Chapter 233: Peng Clan [3]

The young man had not simply come to pick a fight. He had arrived with records, publicly pledged his family’s honour, and brought up a clan whose impending promotion could force its grievances into the open.

Worse, Lin Shuxuan had framed the whole matter as though he were merely bringing attention to something that would inevitably be investigated anyway.

If Peng Tianyuan reacted aggressively, he risked reinforcing the very accusations Lin Shuxuan was making. If he dismissed the records too carelessly, he might appear unwilling to answer legitimate questions.

And if the Feng Clan truly intended to pursue the matter during its promotion review, the Peng Clan could face consequences beyond this single confrontation.

Peng Tianyuan felt irritation rising within him, but he suppressed it before it could reach his face.

He glanced at the ledgers once more, then returned his attention to Lin Shuxuan.

“Since you believe these records contain the truth, I welcome a fair investigation,” Peng Tianyuan replied evenly. “The Peng Clan has nothing to fear from a proper examination of its actions. If anyone has been wronged, the matter should be judged according to the evidence.”

He delivered the response without hesitation, unwilling to let the crowd see any uncertainty.

Whatever Lin Shuxuan had planned, Peng Tianyuan would not surrender his pride by backing down in public.

However, as he continued watching the young man, one question lingered in his mind.

What gave you the courage to bring this matter to my doorstep?

The Lin Clan had always been a minor family in his eyes. Its connection to the Su Family was noteworthy, but a marriage alliance alone could not explain the confidence Lin Shuxuan displayed.

Peng Tianyuan had the uncomfortable feeling that he was missing something important.

“Since you have taken the trouble to gather these records, I assume you did not come here merely to make accusations,” he said. “What exactly do you want from the Peng Clan?”

Lin Shuxuan tilted his head slightly, his face carrying an expression of genuine thoughtfulness.

“Nothing in particular,” he answered. “I only thought that since you are the Peng Clan’s greatest genius, you might be willing to explain these matters yourself. After all, if the accusations are false, clearing your clan’s name should be easy.”

A faint twitch appeared at the corner of Peng Tianyuan’s mouth.

The other party’s word sounded reasonable enough, yet every sentence seemed carefully arranged to leave him with fewer ways to respond. Even refusing to answer could be interpreted as an admission that something was wrong.

“You speak as though the Peng Clan owes you an explanation,” Peng Tianyuan replied. “Tell me, young man, what standing does your family have to question ours?”

Lin Shuxuan blinked at him.

“Does someone need a particular standing before they can point out wrongdoing?”

Several people in the crowd exchanged glances.

Peng Tianyuan’s expression remained composed, but his irritation had begun to deepen.

The ledgers had forced him to reconsider that judgment, and the answers were making it increasingly difficult to dismiss him without appearing unreasonable.

“My point is that accusations carry consequences,” Peng Tianyuan said, his voice growing firmer. “If you intend to drag the Peng Clan’s name through the mud, you had better be certain that you can bear the responsibility.”

Lin Shuxuan nodded earnestly.

“Of course. That is why I brought the records.”

He lifted one of the ledgers and opened it to a marked page.

“Here is the incident involving the Feng Clan. According to these records, several of their businesses were forced to surrender a portion of their earnings to the Peng Clan. When they refused, their supply routes were obstructed, and their people were threatened. There are witnesses, transaction records, and statements from those involved.”

He turned another page.

“This one concerns a smaller clan whose medicinal fields were taken over after they failed to repay a debt. The original agreement did not mention the transfer of their land, but the contract was amended afterward.”

Lin Shuxuan continued listing the incidents, one after another. His voice remained clear, and he occasionally paused to let Peng Tianyuan examine the relevant pages.

Peng Tianyuan listened without interrupting.

He could not determine how much the other person knew about the inner workings of the Peng Clan, but some of the details were uncomfortably specific.

Even if several accusations could be explained away individually, the combined records might attract unwanted scrutiny.

Peng Tianyuan finally raised a hand.

“That is enough. I have already said that these matters should be investigated properly. Repeating the accusations will not make them any more convincing.”

Lin Shuxuan promptly closed the ledger.

“Then I suppose we have nothing more to discuss.”

His agreement came so easily that Peng Tianyuan briefly wondered whether he had misunderstood the other party’s intentions.

Lin Shuxuan tucked the ledger beneath his arm and took a small step backward.

“I will leave the matter to the appropriate authorities. The Feng Clan is already applying for promotion to Rank Nine, and its patriarch has recently reached the Golden Core Realm. If their grievances are legitimate, the review should provide an opportunity to address them.”

Peng Tianyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Very well. Let the investigation proceed. The Peng Clan will cooperate fully.”

Lin Shuxuan smiled.

“Then I shall not trouble you any longer.”

He cupped his hands in a respectful salute.

Peng Tianyuan returned the gesture with a stiff expression.

The confrontation appeared to be ending peacefully.

The Peng Clan’s young genius had maintained his composure, the Lin Clan’s young representative had delivered his accusations, and both sides had agreed to leave the matter to an impartial investigation.

At least, that was how Peng Tianyuan understood it.

He turned away, intending to put an end to this irritating encounter before it attracted any more attention.

Then laughter broke out behind him.

At first, it was only a quiet chuckle. A moment later, several voices joined in, and the marketplace filled with poorly concealed amusement.

Peng Tianyuan stopped.

His brow furrowed as he looked around. The people who had gathered to watch the confrontation were no longer whispering about the Peng Clan’s alleged misconduct. Instead, they were looking in his direction with expressions of bewilderment and amusement.

One man clutched his stomach as he laughed, while another pointed toward Peng Tianyuan, struggling to speak between chuckles.

“Did you see that? He argued over a lollipop with a child!”

Peng Tianyuan’s expression froze.

He turned sharply toward the spot where Lin Shuxuan had been standing, only to find that there was no young man there.

The ledgers were gone. The carefully arranged records, the respectful salutes, and the earnest expression that had accompanied every accusation had vanished as well.

In their place stood a little boy, no more than twelve years old, wearing clothes that were slightly too large for his slender frame.

The boy had one hand behind his back and the other holding a lollipop near his mouth. He looked up at Peng Tianyuan with bright, innocent eyes before breaking into a cheerful smile.

“Senior Peng, why can I not eat my lollipop?”

Peng Tianyuan stared at him.

The boy’s face was unmistakably Lin Shuxuan’s.

What… What’s going on? Peng Tianyuan thought, unable to make sense of the situation.

A familiar voice suddenly rang inside his mind, carrying a hint of amusement.

You’re curious, aren’t you? I used an illusion art. You’re welcome.

Peng Tianyuan’s expression was confusion A first and then it twisted with rage.

He immediately turned toward Lin Shuxuan, intending to teach the brat a lesson he would never forget. However, by the time he gathered his spiritual qi and prepared to make a move, Lin Shuxuan had already disappeared.

All that remained was the laughter of the surrounding crowd.

On that day, Peng Tianyuan had been humiliated by a twelve-year-old child.

Even years later, he had never forgotten the incident. He continued making plans to exact his revenge on the boy who had since grown up to become the patriarch of a clan.

Back in the present:

So… why do I have to die today? Peng Tianyuan thought as he stared at the gigantic silver wolf before him, his heart filled with regret and anger.

After escaping the jaws of the three enormous serpents, he had thought himself fortunate to survive. Yet before he could even catch his breath, he had ended up being hunted by this silver wolf instead.

He had barely begun thinking of a way to escape when the wolf lunged forward and clamped its enormous jaws around him.