22: Chapter 22 Interrogation

Several days later, with the nourishment of the chaos bead and his own Body Refining Foundation, Ye Tian's injuries had mostly healed.

He sat cross-legged in a corner of the Ancestral Hall, silently operating his cultivation technique to consolidate his cultivation base, while simultaneously pondering how to unearth evidence that Ye Hao had poisoned him.

Suddenly, two clansmen dressed in the attire of the Law Enforcement Team walked in, their faces expressionless.

"Ye Tian, come with us. The Clan Chief and the Elders are in the main hall and have some matters to ask you." One of them said in a stiff, unquestionable tone.

Ye Tian's heart skipped a beat.

The Clan Chief and all the Elders gathered together?

This lineup was definitely not ordinary.

He immediately associated this with the matter of Lin Hao, as well as the abnormal strength he had displayed at the grand tournament.

It was likely a calamity, not a blessing.

He stood up, asked no further questions, and silently followed the two men out of the Ancestral Hall.

The atmosphere in the Ye Family's main hall was heavy.

Clan Chief Ye Qingtian sat on the main seat, his face as dark as water.

Seated on both sides were the Grand Elder, the Second Elder, the Third Elder, and several other core high-level members of the Family, as well as a few stewards holding real power, including Ye Hao's father.

Everyone's gaze was focused on Ye Tian as he walked in, carrying scrutiny, indifference, and even a trace of hostility.

Ye Tian stood in the center of the hall and bowed slightly: "Disciple Ye Tian pays respects to the Clan Chief and the Elders."

"Ye Tian," Ye Qingtian spoke slowly, his voice carrying majesty, "I summoned you here today regarding the matter of Lin Hao of the Lin Family. Recount the situation of that day truthfully."

Ye Tian sneered inwardly; it was just as he had expected.

With a calm expression, he concisely recounted the process of how Lin Hao had actively provoked, insulted, and even struck first in front of Danxiang Pavilion that day, how he had been forced to counterattack, and how it eventually led to the arena challenge and fair duel. He added no embellishments and offered no excuses.

As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Hao's father stood up abruptly, pointed at Ye Tian, and shouted sternly: "Nonsense! It is clear that you, this bastard, harbored resentment and deliberately provoked Second Young Master Lin! What kind of status does Second Young Master Lin have? Why would he bother with someone like you? It must be that you used some sinister means to ambush Second Young Master Lin, resulting in his cultivation being crippled!"

He turned to Ye Qingtian and the Elders, his face full of grief: "Clan Chief! Elders! This child has a crooked heart and causes trouble! First, he provoked the Lin Family outside, and now he is stirring up storms within the Family! If we do not punish him severely, how can we answer to the Lin Family? How can we convince the masses? Where will the face of our Ye Family be!"

With him taking the lead, several other Elders and stewards who were on good terms with him, or who had always disliked Ye Tian, also chimed in.

"Steward Ye Hua is absolutely right! This child is a scourge!"

"The Lin Family is powerful. Now that Lin Hao has been crippled, how could the Lin Family let it rest? If we do not hand over the culprit, our Ye Family may face a great disaster!"

"For the sake of the Family's overall situation, sacrificing a Disciple with poor character is only right and proper!"

For a moment, voices of condemnation arose throughout the hall, as if Ye Tian were already an unforgivable sinner.

Only the Second Elder frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "The matter has not yet been investigated, and to convict him based solely on one side of the story, is that not too arbitrary? In an arena duel, the outcome is determined by fate. It is also a fact that Lin Hao's skills were inferior. If our Ye Family fears the pressure of the Lin Family and hands over our own Disciple, would it not make people laugh at our Ye Family for being weak and easily bullied if it gets out?"

Ye Hua immediately retorted: "Second Elder! That is wrong! If it weren't for Ye Tian's vicious actions in crippling someone's cultivation, how would the Lin Family have reached this point? This is his personal behavior; how can it represent the Ye Family? Handing him over to the Lin Family for disposal will demonstrate that our Ye Family is just and strict, and does not shield our own!"

Both sides argued without reaching a conclusion. Most of the other Elders remained silent, their eyes flickering, clearly weighing the pros and cons.

Ye Qingtian remained silent throughout, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of his seat, his gaze deeply observing Ye Tian, who had been exceptionally calm from beginning to end while standing below.

This youth was far removed from the image of the taciturn, mediocre "Trash" in his memory.

Facing such accusations and pressure, he could actually be this composed. There was not a trace of panic in his eyes, only a calmness that did not match his age and a hint of sharp energy hidden within.

He was able to defeat Lin Hao and fight to that extent with Long Er; it was definitely not luck.

The toughness of this child's Heart-Nature far exceeded that of ordinary Disciples.

Handing over Ye Tian could certainly temporarily appease the Lin Family's anger and avoid conflict.

But as the Second Elder said, this move would inevitably severely damage the Ye Family's reputation, making the outside world think the Ye Family was afraid of the Lin Family.

Moreover, sacrificing a promising Disciple so easily would also chill the hearts of other clansmen.

But if they didn't hand him over, the Lin Family Patriarch's doting on Lin Hao was known to everyone, and this matter would be very difficult to resolve peacefully.

Once the conflict escalated, the Ye Family would also have to pay a price.

This was indeed a dilemma.

Ye Qingtian slowly raised his hand, stopping the crowd's argument.

The hall instantly fell silent, and everyone looked at him.

His gaze finally landed on Ye Tian, and his voice was calm: "Ye Tian, do you have anything else to say?"

Ye Tian raised his head, met Ye Qingtian's gaze, and spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Clan Chief, please judge clearly. Every word I have said is true. The events of that day were witnessed by everyone in the market. The arena battle was also proposed by Lin Hao, and the rules were set by him. My actions were nothing more than self-defense and fulfilling the agreement."

He paused, raised his voice a little, and it clearly spread throughout the hall: "If, because I acted in self-defense and won by fulfilling the agreement, the Family must succumb to external forces and hand me over to take the blame, may I ask, do the Ye Family rules still count? Is the Ye Family's backbone still strong?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall fell silent!

Several Elders' expressions changed slightly.

Ye Hua was so angry that his face turned livid: "Presumptuous! You dare to question the Family's decision?!"

Ye Tian, however, no longer looked at him, but calmly watched Ye Qingtian.

A trace of appreciation flashed in Ye Qingtian's eyes.

This child not only has Heart-Nature but also courage!

He pondered for a moment, and a decision was already made in his heart.

"Enough." Ye Qingtian spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it made everyone hold their breath: "There are still doubts about the matter regarding Ye Tian. I will personally send people to negotiate with the Lin Family."

His gaze swept over Ye Hua and the others: "As for the matter of handing over a clansman to take the blame, do not mention it again! Our Ye Family stands in Luo City; we do not rely on compromising to survive! I have my own measures for this matter!"

Ye Hua and the others opened their mouths, wanting to say something more, but under Ye Qingtian's gaze, they ultimately dared not make a sound again.

"Ye Tian," Ye Qingtian looked at Ye Tian, "You may return for now. Without an order, you are not allowed to leave the Family grounds at will."

This was considered house arrest.

But compared to being handed over directly, it was a world of difference.

Ye Tian understood in his heart that the Clan Chief was protecting him, observing him, and also maintaining the Ye Family's face.

He bowed and saluted: "Disciple obeys."

After speaking, he no longer looked at the varied expressions of the people in the hall and turned to walk out of the oppressive main hall.

He knew that the crisis had not been resolved, only temporarily delayed.

The Lin Family would not let it rest, and there were plenty of people within the Family who wanted to put him to death.

But at least he had bought some time.

And for him, time was the most important resource.

He looked up towards the direction of the Black Cloud Mountains.