Son, Put Your Father To The Test (FF)

Princess Chu Yun flew for a long time, finally leaving the wild forest behind. In the distance, a city came into view.

"As long as I get into the city, where there are crowds and eyes everywhere, those who tried to assassinate me won't dare to make another move!"

"In the city, no matter how carefully they act, they'll leave some clues behind, and they'll be found out."

She thought to herself confidently.

However, the next moment, her body suddenly froze with terror, as if someone had lifted her skull and poured a bucket of icy water straight into her brain!

Whoosh!

She spun around and saw a mysterious figure in a black robe, silently hovering in mid-air ahead of her.

This person had appeared without the slightest sound, as if he had been there the entire time.

But just moments ago, there had been no one there.

"Who... who are you?!"

Terror gripped her. Never before had she felt such intense dread. The presence of this black-robed figure was overwhelmingly dangerous! Just standing there, he made her heart tremble, as if he were not a person but a black abyss that could swallow everything.

The black-robed figure didn't speak but slowly raised his right hand toward her.

"Ah!!"

Princess Chu Yun screamed, trying to flee, but found her body locked in place by an overpowering pressure. She couldn't move! Whoosh! She watched as the black-robed man's five long fingers expanded in her vision, filling her entire field of view...

Her sight went dark, and she passed out.

...

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

News of Qin Zi's kidnapping of Princess Chu Yun spread rapidly throughout half the kingdom, causing an uproar!

Though there was no concrete evidence, for a powerful entity like the Southern King's Mansion, mere rumors were more than enough! Boom!

On this day, a fearsome army set out from the Southern King's Mansion, crossing hundreds of thousands of miles to surround the Seven Martial Sect!

Tens of thousands of soldiers rode into battle.

Of course, they weren't using mere energy constructs in the form of horses—these were real warhorses with the bloodlines of fierce beasts, and each soldier had a cultivation base at the Yuan Dan Realm. The generals ranged from the Pure Yang Realm to the Nirvana Realm.

Such a force could easily crush countless sects and noble families, leaving desolation in its wake!

However, against a giant like the Seven Martial Sect, military strength alone wouldn't be enough.

The reason they brought an army was for show. It was to create an imposing display of power, demonstrating their resolve!

"Lord Southern King, is there really a need for all of this?"

An elder flew out from the Seven Martial Sect. He was none other than the Grand Elder, Jia Tianhe, and he looked at the imposing army with a bitter smile.

"Hmph! My daughter has been kidnapped, and you ask why?"

A cold and commanding voice rang out.

The perfectly aligned ranks of soldiers parted, revealing a golden palanquin pulled by three Nirvana Realm beast horses. Slowly, it moved forward.

Seated on the palanquin was a burly middle-aged man dressed in a golden robe adorned with a python motif—this was the Southern King, Yang Tu!

"Lord Southern King, I fear someone may be trying to frame us. There is no way a disciple of the Seven Martial Sect would commit such an absurd act."

Jia Tianhe said with a pained smile.

"Heh, then bring Qin Zi out here. Let him face me, and we'll see if he's guilty or not!"

Yang Tu sneered coldly.

"This..." Jia Tianhe's old face froze slightly. "At the moment, Qin Zi is not within the sect."

"He went to Tianmu Mountain and hasn't returned yet, has he?"

Yang Tu said coldly.

"You misunderstand, Lord Southern King. Qin Zi did not go to Tianmu Mountain but went elsewhere to train. We're not entirely sure of his exact location."

At this point, Jia Tianhe had no choice but to lie through his teeth. If this blame were pinned on the sect, there would be no way out of it!

"Is that so?"

Yang Tu smirked sarcastically. "I've heard that three of your disciples went to Tianmu Mountain recently... Fine, let's assume there were only two as you claim. I want to see them."

Before Jia Tianhe could come up with an excuse, Yang Tu added, "And don't tell me they're in seclusion. I've personally come to the Seven Martial Sect. If two juniors won't even show me their faces, that would be quite disrespectful, don't you think?"

He intentionally used the phrase "personally came to ask," turning a simple request into a mocking demand, making it impossible for Jia Tianhe to refuse.

To put it bluntly, even if the disciples were in seclusion, they had to be dragged out! As the mighty Southern King, Yang Tu expected that much respect.

"This... very well."

Jia Tianhe hesitated for a moment, then forced a bitter smile. "To be honest, they are in seclusion, but since Lord Southern King wants to see them, it would be inappropriate to refuse. I will summon them at once."

With that, he called out to the sect, "Bring Zhao Yunsheng and Wu Cen out. Lord Southern King wishes to meet them."

The Seven Martial Sect buzzed with murmurs, and before long, two figures flew out.

It was Zhao Yunsheng and Wu Cen.

"Greetings, Lord Southern King."

"Greetings, Lord Southern King."

They bowed respectfully in unison. Zhao Yunsheng stood in front, while Wu Cen followed half a step behind.

Whoosh!

Yang Tu's sharp gaze fell on the two of them, like a giant axe cleaving down. Both men felt their hearts tremble violently.

"Did Qin Zi go to Tianmu Mountain?"

Yang Tu asked, his eyes locked on the two.

"No."

Zhao Yunsheng replied.

"Look me in the eye and answer me!"

Yang Tu snapped.

Zhao Yunsheng's hand, hidden in his sleeve, trembled slightly as his nerves tightened. Slowly, he raised his head.

Without flinching, he met Yang Tu's sharp gaze and said, "My lord, Qin Zi did not go to Tianmu Mountain."

Though his expression appeared calm, his nerves were stretched taut, much like someone suppressing laughter while their body reflexively tensed up.

Yang Tu frowned slightly. No matter how he looked at him, he couldn't find a flaw in the words of this so-called top genius of the Seven Martial Sect.

After a long while, Yang Tu suddenly chuckled.

"Hahaha! As expected of the Seven Martial Sect's top genius. Truly worthy of the name—your sect has a bright future ahead!"

Zhao Yunsheng's flawless performance was exactly the flaw!

When facing the scrutiny of powerful figures, even someone with a clear conscience would naturally feel uneasy.

But this young man's eyes showed no fear, which meant only one thing—he was trying too hard to suppress it!

With that realization, Yang Tu turned to Wu Cen, a sinister smile forming on his lips. "And you? Look me in the eye and answer."

Wu Cen's body trembled slightly. He took a deep breath, then lifted his gaze to meet Yang Tu's.

"Qin Zi didn't go to Tianmu Mountain."

"Are you certain?"

Yang Tu narrowed his eyes, and the gaze he cast became even more chilling, sending shivers down Wu Cen's spine.

"I..."

Wu Cen gritted his teeth and said, "He didn't."

"Did he, or didn't he?"

Yang Tu's voice grew more forceful.

"He... didn't..."

Wu Cen held on desperately.

"Did he, or didn't he?!"

Suddenly, Yang Tu shot to his feet, unleashing a pressure belonging to a Tongtian Realm expert. It was like a thunderclap from a clear sky! The sudden, overwhelming pressure shattered Wu Cen's mental defenses, causing him to lose all composure in an instant.

"He did!!"

The words slipped from his mouth before he could stop himself, and his face immediately turned deathly pale.

But it was too late.

Whoosh!

In that moment, the entire area fell deathly silent, and the temperature seemed to drop as well.

"Ah..."

Jia Tianhe sighed bitterly. What was meant to happen couldn't be avoided. In the end, the truth came out.

Whether Qin Zi had kidnapped Princess Chu Yun or not was uncertain, but the fact that he had gone to Tianmu Mountain was undeniable.

"Heh, Grand Elder Jia, do you have anything left to say?"

Yang Tu sneered after a long pause.

"Lord Southern King, I admit, Qin Zi did go to Tianmu Mountain. I lied earlier, thinking it would help avoid unnecessary trouble."

Jia Tianhe spoke earnestly, "But that doesn't mean we are sheltering or protecting him. So far, there is no evidence proving that he committed the act."

"Then how do you explain my daughter disappearing alongside Qin Zi?" Yang Tu demanded coldly.

Jia Tianhe fell silent.

There was no proof of Qin Zi's guilt, but likewise, they had no evidence proving his innocence. And when the other party was more powerful, it was the lack of innocence that carried more weight.

"Do we owe you an explanation?"

At that moment, a commanding voice rang out, and a flash of light shot up from the main peak of the Seven Martial Sect.

It was a tall, slender man dressed in a green robe, with jet-black hair and a small goatee on his chin.

"Sect Master!!"

Upon seeing this figure, many disciples of the Seven Martial Sect called out in awe and respect.

Even the usually overbearing Southern King, Yang Tu, showed a hint of seriousness in his expression. "Zhao Panlong!"

The Sect Master of the Seven Martial Sect, Zhao Panlong, flew through the air, calmly looking down at Yang Tu as he spoke in a measured tone, "Your daughter and Qin Zi both disappeared, and yet you come here aggressively demanding answers. Don't you find that a little amusing?"

"What do you mean by that?"

Yang Tu asked coldly.

Zhao Panlong replied calmly, "Your daughter disappeared alongside Qin Zi, and your first assumption is that Qin Zi kidnapped her. But have you considered... perhaps it was your daughter who kidnapped Qin Zi?"