Chapter 1278 - 907: Death Before Surrender

Watching the fire rise from the Zhang Family’s ancestral home, Zhang Chen’s lips curled up in a smug smile, then his figure turned and vanished from the spot, reappearing at the Gong Family. Since he had set the stage, how could he miss this grand drama?

Gong Family

When Zhang Chen appeared at the Gong Family, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Everyone was looking at each other, a thread of murderous intent and suppressed anger brewing in the hall. No one noticed a tiny insect quietly sticking to the door.

Gong Xufeng sat in the center of the hall, and after inviting the Zhang Family members to sit, he glanced somberly at a nearby servant: "Call Gong Chun."

The servant obeyed and left, returning shortly with Gong Chun, who felt a chill run down his spine upon seeing the Gong Family members looking at him with predatory eyes—a sense of foreboding rose within him.

"Greetings, Father; greetings, Uncle Zhang." Gong Chun entered the hall and bowed.

"Gong Chun! The Zhang Family has come to our door, claiming you stole their Book of Life and Death. What do you have to say?" Gong Xufeng asked.

Gong Chun was stunned upon hearing this, looking at Gong Xufeng with disbelief: "Father! What are you talking about? I don’t understand."

"Still feigning ignorance! You infiltrated the Zhang Family and stole the Book of Life and Death, witnessed by everyone—it’s undeniable. Are you putting on an act here?" Zhang Shenqi abruptly slapped the table, staring at Gong Chun with anger.

Gong Chun was completely bewildered, question marks filled his mind as he stared blankly at Zhang Shenqi: "I have been in the manor all day and have never left, how could I have stolen the Zhang Family’s Book of Life and Death..."

At this point, Gong Chun suddenly stopped speaking, a horrified expression appeared on his face as he remembered the shadow that had entered his room, a sense of unease arose: ’No way! Something big is about to happen! I’ve been framed!’

"You haven’t left the Gong Family manor, so was it a ghost that appeared at my Zhang Family today?" Zhang Shenqi’s eyes revealed a cold killing intent:

"Do you dare let us freely question your Gong Family’s gate guards to see if they saw Gong Chun come in from outside."

Gong Chun’s entrance into the Gong Family manor was witnessed by everyone, especially the four guards, who even greeted Gong Chun. If questioned with the Zhang Family’s mind-control technique, the truth would be clear.

"Gong Xufeng, if your Gong Family did nothing wrong, then hand over those guards for us to question personally. If you refuse, it means you have a guilty conscience, and we will fight you to the end!" Zhang Gaqi’s voice was icy.

Gong Xufeng was put in a difficult position by Zhang Gaqi’s words, recalling the moment he saw Gong Chun acting flustered, he realized something was wrong and didn’t dare respond. If the four guards were handed over, it would be a big problem.

But if he didn’t agree to the Zhang Family’s terms, it would clearly show his guilty conscience, and the outcome would be the same.

Gong Xufeng looked at Gong Chun: "Wretch, what do you have to say? If you truly stole the Book of Life and Death, hand it over immediately to preserve the relationship between both families."

Gong Chun sighed bitterly, turned to the Zhang Family members, facing their predatory gazes, and said helplessly: "Uncles, do you believe me if I say I was framed? Honestly, just a moment ago, a person pretending to be me entered my room and then vanished. Someone is clearly impersonating me to pin the blame on me."

"Imitating you? Would you believe it? If it’s an impersonation, then how do you explain Gong Hei and Gong Bai?" At this moment, Zhang Gaqi addressed the Zhang Family members:

"Bring Gong Hei and Gong Bai to me!"

Upon hearing this, Gong Chun was shocked, while Gong Xufeng’s eyelids twitched wildly, and Gong Family’s two elders were seen being pushed in, bound.

"These two were caught red-handed by my Zhang Family. How do you explain this, Gong Family?" Zhang Shenqi said coldly.

"Grandpa Hei, Grandpa Bai, how... how..." Gong Chun looked at Gong Hei and Gong Bai, too stunned to speak.

"Gong Hei, Gong Bai, is what the Zhang Family patriarch said true? Did you indeed steal the Book of Life and Death with Gong Chun?" Gong Xufeng looked at the disheveled Gong Hei and Gong Bai, his heart pounding.

"Patriarch, it was Gong Chun who instructed us." Gong Bai said, then turned to Gong Chun: "Young man, we were caught in a trap, caught red-handed, disgracing you. But now that it’s come to this, we’ve been discovered by the Zhang Family. Admit it, hand over the Book of Life and Death, to avoid disaster and maintain the two families’ relationship."

"What nonsense are you spouting! When did I ever ask you to steal the Book of Life and Death!" Gong Chun was completely stunned, his eyes wide with urgency as he angrily rebuked the two.

"Denial is useless, we’ve already been caught red-handed. Do you think you can shirk responsibility by denying it? You’d better hand over the Book of Life and Death obediently," Gong Hei chimed in from the side.

Gong Chun’s head buzzed as he looked at the two elders, who insisted he stole the treasure. Just as he was about to continue arguing, the patriarch of the Gong Family suddenly slammed the table, his voice like thunder as he reprimanded, "You wretch! How dare you commit such a brazen act! Hand over the Life and Death Record immediately, then kneel and apologize to Uncle Zhang’s family members."

"I... I didn’t... I’m being wronged..." Gong Chun was completely bewildered, standing there unsure of what to do.

"Gong Chun, if you hand over the treasure, we will let bygones be bygones, as if none of this ever happened. If you continue being obstinate, do you really think we’re fools?" Zhang Gaqi looked very displeased.

Gong Bai echoed, "Indeed! Young master, you should not resist to the end. Just confess! Hand over the Life and Death Record, and everyone will benefit, our families will look kindly upon it and won’t give you a hard time because of it. If you insist on being stubborn and fight to the end, you’re just being immature."

"That’s right! Our Eight Great Clans share a bond, our relationship cannot be ruined by you," Gong Hei added in support.

"..." At this moment, Gong Chun’s mind buzzed with thoughts of murder. He stood there blankly, looking at Gong Hei and Gong Bai, and despite his usual eloquence, he didn’t know how to defend himself against their relentless accusations.

"There must be a misunderstanding!" Gong Chun asserted, "Someone must have impersonated me and deceived Gong Hei and Gong Bai."

"Still clinging onto your lies and refusing to confess!" Zhang Shenqi laughed in anger, turning to Gong Xufeng, "What do you say?"

Gong Xufeng looked at Gong Chun with a gloomy expression, "I’m asking you one last time, will you confess or not? If you confess, we can turn a major issue into a minor one, but if not, I must give the Zhang Family an explanation today."

"Father, I know nothing about this, I’m being wronged. What am I supposed to confess to?" Gong Chun was on the verge of madness.

Hearing this, Gong Xufeng looked at Gong Chun with disappointment and then stood up, instructing the servants beside him, "Bind this rebellious son."

Following his order, guards rushed in like wolves and tied up Gong Chun’s arms.

"Father, you have to believe me, I’m truly innocent," Gong Chun continually pleaded.

"Honored members of the Zhang Family, our bond with your family spans many years and must not be ruined by a minor incident. I’m handing over this rebellious son to you. Whether he lives, dies, gets skinned, or killed, it’s entirely up to your discretion," Gong Xufeng said decisively, relinquishing Gong Chun to maintain peace.

Though Gong Chun was his eldest son and the future heir of the Gong Family, sacrificing him was necessary for the family’s greater plan.

"Gong Xufeng, are you trying to shirk responsibility? What use do we have for just Gong Chun? We want the Book of Life and Death. Hand it over," Zhang Shenqi said, dissatisfied.

"I’ve handed Gong Chun over to you. Considering you believe this rebellious son stole the Life and Death Record, shouldn’t the Zhang Family be able to interrogate him to find its whereabouts? As long as the Life and Death Record is found at the Zhang Family, I have no objections and will hand it over immediately," Gong Xufeng assured with determination in his voice.

He’s no fool; the Life and Death Record is vital to the Zhang Family, and they won’t concede easily without it. Without reconciliation, a deadly conflict between the two families would ensue.

For him, the best option was to hand over Gong Chun, as the Gong Family was indeed wronged in this matter.

"If we can’t take action in the imperial city, we’ll bring Gong Chun outside the city," Zhang Gaqi said, his countenance grim as he stared downward at Gong Chun. "Boy, if you confess now, we won’t hold you accountable, but once outside the city, you won’t withstand our Zhang Family’s soul-stealing techniques. Now that the Gong Family has given up on you, why resist to the end?"

Upon hearing this, Gong Chun’s face was filled with panic, his eyes wide with horror, "Uncle, I didn’t do it! Don’t wrong me! I, Gong Chun, swear upon my soul; if I did it, may I be doomed to eternal damnation."

"Haha! Whether or not you swear, if you don’t honestly confess, you’re not far from eternal damnation," Zhang Shenqi laughed coldly, instructing the Zhang Family members, "Bind him."

Then he turned to Gong Xufeng, "If we don’t recover the Life and Death Record, it’s not over. Our Zhang Family will go to any lengths, even fight to the last person, to retrieve the Life and Death Record. No matter who holds it, we will reclaim it."

After speaking, a group of people left in large strides, dragging Gong Hei, Gong Bai, and Gong Chun along with them, disappearing down the street in an instant.