Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 1615 - 1608: Family Connivance

Chapter 1615: Chapter 1608: Family Connivance

"Ating has returned, hurry over here!" Upon hearing the news of Huayu Ting’s return, the elders of the Huayu Family all appeared very excited and urged each other hastily.

"Huayu Ting!" Just at that moment, a young man suddenly stood out, drawing his sword from his waist with a clanging sound, and pointed it at Huayu Ting while gritting his teeth and demanding, "Was it you who killed father?"

"Ah Rong, stop being foolish, put down the sword," the elders exclaimed in alarm upon seeing the young man’s actions.

"Gentlemen, Huayu Ting definitely has a suspicion. Father died after seeing him, and he himself went missing, only to return now. Where did he go, and why did he leave at the time of father’s death?" The young man gritted his teeth with questioning.

This young man is Huayu Ting’s younger half-brother, Huayu Rong.

Using Hun Jiansi’s assessment, Huayu Rong is nothing but an embroidered pillow, of no practical use. It’s not just about him holding a sword at Huayu Ting now; even if he were to put the sword to Huayu Ting’s neck, he wouldn’t be able to defeat Huayu Ting.

"Ting, what on earth happened?" Hearing Huayu Rong’s interrogation, all the elders turned their suspicious gazes to Huayu Ting.

"I’m the one who killed father!" Right at that moment, Huayu Ting suddenly knelt down, choking with sobs as he let out a remark that caused an uproar among all those present.

"This, this..." Hearing Huayu Ting’s confession, several elders stood dumbfounded, glancing at each other, at a loss for words.

"Exactly as I thought, you beast, a disgrace." Huayu Rong ground his teeth, flames seeming to flicker in his eyes.

The people around also began to murmur, staring at Huayu Ting with strange looks.

"What on earth happened, Ting, tell us properly, make it clear!" Finally calming their minds, one of the elders patiently asked.

"I argued with and angered father, hence I left in a huff. Little did I expect father to take his own life. I, I failed my father..." Huayu Ting said, then bowed, kowtowing to everyone present.

His voice choked with sobs, involuntarily moving the onlookers. Of course, if they knew for whom he was truly mourning, they would all be greatly surprised.

Huayu Ting chose to retreat as a way to advance, employing a strategy of feigned retreat, decisively framing the incident.

The death of Huayu Tong was already quite enigmatic, and Huayu Ting blandly described it as suicide, constructing an immediate reality for the audience, and successfully led them to accept it.

As a result, there were few who would question Huayu Tong’s cause of death, instead focusing on the reasons for Huayu Tong’s suicide.

"So that’s how it is..." True to form, the elders who had immense trust in Huayu Ting quickly accepted this explanation. They nodded in relief, some elders even showing a hint of satisfaction, but it quickly faded.

For them, the presence or absence of Huayu Tong didn’t matter. As long as Huayu Ting could successfully take over the position of the Patriarch, they wouldn’t care about anything else.

The outsiders might not understand, but the Huayu Family elders had long harbored great disapproval of Huayu Tong.

Being mediocre in his abilities and yet ascending to the position of the Patriarch of the Huayu Family thanks to his child was viewed with disdain by the elders.

They urgently needed a truly capable and courageous Patriarch to lead the Huayu Family. Huayu Ting, whether in ability or courage, met all their requirements and naturally became their prime candidate for the Patriarch.

The more Huayu Ting’s brilliance shone, the more the elders found Huayu Tong to be a thorn in their side. They were desperate for the day when this man, who had ascended to his position by impregnating a woman, would topple, to be replaced by the wise and valiant Huayu Ting.

However, that Huayu Tong could ascend by virtue of a child, naturally meant he had some capabilities. In his fifties, he still was sharp as ever, standing erect, appearing as vigorous as a dragon.

So much so that the elders privately schemed whether they should force a coup to make Huayu Tong give up the position of Patriarch or drug him to handle the matter internally.

The elders simply didn’t care about Huayu Tong’s fate; had it not been for the fear of causing Huayu Ting’s displeasure, they would have acted against Huayu Tong long ago.

They assumed that Huayu Ting and Huayu Tong had a good relationship, not knowing that Huayu Ting felt no affection whatsoever for his father.

"In that case, there is no dissent..." The elders nodded in satisfaction, and then said, "Even though Ting has dishonored his father first, it cannot be the direct cause of Huayu Tong’s death by coercion. I suggest we punish him to face the wall in penance for seven days. What are your opinions, gentlemen?"

"This solution is very good!" The elders nodded knowingly in unison.

"Gentlemen, what are you talking about," Huayu Rong became anxious upon hearing this, and turned around to urgently say, "Father couldn’t have possibly hanged himself; it must be Huayu Ting who plotted against father. I beseech the gentlemen to see through this matter clearly."

"Ah Rong, you must have evidence to make such claims. Without evidence, it is libel. And the punishment for libel is severe according to our clan rules," an elder said angrily.

"But who can prove that Huayu Ting didn’t kill father!" Huayu Rong retorted loudly without hesitation.

"Huayu Tong hanged himself from the rafter, seen clearly by everyone. If you think Ah Ting is responsible, then bring forth the evidence. Otherwise, do not falsely accuse your own brother," the elder said sternly.

"I have evidence," after hesitating for a moment, Huayu Rong called out again, "Father, as the Patriarch, naturally had Shadow Guards with him. Summoning him will reveal what happened that night."

The words of Huayu Rong caused an uproar among those present, and the elders found no reason to refute, so they exchanged glances and accepted Huayu Rong’s suggestion.

"Bring forth the Shadow Guard!" one of the elders commanded with a wave of his hand.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a swirl of blue smoke rose abruptly from the ground. Following that, the smoke condensed into a shape, and the Shadow Guard appeared before everyone, his arrival eerie and peculiar.

"My respects to all Superior Lords!" the Shadow Guard said in a hoarse voice as he knelt on one knee, coldly.

"Shadow Guard, were you present last night?" an elder asked.

"I was there, but later I was not," the Shadow Guard replied, his head lowered, his eyes flicking towards Huayu Ting before quickly looking away.

"Were you there or not?" an elder slammed the table and asked.

"I was present during the argument between the old lord and the Second Young Master. I was not present when the old lord hanged himself," the Shadow Guard replied with precision.

"You’re a Shadow Guard, why didn’t you remain by the Patriarch’s side?" Huayu Rong demanded, anger swelling within him.

"As a Shadow Guard, I naturally follow the old lord’s orders," the Shadow Guard said unhurriedly, "The old lord ordered me to pursue the Second Young Master, so I did."

"Then why didn’t you bring back Ating?" an elder asked anxiously.

"To answer the Superior Lord, the Second Young Master’s strength is not inferior to mine, I found myself... somewhat powerless," the Shadow Guard said with hesitation.

"Are you certain that Huayu Tong died by hanging himself?" the elder asked solemnly.

"Yes, I am certain!" the Shadow Guard declared with a firm attitude.

"In that case, everything becomes clear," the elders once again breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, "Ah Ting may be at fault, but not deserving of death. It can only be said that Huayu Tong, having lived to such an age, must have grown indifferent to life."

"What are you talking about? How could father possibly be indifferent to his own life? Why don’t you punish Huayu Ting severely? I do not accept this, I do not accept!" Huayu Rong looked at the assembly of elders with astonishment, letting out a helpless roar.

"Huayu Rong, how dare you be disrespectful to the elders, get out!" an affronted elder exclaimed angrily.

"Why, why not investigate this thoroughly? You all wished for father to die so that this beast can take over as Patriarch. I won’t accept this!" Huayu Rong’s shouting soon turned into sobs, eventually becoming cries.

"Enough of this, take him away!" One of the hot-tempered elders could not tolerate such disrespect and slammed the table, angrily pointing at Huayu Rong and shouting.

In the absence of the Patriarch, the orders of the elders were absolute.

At the command, two imposing guards immediately stepped forward, seizing the struggling Huayu Rong and dragging him away.

The curses of Huayu Rong grew fainter in the distance, and the scene quieted down quickly. The Shadow Guard also disappeared under the watchful eyes of the crowd, leaving only Huayu Ting kneeling on the ground.

"I am willing to accept any punishment to appease my father’s noble spirit," Huayu Ting said with his head lowered, his voice filled with regret.

"Alas..." Hearing his words, the elders sighed deeply and exchanged glances.

After a moment of silent communication, one of the elders said indifferently: "You are to face the wall in isolation for seven days. After seven days, prepare yourself to hold a vigil for your father."