When Uncle Su yelled Clan Leader Zhao Guang's name, the Grand Elders couldn't stay seated anymore.
They all moved towards the center of the platform in front of Zhao Yao and Uncle Su.
"Su Clan Leader, why did you yell like that?" Grand Elder Zhao Liang, who managed the clan business with the outside world, asked.
"Why, you ask? It's because I received the soul sense communication from Zhao Guang intended for someone here. It asked the person to 'lie' and 'cover-up' which match greatly with Zhao Yao's claims." Uncle Su stared at Elder Zhao Huamin, explicitly implying who the 'someone' was as he replied.
"How can you be sure about that?" Another Grand Elder questioned.
"It's not Heaven's mystery to not find out. An experienced Martial Lord can trace the soul sense that contacted him, it appears to come from someone similar to Clan Leader." Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao answered it for Uncle Su.
"You Grand Elders received it too?" Uncle Su asked in puzzlement.
"Yes, that's what makes it doubtful. It doesn't make sense for all of us to receive it unintentionally." Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao said as he stroked his beard. "What if it's trickery?"
"It could happen if Zhao Guang was flustered. A great disturbance did happen that could disrupt a father's mind at that time." Uncle Su turned to look at Zhao Yao, who was calmly observing them.
The Grand Elders also scrutinized Zhao Yao.
"I hope that respected Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao heard my requests, and oblige to them." Zhao Yao bowed and said.
"I did hear everything. But child, don't you think you are going too far in asking me to swear that many oaths?" Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao's words showed that he was dissatisfied with getting asked to swear to uphold his justness.
"You can't blame me, Grand Elder. I don't expect any justness from the clan or any fairness in this trial. I just hope you, a Grand Elder renowned for upholding justness and Founder Ancestor's honor, would not fall under the 'manipulation' of the corrupting authority." Zhao Yao tried to show his sincerity and hope through his words. "Please, forgive me if I am rude. But I need an assurance even from you because the one who wronged me and the one who I am against is the son of our Clan Leader."
"Child, it's not that I don't want to believe you, but your accusations are all absurd and farfetched. From the murder accusation of your Merp to this framing accusation, all of it came one after another." Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao stated as he shook his head.
Zhao Yao also knew that his claims and accusations were weird, but he had to do it. If he didn't hide his real intention and asked for an open trial to prove that Zhao Ping framed him with the Merp, he wouldn't get a chance as his uncle would prepare a strong defense. He wouldn't be able to expose the clan's corruption like this. And most importantly, he wouldn't get Zhao Bo at all.
Zhao Yao had to surprise them to catch them all off guard.
"What do you think will happen if I sought justice for framing me? Elder Zhao Jiang made a 'hasty' decision without properly investigating. I don't expect a proper investigation, but I expect Zhao Bo to go to ZHAOZHENG CAPITAL or even THE WEST CONTINENT instead of FuXi town if it went like that. Just because Zhao Ping was the son of the clan leader, he can do anything?"
Grand Elder Chengjiao made a slight nod acknowledging Zhao Yao's questions. The manipulation to hide Zhao Bo was made very evident to everyone.
"Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao, I understand your concern. It could appear absurd before you, but truth can be strange. When the entire clan Elders work together to suppress me, my uncle and Zhao Ping knew for sure that no one will listen and give attention to the weird truth I have to tell." A drop of tear flowed from Zhao Ping's eye. With that wet eye, he looked into the Grand Elder's eyes before continuing.
"Are you also going to join them and discard the justice I deserve? The truth is right in front of you. Honor my request and subject both Zhao Bo and Elder Zhao Huamin to the truth ceremony. You will see the truth for yourself."
Zhao Yao requested.
"Zhao Guang, get down here. Or do you want me to get you myself?" Uncle Su yelled again. He appeared to get more frustrated after hearing Zhao Yao's words.
Zhao Yao wasn't sure whether Uncle Su believed him or not, but he knew for sure that he was madly curious now.
"Su Clan Leader, please calm down. Firstly, let's verify and settle the issue at hand." Grand Elder Zhao Chengjio tried to calm down Su Zhelan.
Most of the Grand Elder's present were visibly annoyed by Uncle Su's presence.
Zhao Yao could imagine that they want him gone from here because the issue was getting out of hand.
'They couldn't silence me with Uncle Su's presence.' Zhao Yao gloated inside.
He observed the crowd in between. They were mostly confused as they all heard Zhao Yao's loud accusations and watched the platform attentively while discussing between themselves.
"Zhao Yao, why I don't I subject you to truth ceremony to 'clear up' on doubtful things." Grand Elder Zhao Liang asked with a gentle smile.
'Want to frame me for trying to blame Zhao Ping?' Zhao understood the reason behind the smile. This Grand Elder wanted to ask him questions that could link Zhao Yao to the Demon Beast disappearance. If he could prove that, then he could just discard every accusation Zhao Yao made on that ground.
"Grand Elder. Under normal circumstances, I will be happy to obey, as it could prove my innocence. But..." Zhao Yao shook his head without completing his words.
"But..."
"As I said, I don't trust the clan anymore. What if the examiner uses a soul search on me and destroys me? When the clan leader finds me dangerous to his son, silencing me will be best." Zhao Yao said while shivering, fully expressing that he was afraid.
"Are you accusing me?" Grand Elder Zhao Liang raised his voice.
"No Grand Elder, it's not like that. This is the trial I made by wagering my lineage. Since you didn't allow subjecting Zhao Ping to the truth ceremony, I obliged.
But, when I ask you to subject these two, why are you Grand Elders showing this much hesitation.
You can prove your uprightness to me by subjecting them first. I am pretty sure that you will get the truth after that." Zhao Yao said respectfully, but he was laughing inside.
"Zhao Yao, what you requested was to distrust a Master Elder's honor. Subjecting the examiner itself is unheard of, and you don't have any proof to show that they are lying." Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao tried to reason because what Zhao Yao requested will ruin the reputation of the truth ceremony for ages. "I do admit, the soul sense message throws suspicion, but it's not clear enough."
"Are you saying to me that Elder's don't lie?" Zhao Yao asked mockingly. He started to lose his trust in this Grand Elder as well. Zhao Yao knew that subjecting an Elder, especially a Martial Master like Zhao Huamin will be a big deal, but he needed it to happen.
"Elders are bound by their oath and honor." The Grand Elder gave an unrealistic but idealistic reply.
"Hahaha. Elders never lie. Do you really believe that Grand Elder Zhao Chengjio?
Do you believe that Elder Zhao Yang didn't lie when he claimed that Zhao Bo went to FuXi, when in actuality, what he did was secure him and hide him in the Southeast tower?
Do you believe that Elder Zhao Jiang didn't lie and actually made a 'hasty' decision WHEN IN REALITY HE COLLUDED WITH ZHAO PING IN FRAMING ME?
If you don't believe their Master, Elder Zhao Huamin didn't lie in the truth ceremony.
Then PROVE ME WRONG.
I told you, If I am wrong, I will cut my own head as an apology." Zhao Yao challenged openly.
"What NONSENSE." Elder Zhao Jiang screamed. "How did I collude with Zhao Ping? I just did my duty and punish you when you disgraced the clan in front of the Su clan young lady.
I may have made a hasty decision in using the Marriage clause, but it was true that you abused a Demon Merp."
"Hahahaha." Zhao Yao laughed loudly.
"Why are you laughing? Whether you got framed or not is unrelated to me. You are indeed guilty of what you did, and as an Elder, after finding out what you did, I did punish you." Elder Zhao Jiang went on, but he was right. Whether Zhao Yao was framed or not didn't change much when he did the deed. But did he?
'Hehehe. Thank you, Merry.' Zhao Yao happily looked at the target, he almost forgot. This Elder came at the right time. By destroying him, Zhao Yao can prove his words even without the bullsh*t truth ceremony.
"You claim that I sexually abused a Merp?" Zhao Yao asked.
"THEN EXPLAIN TO ME HOW I AM STILL A VIRGIN."
"What, You are still a virgin? No way." Elder Zhao Jiang stuttered.
"Are you telling the truth?" Uncle Su in a flash appeared near him. It wasn't just him, Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao also appeared on the other side.
"As a Martial Lord, can't you check for yourself?" Zhao Yao said with a smile.
Uncle Su's trembling hands touched his shoulder, and a tingling sensation enveloped Zhao Yao.
Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao also grabbed his arm and did the same.
Watching both grownup men expressing a myriad of expressions while touching his body was extremely weird.
"You are correct. The clan did indeed wronged you." Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao was the first to speak.
"Yao'er, I should have never doubted you. Please forgive your Uncle Su." The grown man's eyes were wet.
Zhao Yao also felt complex emotions that were new to him. So he distracted himself by looking at his stunned prey, Elder Zhao Jiang.
"ELDER ZHAO JIANG, NOW ANSWER ME, WHY YOU FRAMED ME?
Don't tell me that you still can claim that Elders don't lie...Haha...PROVE ME WRONG."
As he challenged, Zhao Yao praised the original Zhao Yao with pure heartfelt respect as he did something unimaginable to Zhao Yao. On Earth, people have a habit of calling virgins, losers.
But, this was different because he did something saintlike.
The poor guy didn't 'jerk off' for over seventeen years. DAMN. That takes some will power. He is a saint.