C4 The Questioning

The main hall of the General's Mansion was filled with General Luo's trusted aides. Each wore a grave expression, their eyes dark and brooding, casting a heavy atmosphere over the room. General Luo sat at the head, his face calm, yet the fire of anger in his eyes was unmistakable.

The Black Scarf Bandits were a notorious gang of horse thieves, known for their ruthlessness and swift actions. They roamed the surrounding areas, leaving a trail of destruction and chaos, drawing the attention of nearby towns. This time, they not only invaded the outskirts of Luoyang City but also breached General Luo's defense zone, boldly stealing a team of horses from the General's Mansion—a blatant act of provocation.

When Luo Tongtian entered the hall, he immediately sensed the oppressive atmosphere. In response to General Luo's inquiry, he recounted the events in detail, deliberately omitting any mention of his own physical changes and the eleven bandits who had mysteriously perished. Despite his account, General Luo remained characteristically silent, though his gaze grew sharper.

At that moment, someone stepped forward and questioned Luo Tongtian, "Sir, your account seems somewhat implausible. I have doubts about its authenticity."

Luo Tongtian heard the words, turned his head to look at the suddenly aggressive Du Yidao, and clenched his teeth without saying a word.

Du Yidao, having received a nod from General Luo, slowly approached Luo Tongtian and pressed him with another pointed question.

"Young Master, those bandits with black scarves managed to kill thirty guards in an instant. Even the horse trainers didn't have a chance to send a distress signal, which shows they came prepared."

"What puzzles me is how you managed to escape when faced with such a deadly threat."

Du Yidao's words hit the mark, causing Luo Tongtian's heart to skip a beat. The people around them nodded subtly, their eyes filled with suspicion as they looked at Luo Tongtian.

"Moreover, when I led a team to inspect the scene earlier, we found eleven bodies of the bandits alongside our guards and horse trainers."

"These bandits died at the same time as our guards, which means you were still there when they died. Yet, in your account, there's no mention of them. Why is that?"

Du Yidao stepped closer to Luo Tongtian, emphasizing his question.

"I don't know!"

Luo Tongtian glanced at the bothersome figure, then snapped coldly.

"This matter concerns the reputation of the General's Mansion and the motives behind the actions of the masked bandits. Saying you don't know is highly irresponsible," Du Yidao remarked with a sneer, his tone shifting from respectful to dismissive.

"What do you think I should say?" Luo Tongtian retorted.

"Describe everything that happened at the scene truthfully, so the General can better assess the situation. If you don't, it only suggests one thing... that you're in cahoots with those bandits," Du Yidao accused, his expression turning icy as he leveled a serious charge at Luo Tongtian.

Hearing this, General Luo Ning's brow furrowed. Although he noticed the inconsistencies in Luo Tongtian's words, Du Yidao's aggressive approach toward his godson in his presence was unsettling. However, considering Luo Tongtian's long-standing complacency, he thought perhaps this confrontation was necessary and chose to remain silent.

Luo Youyou, unable to hold back, stepped forward to shield Luo Tongtian. "Du Yidao, step back. With my father here, it's not your place to speak."

Du Yidao's face darkened at her defense of Luo Tongtian. "Please, Miss, calm down. I'm only trying to get the young master to tell the truth."

Luo Youyou's words were sharp, like a knife cutting through the air: "Oh, so you do remember he's the young master of this house. I was beginning to think you didn't even recognize your own boss."

Seeing Luo Youyou turn against him for the sake of this useless person, and even speaking so harshly, Du Yidao's expression grew even darker. Anger flared in his chest, wishing he could burn that useless person to ashes and erase him from existence.

Noticing his daughter and his trusted aide arguing, General Luo cleared his throat and spoke up, "Enough, both of you. The most important thing right now isn't this argument, but understanding the motives of the Black Scarf Bandits."

"I'm willing to lead an investigation into this matter!" Du Yidao immediately offered.

"I am ready to assist, General. Just give the order!" The other members of the General's Mansion stood up, bowing to General Luo in unison.

"Father, let me handle this," another voice unexpectedly chimed in. Despite its softness, it carried a tone of stubbornness and determination. More importantly, it sparked a glimmer of hope in General Luo's eyes.

General Luo stared intently at Luo Tongtian, a slight smile playing on his lips, his eyes showing a hint of delight.

"You haven't even reached the third level of strength. How can you take on such a heavy responsibility?"

"Moreover, until you clear your name of collusion, you have no right to be involved in this investigation," Du Yidao sneered, calling out to Luo Tongtian without hesitation.

"He's my son. If I say he's qualified, then he's qualified. Assign thirty guards to Tongtian. He'll be in charge of this matter. Execute immediately!"

General Luo, known for his decisive actions, ignored Du Yidao and issued the order before turning to leave.

"Hmph, with your half-baked skills, facing those ruthless bandits is a death sentence. I can't wait to see how you, a useless fool, meet your end at their hands," Du Yidao muttered, watching General Luo's retreating figure with a dark expression.

He turned and glared viciously at Luo Tongtian, his eyes filled with undisguised malice.

"Du Yidao, shut your mouth. Let me tell you, even if his skills are lacking, he's still one of us, and it's not your place to judge," Luo Youyou interjected.

"In my eyes, Tongtian is steadfast and composed, a rare gem of a man, a thousand times better than you. Don't think that just because you have some skills, you can look down on others. I have no respect for you."

Luo Youyou pointed at Du Yidao, her voice sharp and cutting like a blood-stained dagger, leaving Du Yidao's heart battered and his face showing clear signs of pain.

"Don't worry about my life or death. I can assure you, even if you die, I won't."

Luo Tongtian stopped Luo Youyou from continuing her outburst, gently taking her hand and leading her away.

"Brat, we'll see about that!"

Witnessing this, Du Yidao's face turned a shade of green with anger, consumed by jealousy.