darknovel Chapter 23 Rumors Arise
Chapter 23 Rumors Arise
"What?! Hu Wenbiao isn't dead?!" A servant was so shocked by Zhao Ping'an's account that he almost jumped up.
Enjoying the admiring gazes of the crowd, Zhao Ping'an continued smugly, "Of course it's true! One of my brothers, who's been through thick and thin with me, saw it with his own eyes last night. Hu Wenbiao is alive and well."
One of the servants, convinced of its truth, said, "If someone saw it with their own eyes, then it must be true."
"Liu Jincai actually dared to harbor Hu Wenbiao? Has he gone mad?" a short, stout servant said in disbelief.
"Exactly! Isn't he afraid Elder Pang will come after him?"
"The Phoenix Yin-Yang Technique? So Pang Sicheng practices this evil art. No wonder he needs a female cultivator as his cultivation vessel..."
"..."
For a moment, the servants were talking animatedly, their faces a mixture of shock, excitement, and the thrill of uncovering a secret.
Completely absorbed in this earth-shattering secret, they were completely unaware that in an inconspicuous corner, Shen Li was quietly admiring his masterpiece.
Shen Li glanced at Zhao Ping'an, feeling quite gratified: Zhao Ping'an, I trust you to handle things; you've never let me down.
......
At noon, outside Pang Sicheng's cave on Haoyang Peak.
Tong Lu rushed to the entrance of the cave and shouted, "Senior Brother Pang! Something terrible has happened!"
Soon, Pang Sicheng's cold voice came from inside the cave: "What a panic! What kind of behavior is this! Come in and talk."
Tong Lu quickly pushed open the door and went in, telling Pang Sicheng what he had heard outside.
In just a short while, a series of loud crashing sounds came from inside the cave, interspersed with the sounds of jade shattering and wooden frames collapsing.
The cave was in complete disarray.
Pang Sicheng's face was ashen, his chest heaving violently, and his once handsome face was distorted with anger.
He growled hoarsely, his voice filled with resentment and rage: "Hu Wenbiao! You damned bastard! You're haunting me! What grudge do you hold against me, Pang Sicheng, that you would do this to me?!"
Tong Lu, standing to the side, remained silent, not daring to even breathe loudly.
Ultimately, he was the one who first approached Hu Wenbiao for help, and now Hu Wenbiao has become an inescapable and persistent nuisance, causing such a terrible disaster.
Tong Lu was afraid that Pang Sicheng would take his anger out on him in his rage.
He quickly changed the subject, trying to divert Pang Sicheng's anger: "Brother, please calm down! That Liu Jincai dared to disobey orders and secretly take in Hu Wenbiao!"
Who gave him the guts? Has he gone mad?
Could those rumors be true?
Does he really intend to take Hu Wenbiao and that half of the evil technique to join the sect leader's lineage, betraying his master for personal gain?
Pang Sicheng forcibly suppressed his anger, his eyes filled with murderous intent as he said, "Men die for wealth, birds die for food. Liu Jincai has no hope of establishing his foundation, so naturally he has to pave the way for his successors. It's not surprising that he's looking for a stronger backer..."
But he paused, his tone turning incredibly cold: "But he seems to have forgotten who gave him his current success!"
He eats the food of the Pang family, yet he wants to ruin the Pang family's business! There's no such thing as a free lunch!
Pang Sicheng turned and left the cave, saying, "I will go see the Ancestor immediately and report this matter! This matter should be settled."
......
Just past noon, in the back hall of the servants' quarters.
Liu Jincai was leisurely sipping his spiritual tea, counting the spirit stones he had embezzled through various means over the past few days, a satisfied smile on his face.
Suddenly, a trusted servant rushed in, shouting in alarm, "Steward Liu, something terrible has happened!"
Liu Jincai was startled by the sudden shout and angrily said, "What's the panic! Speak plainly!"
The servant, his face filled with terror, said, "Sir! Rumors are circulating outside that you're harboring Hu Wenbiao, preparing... preparing to betray Elder Pang and instead pledge allegiance to the Sect Master, using Hu Wenbiao as a token of your loyalty!"
Liu Jincai was stunned for a moment, then his face showed a mixture of absurdity and anger, but when he heard that he had betrayed Elder Pang, his anger turned into fear!
"Snap!"
The teacup in his hand was crushed, and scalding tea and shards splashed all over him, but he was completely unaware.
The incident where Hu Wenbiao framed Pang Sicheng caused quite a stir last time.
Although he tried his best to clear himself, he was still severely scolded by Elder Pang, who reprimanded him for his incompetence and poor management, which had led to the chaotic state of the servants' quarters and caused him to lose face.
Now, rumors are circulating that he's harboring that jinx Hu Wenbiao and is even planning to betray Elder Pang?!
If this news were to reach Elder Pang's ears, would Liu Jincai still be alive?!
Thinking of this, he trembled all over and muttered to himself, "I...I harbored Hu Wenbiao? I betrayed Elder Pang? I sided with the sect leader?"
What... what on earth is going on?! How come I don't even know what's happening?!
He pointed at the servant incredulously and demanded, "What nonsense are you spouting? Where did you hear that from?"
The servant said eagerly, "It's spread throughout the entire sect. Even the servants in the dining hall are saying it's absolutely true."
Liu Jincai knew that this servant was his confidant and would never speak carelessly, so it seemed that this was true.
He stood up dejectedly, then roared, "Who is spreading rumors?! Who is it?!"
Who is so vicious as to try to kill me?! Ah—!
Just as he was filled with terror and his mind was in turmoil, he heard hurried footsteps outside the hall.
Immediately afterwards, the door was kicked open.
A middle-aged man with sharp, hawk-like eyes barged in, accompanied by several disciples dressed in the uniforms of the Enforcement Hall.
An atmosphere of impending doom instantly filled the air.
Upon seeing the leader, Liu Jincai's face turned deathly pale. Trembling, he asked, "The...the Hall of Enforcement, Wan Xing, Hall Master Wan?! What...what are you doing here?"
The visitor was none other than Wan Xing, the head of the Enforcement Hall.
Wan Xing gave a cold laugh and shouted, "Liu Jincai, your secret has been exposed!"
Liu Jincai had already guessed most of what was going on, but still held a sliver of hope, and asked, "My business? What...what did I do wrong?"
Wan Xing laughed angrily: "Even now, you're still pretending to be stupid? You harbored Hu Wenbiao, framed Pang Sicheng, betrayed the elders, wreaked havoc on the sect, and plotted treason!"
Several charges, each punishable by death.
"No! I didn't! This is a frame-up!" Liu Jincai cried out in terror, channeling his magic power in an attempt to struggle and escape.
"Hmph, stubborn as a mule!" Wan Xing's powerful Foundation Establishment stage magic instantly spread outwards, enveloping the entire room.
Liu Jincai's strength was like an ant in front of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He was completely paralyzed and closed his eyes in despair.
Two law enforcement disciples used the Dragon Binding Rope to tie Liu Jincai up tightly, and dragged him out of the servants' hall like a dead dog.
......
Before long, the news that Liu Jincai had been arrested by the Hall Master Wan of the Enforcement Hall, who personally led the team, spread like wildfire throughout the entire Miscellaneous Service Hall.
The servants were immediately in an uproar.