Chapter Seventy-Four: Unveiling

Liu Kuang harbored deep doubts as to why Liu Pan would choose to save someone who had just ambushed him. Yet, he trusted Liu Pan implicitly, believing he would never act without reason. Thus, when Elder Yang questioned him, Liu Kuang merely hesitated for a moment before bowing respectfully and replying, “Elder, what you said is indeed true.”

“Elder Yang, they're lying!”

Before Liu Kuang could finish speaking, a voice interrupted him. The speaker was the gray-robed man who had previously exposed Xu Yangfeng's identity. Elder Yang’s expression grew darker; in just a quarter of an hour, he had been interrupted twice while conversing. The first time, Liu Pan had interjected during his questioning of Xu Yangfeng. Since Liu Pan was not a disciple of Cloudstream Sect and it was their first meeting, Elder Yang could understand the lack of decorum. But now, this gray-robed man—

Seeing Elder Yang’s gloomy gaze cast in his direction, the gray-robed man’s face changed. He quickly realized that if he failed to offer a reasonable explanation, he would truly incur Elder Yang’s wrath. Hastily bowing, he said respectfully, “Elder, with my knowledge of the Xu family, these two are absolutely spouting nonsense! Because, because—”

But at this point, the gray-robed man seemed at a loss for words. He stammered, unable to give any substantial reason. Elder Yang’s expression darkened further.

The gray-robed man grew increasingly anxious—not for lack of will, but because he simply didn’t know what to say. His interruption was purely instinctive; he hadn’t expected Liu Kuang, the victim, to speak in Xu Yangfeng’s defense. In exposing Xu Yangfeng’s identity, the gray-robed man had already “betrayed” him in the most contemptible, ungrateful manner. Yet, ultimately, he had acted out of desperation.

Xu Yangfeng’s offense against the Cloudstream Sect was, in anyone’s eyes, a death sentence. The gray-robed man had no doubt that the sect would uncover his ties to the Xu family. Thus, he had chosen to reveal Xu Yangfeng’s identity and cooperate fully with the sect, hoping to minimize the impact on himself. He had no intention of binding his own fate to that of the doomed Xu family.

But now, when the Xu family seemed headed for destruction, Liu Pan and Liu Kuang suddenly stepped forward in their defense, making the gray-robed man feel that the Xu family might yet escape this crisis. How could he accept this?

He had already betrayed the Xu family; he could not believe they would ever forgive him. While the Xu family currently posed no threat, what about ten or twenty years down the line? Even without considering such distant futures, even now, if the Xu family could connect with him inside Cloudstream Sect, could they not connect with others? There were plenty within the sect more powerful than he.

Understanding that the Xu family’s survival would spell trouble for him, he was determined not to let them weather this crisis. Having betrayed them, he wanted to ensure their downfall, lest future consequences catch up with him.

Yet, in stepping forward, he hadn’t anticipated the predicament he now faced: he could not find a reasonable accusation against the Xu family. If he claimed to know anything damning, he would implicate himself—why hadn’t he reported it earlier? Thus, any charge against the Xu family would only dig his own grave. He was utterly helpless. The Xu family had nothing worth mentioning, and even if they did, he dared not say it.

Seeing Elder Yang’s face grow ever more severe, the gray-robed man’s own expression became grim. Regret gnawed at him—why had he been so quick to expose Xu Yangfeng’s identity?

If only he had held his tongue until Xu Xiaozhan appeared, and Liu Pan and Liu Kuang stepped in to defend the Xu family, he could have avoided betraying them. But now, it was too late; whatever he did, there was no good outcome for him.

Had he known that his mention of Xu Xiaozhan’s name had prompted Liu Pan’s decision to save him, he might have coughed up blood in despair. When he uttered Xu Xiaozhan’s name, it was entirely unintentional. Had he only said “that’s Xu Yangfeng’s son” and omitted the name, Elder Yang might never have cared what Xu Xiaozhan’s name was, even after repeated questioning.

As for Liu Pan, if he hadn’t heard Xu Xiaozhan’s name, even if the future great tycoon died right in front of him, he likely wouldn’t have paid much attention—merely viewing it as a vivid lesson in the brutality of the martial world.

What now? The gray-robed man was truly afraid. Whether it was an illusion or not, he felt Elder Yang’s oppressive aura enveloping him, growing stronger until he could barely breathe.

Having failed for so long to produce any convincing argument, the gray-robed man realized that whatever he said against the Xu family now would only be seen as a desperate, futile attack—no one would believe him.

“These two brats!” he cursed inwardly, suddenly turning his gaze toward Liu Pan and Liu Kuang. He felt that, if not for their interference, he wouldn’t be in this predicament. Especially the one who claimed to know Xu Xiaozhan—summarizing the situation as if it made any sense.

To risk offending Cloudstream Sect for a handful of herbs? Who would believe such nonsense? Xu Yangfeng was the head of a second-rate family in Cloudstream City; how could he risk the wrath of the sect for a few medicinal plants, abducting someone on the very square where the sect recruited disciples?

And Xu Xiaozhan, already at the peak of Martial Novice, was supposedly an idiot who couldn’t recognize herbs? Who would believe that?

Moreover, Xu Xiaozhan allegedly stole herbs from home to sell? Was he mentally deficient? A young master from a family, setting up a stall on the roadside, selling medicine in a back alley—did he really need a few coins?

And then—wait, so many holes in the story!

Suddenly, the gray-robed man froze. He had been so caught up in his own and the Xu family’s troubles that he hadn’t considered the plausibility of Liu Pan’s account. Now, as he mentally dissected it, he realized it seemed utterly fabricated.

“Elder! There’s a problem with what that young man said!” Recognizing the issue, the gray-robed man found his direction, immediately pointing at Liu Pan.

“He claimed Xu Xiaozhan was selling herbs in a back alley, and that he bought them all, prompting Xu Yangfeng to ambush him and Liu Kuang here in the square. But this square is where our Cloudstream Sect recruits disciples—who would risk offending our sect for a handful of herbs? After all, medicinal herbs are worth little, and offending Cloudstream Sect means extermination! I can’t believe Xu Yangfeng doesn’t understand the gravity of such consequences.”

The gray-robed man spoke forcefully, his confidence restored. He realized he didn’t need to find fault with the Xu family directly; proving Liu Pan and Liu Kuang were lying would doom the Xu family all the same. Furthermore, if he could show that Liu Pan and Liu Kuang were dishonest, it would cast suspicion on their backgrounds. Even if Liu Kuang possessed spiritual power, the sect would never show mercy. It was a perfect solution—eliminating both the Xu family and their defenders.

His words immediately shifted the crowd’s attention to Liu Pan’s story about buying herbs. Previously, everyone had accepted the account as logical, but now, hearing the gray-robed man’s argument, they began to reconsider its plausibility.

In moments, many eyes turned to Liu Pan, sensing holes in the tale and eager for an explanation.

Under their scrutiny, Liu Pan seemed almost flustered, hesitating before speaking softly, “Perhaps it was because I bought too many herbs.”

His reply drew looks of disdain from many. Too many? How many could there be? Even a second-rate family in Cloudstream City would be lucky to produce forty or fifty low-grade herbs. Would anyone risk offending Cloudstream Sect for such a small amount? That would be insanity. Besides, would Xu Xiaozhan really steal every herb from his family in one go?

Upon hearing Liu Pan’s words, Xu Yangfeng and Xu Xiaozhan’s eyes, which had regained some luster, dimmed once more. Not because they doubted Liu Pan’s credibility—indeed, their family could, for special reasons, produce over a hundred herbs at once, enough to tempt someone to risk offending the sect. But Liu Pan had never actually bought herbs from Xu Xiaozhan. How could an ordinary cultivator have the means to purchase such an enticing quantity?

Elder Yang frowned, but noticing only embarrassment on Liu Pan’s face and no sign of anxiety from Liu Kuang, he felt a strange uncertainty. Could it be that they really did buy so many?

With that thought, Elder Yang addressed Liu Pan directly, “In that case, show us the herbs you purchased—let us see how many there are!”

“Updates will resume tomorrow.” The foolish author declared earnestly, “Thank you to all readers who have supported this novel.”