Chapter 1091: Chapter 1080: Has Xiao Fan Returned?
“The Saint once said, ‘When Mount Tai crumbles before you, remain unflinching; when wolves thrive around you, keep your eyes open.’ This is the mark of one who has truly mastered Qigong.”
Facing the weeping Ning Qingfeng, Ning Qiankun’s voice was dry, akin to a water pipe from which no more drops could be squeezed.
Slowly turning around, his gaze cold, Ning Qiankun looked at Ning Qingfeng prostrated on the ground, a barely discernible hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes.
“Qingfeng, you’re no longer young, yet your Qigong has not matured. Why have you come to see me today? I’m not interested in hearing about the struggle for benefits between you and your elder brother.”
“Father… you are unaware.”
Ning Qingfeng suppressed his anger, tears streaming down as he hoarsely said, “Elder Brother… is dead!”
“What!”
These words caused even Ning Qiankun, who had spent seven or eight years in the Quiet Thought Hall without stepping outside, his heart long as calm as a still ancient well and unattached to everything, to have his eyelids twitch immediately.
Ning Qiankun’s hair and beard stood on end as he angrily pointed and said, “Who did it? A family from Dragon City or a sect from the Martial Arts World?”
“Neither…”
At this point, hesitation was clearly visible in Ning Qingfeng’s eyes as he pressed his lips together and lowered his head without speaking.
“What are you worried about? Is there an unspeakable secret in front of me, Ning Qiankun? Do you think our Ning Family would fear a noble family or a sect?”
Ning Qiankun was suddenly enraged.
“Father, please calm down and stay composed, do not get angry and harm your health.”
Ning Qingfeng quickly rose to support the slightly trembling Ning Qiankun, softly sighed, and said, “It’s not that I don’t dare to say, it’s really because I don’t want to make Father too sad.”
After a moment of silence, Ning Qingfeng said hoarsely, “In recent years, you haven’t bothered with family affairs, and my elder brother and I also wanted you to enjoy some peaceful and carefree days.”
“Therefore, though we have our limitations, my elder brother and I have been working hard to keep the Ning Family running smoothly to avoid troubling you.”
Stopping here deliberately, Ning Qingfeng seemed to muster great courage before continuing, “But a few days ago, my elder brother and I discovered something significant and, worried about your health, he suggested not telling you.”
“Who would have thought… that he would die because of it!”
At this, Ning Qingfeng broke down again, tearing at his collar, his face full of grief and despair, saying, “It’s my fault, it’s my fault Ning Qingfeng killed my elder brother. If I had informed Father of this sooner, that traitor wouldn’t have dared to be so arrogant!”
“Speak clearly, what exactly happened!”
Ning Qiankun shouted, slapping Ning Qingfeng across the face and scolded, “A man should behave like a man, not weeping like a woman. Where is your dignity?”
“Months ago…”
Ning Qingfeng held the swollen side of his face, speaking softly, “Elder Brother suddenly told me that he had spotted our third brother, Ning Fan, in Dragon City, but wasn’t sure if it was true.”
“Is Xiaofan alive? Where is he? Why not bring him to see me?”
Upon hearing Ning Fan’s name, Ning Qiankun’s withered face finally showed a hint of excitement, he pursued eagerly, his eyes filled with concern.
Seeing this genuine expression on Ning Qiankun’s face, Ning Qingfeng barely visibly frowned, trying hard to keep his voice steady, and continued, “My elder brother and I investigated continuously and finally confirmed that it was indeed our long-lost third brother, Ning Fan.”
“With the bond of brotherhood in his heart, my elder brother hoped to bring him back to pay respects to Father, so our family could reconcile. After all, what happened back then was just a misunderstanding. If we could let go of past resentments, the three of us brothers could serve you together, which would be a delightful thing.”
Ning Qingfeng, with a raspy voice, his eyes slowly revealing a piercing hatred, pointed at the sandalwood box on the brick floor and bitterly said, “But who would have thought, Ning Fan pretended to agree and even invited my elder brother to stay at his home, but then poisoned his drink, killing him!”
“After killing him, Ning Fan didn’t even flee but sent my brother’s head to me, with a message saying he wouldn’t forgive anyone in the Ning Family, warning us not to give him a chance, or else everyone in the Ning Family would die!”
“Did Xiaofan truly say this?”
After a long silence, Ning Qiankun suddenly asked.
Ning Qingfeng banged his head on the ground, opened the sandalwood box while sobbing, pointed at Ning Jianyang’s head inside, tears in his eyes, and loudly declared, “My elder brother’s head is here. If I, Ning Qingfeng, uttered a single lie, may I be struck by Heavenly Thunderstrike and die an unworthy death!”
“Hiss…”
Even with all the Qigong skills Ning Qiankun had honed through countless events and challenges, upon seeing his eldest son decapitated with the head encased in a sandalwood box, he couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath, clutching his chest, his expression one of pain.
“Father, take care of your health.”
Ning Qingfeng hurriedly supported Ning Qiankun, gently patting his back, and whispered, “I truly didn’t expect our third brother Ning Fan to become like this. If this weren’t so serious, I wouldn’t want to burden Father with it.”
“Xiaofan…”
Ning Qiankun ignored Ning Qingfeng, his eyes vacant as he muttered Ning Fan’s name repeatedly, lost in a long silence.
His gaze fell on the sandalwood box, looking at Ning Jianyang’s head, Ning Qiankun was silent for a long time, then gently closed the box. Although his face remained expressionless, tears were already welling at the corners of his eyes.
“Xiaofan wouldn’t do such a thing.”
Ning Qiankun looked at Ning Qingfeng, a glint of disgust flickering in his eyes, as he struck his chest, knocking him to the ground, and solemnly said, “What other truths are you hiding? Tell me everything, clearly and truthfully.”
“Father… everything I said is true, please see the truth, if I had a word of falsehood…”
“Would the Heavenly Five Thunderbolts strike you, is it?”
Ning Qiankun sneered, saying, “I don’t care about your oaths, I only want to hear the truth. In all my understanding of Xiaofan, he wouldn’t commit such a heinous act.”
Even now, he is still protecting that bastard!
Ning Qingfeng’s eyes blazed with anger, further affirming his earlier thoughts in his heart.
If he couldn’t change Ning Qiankun’s perception of Ning Fan, even with the elder brother’s unjust death, Ning Qingfeng would have no chance of becoming the Family Head of the Ning Family.
Thinking of this, Ning Qingfeng’s breathing gradually quickened, as if undergoing an intense internal struggle.
After a moment, Ning Qingfeng trembled at the lips, prostrating himself on the ground, knelt before Ning Qiankun, and softly said, “I have indeed hid some things, not letting Father know.”