"What say you, Zhao Yao?" Clan Leader Zhao Guang asked like a genuine relative.
"Clan Leader, since you realized that I was falsely accused, why don't you announce it to the public and clear my name." Zhao Yao replied.
"Certainly, after we cleared out everything." Zhao Guang said.
"So, you weren't honest when you apologized?" Zhao Yao fired back, causing Zhao Guang to halt.
"Zhao Yao, know that you are talking to the clan leader." Grand Elder Zhao Liang reprimanded.
Zhao Guang raised his hand to stop the Grand Elder, and with his deceptive smile, he responded to Zhao Yao. "It's not like that. You shouldn't doubt your uncle. I will announce your innocence to satisfy you."
Zhao Yao wasn't sure of his uncle's plan, and instead of waiting to see that, he had decided to impose his new improvised plan on them.
'Master. I need your help, but this time a little actively.' Zhao Yao called out in his mind.
'I don't want to involve in this.' Immortal Lu replied.
"Members of Zhao Clan. As you have seen, Zhao Yao is innocent in the abuse that was charged against him..." Clan Leader Zhao Guang did what Zhao Yao asked and publicly proclaimed his innocence.
'Master, you don't have to worry, it's a simple trick. I need you to do something and deceive everyone here.' Zhao Yao revealed his entire plan to his Master as his Clan Leader cleared out his name.
"...As the Clan Leader, I forbid everyone from using that event to sully Zhao Yao's reputation from now on." Zhao Guang didn't even look at Zhao Yao and turned to Uncle Su to resolve the rest. "That should be enough."
Hidden inside the amiable front, Zhao Yao was sure that this blood-related uncle was irritated by him.
Even though Zhao Guang gave in to Zhao Yao's demand to delay and resolve this harmlessly, Zhao Yao had a different idea.
'Isn't this the perfect time for a tear-jerking speech?' Zhao Yao tried his best to hold his smile as he looked at the mass of people who are on his side now. Since his uncle had announced his innocence, his goal of convincing the crowd is complete. But great people go the extra mile. If he succeeded, he could push them to the edge and make his work done to perfection.
"What have I done wrong?" Zhao Yao asked with a straight face. He was neither loud nor soft, but even people who stood miles away heard him clearly.
It was all thanks to his Master as Zhao Yao asked his Master to make everyone hear it. "Answer me?"
"What are you saying?" Clan Leader Zhao Guang asked in confusion.
Zhao Yao hoped his Master would help him manipulate the Martial Lods and the crowd's emotions as they hear his speech. Zhao Yao wanted them in a stupor without interrupting him, and he had the utmost trust in his Martial God Master's cheat abilities.
Once Zhao Yao made sure that he had everyone's attention, he continued.
"What have I done wrong?
Even when I knew that I could never become a cultivator, I never gave up and always worked hard without minding the mockeries or insults thrown at me. Is it my fault that I became injured? No one chooses to be a cripple.
What have I done wrong?
I am not sure what caused the events that led to my parents' tragedy. But, is it my fault? I may not be a cultivator who can bring glory to the clan, but why did I get treated like an outsider? I also share the Founding Ancestor's blood and lineage.
What have I done wrong?
I know I am not qualified to marry Su Ruo. It was my father's honor and Uncle Su's kindness that brought this relationship. I was glad that I could help in the Zhao-Su clan alliance and to become the son-in-law of the Su clan.
If the clan or Uncle Su wanted me to remove myself from the marriage for Zhao Ping, I would have done so even though it will BREAK MY HEART.
What have I done wrong to ruin my reputation? Why ruin my dead father's honor? My father didn't raise me like that. Ever since my engagement with Su Ruo, I have done nothing that could bring shame to the clan or Uncle Su.
I considered Zhao Ping like my little brother. That was why I trusted him and drank the drugged wine he offered me, and I realize now that he didn't consider me such.
Hah. I don't want to reinstate the marriage arrangement. I am not in the same 'tier' as Su Ruo and she deserves someone on her 'same level.'
But, how could I let a backstabber like Zhao Ping marry an innocent flower-like Su Ruo? I cannot let the clan do that to Uncle Su."
"Yao'er." Uncle Su called gently with his fist tightened. But Zhao Yao ignored him and continued while facing his blood Uncle who luckily didn't interrupt him till now.
"Tell me, Uncle? What have I done wrong? Or is it because you hated my father?"
His words were filled with emotion, and his eyes became wet. He added some lies in between to make the speech more touching. He didn't have to act much, as they were from his memories and his own experience.
"Don't tell me that you don't know about this? As the clan leader, when I was FALSELY accused, why didn't you respond or investigate? You didn't care and instead, you all were keen to make a new marriage arrangement for Zhao Ping. Your own brother and nephew didn't matter for you, and you cared about your own son more.
I know that since you are the clan leader, you will somehow save Zhao Ping from punishment. But he cannot escape from the heavens."
Turning to the crowd who stood distantly, Zhao Yao yelled. "Our Just Zhao clan is no more. What remains is a rotten shell. My fellow clan members, if this injustice could happen to me, IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU."
"Zhao Yao. Stop...What are you saying..." Finally, Zhao Guang was able to speak. He appears to struggle to himself without knowing what was going on.
"It's fine. You can do whatever to me. Kill me, silence me, throw me in a prison." Zhao Yao let out a huge sigh and wiped his eyes.
"I, Zhao Chengjiao, all these years never wronged anyone. I have seen what happened in today's trial and heard the boy's heartfelt words. Clan Leader, there is no denying that there was a big manipulation behind the scenes. If the one who broke the clan law is the clan leader himself, he will be punished." Before Zhao Guang said anything else, Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao stood forwards and said.
"I agree. Zhao Yao deserves justice. If Zhao Ping has involvement in this, he should be punished." Another Grand Elder came forward. He was backed by 3 more Grand Elders.
Not only that, many Master Elders and regular Elders who listened to his speech in the crowd, spoke out in support of him, and came forward.
Within a minute, Zhao Yao watched an army forming in support of him.
'Damn, I am such a good actor. If I had this good look when I was on Earth, I could become a 'Superstar.' Or, is it all due to my Master? It didn't matter.' Zhao Yao thought.
There are two options before Zhao Guang. He could choose to save the clan's alliance with the Su clan and clan's reputation by trialing and punishing Zhao Ping. But that will disqualify Zhao Ping from becoming the future clan leader.
Or he could try to save his own son, but that will ruin the clan's alliance with Su clan and his own reputation as the clan leader.
Either way, Zhao Yao benefits because the 1st option will result in Zhao Ping's immediate punishment, and the 2nd option will also eventually trouble Zhao Ping.
Because when the entire clan realizes that the Clan Leader broke off the clan's alliance with Su clan to protect his son, they will hate Zhao Ping.
This was Zhao Yao's plan. After accomplishing this, he wanted to fake his death and sweep the Ancestral Palace clean with his Master.
For that, he needed a big distraction, and there was nothing better than two Clan Leaders fighting.
It was time to stir the fight. Zhao Yao hoped the hot-blooded Uncle Su to start the fight, but since it didn't happen, he will cause a brawl then.
With his emotional speech, he had made a wave in the crowd's and clan Elders' minds. The elders who spoke out in support of him proved this.
Zhao Yao only needed a spark to ignite the fireworks and start the explosion.
'Master, are you ready? Who should I pick?' Zhao Yao didn't have time to waste as he searched around quickly for his target.
Elder Zhao Yang stood out to him. He was one Elder who escaped from his traps with mild damages.
'Hehe. Master what about Elder Zhao Yang.' Zhao Yao asked.
'Should work. He and his father seem hot-tempered.' Immortal Lu replied.
'His father?' Zhao Yao asked in confusion.
'That Grand Elder Zhao Liang.' Master Lu's reply stunned Zhao Yao, and it immediately turned to pure joy.
'Elder Zhao Yang is Grand Elder Zhao Liang's bastard child? The heck. Haha. This is perfect. No time to waste. He is our man.'
The debate between Elders was getting heated.
"The guilty had to be punished, even if it's the clan leader himself."
Those who supported Zhao Yao were low in numbers, but most of them had an unblemished reputation like Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao.
Zhao Yao slowly and silently moved near Elder Zhao Yang. He didn't look at the Elder, but when he heard his Master's signal in his mind, he mouthed 'Liang's bastard' without making any sound.
"YO..U...." Zhao Yang reacted by pointing his finger at Zhao Yao.
"DIEEEEE." A loud yell, which sounded exactly like Zhao Yang was heard, and Zhao Yao was blasted off the platform. Elder Zhao Yang stood there stunned, looking suspiciously at his own hands.
"How dare you?" Uncle Su, after seeing Zhao Yao getting attacked, responded immediately. His Qi armor erupted, and with a single stride, he reached Elder Zhao Yang before unleashing his Decimating Fist.
Grand Elder Zhao Liang, who saw that his illegitimate son was about to get attacked, exploded in rage and pounded towards Uncle Su.
Clan Leader Zhao Guang and his group flew forward to break off the fight, Grand Elder Zhao Chengjiao and his group thinking that they were coming to fight, met with them. "Clan Leader, trying to kill the boy is going too far."
Zhao Yao was blasted a little too far before softly falling. As it was his Master who made him blast away, Zhao Yao felt like he was in a rollercoaster ride in ultra slow-motion. 'Master, I think you used a little too much force.'
'Hehe.' A chuckle was the reply he received.
On his ride to the ground, Zhao Yao watched the Martial Lords summoning their Qi armor and clashing with each other like goats ramming their heads.
The Legendary brawl of the Ancient Zhao Clan setup by Zhao Yao all because of a Merp thus began.