Chapter 130 Acting
Hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Xiao Yan was shocked. He said frantically, "What! Father, you're not lying to me, are you?! Why can't you save me?! Why?! Did I do something wrong?! Why are you punishing me like this?!"
In Xiao Yan's mind, Xiao Zhan, as a Great Dou Master, was already a strong person. At least in Wutan City, he had few rivals. How could he not open a mere rope?
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Zhan's expression changed repeatedly. He tried to say something several times, but the words wouldn't come out, and he could only let out a long sigh.
On the contrary, it's time for the Grand Elder and others to show their presence; they don't think there's anything they can't say.
"Xiao Yan, don't you know what you've done? You're still pretending to be innocent here. This is truly an eye-opener for us! At such a young age, you're already showing no good. You're disgracing the family and ruining the reputation of the Xiao family!"
Upon seeing this, Xiao Zhan's expression changed. He immediately wanted to reprimand the Grand Elder. As the head of the Xiao family, he already knew the Grand Elder's thoughts and understood what the Grand Elder wanted to do—to suppress him. However, before he could speak, his reason stopped him.
Xiao Yan's situation is now confirmed, and he's been publicly exposed, tied naked to a tree. The entire Xiao family has heard about it. Faced with this fact, how can he refute the Grand Elder? If he did, it would make him seem petty and like he's settling a personal score.
The Grand Elder's words startled Xiao Yan. "Could it be that what I did has really been discovered? Is that why they tied me to the tree? But I'm just a child! Why go to such lengths! Yes, I'm still just a child, there's still hope for me!"
These doubts didn't show on his face. On the contrary, he remained adamant and refused to admit what he had done, asking with a puzzled look, "Elder, what are you talking about? Xiao Yan really doesn't know! Why did you do this? I don't understand anything!"
Xiao Yan was very clever. He knew how to use his status as a child. His words could easily change other people's minds. Yes, he was still a child!
Unfortunately, Xiao Yan was facing the Grand Elder. Despite Xiao Yan's tearful pleas, the Grand Elder remained unchanged, still sneering and saying, "Keep pretending. You've already been discovered, naked and tied to a tree in public. How do you still plan to deny it! Do you want me to tell you all about the descriptions of your 'misdeeds' hanging above your head?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but think, "Could it be that I've really been discovered? It's strange, I clearly remember being in Xun'er's room last night, but why can't I remember anything now? Could it be that someone knocked me unconscious and then brought me here?"
Although he was terrified, he tried his best to calm himself down. He would not admit it without solid evidence. What if Xiao Zhan and the others were bluffing him?
"Elder, Xiao Yan really doesn't understand what you're saying!"
"Fine, it seems you won't shed a tear until you see the coffin."
"Since that's the case, then I won't bother to save face for you anymore. You've already lost all face, so what's a little more? Listen carefully, this is the message from that mysterious powerful figure! 'You rude brat, at such a young age, all you think about is stealing beauty and indulging in illicit affairs. You committed violence in the middle of the night, breaking into a boudoir. I was just passing by when I witnessed such shameless behavior, so I took action to punish you. I hope you will learn your lesson and repent.'"
"Now that things have come to this, are you still not going to admit it? Do you think that powerful person would slander a child like you for no reason?"
The elder's words finally made Xiao Yan understand, providing an answer to his doubts.
"It seems that a mysterious powerful figure witnessed what I did last night, which is why he knocked me unconscious. Now it seems that the person who stripped me completely naked and tied me to the tree must also be him, and even left behind his 'crime'!"
Thinking of this, Xiao Yan felt extremely resentful yet helpless. "Why am I so unlucky? I finally mustered up the courage to do this, but before I even got my hands on it, it was discovered and even made public. How am I supposed to live in the Xiao family now!"
"And that unknown, mysterious expert, why did he have to meddle in my affairs? He even stripped naked and tied himself to a tree. He's such a busybody!"
But there was no way to back down now. He couldn't admit it no matter what, because he knew that if he did, his reputation would be ruined, and he wouldn't be able to live in the Xiao family after that!
"Elder, what are you talking about? I don't understand!"
Seeing Xiao Yan's still bewildered expression, aside from the three elders of the Xiao family, the other clansmen, including Xiao Zhan, were somewhat shaken. Xiao Yan's appearance was simply too deceptive, coupled with his stubborn refusal to budge, making him seem genuinely unaware of what had happened. Perhaps Xiao Yan really hadn't done anything in the first place!
After all, they had watched Xiao Yan grow up, so they naturally trusted him more. But they didn't know much about that mysterious powerhouse and didn't trust him much either. The things about Xiao Yan were just his side of the story.
Xiao Yan naturally noticed the changes in Xiao Zhan and the others, and seeing these changes only strengthened his resolve.
"Father, please put me down!" Xiao Yan pleaded again, seizing the opportunity.
Seeing his son tied to a tree, pleading pitifully, Xiao Zhan's heart softened. He quickly walked up to Xiao Yan and said with a bitter expression, "Child, it's not that your father doesn't want to help you, it's just that that expert's methods are too strong. The chains he formed with his battle qi are something that even if your father tried his best, he couldn't break!"
"Now we can only wait for what that powerful figure said. The chains will naturally break after 1-3 PM. I believe that such a powerful figure wouldn't lie to us! Just hold on a little longer!"
Hearing Xiao Zhan's words, Xiao Yan felt like crying but had no tears. He didn't know what grudge or resentment he had with that mysterious expert that made the other party treat him like this, and even leave him with such a method, forcing him to be tied to a tree and suffer such humiliation!
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end of this chapter...
