Twisting the Blame

"What is the meaning of this?"

Chen Guan stepped forward, dodging the stones hurled by the commoners, and asked loudly.

County Lieutenant Li Tong stood atop the city wall, sneering down at him.

"Chen Guan, do you still refuse to confess and submit to the law? We've long known of your collusion with the Tushan demons!"

Li Tong's words instantly stirred up public outrage.

Chen Guan exchanged a glance with Qin Yanran; neither knew where this accusation came from.

Yet he understood clearly—Li Tong was the one colluding with demons.

Now he was turning the tables and framing him!

"Lord Li, why do you slander Young Master Chen without cause? Please produce evidence!"

Qin Yanran couldn't help but speak up in protest.

But Li Tong looked at her smugly. "Miss Qin, don't think I'm unaware—you and this Chen Guan conspired with the demons to let them into the city. That demon attack on you earlier was nothing but your own staged trick!"

The commoners now clearly believed his words.

Qin Wanshan appeared beside Li Tong. "Yanran, I never thought that after all my efforts to raise you, you'd turn out to be this kind of person! I truly misjudged you!"

Chen Guan sneered. "You say we colluded with demons—can you produce any proof?"

"Isn't that simple? Did you or did you not return from Tushan?"

Li Tong's question made Chen Guan nod. "That's right!"

"Then that's the proof. Everyone in the city knows the danger on Tushan Mountain—even a hundred-man team would find only death climbing it! Yet the two of you came down alive. If you weren't in league with the demons, how could that be?"

Li Tong spoke as if he had caught Chen Guan by the tail.

His words dripped with smugness.

This reasoning left Chen Guan with no rebuttal.

If he claimed he was strong enough to escape Tushan, the city folk would never believe it.

"Go! Seize them for me, and avenge the dead commoners!"

Li Tong had no desire to drag this out further.

With a single command, over a thousand soldiers raised their weapons and charged forward.

Seeing that they were beyond words, Chen Guan quickly grabbed Qin Yanran and fled the area.

The two hid in a broken temple not far outside the city. The pouring rain outside seemed to voice their grievances.

"Master, we can't let ourselves be framed like this!"

Qin Yanran looked at him indignantly.

Chen Guan nodded. "Hide here for now. I'll go back to the city and take a look."

With that, he rose and left the broken temple.

On the road, he opened his system panel.

[Host: Chen Guan]

[Lifespan: 4 years]

[Demon Lifespan: 190 years]

[Martial Art: Pecking Sparrow Strength (Mortal Grade High Rank) Upgrade to next realm requires Lifespan: 0/70 years]

[Martial Art: Whirlwind Wind Steps (Mortal Grade High Rank) Upgrade to next realm requires Lifespan: 0/300 years]

[Technique: Dragon Elephant Subduing Demon Art (Mystic Grade Low Rank) Current progress: 3/9, Upgrade to next realm requires Lifespan: 0/800 years]

Now, if he wanted to continue raising his realm, he would have to keep killing demons.

The Dragon Elephant Subduing Demon Art needed eight hundred years of lifespan to advance—so terrifying!

After nightfall, the soldiers stationed outside the city filed into their tents.

He used the Whirlwind Wind Steps to slip silently into the city.

At his current speed, with the Whirlwind Wind Steps at the pinnacle, no one could detect his trail.

He didn't head for the county office but instead went to the brightly lit Qin Family estate.

"Patriarch, the young lady is hiding outside the city. Our men haven't found her trail!"

Hearing his subordinate's report, Qin Wanshan frowned deeply. "Spend whatever manpower and resources it takes—bring her back! That thing is still on her!"

Their conversation fell squarely into Chen Guan's ears.

If you find this book enjoyable, to avoid losing it next time, please remember to bookmark it.

His heart stirred, recalling the flash of golden light on Qin Yanran at Tushan.

Qin Yanran had been ambushed all along—likely because of that very thing!

"Let's go. Lord Li has been waiting for us. I hear the county town will be fully taken in just a few days."

Qin Wanshan spoke with great pride, then led his men out of the Qin Family.

Chen Guan executed the Whirlwind Wind Steps and followed closely behind.

He trailed Qin Wanshan and the others to the county office, where he witnessed an unbelievable sight!

Dozens of Officers were waiting at the entrance with hundreds of children from the city.

"Are all the children ready?"

Qin Wanshan showed no surprise at this scene, instead asking directly.

The leading Officer quickly nodded. "Rest assured, Mr. Qin. These children were prepared by Lord Li some time ago. In a few days, they will be sent to the Tushan King!"

"Keep a tight watch. Don't let the Demon Suppressing Division find out."

Qin Wanshan nodded with a brief instruction, then strode into the county office.

Chen Guan was about to follow when he suddenly sensed an extremely powerful aura within the county office.

This aura was far stronger than Guo Pin's, whom he had encountered before.

If he barged in recklessly, he would certainly be discovered.

After a moment's thought, he decided not to follow but instead tailed the Officers to see where the children were being held.

"Brother, this Great Demon is way too outrageous, needing so many Boy and Girl Children!"

The Officer was displeased by his subordinate's remark. "That has nothing to do with us. We do as we're told from above. How dare you speak of the King? Do you have a death wish?"

His words silenced the subordinate completely.

The children were now locked in the Storehouse behind the county office.

If Chen Guan hadn't followed them, no one would ever have found out!

He considered his options but didn't act immediately. Instead, he returned to the Broken Temple.

Qin Yanran was already fast asleep. He didn't wake her, instead pondering his next move.

He had to rescue these children.

And with these children as evidence, he could clear his name of the false accusations in the eyes of the people.

Then the collusion between the county office and the Qin Family with demons could no longer be hidden!

Qingshi County could be completely saved.

A sleepless night passed.

The next morning.

Chen Guan arrived at a village near the county seat.

Many of the villagers were frantically searching for their children, panic clear in their eyes.

"It's Chen Guan! Run!"

Seeing Chen Guan approach, the villagers tried to flee.

Chen Guan used the Whirlwind Wind Steps to appear before them.

"Everyone, listen to me. You've all been deceived by that scoundrel Li Tong. Your children were taken by them too!"

Chen Guan clasped his hands and spoke with firm certainty.

His words left the villagers staring at him with suspicion.

"I know you don't believe me now. Tomorrow, I will bring back one of your children to prove it to you!"

Chen Guan's plan was simple.

He needed the villagers to trust him.

And by rallying the people's strength against Li Tong, he could harness the power of the masses—it was limitless.

"Look!"

Before the villagers could make up their minds, someone pointed toward the city.

Everyone looked closely.

A woman was tied up and hanging from the city gate.

The scorching sun made her cry out in agony.

Having infiltrated the Qin Family yesterday, Chen Guan recognized her at once—she was Qin Yanran's mother.