Teacher by day, Farmer by passion-Chapter 114: Shift the blame if you can’t take it.

When General Ming arrived, his mere presence silenced the chaotic discussions of the crowd.

The crowds then parted ways, making sure he and his soldiers could enter uninterrupted as they surveyed the devastation.

The once Blue Sea Restaurant was now nothing more than smoldering rubble, faint embers flickering among the wreckage.

The Hua family elders were huddled together, their expression and mood dark.

This wasn't just about the destruction of a prestigious establishment—it was an attack, an attempt at their very lives.

"This is clearly no accident," Elder Hua Ting said gravely. "An explosion this precise, right where our family was dining? Someone definitely wanted us dead."

Hua Hua's fists clenched. "The Xiao family," he muttered, eyes burning with certainty. "Who else would dare?"

"Indeed," Hua Tiger agreed, stroking his beard. "They've been losing money with their alchemy business trying to fight us in a price war. What better way to strike than wiping us out in one blow?"

The conversation continued, each word adding fuel to the growing suspicion against the Xiao family.

At the edge of the group, Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei stood as stiff as wooden dolls.

Liu Mei's fingers twitched, barely resisting the urge to fidget with the hem of her sleeve.

Shan Yifeng swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing in his throat. His gaze flicked to Liu Mei, then to Ace, then back to the furious Hua elders.

Sweat gathered at his temples, but he dared not wipe it away.

They're pinning the explosion on the Xiao family... Shan Yifeng thought, resisting the urge to wipe his forehead.

"It'll be okay right? I mean—" Liu Mei slowly spoke up but before she could even finish, Ace placed a firm hand on their shoulders and gave a silent squeeze.

"It will be."

Ace then gave a sigh, stepping forward with a somber expression. "This is truly unfortunate. To think the Xiao family would stoop this low. How despicable."

Shan Yifeng nearly choked.

Liu Mei let out a nervous giggle, quickly joining the fray. "Y-Yes! How shameless!"

Her attempt at righteous fury was more adorable than intimidating.

Hua Hua slammed his fist into his palm. "Exactly! They knew we were going to dine here today. They planted the explosives right on the floor we were at, hoping to take us out—but their plan backfired!"

Hua Lesy turned to Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei. "Had it not been for these two juniors, who started their fight and forced everyone outside, we'd all be dead!"

"That's right!" another elder chimed in. "Their battle may have been reckless, but in hindsight, it was a blessing!"

Shan Yifeng forced out a chuckle. "Haha… y-yeah, lucky coincidence, right?"

His stomachs twisted in guilt, but he knew better than to say anything now.

"Truly remarkable," another elder praised.

"I do not condone such destructive fights in a restaurant, but in hindsight, your actions turned out to be a blessing in disguise."

More people from the crowd began murmuring in agreement.

Some of the onlookers, who had been inside the restaurant before the explosion, started connecting the dots.

A man's voice rang out first, hesitant but loud enough. "So it was the Xiao family who planted the bomb?"

A woman gasped, clutching the arm of the person beside her. "They tried to assassinate the entire Hua family!"

Others picked up the thread, voices overlapping, swelling.

"Such cruelty! How many innocent lives could have been lost?!"

Someone kicked at a fallen brick, sending it tumbling across the debris-strewn street.

Meanwhile a man who had barely made it out of the restaurant alive clenched his fists. "I lost my entire week's salary because of those bastards! They'll pay for this!"

Soon, a wave of anger spread through the crowd.

Even General Ming, who had been observing silently, furrowed his brows. "This is a serious accusation. If the Xiao family truly orchestrated this attack, they will not go unpunished."

Hua Hua cupped his fists. "General, we will provide all the necessary proof. However, we ask that the city does not overlook this crime. If the Xiao family can attempt such a reckless act, what's stopping them from targeting others?"

General Ming nodded. "We will launch an investigation. The city will not stand for such open hostility."

Before Hua Hua could respond, a regal voice cut through the tension.

"General Ming," a young woman in royal robes stepped forward—Soho, the princess.

Her presence commanded immediate respect. "This is not just an attack on the Hua family. This is an offense against the royal family itself. I expect swift and extreme action."

Shan Yifeng's mind blanked. He felt his stomach drop as the princess's words sent a chill through the crowd.

He turned to Ace. Then to the furious princess. Then back to Ace.

The air suddenly seemed to have felt heavier. The weight of a potential execution order.

Without a word, he hugged his master.

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If you're going to survive, hug the biggest thigh.

Liu Mei, not wasting a second, latched onto Ace's other thigh, her grip borderline desperate.

Ace smiled, rubbing their heads, "Good disciples, both of you did well."

Meanwhile the accusations against the Xiao family were building like a storm, gaining power with each shouted claim.

But then—

"Do none of you find it strange that the Blue Sea Restaurant might also be involved in this?"

The words cut through the rising fury like a knife through butter.

People glanced at each other, the gears in their minds turning.

The restaurant was the one that blew up. Why?

The Hua family being targeted made sense, but why destroy an entire establishment in the process?

Someone else chimed in, their tone suspicious. "What if they're just playing the victim?"

"Exactly!" Another voice agreed. "What if this was all staged? They could have been paid a fortune to orchestrate this!"

More murmurs spread, doubt creeping in.

"And think about it! The explosion was too precise, just after everyone from the Hua family finished sitting at their floor. And the explosion even began from their very floor. Doesn't that seem... suspicious?"

"They leaked information about their own customers!" A man snapped his fingers, eyes narrowing. "That's the only way an attack like this could be so well-timed! They had to be part of it!"

First, all suspicion had been on the Xiao family. Now, the Blue Sea Restaurant itself was under fire.

Meanwhile, Shan Yifeng and Liu Mei had never felt so conflicted in their lives.

On one hand, they were relieved their master didn't expose them.

On the other hand…

They had just started a war between two major families.

And now… even the restaurant got caught in the crossfire..