Chapter 1636 - 696: Hidden Backer

Chapter 1636: Chapter 696: Hidden Backer

Ye Lingyue walked out slowly and calmly.

"Alliance Leader, please discern clearly. Before I explain, I have just one question for you."

Alliance Leader Ning, hearing that she wouldn’t explain but instead wanted to ask a question, felt a bit strange. In such situations, wouldn’t most people rack their brains trying to defend themselves?

Nian Wu and Tang Tianqi had slandered Ye Lingyue in front of Ning Que.

Alliance Leader Ning had preconceived notions, believing she must be a cunning and deceitful person. Yet here she was, offering no explanation, only a question?

Ye Lingyue’s unusual demeanor piqued Alliance Leader Ning’s curiosity.

"Captain Ye, ask away."

"May I ask, Alliance Leader, what is the founding purpose of the Jiu Provinces Alliance?"

At Ye Lingyue’s question, both Alliance Leader Ning and those present were momentarily stunned, finding it somewhat perplexing.

Nian Wu Venerable gave a snort.

"You don’t even know this question, yet you claim to be part of the Jiu Provinces Alliance. Even the newcomers of the alliance know this answer. Why should the Alliance Leader answer? Let me answer. The Jiu Provinces Alliance’s purpose is to protect the people of the Jiu Provinces and uphold justice."

The purpose of the Jiu Provinces Alliance was determined at its founding by Marquis Zhongyuan and the first Jiu Provinces Alliance Leader.

"Then I’ll ask again, which is more important between protecting the people of the Jiu Provinces and upholding justice?"

It seemed Ye Lingyue still didn’t understand, as she asked again.

This question stumped Nian Wu Venerable.

Protecting the people and promoting fairness — was there any reasoning as to which was more important?

Throughout the many years of the Jiu Provinces Alliance’s existence, no one had ever stated which was more critical.

Seeing Nian Wu Venerable momentarily silent, Alliance Leader Ning spoke up.

"People-oriented; upholding justice is to better protect the people of the Jiu Provinces. Compared to each other, protecting the people is naturally more important."

Unlike others, Alliance Leader Ning was aware of the specific origins of these words.

The Jiu Provinces Alliance was nearly defeated by the Demon Clan back then, saved only by Marquis Zhongyuan’s intervention.

Unfortunately, Marquis Zhongyuan did not wish to stay with the Jiu Provinces Alliance. After a plea from the first Jiu Provinces Alliance Leader, he left the ’protect the people of the Jiu Provinces’ dictum, to which the first Alliance Leader added ’upholding justice,’ making the marquis’s words weigh more heavily.

As soon as Alliance Leader Ning finished speaking, Ye Lingyue smiled, cupped her hands, and declared loudly.

"Thank you, Alliance Leader Ning, for explaining. Regarding the affair of the Senluo Ghost Fruit King, everything I did was guided by the alliance’s ethos. Prioritizing the people, safeguarding the lives of my team and other representative teams, prioritizing the overall situation, and only then, under unavoidable circumstances, did I hand over the Luoshu Mountain and River Painting. I ask Alliance Leader Ning to discern clearly."

"You speak nonsense. Where did you consider the greater good? You clearly only intended to save the lives of your own team."

Tang Lei scolded.

He had heard from his sister Tang Tianqi that Ye Lingyue only cared about saving her own people.

"Heh~ Second Young Master of the Tang Family, you’re mistaken. What kind of person is the Golden Horn Demon King? If I demanded that everyone be released, do you think he would still agree to negotiate with me? If I hadn’t prepared poison arrows and Green Thunder in advance, would the representation teams of the Jin Family and Tang Family have descended the mountain smoothly? Xi Jiuye, you were present. Go on, tell us how the Changsheng Team and the Jade Fox Team perished."

Ye Lingyue glanced at Xi Jiuye.

Although she wasn’t fond of Xi Jiuye, Ye Lingyue believed he wouldn’t lie.

Tang Lei immediately signaled the young man beside Xi Jiuye with his eyes.

The man was none other than Jin Mu, the elder brother of Third Young Master Jin.

Jin Mu returned Tang Lei a glance, a helpless expression on his face.

As a joke, even though Xi Jiuye was part of the Jin Family’s representative team, his status was similar to a Guest Elder, no less significant than Lord Song of the Tang Family.

With such a position, even if he were given a directive, he wouldn’t necessarily comply.

"The members of the Changsheng Team and the Jade Fox Team perished at Lion Roar Hill attempting to break through forcibly."

Xi Jiuye spoke truthfully, showing no favoritism.

"Alliance Leader Ning, you should have heard too. Forcing a breakthrough is a path to death, and ultimately, the Senluo Ghost Fruit King would still fall into enemy hands. But with strategic cunning, though the Senluo Ghost Fruit King was lost, casualties were minimized. Besides, why doesn’t Captain Tang explain how the Luoshu Mountain River Map ended up in my possession?" Ye Lingyue sneered.

Ignoring the change in Second Young Master Tang’s expression, she pressed on relentlessly.

"Originally, the Luoshu Mountain River Map was well kept by my younger sister. Earlier, Tang Tianqi, eager for credit, disregarded the mission from the Wanxiang City Lord and snatched the Luoshu Mountain River Map from my care. After the demon tide came, she shifted responsibility and forcibly handed the Luoshu Mountain River Map to me. The whole process was witnessed by the people of the Jin Family. For every action, there is a reaction. If accountability is to be assessed, both the Tang Family and the Jin Family cannot escape blame."

Tang Lei and Jin Mu were both speechless.

"Alliance Leader, the course of events has been explained. What needed explanation has already been stated."

Ye Lingyue cupped her hands then stepped aside.

"This is utterly specious rationalization. All this talk about being people-oriented and considering the overall situation is just your excuse to shirk responsibility."

Nian Wu Venerable still refused to relent.

Alliance Leader Ning looked at Nian Wu Venerable, then at Ye Lingyue, feeling a headache coming on.

Ning was well aware that the real reason Nian Wu Venerable was aggressively targeting Ye Lingyue wasn’t because of the Senluo Ghost Fruit King, but rather due to the death of his beloved disciple, Nian Xiaoxie.

However, the Huangquan Captain hadn’t made a mistake. In such dangerous circumstances, he too would prioritize his own team’s safety first.

Yet, if he didn’t punish the Huangquan Team, Nian Wu Venerable would certainly harbor resentment. As the foremost Venerable of the Jiu Provinces Alliance, many matters within the alliance depended on his assistance.

In his dilemma, Alliance Leader Ning’s gaze suddenly fixated on the bracelet sliding out of Ye Lingyue’s sleeve as she cupped her hands earlier.

Seeing that bracelet, Alliance Leader Ning’s brows furrowed, and an unusual look flashed in his eyes.

That bracelet was... mentally processing, Alliance Leader Ning quickly made a decision.

"I have come to understand the course of events. Although the Senluo Ghost Fruit King was lost, there were reasons behind it. With the demon tide’s onslaught and the Golden Horn Demon King’s arrival, it far exceeded the combat capability of the third-tier representative teams. Therefore, I’ve decided to absolve all three representation teams from punishment." Alliance Leader Ning paused after speaking.

Ye Lingyue’s face brightened at the news. Although the captains of the Jin and Tang family teams felt discontent, they were relieved to hear they avoided punishment.