Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Cleverness Backfires, the Old Man Goes Berserk

Pei Shaoqing was preparing to frame Wu Tian again. In truth, he had absolutely no hard evidence that Wu Tian had killed the Grand Elder and then framed Ouyang Rong for it.

But he had already completely destroyed Wu Tian’s credibility and reputation, creating the illusion for everyone that any accusation he made against Wu Tian was backed by solid proof.

This left everyone present half-convinced and half-skeptical.

But Wu Tian, more than anyone else, believed Pei Shaoqing had evidence. Because he had actually done it, he had a guilty conscience.

’Pei Shaoqing must have come today fully prepared to destroy me,’ he thought. ’Since he knows I’m the one who killed Second Martial Uncle and framed Ouyang Rong, he must have already secured the evidence before daring to bring this up publicly.’

And so, his expression twisted out of control, his face a mask of utter despair.

One could only say that clever people tend to overthink things.

"Junior Brother Ouyang was framed?"

"It was Senior Brother who killed the Grand Elder?"

"This... This can’t be possible, right?"

"What’s so impossible about it? Wu Tian is a hypocrite. Is there anything he wouldn’t do?"

Song Qiaosheng had already noticed the subconscious shift in Wu Tian’s expression. His heart went completely cold toward his disciple. "You... You wretched creature!"

"Master, spare me! Master, spare me! Your disciple knows he was wrong." Wu Tian didn’t dare to argue. He knelt once more and begged for mercy, tacitly admitting to Pei Shaoqing’s accusation.

And now, it was Pei Shaoqing’s turn to be dumbfounded.

’Wait, I haven’t even had Zhang Qing come out and help me frame you yet. How did you just confess on your own?’

’So it really was you, you bastard!’

’And to think I was about to frame you.’

Zhang Qing, who was mixed in with the Jing’an Guard and just about to make his entrance, was also completely flabbergasted. He subconsciously turned his head toward Pei Shaoqing. ’My lord, Wu Tian isn’t following the script! Do I still go on or not?’

Pei Shaoqing had no time to worry about him right now. He just stared at Song Qiaosheng, waiting to see if he would "clean house."

"You... Speak! Explain yourself! Explain everything to me, clearly!" Song Qiaosheng roared, his voice hoarse.

Since things had come to this, Wu Tian adopted a nothing-left-to-lose attitude. He gave a miserable laugh and said, "Wasn’t it all because you favored Junior Brother Ouyang too much? You even said multiple times that if I couldn’t measure up to him, you would let him inherit the position of Sect Leader."

"I was afraid of Junior Brother Ouyang becoming the Sect Leader, and Junior Brother Situ was afraid of Junior Brother Ouyang becoming the Grand Elder. His very existence was an eyesore to both of us, a source of unease."

"So, we hit it off immediately and plotted to poison Second Martial Uncle, framing Junior Brother Ouyang. After he was expelled from the sect, Junior Brother Situ became the Grand Elder as he wished, and I no longer had a rival."

As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar swept through the crowd.

"You can know a person’s face, but not their heart. To think Wu Tian was involved in so many sinister plots behind the scenes."

"Thank goodness for the Baron of Pingyang. If Wu Tian had really become the Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley, he would have been a great scourge upon the Jianghu!"

"That man deserves to die by a thousand cuts!"

Situ Jing was both shocked and furious. He couldn’t believe Wu Tian had sold him out. He rushed out, knelt before Song Qiaosheng, and said, "Sect Leader-Uncle, it was all Wu Tian’s doing! He wanted to get rid of Senior Brother Ouyang, so he incited me to harm my master! I didn’t want to do it!"

"You... You two..." Song Qiaosheng felt a sweet taste in his throat but forced it back down. With tears welling in his fierce eyes, he said to Wu Tian, "You are my disciple. I have no children of my own; you were like a son to me! My only heir! I only ever mentioned Ouyang Rong to put pressure on you, to motivate you! You fool!"

"But Junior Brother Ouyang’s talent is too great! In my eyes, your ’motivation’ and ’pressure’ could have become reality at any moment! It was suffocating me!" Wu Tian roared, his eyes bloodshot. "Once Junior Brother Ouyang stopped being obsessed with growing herbs and started practicing Martial Arts, Alchemy, and the Qi Huang Skill, what could I use to compete with him? What?"

Song Qiaosheng trembled all over, old tears streaming down his face.

"Wu Tian! Say something, you bastard! It’s all your fault! I was at your beck and call like a dog! And now you want to drag me down with you? Are you even human?!" Situ Jing shrieked hysterically.

Wu Tian shook his head and gave a sad smile. "It’s come to this. What’s the use of saying all that? What’s done is done. It would have been fine if no one found out, but now the truth is out in the open. Our lives are entirely in Master’s hands. Nothing I say can change the outcome."

He realized that simply begging for mercy was useless. He had to change his strategy; perhaps there was still a chance to live.

So, as his voice fell, he craned his neck, looked at Song Qiaosheng, and said, "Master, my life was given to me by you. Without you, I would have died long ago. I have made a grave mistake and brought you shame. Please, kill me. Your disciple will not resent you. I will even watch over you from the underworld."

"Your disciple deserves to die. Forcing Master to endure the pain of an old man burying a young one is the greatest dis—"

BANG! Song Qiaosheng slapped a palm against his head.

Wu Tian’s voice stopped abruptly. Blood poured from his seven orifices as he collapsed, his body twitching uncontrollably. His eyes were filled with shock and indignation, and blood kept gushing from his mouth.

’How could this happen?’ He had never imagined that his master would actually strike a killing blow without the slightest hesitation.

Everyone else present was also startled.

Including Pei Shaoqing.

Song Qiaosheng said in a hoarse voice, "If you had shown genuine remorse at a time like this, I might have let it be. But you are still trying to deceive me, feigning acceptance of your fate to force my hand and make me go soft on you. I, this old man, have already made a grave error by failing to teach my disciple properly. How could I possibly give you another chance to harm others?"

Wu Tian let out a few guttural gasps and then died, his last breath expiring.

"Sect Leader-Uncle, spare me! Please, Sect Leader-Uncle, spare my life!" Situ Jing was so terrified he nearly wet himself.

Song Qiaosheng asked, "Where is Ouyang Rong?"

"In... in the dungeon in your disciple’s room," Situ Jing confessed obediently.

Song Qiaosheng’s earlier rage was gone.

Even his strong emotions had vanished.

He was like a piece of deadwood, like a bottomless, frigid pool—calm, indifferent. He said coldly, "Which disciples in the valley aided you in your evil deeds?"

Before Situ Jing could speak, dozens of Medicine King Valley disciples flew out and knelt on the ground, confessing and begging for mercy.

"Sect Leader, spare us!" "Master, spare us!"

"We were just following the orders of the Senior Brother and the Grand Elder! We’re innocent too!"

BANG! With a blank expression, Song Qiaosheng struck Situ Jing dead with a single palm strike. With a wave of his sleeve, a sword from the waist of a martial artist in the crowd flew from its sheath and into his hand. He then lifted the longsword and began a massacre of the kneeling disciples.

"AH! Sect Leader, mercy, no!"

"Old bastard! I’ll fight you to the death!"

Some tried to plead for their lives, others tried to use their Lightweight Skill to escape, and still others tried to take him down with them.

But none could withstand a single strike from Song Qiaosheng’s sword.

No one in the crowd dared to make a sound. They all watched in silence as the octogenarian swung his sword, cleaning house.

When the last Medicine King Valley disciple fell, Song Qiaosheng was bathed in blood. His white hair and beard were stained red, and beads of blood dripped rhythmically from the tip of his sword.

With a casual flick of his wrist, the blood-soaked longsword flew back and settled into the sheath of the martial artist it belonged to.

"Thank you for the use of your sword, my friend," Song Qiaosheng said faintly. He scanned the crowd and continued, "My sect has had the misfortune of producing a pack of traitors. I have made a fool of myself before you all and nearly caused my fellow martial artists to be used. This old man is deeply sorry. I apologize to everyone here..."

As his voice fell, he bent over and bowed deeply.

"Sect Leader Song, you mustn’t perform such a grand courtesy."

"Sect Leader Song, what are you doing? The ones who erred were those scoundrels. What does it have to do with you, old sir?"

"That’s right. Wu Tian kept up his act for so many years. The entire Medicine King Valley, and even we, were deceived by his hypocrisy. It’s only natural that you were fooled as well."

Everyone returned the bow and began to console him.

"If the son is not taught, it is the father’s fault. This isn’t something that can be simply brushed aside by saying I was deceived." Song Qiaosheng shook his head, exhaled, and said, "Since you are all here today, I ask you to bear witness."

"This old man failed in teaching his disciples, and I cannot escape the blame. Effective immediately, I will step down from my position as Sect Leader of Medicine King Valley. It will be inherited by the disciple Ouyang Rong. Furthermore, I will imprison myself for three years as atonement."

Ouyang Rong, still locked in the dungeon, had just won without lifting a finger.

"Sect Leader!" "Master!"

The remaining Medicine King Valley disciples all knelt in unison.

Song Qiaosheng said in a calm tone, "Do not try to persuade me further. Although your Senior Brother Ouyang is obsessed with growing medicinal herbs and has neglected his Martial Arts and Alchemy, he is exceptionally talented and is a pure, kind, and gentle person. Therefore, if he becomes the Sect Leader, he will only do a better job than this old man."

’Besides,’ he thought, ’I believe that with Ouyang Rong’s character, he’ll take his responsibilities seriously after becoming Sect Leader. It will force him to work hard on his Martial Arts and Alchemy. With his talent and age, he’ll soon surpass an old codger like me.’

"Yes! Your disciples obey!"

The disciples of Medicine King Valley replied in unison.

Song Qiaosheng turned to Pei Shaoqing, his expression complex. "This old man thanks the Baron of Pingyang for helping me clean house. However, my disciple, Zhang Qing..."

"Master!" Zhang Qing, who was among the Jing’an Guard, took off his mask, stepped forward, and knelt. "Your disciple pays his respects to Master."

Song Qiaosheng looked at Pei Shaoqing, stunned.

"The investigation is already clear. The deceased struck first. Young Hero Zhang and the others were merely forced to counter-attack and killed him in self-defense. Therefore, he has been released without charge. This official has always enforced the law impartially and has never handled a case unjustly," Pei Shaoqing said, his expression serene and his tone light as a cloud.

Zhang Qing’s mouth twitched. He forced a smile onto his scab-covered face and said, "Yes, after the Baron of Pingyang investigated thoroughly, he cleared your disciple’s name."

The crowd of Jianghu members began to murmur again.

"Then the Baron of Pingyang didn’t arrest the wrong person after all. It certainly wasn’t a frame-up; he was just enforcing the law impartially."

"The Baron of Pingyang is truly a Lord Blue Sky! This old one misunderstood him just now. I feel so guilty."

"This humble one spoke insolently just now. I ask for the Baron of Pingyang’s forgiveness. Please don’t hold it against me."

Everyone began to praise Pei Shaoqing’s fairness and wisdom. Many, filled with guilt, spontaneously apologized for their earlier rudeness and misunderstanding.

"To think that this old man also misjudged and was used by Wu Tian. I hope you’ll forgive me, Baron of Pingyang," Xu Lian also said, disregarding his status to apologize to Pei Shaoqing.

Pei Shaoqing said with a gentle smile, "Lord Xu, why go to such lengths? Am I the sort of petty person to hold a grudge over such things? Besides, Brother Xu and I are kindred spirits who bonded over poetry. How could I possibly resent you? And if there is no resentment, what is there to forgive?"

Xu Jing felt very proud, puffing out his chest and holding his head high.

Seeing this, Xu Lian smiled and shook his head. For the first time, he felt that his son’s poetry had actually amounted to something.

"This old man thanks you, Baron of Pingyang!" Song Qiaosheng said with a solemn expression, bowing deeply. Then he raised his head and added, "I wish the Baron of Pingyang a speedy capture of Traceless."

Pei Shaoqing’s face twitched.

’Where the fuck am I supposed to go and catch Traceless?’

’Oh, Brother Ouyang, Brother Ouyang.’

’You would have been better off just dying.’

’Then I wouldn’t be stuck in this pit I dug for myself. I bet in a few days, the entire Jianghu will be buzzing with rumors that I’m about to catch Traceless.’

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