Chapter 1712 - 1711: Advancement Through the Door

"Change, why not change, I'm not Hai Lai's match. Your two families don't plan to get involved. In this situation, I'll retreat and not confront directly for now."

The three of them had keen senses, and so did Hai Lai. When Tang Rao noticed him, he too noticed Tang Rao.

"The mountains collapsed—I thought we'd all die. Didn't expect you few to have such great luck. Impressive."

In just a moment, Hai Lai appeared in front of Tang Rao and the others.

There was old resentment, and now new hatred. The relationship between Tang Rao and Hai Lai had reached an unmanageable point.

"Aren't you the same?"

Tang Rao retorted, a familiar smile on his face.

"We're not the same. I am me, and you are you. Look at the sorry state you're in. Don't drag down my class."

Tang Rao was someone with a sharp tongue. While Hai Lai thought about how to defeat Tang Rao, Tang Rao was always thinking about what words could pierce Hai Lai's soul.

One wanted to use force; the other, intellect. This contest suddenly became interesting.

"Tang Rao, don't go too far!"

Hai Lai clenched his fists, using his last bit of rationality to calmly speak with Tang Rao.

"Am I going too far? We climbed the mountain and saw you kill so many people, burying them in a pit. We just wanted to play the righteous one for once, and you turn around and tell me not to go too far. If I'm over the line, aren't your actions intolerable even by the Heavenly Dao? Look at those in the pit—innocent lives, people with no grievances against you. How could you be so ruthless and kill them all?"

When he spoke passionately, two tears rolled down his fair face.

"Nonsense! What does the mountain collapse have to do with me? I'm a victim too. If I hadn't run fast, I would've been buried inside just like you, talking nonsense with your eyes wide open!"

Hai Lai was indignant. How could he, who did nothing and knew nothing, be twisted into a murderer by Tang Rao?

"We all saw it. The three of us can testify. You're the murderer. How many do you have to back you up?"

Tang Rao banked on having more people on his side. Even if Hai Lai had more mouths, he was no match for them.

"Who doesn't know those two are with you? They'll say whatever you say. I'm not falling for that trick!"

Hai Lai wasn't stupid. He quickly caught onto this simple issue.

"My trick? What trick? I haven't said a thing."

Tang Rao hadn't said much, only conveyed his intent, meaning for Hai Lai to make assumptions on his own.

"With only this many people left, why not speak up? If it were me, I'd admit to my wrongdoings if I dared commit such misdeeds. You're acting cowardly; what kind of man are you?"

Tang Rao got to the main point and, before that, activated the recording function of his Illusion City.

"I didn't do it. It's all your doing, trying to frame me?"

Talking to someone like Tang Rao was hard. He wanted to eliminate Tang Rao to stop him from spreading slander, ruining his reputation. But he was alone against three, lacking the confidence.

"No, I'm just stating the facts. Every word you say to persuade me, I see as a false accusation. I'll tell everyone about your deeds here, making it known that this catastrophe happened all because of you."

A huge accusation was thrown on Hai Lai, leaving him with no words.

What of having three against him? Hai Lai wouldn't allow others to gossip about deeds he hadn't done.

What if those family members found out their children's plight is tied to the Hela family? How many lives could he afford to lose?

"Yes, it was me. I killed those people, my power caused the mountain to collapse. So what? You three think you can walk down the mountain? Go die!"

Tang Rao saved the classic line, just needing to record that one sentence—the rest was rubbish.

He smiled, turned off Illusion City, and posted the edited recording to the Illusion City bulletin board.

Eveything Tang Rao posted there became a hot topic, and this message was no exception.

Many on East Island used Illusion City, especially those wealthy, powerful families. They would be among the first to receive the news.

"Killing these people isn't enough for you? You don't keep your word. You said you'd wait for me to come to the Hela family to settle the score. Now you want to kill me halfway, such a change from your previous promises. Does the Hela family not keep promises?"

Tang Rao suddenly elevated personal grudges to family conflicts. When some people get angry, they indeed act recklessly.

Due to Tang Rao's words, he surprisingly changed his mind and didn't kill Tang Rao there.

"You think our Hela family is like you, someone of ill repute? We keep our word. I'll wait for you to come yourself so I can kill you. If you're late, I'll go to North Island to kill you and all your clan members."

Hai Lai, unwilling, said through gritted teeth.

"Though my small sect may not be impressive, it isn't somewhere one can easily go. Don't worry, I'll come to find you on time!"

Hai Lai spared Tang Rao, hurried back to the Hela family, only to find himself unable to enter.

"Open the door for me! Why won't you let me in?"

He barely reached the door when he sensed a plot in the air.

"Open up!"

He shouted repeatedly, but no one opened the door.

Only when the gatekeeper got fed up did he come out to explain: "Young Master, you should leave. You've made too many mistakes—no family can risk keeping you. Please understand the Master's difficulties."

The gatekeeper's words were tearful.

Hai Lai felt something was off. Needing family refuge? He had just returned and hadn't done anything.

"I say, isn't this a misunderstanding? Let me see the Master. I need to know what I did wrong!"

Hai Lai wanted to speak further with the gatekeeper, but to his surprise, the usual respectful gatekeeper this time entered and firmly shut the main gate.

"Open the door! Even if I die, I deserve to know why, don't I?"