Chapter 1959: Deserved Accusation

"The remaining individuals might be accomplices; arrest them all..."

Soon, the soldiers also handcuffed Zhang Xuan and Elder Yi, leading them out of the courtyard.

Zhang Xuan did not resist. Instead, he secretly transmitted a message. Upon hearing the instruction, Shan Xiaotian no longer panicked and resumed his limping gait, hunching his body to appear shorter. His internal power was also concealed using a special technique taught by his teacher, making him appear to outsiders as only a Saint realm level six practitioner.

After leaving the courtyard and entering a carriage, it wasn't long before they arrived at the City Lord's Manor.

The City Lord's Manor was already packed with people, thousands of them, all densely gathered and discussing the bandit incident.

Clearly, the news Xue Chen had released earlier that morning had taken effect.

"The City Lord's Manor is very concerned about the bandit infiltration," Xue Chen announced, standing at the front of the crowd with an air of impartiality. "After a thorough investigation, we discovered it is related to Shan Xiaotian of the Shan family. As you all know, our second young lady has an engagement with him. To avoid any suspicion of partiality, we will conduct a public trial now, ensuring complete fairness!"

"As expected of the City Lord's Manor, they found out so quickly!"

"Colluding with bandits is punishable by death for everyone! I can't believe this Shan Xiaotian would do such a thing!"

Seeing that Shan Xiaotian was the one arrested, everyone lowered their voices.

Many in the city knew about the upcoming marriage alliance between the two families. With such a massive scandal involving bandit collusion, and the culprit being someone connected to them, everyone wanted to see the City Lord's stance and whether he could maintain fairness and justice.

Looking at the limping young man approaching, Xue Chen raised an eyebrow and ordered, "Bring forth the physical evidence!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several soldiers placed the armor and bows from earlier on the ground. Immediately, a middle-aged man stepped forward. "Reporting, my Lord," he said, "I have examined all of these. The bows were indeed used by the bandits, Cao Chengli and others, and still bear their fingerprints. As for the armor, it belongs to ordinary soldiers of the City Lord's Manor, part of their standard uniform, and the blood on them was left last night!"

"Reporting, my Lord, last night while I was cultivating, I heard noises outside. I quietly peeked through my window and saw many people dressed in black clothes stealthily entering the Shan residence under the cover of night. It looked like they were conducting some kind of transaction!"

Another middle-aged man then stepped forward.

Shan Xiaotian glanced at him and recognized him.

He was a resident who lived not far from his mansion, and they usually got along quite well.

"I also saw it last night," another person, also Shan Xiaotian's neighbor, came forward. "There were about a few dozen people. I found it very strange at the time, and since I happened to have a recording jade crystal with me, I recorded the situation."

After speaking, he activated the recording jade crystal, and the images it contained immediately appeared before everyone.

On a moonlit night, a group of figures in black, wearing the unified attire of bandits, silently entered Shan Xiaotian's residence. Then... they never emerged, nor was there any further movement.

"I thought there might have been some dispute before, but I didn't expect it to be real!"

"Why would Shan Xiaotian collude with bandits?"

"I find it strange too. Although the Shan family has declined, they are far from starving. Why would he take such a risk?"

As the contents of the jade crystal became clear, a clamor arose all around.

Those who had been doubtful now looked at Shan Xiaotian, who was held in the center, their faces filled with disbelief.

Over ten years ago, the Shan family was the largest family in Xuanjiang City, bar none!

There were countless powerful individuals within the family, including three practitioners at the Shattering Void realm. Even the City Lord's Manor dared not oppose them, resorting instead to a marriage alliance.

Although they suffered a drastic change overnight, leading to their near annihilation with almost all their powerful members dead, their family assets remained. Why would he collude with bandits?

It was truly perplexing.

"Second Young Lady..."

Just as everyone was wondering, an anxious voice rang out. Everyone turned in unison and saw the Second Young Lady, Xue Qin, hurrying over.

Seeing her, everyone's expressions turned strange.

Shan Xiaotian had an engagement with her, so she should have avoided the situation. Yet, she rushed straight out. Was something amiss?

"Why?"

Ignoring her maid's attempts to stop her, Xue Qin looked at Shan Xiaotian in the middle of the hall, her eyes red-rimmed, her face filled with disbelief.

"You and I have been engaged since childhood. Although you cannot cultivate, I have never disdained you; my feelings have always been consistent! This time, when the Lingyun Sword Pavilion came to recruit disciples, I saw an opportunity. After much effort, I passed Senior Brother Huo's selection and became a probationary disciple... I had originally thought that once I entered the sect, I might find better medicine to help you recover from your injuries, allowing you to cultivate again and restore your family's prestige..."

Xue Qin's face showed sorrow. "I thought it was good news and sent someone to inform you! But why did you collude with bandits to prevent this? You even captured and beat me, forcing me to change my mind... Did you think I would forget you once I entered the sect? Did you deliberately want me to lose this opportunity? But don't you know... the only reason I wanted to enter the sect was for you..."

As she spoke, tears streamed from her eyes, and the lament in her gaze was pitiful to behold.

"So, the Second Young Lady passed the Lingyun Sword Pavilion's selection, and this Shan Xiaotian, feeling inferior, tried to prevent it!"

"The Shan family has many enemies. The main reason Shan Xiaotian is still alive today is due to the protection of the City Lord's Manor and the Second Young Lady. Once the Second Young Lady leaves and enters the sect, no one knows how he will fare. He probably worried about encountering danger, which is why he took such a desperate risk and did this!"

"As long as the Second Young Lady disappeared and couldn't leave with Senior Brother Huo and the others, she would lose this opportunity and thus remain in the City Lord's Manor, perhaps even marrying him... This way, he would be safe and no further complications would arise!"

"That's the root cause, no wonder... Look at the Second Young Lady's face; it seems a bit red and swollen. She must have been kidnapped by those bandits and suffered greatly!"

"Indeed, otherwise, who would dare strike the esteemed Second Young Lady of the City Lord's Manor?"

"Bandits will do anything for money, and no one would suspect him. It really is a clever scheme!"

Hearing her tearful accusation, everyone suddenly understood and looked at Shan Xiaotian again, filled with disgust.

A woman did so much for him, yet he was ungrateful and committed such a disgraceful act!

"Impressive!"

Zhang Xuan, who had been drowsy while being held on the side, couldn't help but exclaim when he saw the Second Young Lady appear and immediately stir up the crowd's emotions.

Someone this skilled would be wasted if they weren't an actress in a previous life.

Everyone has a natural sympathy for the weak and for women, especially for a beautiful woman in tears.

Originally, the so-called physical and witness evidence was insufficient to convict Shan Xiaotian. After all, his motive was lacking; why would he offend the City Lord's Manor and collude with bloodthirsty bandits?

Now, all the reasons were sufficient.

It also perfectly explained the Second Young Lady's passing the Lingyun Sword Pavilion's assessment!

In this way, Xue Qin's reputation was not only unharmed but she also became a loyal and virtuous daughter, commanding admiration.

Shan Xiaotian became a scoundrel, and the breaking of the engagement became a matter of course.

What a clever scheme, what a brilliant plan!

This single move of twisting right and wrong was executed so smoothly, with no sense of incongruity.

Witnessing this scene, Shan Xiaotian was so furious he almost exploded.

"I agreed to the voluntary annulment of the engagement, but because they weren't satisfied, they made me humiliate myself! If I didn't agree, they would kill me. Now that they failed to kill me, they are slandering me..."

They truly stop at nothing.

"Miss, don't be angry. Such a person is not worth your sorrow!"

Seeing that public opinion was now under their control, Xue Chen knew his plan had succeeded. He breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that no matter what Shan Xiaotian said, it would be useless. He took two steps forward, offered a word of comfort, and then looked at the maid nearby. "Alright, why aren't you taking the young lady back quickly?"

"Yes!" The maid hurriedly came forward.

After completing these actions, Xue Chen turned to look at the young man not far away, his gaze icy. "Now that the evidence is conclusive, what do you have to say for yourself?"

"So, according to you, because Miss Xue Qin passed the Lingyun Sword Pavilion's assessment, I felt inferior and therefore colluded with bandits to sabotage her becoming a probationary disciple, is that right?"

Knowing that anything more he said now would be seen as mere sophistry, Shan Xiaotian looked at him indifferently.

"It's good that you know. What, with conclusive evidence, you still wish to deny it?" Xue Chen sneered.

"Deny it?" Shan Xiaotian shook his head. "I... want to see Senior Brother Huo Jianghe of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion!"

"How dare you! What right does a good-for-nothing like you have to see Senior Brother Huo?"

He had expected Shan Xiaotian to deny the accusations or bring up the previous engagement annulment. If he had, Xue Chen was prepared with countermeasures that would lead him directly into a trap, leaving no possibility of recovery!

But the other party didn't mention it; instead, he wanted to see Senior Brother Huo... What was he up to?

"I may not have the right... However, I heard that for the Lingyun Sword Pavilion's disciple recruitment, anyone who passes Senior Brother Huo's assessment can become a disciple... As a resident of Xuanjiang City, and being of eligible age, I should also be qualified to take the assessment, right?" Shan Xiaotian smiled.

"Anyone has a chance to become a Lingyun Sword Pavilion disciple by passing the assessment... But you have the least chance! Don't be so delusional!"

Hearing his words, Xue Chen immediately burst into laughter, as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world.

Who gave a good-for-nothing, only at Saint realm level six, the audacity to even think about taking the Lingyun Sword Pavilion's assessment?

"Moreover, Senior Brother Huo is a dragon-like figure. Do you think he would specifically conduct an assessment for a good-for-nothing like you?" Xue Chen continued.

"He truly doesn't know his place!"

"Those who can participate in the assessment are all exceptional individuals. This fellow is limping and can't even cultivate... Is he trying to make us die of laughter?"

"Senior Brother Huo is busy selecting true geniuses; he has no time to assess a good-for-nothing!"

"He must have lost his mind..."

A clamor rose from below, some even showing playful smiles.

"Alright, just confess obediently, and you can avoid physical suffering... Senior Brother Huo would not specifically come here to assess a good-for-nothing like you..."

Interrupting the crowd's discussions, Xue Chen roared loudly, just about to continue speaking, when a faint voice echoed from outside the courtyard.

"Why wouldn't I come to conduct an assessment?"

Immediately after, a tall figure strode in.

It was none other than Huo Jianghe.