Chapter 1820: Slump

The one who spoke was Ke Qi, ranked sixth among the many adopted sons.

Lao Liu’s mind always works quickly, but he’s somewhat timid, so the tasks given to him are always more straightforward. As long as the accounts are clear, it’s fine.

His idea of speaking out now isn’t wrong, but…

As he mentioned, even if it was indeed the Green Demon Envoy who killed the person, they have no proof to demonstrate this point.

After all… the Green Demon Envoy is still in their territory, without even a chance to leave the premises, so how could he have killed someone right under their noses?

Though he carries the title of Demon Capital Envoy, he’s still a demon. With so many people in the court, how could they really allow this fellow to roam freely in the Imperial Palace? He’s surely restricted to his residence, unable to step past the main door, under stringent surveillance.

Thus, Lao Liu’s remarks are groundless.

“Human skin!”

Seeing the skeptical gazes around him, Lao Liu couldn’t help but raise his voice.

“Aren’t demons most skillful at disguising as the Human Race? After putting on human skin, who knows whether he went out last night or not!”

In this world, having a loud voice doesn’t mean your words are convincing.

So although Lao Liu raised his voice, the people present didn’t have any change in expression, not at all finding his words persuasive.

Finally, it was the more composed Third who spoke: “Sixth brother, do you believe that tactics like the Green Demon Envoy’s sneaky moves could ever work in the Imperial Palace? Could they work right under our very eyes? Do you think adoptive father’s ability is lacking, or that the people from the Eight Veins are too foolish, or perhaps even the current Holy Emperor…”

“I wouldn’t dare!”

Thud!

Lao Liu was so scared that he directly knelt on the ground, his head heavily knocking on the floor, trembling in his voice, almost crying from fright.

“Adoptive father! Adoptive father, I didn’t mean that! Third brother is slandering me! That’s not what I meant at all!”

“Then why would you…”

Third wanted to press his advantage, but suddenly felt adoptive father’s gaze sweeping over, his heart skipping a beat, quickly kneeling down too.

“Adoptive father, I only… I only think sixth brother’s thoughts are too simplistic, not, not…”

The gaze from above had been withdrawn by this moment.

“You all, what do you think, share your thoughts.”

The first probing had evidently ended.

Though there’s suspicion that Mr. Xu was killed by internal conflict, even the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Master himself just considered it a possibility, not truly believing it was done by other adopted sons.

Because, though Mr. Xu occupies the position of elder brother, his actual strength, ability, and even value have already reached a certain limit.

For years, he has been on a downward path, gradually relinquishing leadership. Only due to trust from the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Master, who keeps him with vital responsibilities, does his status remain high.

In reality, there are quite a few adopted sons below with strength, potential, and abilities far surpassing Mr. Xu’s. Taking over his position was only a matter of time, there was no need to resort to premature killing by such low-level means.

Maintaining good brotherhood relations, smoothly accepting the baton handed by Mr. Xu, allowing him to step down with dignity is the scene the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Master desires to see, and it’s something the adopted sons can understand.

After all, Mr. Xu has followed the Pavilion Master for so many years; if not for merits, there’s at least enduring effort, and the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Master also wishes for a good retirement for this elder godson.

Unexpectedly, such shocking news arrived suddenly.

Kneeling on the ground, Lao Liu and Third knew the crisis was over but continued kneeling, not daring to stand.

As for adoptive father’s question, they dared not respond.

The pressure now shifted onto others.

Adoptive father dislikes silence.

Because silence implies incompetence, an inability to solve problems.

An incapable person is unworthy of being adoptive father’s adopted son.

Without blood ties, lacking skill would disqualify anyone present from being an adopted son of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Master, one of the Eight Sects of the Court!

Thus, someone immediately spoke up.

“Adoptive father, as I see it, elder brother’s death is full of oddities, coupled with elder brother’s identity, status, and strength, the probability of being killed by an external foe… is very low.”

This was Old Ninth, ranked ninth among the adopted sons.

Although ranked ninth, he was actually the oldest among the adopted sons present, bearing the elderly appearance of an aging figure.

Martial artists have ways to adjust their appearance to appear young, mature, or aged, and Old Ninth shows this guise as a way to feign weakness, presenting himself as frail to find the best opportunity to act, aligning with his mode of operation.

Secondly, he is genuinely the oldest. If he appeared youthful, it might adversely affect his siblings’ perception.

Third, when he first joined adoptive father’s household, he already bore this guise, making any change inappropriate.

“Then what do you mean…”

Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion Master looked toward the Ninth Adopted Son.

At this moment, Old Ninth felt overwhelming pressure!

The Eight Veins of the Court is the Eight Veins of the Da Xia!

The head of any of the Eight Veins can cause profound change in the Da Xia Dynasty with a wave of a finger!

Facing such presence, even excluding individual strength factors, the sheer aura of that identity can be suffocating, keeping one’s spirit tense.

Taking a deep breath, Old Ninth cautiously spoke.

“Adoptive father, as I see it, elder brother’s incident probably involves the other people within the Eight Veins. After all, considering elder brother’s situation, besides demons, in the entire Capital, it’s likely only those within the other Eight Veins, who clash with us, would dare act against elder brother, right?”