Chapter 716: Chapter 170: Magnanimous Vice President Fang [Ten Thousand Words for Monthly Tickets!] (Part 4)

A surge of emotions churned within.

I knew this fish might be a big one, but it turns out to be someone from the Heavenly Palace!

This is damn... this trip was worth it.

Tonight was truly worth stabbing myself so many times, almost killing myself for this act.

It’s actually from the Heavenly Palace!

A big fish! A big fish indeed!

"So, when it involves a colossal sect like the Heavenly Palace, it’s not something we at a single Guardian Hall can decide."

Song Yidao sighed.

"I understand."

Fang Che pondered for a moment and said, "In this way, I also understand. No wonder the Zhu family has had so many flaws over the years; so that’s how it is. If it can be explained by a sect, then everything makes sense."

The Grand Dowager asked in surprise, "Flaws? What flaws do we have?"

Exchanging a glance with Zhu Shaoyun, both felt like they were unable to grasp the matter at all.

But Fang Che smiled and said, "The Grand Dowager wouldn’t think that my visit this time was purely just to trouble the Zhu family, would you? Or simply a routine investigation?"

"I request Mr. Fang to clarify."

"The Zhu family has kept a low profile for many years, without any ostentatious displays; this is indeed cautious. But over the years, the ancestors of the Zhu family haven’t really celebrated birthdays. Logically speaking, this is unreasonable for a thousand-year family; that’s the first point."

"Additionally, although the Zhu family has proliferated over the years, there haven’t been many weddings, much less rumors of girls marrying into the family. There have been a few instances of concubines, but compared to a thousand years, they are negligible."

"Thirdly, not many children have been reportedly born, nor have there been celebrations for things like the hundredth day or banquets."

"Fourthly, it’s unheard of for a thousand-year family not to have funerals or death-related events."

Fang Che smiled, "How could this be normal?"

The Grand Dowager and Zhu Shaoyun both suddenly realized, "So that’s it."

The two exchanged a glance, both unable to help but smile bitterly. To have so many flaws and still feel complacent is truly unique.

Song Yidao, listening on the side, couldn’t help but widen his eyes in surprise and awkwardly coughed once.

Truth be told, Song Yidao had never considered it from this perspective.

But Song Yidao couldn’t be blamed, as it’s a common issue for those with high cultivation: the higher one’s cultivation, the less concept of time one has. Matters like birthdays, marriages, and childbirth...

They’re almost unrelated to them. For instance, people like Yan Nanxue and Fu Xiao, after a secluded cultivation session, might find that a year has passed before they come out.

Today they might celebrate a birthday, go back into seclusion, and then come out to find, oh, it’s my birthday again.

Finish the birthday celebration, return to seclusion, come out, and, damn, it’s my birthday yet again...

Isn’t that annoying?

Song Yidao said, "Grand Dowager, the Zhu family has been entrenched in Baiyun State for years, all the gains must have been handed over to the Heavenly Palace, right?"

"The Hall Master is correct. Apart from what is needed for business operations, 80% of the profits are submitted to the Heavenly Palace. That’s the rule!"

The Grand Dowager nodded.

Now that everything was out in the open, there was no point in hiding anything.

"But I have to say, over these years, Baiyun State has always been a strategic point for the battle between good and evil; and throughout these years, the Five Sects of the Southeastern True Sect and the Weiwo Orthodox Southeast Headquarters have been quite active in Baiyun State. Moreover, many times there were clear encirclements, yet people inexplicably escaped."

Song Yidao said, "And during those times, there were often traces of activity from the Zhu family. For over a millennium, there have been no fewer than hundreds of such incidents, right?"

The faces of the Grand Dowager and Zhu Shaoyun turned very somber.

But they did not refute.

"Master Song, this old woman understands what you are saying. Regarding this... I do not deny it, but our Zhu family truly has unavoidable difficulties."

Fang Che kept his head down, appearing very obedient, as if: when the Hall Master speaks, the subordinates dare not interrupt, showing such obedience.

But inwardly he coldly laughed.

Unavoidable difficulties?

In this damn world, who doesn’t have unavoidable difficulties? Your Heavenly Palace has difficulties, so you can help Weiwo Zheng Sect?

Understand that leading a demonic siege in Baiyun State would surely mean committing atrocious crimes. Otherwise, it wouldn’t justify a statewide roundup.

And yet... the Zhu family released all of them.

For some, after the passage of time, releasing a few demons might not seem like a big deal.

But in Fang Che’s eyes, based on facts, many innocent lives were lost. In other words... at a minimum, tens of thousands, if not millions of ordinary people and thousands of Guardians lost their lives unjustly, just like that.

And the culprits, under the Zhu family’s protection, got off scot-free, escaping far away. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Now, the Grand Dowager of the Zhu family simply says the Heavenly Palace has its difficulties.

Fang Che strongly wanted to erupt and ask: Of those tens of thousands of hundreds of thousands of wronged souls who died, did any of them not have their own troubles?

"I, Song, understand the Heavenly Palace’s difficulties, but regarding this matter, the Heavenly Palace must provide an explanation to us Guardians, to us Protectors!"

Song Yidao forcefully said, "On this point, regardless of who comes, it’s the same! Our people can’t die in vain! What you have done cannot be completely covered with just two words, ’difficulties’!"

Song Yidao and Fang Che’s thoughts were basically the same.

But the difference is that, as a Hall Master, Song Yidao must consider the bigger picture. He cannot bear the responsibility for something as significant as the Heavenly Palace!

However, even if he can’t act specifically, he can still express his stance.

The Grand Dowager smiled bitterly, "Master Song, this matter definitely needs to be brought up. Since our identities have been exposed, we did not plan to evade responsibility. But how this should be handled is truly not something you and I can decide."