: Be Wary of Ning Zhuo

2024-07-31 Author: Gu Zhenren

: Be Wary of Ning Zhuo

Ning Family Dungeon.

Ning Xiaoren sat on a pile of straw, leaning against the wall, his expression dazed.

Ever since he had been imprisoned here, he had been in a trance, his gaze unfocused, like a statue.

The sound of light footsteps approached.

Ning Xiaoren's ears twitched slightly. He immediately recognized that a jailer had left their post.

Then, the door opened, and the sound of footsteps he was all too familiar with grew closer.

Ning Xiaoren suddenly seemed to snap back to reality. His expression became animated again as he stood up and quickly moved to the bars of his cell.

"Father!" Sure enough, the next moment, he saw a familiar figure emerge from the shadows near the dungeon entrance and step into the torchlit area.

The visitor was none other than the Ning Family Head.

The Family Head finally revealed his true emotions, his face clouded with gloom. "Xiaoren, I've come to see you."

Ning Xiaoren's Adam's apple bobbed a few times, his voice choked with emotion. "Father, I've let you down."

The Family Head nodded, his tone carrying a hint of disappointment. "You have indeed let me down."

"Do you know where you went wrong this time?"

Ning Xiaoren nodded. "I do!"

"First, I had long lost the support of the people. Over the years as the Young Family Head, I offended too many members of the branch families. This time, when the wall started to crumble, everyone pushed. I couldn't resist."

"Second, I wasn't thorough enough. When framing Ning Ze, I should have acted more decisively. I could have even taken his life after setting him up. That way, even if Wang Lan and the others accused me today, without Ning Ze turning against me, I wouldn't have been so passive!"

"Third, I was too complacent. I've been the Young Family Head for many years. I grew accustomed to seeing the branch family members seething with anger but not daring to speak up, to seeing them hold their noses and endure my behavior. I underestimated them, and I underestimated Ning Ze. Because Ning Ze had been my subordinate for years, I showed him leniency."

"Fourth, and most crucially, I underestimated Ning Zhuo far too much!"

"That young man is anything but simple. He exploited the discontent within our clan and leveraged the situation at the Molten Rock Immortal Palace."

"He's only at the third level of Qi Refining and appears weak, but his methods are incredibly shrewd."

"I never imagined such mature tactics could come from a sixteen-year-old."

The Family Head nodded and sighed. "Your analysis is quite logical. Good. It seems you haven't lost your spirit."

"However, although Ning Zhuo was a key figure... today's events might not have been solely his doing."

"Ning Zhuo has some reputation, but not enough to rally everyone instantly. The fact that Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun, and others appeared almost simultaneously suggests someone must have contacted and coordinated with them in advance."

"The clansmen were mobilized too quickly. Some among them were likely prepared, waiting for the situation to escalate."

"The Elder of the Ancestral Hall sensed the strong smell of conspiracy, which is why he didn't defend you."

Ning Xiaoren's face darkened as he nodded gravely. "I don't resent him anymore. The Elder of the Ancestral Hall made a rational choice. At that point, I could no longer face the overwhelming evidence. If he had stepped in to defend me, he would likely have lost his position as Elder too."

The Family Head said, "It's good that you understand."

Ning Xiaoren asked, "Father, what should I do next? You must have a plan, right?"

"Of course," the Family Head nodded. "According to my arrangements, you will be imprisoned for three years."

"But this is actually your opportunity!"

"While in the dungeon, you must diligently study talismans and develop an excellent Frost Talisman to contribute to the family without compensation, using merit to offset your punishment."

"I've already prepared the relevant talismans for you, sourced from the legacy of a cultivator in the North Wind Kingdom."

"About a year from now, when the commotion has completely died down, you can make slight modifications to the talismans and present them."

"In the meantime, you will train hard right here in this dungeon."

Ning Xiaoren nodded. "Understood, Father. I'll treat this as a secluded cultivation session."

The Family Head said, "Good. I'm comforted to see you in such a state of mind. Isn't a setback like this an opportunity for growth?"

"In life, mistakes and failures are inevitable. Only those who keep fighting despite repeated defeats are true heroes."

Ning Xiaoren sighed deeply. "I will remember your teachings, Father."

The Family Head continued, "Once you present the talismans, I will reduce your punishment according to clan rules."

"At that point, you can remain in the family instead of being exiled."

"The main branch controls the Ning Family. As long as you stay in the clan, there will be plenty of opportunities to earn merits and climb back up step by step."

Ning Xiaoren frowned. "What are the opinions of others in the main branch?"

The Family Head snorted coldly. "I've already discussed it with them."

"The branch families showed off their power this time, which has put our main branch on alert. They are well aware of your past efforts to suppress the branch families. Therefore, they unanimously agree that we need to teach the branch families a lesson. Let them know who truly runs the Ning Family!"

"In the future, I will discuss further with them. I might even be able to secure some merits from them on your behalf to further reduce your punishment."

"For now, what you need to do is stay quietly in the dungeon and wait for the turmoil to subside."

"Father, I understand!" Ning Xiaoren's mind was now completely at ease. "How should we handle the aftermath?"

"What about Ning Zhuo..."

The Family Head interrupted him, "Regarding Ning Zhuo, the main branch will not trouble him immediately, nor will we suppress him in the slightest."

"He's currently at the peak of his influence. All the branch family members are watching him."

"If he receives even a hint of unfair treatment, the branch families will sympathize and support him even more, boosting his momentum."

"In fact, we will provide him with many resources in the near future to ease the tensions between the main and branch families."

Ning Xiaoren's eyes flashed with a cold light as he gritted his teeth. "Give them to him! Give him more, the more the better!"

"That kid is extremely greedy for wealth, no less than I am."

"I don't believe he won't take the bait!"

"Let him receive the family's倾斜 and favor. I don't believe the branch families won't feel envious or jealous when they see it."

"Use this move to drive a wedge between him and the branch families!"

"Aren't we hesitant to touch him precisely because he's become a banner for the branch families now?"

The Family Head chuckled, looking pleased. "Xiaoren, I haven't wasted all these years raising you."

"We've already planned to do just that."

"However, it might not succeed."

"Based on our discussions, most believe Ning Zhuo has a mastermind behind him."

"The branch family members gathered too quickly today. Ning Youfu, Ning Houjun, and the others seemed to have planned and coordinated their actions in advance."

Ning Xiaoren nodded, biting his lip, his gaze icy. "If only we could catch him colluding with outsiders! That would be perfect!"

"Ning Zhuo!"

"To think I, Ning Xiaoren, would be brought down by a mere child like you. What a colossal humiliation."

"One day, I will repay you double for the disgrace I suffered today!"

Ning Xiaoren swore an oath, ultimately unable to suppress the overwhelming hatred he felt for Ning Zhuo deep in his heart.

The Family Head nodded, quite satisfied with Ning Xiaoren's mental state. "My child, carry this hatred with you and cultivate well."

After exchanging a few more words, the Family Head turned and left.

"Father!" Ning Xiaoren called out from behind as the Family Head was about to disappear into the shadows. "Be wary of Ning Zhuo!"

"Thinking back now, I always feel that Ning Zhuo is no simple character. He's truly extraordinary!"

The Family Head paused, turned back to look at Ning Xiaoren, and nodded slightly. "I will keep a close eye on him."

"If today's events were not orchestrated by someone behind him but planned by him alone, that would be rather frightening."

"Let's observe his next moves."

"Today, he returned victorious, his reputation soaring. This is an extremely rare opportunity."

"It remains to be seen whether he can recognize this opportunity, seize it, and truly build his own momentum."

Ning Ze's Residence.

In the master bedroom, Ning Zhuo's uncle and aunt were sitting by the bed.

Aunt Wang Lan was examining Ning Zhuo's uncle, using spells to treat his wounds.

Her eyes were red as she choked back tears. "Husband, you've suffered so much this time."

Ning Ze sighed. "This time, it's all thanks to you. How did you resolve to tell Ning Zhuo the truth?"

Wang Lan said, "Ah, I never actually planned to do that."

"After visiting you in prison, I was preparing to execute our original plan—to kneel before Ning Zhuo in public the next day and pressure him to return to the modification team."

"But that night, when I pushed open the door, Ning Zhuo gave me a real fright."

"Ning Zhuo had already entered the room and was waiting for me specifically."

Ning Ze raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Tell me more."

Wang Lan continued, "I don't know where Ning Zhuo got his information, but as soon as he spoke, he revealed the secret: 'I visited the prison, and Ning Xiaoren wanted to use you and me to force him to back down.'"

"I was very flustered at the time."

"Then Ning Zhuo told me that after you were framed for embezzling his cultivation resources, he had secretly investigated and found many inconsistencies, which raised his suspicions."

"He then shared his猜测; he had guessed the truth!"

"After that, he asked me if I could still trust Ning Xiaoren's character? If I still wanted to be used by Ning Xiaoren?"

"If we truly wanted to save you, Ning Xiaoren was absolutely unreliable. We had to rely on ourselves!"

Wang Lan sighed at this point. "Husband, he convinced me."

"His words made too much sense."

"Then he told me that Ning Xiaoren had made fatal mistakes and left too many loopholes. He had already contacted important figures in the branch families and planned to stir up trouble and target Ning Xiaoren the next day!"

"When I heard his plan, I was utterly shocked. I wanted to participate but was terribly afraid that if we failed, it would harm you."

"Ning Zhuo pressured me!"

"He threatened that if I didn't cooperate, he would confirm the charges Ning Xiaoren had fabricated against you, ensuring you would be disgraced, your reputation ruined, and that you could never hold your head high in the family again for the rest of your life."

"Husband, I know you too well. If that little brat Ning Zhuo really did such a thing, you would rather be dead than live in such shame."

"In the end, I had no choice but to follow his arrangements."

(End of )