"And after that, brother-in-law became even worse. When he learned that Sister had been captured, he didn't go rescue her right away. Instead, he thought about going to the clan to ask you to intervene."
"But the distance from here to our clan's headquarters is really far. We were all afraid there wouldn't be enough time to save my sister."
"That was when Brother Chu Feng said he would go save my sister."
"But my brother-in-law not only refused to support the idea—he actually called Brother Chu Feng a spy and attacked him directly."
"Brother Chu Feng had no choice but to fight back and injured him. But Brother Chu Feng truly held back. Otherwise, with his strength—if he could even slay Yao Liutian—how could my brother-in-law have gotten away with only superficial wounds?"
Zhan Lingtong explained, all while casting a look of contempt toward his brother-in-law.
Perhaps because he already knew his brother-in-law's character, he had guessed that the man had twisted the facts earlier, which was why he now felt compelled to set the record straight for Chu Feng.
Hearing this, the Ancient Battle Clan Patriarch's expression had already turned very ugly. Zhan Quezhi was his son-in-law, and he had always thought highly of the man.
But he never expected that, at such a critical moment, Zhan Quezhi would prove so cowardly. He was now deeply disappointed in him.
Zhan Quezhi, reading the room, could tell that things were going badly. So he steeled himself and spoke up once more:
"Lingtong, even if I didn't let you bring Yue'er into the clan, you didn't have to slander me like this."
"Ling'er is my wife. When I heard she'd been captured, I was more anxious than anyone. How could I possibly have done something like that?"
After this bit of sophistry, Zhan Quezhi turned to the Patriarch and his own wife with a look of aggrieved innocence: "Patriarch, please don't believe what Lingtong says. Ling'er, you mustn't believe it either."
"Father, Sister, every word I've said is the truth. If you don't believe me, you can ask him." Zhan Lingtong pointed at the Ancient Battle Clan member who had previously fled back wounded and then led Chu Feng to rescue Zhan Lingling.
Seeing that Zhan Lingtong was about to produce a witness, Zhan Quezhi frantically used both facial cues and secret voice transmission, issuing all manner of threats to prevent that clan member from revealing the truth.
Under these circumstances, the clan member wore an expression of deep conflict. After all, Zhan Quezhi's status was far from ordinary—within the Ancient Battle Clan, no one of his standing dared to offend Zhan Quezhi.
"What exactly happened? Speak quickly," the Ancient Battle Clan Patriarch urged the man.
Thud—
After a moment of inner turmoil, the man actually dropped to his knees in midair before answering:
"Patriarch, Lord Ling'er, this matter is of great importance. This humble one would not dare speak rashly, but the truth is exactly as Young Master Lingtong described."
"You… even you dare to fabricate lies against me? What benefits did that Chu Feng offer you?"
Upon hearing this, Zhan Quezhi flew into a rage. He drew his half-finished ancestral weapon and moved to attack the clan member.
"Zhan Quezhi, you beast!!!"
In that instant, the Ancient Battle Clan Patriarch erupted in fury, his gaze filled with tremendous anger as he fixed it upon Zhan Quezhi.
It was not only the Patriarch—Zhan Lingling likewise directed a gaze of seething rage at the man.
Zhan Quezhi stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do.
Crack—
Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out. The Ancient Battle Clan Patriarch had struck Zhan Quezhi across the face with a slap through the void.
"Waaaah—"
With a miserable scream, Zhan Quezhi spun through the air like a kite with its string cut. He had been slapped tens of thousands of meters away.
But soon enough, he flew back at full speed and knelt in midair once more.
His face was now covered in blood, half of it deformed from the blow, and his aura was feeble. He had not only sustained external injuries but internal ones as well—proof that although the Patriarch had shown restraint, the blow had not been light.
Yet Zhan Quezhi did not dare show even a hint of displeasure. Instead, tears streaming down his face, he wailed:
"Patriarch, I was in the wrong at the time, but my reasoning wasn't without merit."
"Our strength—you know it clearly. None of us could stand against Yao Liutian. Even if we'd gone to rescue Ling'er, it would have been nothing but a pointless sacrifice."