Chapter 346: Chapter 68: The End! Cutting Off the Celestial Human’s Arm (Seeking Monthly Votes)_2

"Ridiculous!" Xu Anbang’s eyes were blazing as he angrily said, "Huangfu Deyun, both your first and second ancestors have been involved, and you still dare claim that the Qianma Huangfu Family knows nothing about it? Do you take us for fools?!" 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Xu Anbang, as they say, ’Catching an adulterer in the act, catching a thief with the loot.’" Huangfu Jinhuan sneered as he supported, "What Commander Zhou mentioned only concerns those two old scoundrels, Huangfu Jinyuan and Huangfu Kangping, colluding with the Yin Sha Sect. What evidence do you have to prove that the entire Qianma Huangfu Family is involved?"

"Could it be that if one or two people in the family commit a crime, the whole family must be implicated?"

"Brother Xu~" Huangfu Deyun pitifully pleaded, "I truly knew nothing of this matter. My family’s two ancestors... alas, how foolish they are."

"Whether known or not, arrest them and interrogate thoroughly." Xu Anbang laughed angrily, "Both your family’s ancestors are involved, how can you distance yourself from it?"

Both sides were at an impasse, and all eyes turned to City Lord Xiahou Hongde.

At this moment, Xiahou Hongde was also at a loss.

The day’s events had unfolded too suddenly, catching him completely unprepared.

He glanced discontentedly at Zhou Zhenwu. If he had received the report, why didn’t he inform him?

Yet, as this was an internal affair of the City Guardian’s Mansion, he couldn’t lose his temper here and expose his weakness.

He took a deep breath, his expression stern, "Commander Zhou, is there any evidence to prove this is an action by the Qianma Huangfu Family? Or has Huangfu Kangping confessed?"

"Reporting to the City Lord, though Huangfu Kangping has confessed, he doesn’t admit it was orchestrated by the Qianma Huangfu Family." Zhou Zhenwu reported honestly, "How to handle it, we await your command, Lord City Guard."

Xiahou Hongde, having cultivated to the Celestial Human Realm and governing this region, wasn’t foolish. He naturally understood this involved family feuds.

Though Huangfu Kangping hadn’t confessed, it seemed unlikely the entire Qianma Huangfu Family was uninvolved. It’s even possible the Celestial Person Huangfu Family could be implicated.

Every decision he made could influence the open and covert struggles of the situation.

Immediately, he spoke in a deep voice, "The Qianma Huangfu Family, after all, is a noble family of the eighth grade, granted an official seal by the Imperial Court. Everything must be based on evidence. Since Huangfu Kangping hasn’t confessed, how can our City Guardian’s Mansion arbitrarily arrest people?"

This wasn’t Xiahou Hongde shirking responsibility; once something involves family feuds, it becomes exceedingly complex.

Whether it’s the Huangfu Family, Xu Family, or Wang Family, each has its own foundation and connections. Offending any of them would be unwise.

He could only act based on evidence to avoid favoritism and prevent future trouble, especially as he had only three years left in his term.

"We comply with Lord City Guard’s orders."

Though Zhou Zhenwu wished to achieve greater merit, without the City Guard’s backing, he could only act based on evidence.

Though Huangfu Jinhuan’s expression remained grim, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This scheme’s failure, while costly, was better than implicating the entire Qianma Huangfu Family, or even dragging the Celestial Person Huangfu Family down. The priority was to extricate both families from this mess.

As for the grievances, there would be opportunities to settle them later.

Some neutral families and units perceived the oddities of this event and understood it was a contest between the Changning Xu Family and the Huangfu Family, naturally involving the Ping’an Wang Family and others.

Though it seemed like the Xu Family and Wang Family were gaining the upper hand, unless a decisive blow was dealt to the Qianma Huangfu Family, future issues could arise.

Families allied with the Huangfu Family breathed a sigh of relief.

Though the Qianma Huangfu Family suffered significant losses, it retained some vitality. Stabilizing their position would allow them to plan their counterattack.

The Shopkeeper Changning of Qiaan’s Trading Company, a friend of Wang Shouzhe, couldn’t help but worry for his brother Wang Shouzhe, fearing that if the snake wasn’t thoroughly defeated, it could retaliate.

The crowd present harbored various thoughts, and the atmosphere in the hall remained tense, yet Wang Shouzhe appeared calm, composed as ever.

At this point.

There was another uproar from outside.

The distant shouts of household servants and Household Generals could be heard, "Are you patrol camp troops mad? One group just came, and now another?"

There was a commanding shout from outside, "Move aside, or I’ll arrest you all for obstructing justice and colluding with external enemies."

As he spoke, a steady-looking middle-aged commander led his team in forcefully.

The newcomer was Wang Ding Race, with his Patrol Second Battalion.

This scene infuriated the Huangfu Family’s people.

Ancestor Hua Ye trembled with rage, shouting, "First the Patrol Third Battalion comes, and now the Patrol Second Battalion! Xiahou Hongde! Do you really consider our Huangfu Family to be clay?"

This even put Xiahou Hongde in an uncomfortable position, sternly reprimanding, "Wang Ding Race! As a commander of the Patrol Camp, do you really intend to involve yourself in family feuds? Do you know the taboos you’re violating?"

"Reporting to the City Lord." Wang Ding Race calmly replied, cupping his hands, "I am merely carrying out my duties and don’t understand what the City Lord is referring to."

"Fine, fine! I want to see what duties you’re performing!" Xiahou Hongde laughed angrily, "If I find out you’re abusing your power to oppress other families, don’t blame me for being merciless!"