Chapter 138 – Fragments of Words Reveal the Truth

Outside the hotel.

The disciples from both sides glared at each other with fiery eyes, as if ready to come to blows at any moment.

“Stop!!” Just as tensions reached their peak, a sharp shout echoed from afar.

As the voice faded, Elders Yuan Chenghu and Ma Chenghe appeared walking side by side.

Seeing this, the disciples finally sheathed their weapons and lowered their proud heads.

Yuan Chenghu: “What is going on here?”

Ma Chenghe: “Do you not know how important today is?”

Yuan Xiao’en hesitated upon hearing this, clearly torn between speaking and remaining silent.

Noticing this, Yuan Chenghu suddenly pointed at him and demanded: “You there, explain what happened!”

“Yes!” With the Elder’s backing, Yuan Xiao’en found his courage and clearly recounted the incident.

Hearing this, Ma Chenghe’s eyes turned cold as he stared at the Ma family disciples.

“Elder Ma, don’t listen to his nonsense! He’s framing us! He suddenly stumbled and fell on his own, and we merely laughed at him. Perhaps he couldn’t bear the embarrassment and decided to blame us.”

“That’s right! We beg both Elders to see the truth!”

“Please see the truth, Elders!!”

The Ma family disciples flushed red with anger. Had they not witnessed it themselves, they would never have known how malicious the Yuan family could be.

Yuan Xiao’en: “You’re talking nonsense!”

Ma family disciples: “You’re the one talking nonsense!!”

Seeing this, Yuan Chenghu and Ma Chenghe exchanged glances, both detecting something unusual in each other’s eyes.

Logically, both sides should clearly understand the importance of today – why would they stir up trouble for no reason?

Yet Yuan Xiao’en had indeed been struck, otherwise why would he be kneeling on the ground?

Considering this, Yuan Chenghu scanned the surroundings and suddenly asked: “Was anyone else passing through here earlier?”

“Reporting to the Elder, no one!”

Hearing this, Ma Chenghe stiffened as he spotted a pebble on the ground.

At the same moment, Yuan Chenghu noticed it too.

The two Elders locked eyes, both seeing the same doubt reflected back. Suddenly, they spoke in unison: “Where did this pebble come from?”

As these words left their mouths, both elders shuddered, as if realizing the crucial clue.

Yuan Chenghu murmured to himself: “The ground here is flat with no loose stones anywhere – except for this single pebble. But where could it have come from?”

Ma Chenghe added: “He claimed someone punched him, but the force seemed insufficient…”

After both spoke, they reached the same conclusion simultaneously: “Something’s wrong!”

Yuan Chenghu: “Did any of you see this pebble earlier?”

The disciples fell silent at this question.

Clearly not grasping the Elders’ implication, they could only exchange confused looks.

Seeing this, Ma Chenghe’s face darkened as he roared: “Well? Did you or didn’t you?”

“Probably not?”

“Or maybe we did?”

Receiving these ambiguous answers, the two elders inevitably began scanning for any suspicious figures in the vicinity, even considering objects that shouldn’t normally appear on the ground.

Though the process remained unclear, one undeniable fact emerged – the conflict between both sides originated from something that had knocked Yuan Xiao’en to the ground.But why not suspect he had been struck by someone? The answer lay precisely with this pebble.

Realizing this, Yuan Chenghu suddenly declared, “You, demonstrate exactly what happened earlier from start to finish. Remember, omit no detail—this matter could escalate beyond measure.”

“Ah?” Yuan Xiao’en’s face instantly fell into a pitiful grimace, his eyes brimming with reluctance.

Ma Chenghe cut in sharply, “Enough dawdling. Get on with it.”

“Hahaha…” The crowd erupted in mocking laughter, clearly interpreting the elders’ intervention as taking their side.

Thud!

The moment Yuan Xiao’en reenacted his face-first tumble, the surroundings exploded with unrestrained guffaws.

How strikingly similar this scene was to the original incident!

Drowning in the waves of ridicule, Yuan Xiao’en felt the world spin, his composure teetering on collapse.

Ma Chenghe shot a glance at Yuan Chenghu—only to find the latter already looking back.

Discreetly retrieving his phone, Ma Chenghe dialed a number and ordered, “Go to the rooftop. Stay alert.”

This development sent tremors through the disciples. The laughter died abruptly as each grasped the gravity of the situation.

Yuan Xiao’en, meanwhile, wore the expression of one bereaved, wishing for oblivion.

A tomb-like silence descended upon the scene.

Ma Chenghe broke it coldly, “It was inevitable. To strike at such a moment—either they’re recklessly confident or truly scorn our Xingyi Sect.”

Yuan Chenghu commanded, “Xiao’en, rise. The truth will surface shortly. I too wish to see who dares provoke the tiger in its den!”

Their eyes glinted like millennia-old ice, lethal intent seeping through—genuine fury awakened.

The disciples stared at the two elders, disbelief warring with dread in their gazes.

Such reactions couldn’t escape Yuan Chenghu and Ma Chenghe’s notice.

“Cease your speculation,” Yuan Chenghu stated. “This is likely sabotage.” He elaborated calmly, “The trigger was something striking Yuan Xiao’en. Excluding your involvement, only a lone pebble remains. Consider: on smooth ground, were there other debris? That is the first anomaly.”

Ma Chenghe added, “Even without the pebble, you lacked motive. Thus, we conclude our rivals seek to sow chaos—fishing in troubled waters. The Southern Yuan-Northern Ma meeting inevitably breeds suspicion among factions. Striking now serves their interests perfectly.”

His tone sharpened, “But they underestimate us! To think such petty tricks could hinder the alliance of our Xingyi Sect—preposterous delusion!”

“From Yuan Xiao’en’s fall trajectory and the pebble’s path,” Yuan Chenghu analyzed, “the assailant must be positioned on the rooftop or within a private room.” He lifted his gaze toward the ceiling, a cold smirk forming. “Heh… answers await us imminently.”

As the words hung in the air, Ma Chenghe’s phone abruptly rang.