheng?”
The clan elders were stunned. This is obviously your internal dispute, why are you still grabbing onto my clansman?
Only the Gu Yue clan leader looked grim, his expression turning sharp as he stared at Jia Fu.
”Fang Yuan, what proof do you have to show that you were not present at the time and did not harm Jia Jin Sheng? If you can’t prove it, you are the murderer!” Jia Fu pointed at Fang Yuan, his gaze furious as he threatened with his aura.
”He’s trying to push our clan’s Fang Yuan into being the scapegoat. How atrocious!” At this point, the clan elders had reacted and their expressions all turned unkind.
They had been fighting and scheming against each other for a long time, so if they thought about it, they would know easily about Jia Fu’s standpoint and intentions.
”Witness? Of course I do! I prepared it long ago.” Fang Yuan smiled internally, but showed an expression of shock, as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t.
”No need for others, just tell me if you do or not!” Jia Fu raised his voice again, forcing Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan showed an indignant expression, but finally gritted his teeth and said helplessly, ”No.”
”Haha. Then you are —”” Jia Fu was about to declare his verdict but at that point.
”Halt!” The academy elder took a step forward and stood in front of Fang Yuan with a solemn expression, ”Of course he has a witness, that would be me!”
”You?” Jia Fu asked in shock.
”That’s right, me.” The academy elder, facing Rank four Jia Fu, was slightly overpowered. But seeing Gu Yue Bo’s encouraging gaze, he gathered his courage and raised his head, ”These days when Fang Yuan unexpectedly became the first to break through the middle stage, I sent my men to investigate him. His everyday activities and actions are recorded down, there was no time for him to harm Jia Jin Sheng.”
”Yes, this is it…” Fang Yuan hid behind the academy elder’s back, where no one could see his curled lips, revealing a smile.
Jia Fu’s expression was dim, he did not expect the academy elder to stand out and protect Fang Yuan.
The crucial point was, the Gu Yue clan leader did not object. This had a great meaning, for it meant the Gu Yue clan was going to protect Fang Yuan.
”I get it! I wanted to get Fang Yuan to become the scapegoat, but that was from my perspective, and I did not consider their perspective. Indeed, once Fang Yuan is criminalized, the Gu Yue clan has to bear the evil name of harming a Jia family member. From then on they will have to face the Jia family’s retribution as well as losing their own reputation. Furthermore, future caravans would not dare to come here and trade anymore, the loss is too great!”
Thinking of this, Jia Fu was anguished and wanted to slap his own head.
The Gu Yue higher-ups did have such considerations.
Fang Yuan was a C grade, so if he really harmed Jia Jin Sheng, handing him over was nothing. But the point was, now that his suspicion had been cleared, if he was handed over, wouldn’t the Gu Yue clan suffer a great injustice and lose out greatly?
Knowing that this conflict could not be resolved, Jia Fu gritted his teeth, determined to get his way. He said, ”If so, why don’t you let me use the Footprint Gu. Once this Gu is used, it will show us his last 30,000 footprints on the floor.”
The academy elder scoffed in displeasure.
Jia Fu’s words meant he did not trust them. But he has no reason to stop him, thus he let Jia Fu through.
”Come and test!” Fang Yuan laughed coldly at Jia Fu, walking towards him with his head lowered.
He was confident, having predicted this. Thus, these few days he kept his activities within the village and did not go to the secret cave.
Under the Gu Yue higher-ups supervision, Jia Fu did not play any tricks.
The Footprint Gu was very peculiar, it was shaped like a person’s foot. Its material was like a translucent yogurt, giving others a feeling of smoothness, and the surface had a yellow-green luster.
Its size was small, being only palm size.
Jia Fu held it in his hands, sending primeval essence into the Footprint Gu.
The Footprint Gu became brighter, and then suddenly with a ”bam” sound, exploded into a cloud of yellow green powder.
The powdery cloud enveloped Fang Yuan and spun around him before flying out of the discussion hall.
Where the powder cloud passed through, the floor would show a series of footprints.
These footprints glowed in a yellow green light around the same size as Fang Yuan’s foot. They were Fang Yuan’s footprints when he entered the discussion hall.