Long Xiyue said, "My master personally handed this Iron Rice Bowl to me. You accused me of stealing it without any grounds. By your own reasoning, since my master never personally handed you the Green Bamboo Staff, you must have stolen it!"
"How dare you!" Shangguan Tianhuo snapped.
Long Xiyue handed the Iron Rice Bowl to Hu Xiaotian for safekeeping, guarding against Shangguan Tianhuo suddenly snatching it. She cupped her hands toward the crowd. "Although I am not a member of the Beggar Gang, I came here today to demand justice for my master. My master said Shangguan Tianhuo and Daoist Kongkong conspired to harm him. Shangguan Tianhuo wanted to usurp the position of gang leader, so he plotted to frame him."
Before Shangguan Tianhuo could speak, his son Shangguan Yunfeng lost his patience and roared, "You dare slander my father's good name? Today, I'll have your head!"
Unruffled by the danger, Long Xiyue said, "I would never make such accusations without evidence. That evidence is hidden inside the Green Bamboo Staff!" Her clear eyes fixed on Shangguan Tianhuo. "Do you dare hand me the Green Bamboo Staff? I'll produce the evidence right now for everyone here to see!"
Shangguan Tianhuo could not help hesitating. Though the Green Bamboo Staff was merely a symbol, it was still a supreme treasure of the Beggar Gang. It was only through possessing it that he had temporarily ascended to the position of gang leader. How could he casually hand it to someone else? Yet why did she sound so certain? Could there really be evidence hidden inside the staff? Impossible. He had inspected it meticulously. There could not possibly be any evidence hidden within it.
Long Xiyue stepped forward. "You don't dare? Or is there a guilty ghost lurking in your heart?"
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