The Secret Was Exposed

The Secret Was Exposed

In a lavish room deep within the Nie Family estate in Luoshui City, seven or eight people sat upright while a disheveled young man knelt on the floor.

"Speak. Why exactly did you injure Nie Chao? I want every detail!"

A seventeen- or eighteen-year-old youth sat in the central seat, lightly rubbing the greenish-blue thumb ring on his hand as he spoke indifferently.

Though his tone was not forceful, it carried an authority that brooked no defiance, as though anyone who disobeyed him would suffer an irresistible punishment!

"Young Master Nie Qiang... Nie Chao and I went to the Nie Tian Branch to collect their penalty payment. After they handed over the money, for some reason Nie Chao's eyes turned red. He wanted to keep the fines for himself and launched a sneak attack on me. I was forced to use my ultimate move and injured him. I know I am guilty; I beg Young Master to show mercy..."

The thoroughly bedraggled youth knelt on the ground and pleaded loudly!

It was Nie Chaoxing, a member of the Enforcement Team!

Threatened by Nie Yun's Zi Wu Mo Gu Jin, Nie Chaoxing had no choice but to follow the story he had been instructed to tell, shouldering all the blame himself.

The mere thought of the Zi Wu Mo Gu Jin drenched him in cold sweat. He wished he could simply die!

Just as that youth had said, the pain came without fail every day at midnight and noon. It felt as though countless steel files were constantly grinding through the cracks of every bone in his body, making him wish he were dead!

Terrified by that agony, he had endured three consecutive interrogations by the Enforcement Team without daring to reveal the truth!

Judging by Nie Chao's condition, he would never wake again. As long as Nie Chaoxing clenched his teeth and insisted that Nie Chao had been tempted by the money, while he himself had acted only in self-defense, the clan rules would at most strip him of his cultivation and expel him from the inner family. He would still live. But if he had to suffer the torment of the Zi Wu Mo Gu Jin forever, he might as well die!

He had gritted his teeth through every interrogation, thinking the case would soon be settled. He had never expected Young Master Nie Qiang to personally interrogate him today!

Young Master Nie Qiang was the clan head's son, and his talent placed him among the finest of the younger generation. He was already the unquestioned top candidate to become the family's first heir, and the Enforcement Team was now under his command!

"From what you say, you, with only mid-stage Qi Cultivation Realm strength, injured Nie Chao. Your ultimate move must be quite formidable. Nie Changlin, your strength is equal to Nie Chao's—both of you are at the Peak Qi Cultivation Realm. Go test this 'expert' who is two levels below you!"

Nie Qiang lightly tapped the armrest, producing a tapping sound as he casually gave the order.

"Yes, Young Master!" A youth rose from his seat. He glanced at the kneeling Nie Chaoxing, then gave a sinister grin. "Young Master, I have a presumptuous request!"

"Speak," Nie Qiang said calmly.

"I have never been able to control the force of my attacks. If I accidentally beat this brat to death, I hope Young Master will not blame me!" Nie Changlin smacked his lips as he clenched his fists, which crackled sharply.

"Fine. If you beat him to death, it will prove that his ultimate move was not so formidable and that everything he said before was a lie. In that case, not only will he die, his entire branch will be punished as well!" Nie Qiang said.

"Hehe, then that's fine!" Nie Changlin laughed again. Reaching out with his right hand, he lifted Nie Chaoxing as easily as one would pick up a chick. "Brat, use your ultimate move. Let me see how powerful it really is!"

"I..." Nie Chaoxing had never expected Nie Qiang to immediately send someone against him. His face instantly turned waxy yellow.

What ultimate move did he have? Nie Chao had been injured by Nie Yun. If he truly fought Nie Changlin before him, the outcome was obvious—he would certainly die!

"What? Are you afraid of beating me to death? Since you're so confident, then I'll make the first move!"

Seeing the terror in his eyes, Nie Changlin let out a long howl and struck directly!

Crack!

Before he could react, Nie Chaoxing screamed miserably as the bones in his right arm shattered. The entire arm dangled limply at his side.

"Hm? Where is your ultimate move? If you still refuse to use it, I'll crush all four of your limbs, then slowly kill you. Young Master already said that it does not matter even if I kill you!"

With one palm strike, Nie Changlin had shattered one of Nie Chaoxing's arms. A smile curled at his lips as he raised his hand, clearly about to grab again.

"Young Master, I was wrong! Spare me..."

Seeing this, how could Nie Chaoxing fail to understand what awaited him? Without another moment's hesitation, he dropped to his knees with a thud and repeatedly slammed his head against the floor.

The ruthless feared those who did not fear death, but the first heir, Nie Qiang, was clearly even more ruthless than Nie Yun. No matter how unbearable the Zi Wu Mo Gu Jin was, he could endure it by gritting his teeth. But once he died, there would truly be nothing left...

"You were wrong? What did you do wrong? You acted righteously to prevent family property from falling into private hands. You are an excellent example, an outstanding model for our Enforcement Team! Nie Changlin, be careful. Nie Chaoxing simply has not prepared himself yet. Once he is ready, you will be the one in trouble!"

Nie Qiang wore an amused smile.

"Yes, Young Master. I will give it my all... hehe!" Nie Changlin laughed again and walked toward him.

"Young Master, I was wrong. I lied before. This is what really happened: Nie Chao and I went to the Nie Tian Branch to deliver the punishment order..."

Nie Chaoxing no longer dared to conceal anything. He immediately recounted in detail how Nie Yun had acted and how he had been struck by the Zi Wu Mo Gu Jin, leaving him with no choice but to confess.

"Zi Wu Mo Gu Jin? Interesting, very interesting. I never expected such a strange technique to exist in a ruined, worthless branch!" After hearing Nie Chaoxing's account, Nie Qiang smiled faintly and rose from his seat. He swept his gaze around the room. "What do you all think of this?"

"Not only did this Nie Yun refuse to obey the family's punishment order, he even dared to injure an inner family member and threaten an Enforcement Team member. He has gravely violated the family rules and should be executed immediately!" A gray-clothed youth stood up in the hall and spoke viciously.

He was Nie Hen, the Enforcement Team's hawkish deputy captain and a peak fourth-stage Qi Sea Realm expert!

"Immediate execution would be letting him off too easily. Someone who openly challenges the family's authority like this should be seized and hung from the punishment platform. A whip should be placed there, and every member of the family should come and lash him once, to kill the chicken and frighten the monkeys!"

Another youth stood up with a cold laugh.

He was Nie Liao, the Enforcement Team's executor of punishments and deputy captain.

Nie Hen and Nie Liao were both radicals, ruthless and vicious. The moment they spoke, they demanded death. Their words made Nie Chaoxing tremble all over, and he did not dare even breathe loudly.

"Whatever else may be said, the Nie Tian Branch once won the Luoshui Golden Shield honor for our family. If we punish them directly, will the other branches within the family not feel their hearts turn cold?"

"What hearts turning cold? Nie Xiaotian has abandoned himself to despair and become the family's disgrace. This Nie Yun is so reckless and lawless, treating the family rules as though they were nothing. He should be killed! Otherwise, what dignity will our Enforcement Team have left? What meaning will the family rules have?"

The moment a member of the conservative faction finished speaking, Nie Liao cut him off.

"Enough. Stop arguing. Nie Hen, Nie Liao, I leave this matter to you. This Nie Yun has not only defied the family's punishment order, but has also dared to injure inner family members and Enforcement Team members. His crimes are utterly heinous, and he should be executed outright! However, he is the inheritor of the Luoshui Golden Shield and possesses the family's right of exemption. When you go there, find some excuse to cause trouble. It would be best if you can provoke him into anger and make him do something excessive. At that point, not even the Luoshui Golden Shield will be able to shield him!"

Nie Qiang waved his hand as though he were discussing something utterly trivial.

"Yes, Young Master!" Hearing how a casual strategy from their young master had made the matter so simple, uncontrollable excitement flashed in both Nie Hen and Nie Liao's eyes.