Urban Martial Saint

Chapter 1717 - 1717: Pleading on Someone's Behalf

At this point, Aomuhan was already close to breakdown, and dared not conceal anything anymore. Amidst his sobbing, he recounted the events that had transpired earlier in great detail, including Shen Qianyue impersonating Bai Qinghuan to deceive him, without hiding anything.After hearing Aomuhan's words, the originally furious Ao Wuchang was instantly stunned. He had thought that this matter was also connected to the Bai Family, which is why he argued with the Patriarch of the Bai Family just now, intending to implicate the Bai Family, thus reducing his son's culpability somewhat. He hadn't anticipated such a result, leaving him utterly helpless.

"I just said that this matter definitely has nothing to do with my Bai Family!" The Patriarch of the Bai Family looked at Ao Wuchang with pride and said, "Head of the Ao Family, your son was foolish and got deceived, and instead wants to frame us for it. Is this how your Proud Family conducts itself?"

Ao Wuchang was furious inside, but had no words to refute. After all, the fault was entirely his son's alone.

Helian Tiehua furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice, "You say Shen Qianyue impersonated Bai Qinghuan to deceive you, and you fell for it?" He continued, "But why did you fall for it so easily? He approached you for an alliance, intending to frame Li Lianshan, and you actually joined him? Why do you want to go against Li Lianshan?"

"This..." Aomuhan hadn't mentioned the reason earlier, and now faced with Helian Tiehua's inquiry, he dared not conceal and could only explain the ins and outs of the matter.

Ye Qing listened intently beside them and upon hearing Aomuhan had been deceived by Shen Qianyue in order to target him, his brows furrowed tightly. Aomuhan had always had grievances with him, but once Ye Qing's strength grew, he didn't pay much mind to it. Unexpectedly, Aomuhan was still relentless, committing such acts, which was indeed infuriating.

Helian Tiehua also looked at Ye Qing, sighed, and said, "Unexpectedly, among our Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance, there exists such a vile person. Aomuhan, I've long heard of the grievances between you and Ye Qing. All these troubles are essentially due to your arrogance and disregard for others. Ye Qing's magnanimity led him not to involve you, but you still constantly sought to target him, truly detestable. Aomuhan, if I don't punish you severely today, how am I to lead the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance in the future!"

Upon hearing these words, Aomuhan was so frightened that he trembled in fear and immediately kowtowed to plead for forgiveness.

Ao Wuchang stood beside, witnessing the situation, and felt terror in his heart. He had only this one son; if he were killed, what would become of him?

"Great General..." Ao Wuchang had just uttered three words when Helian Tiehua suddenly glared at him and said sternly, "Ao Wuchang, as the head of the Proud Family, tell us, how should Aomuhan's crimes be dealt with?"

"This..." Ao Wuchang was suddenly dumbfounded; his son's offences were severe enough for ten deaths to be deemed insufficient. But how should he respond?

"Collaborating with outsiders to frame their own, causing harm to the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance, resulting in the deaths of its members, this is a crime deserving of death!" The Patriarch of the Bai Family said in a deep voice, expressing his dissatisfaction with Ao Wuchang.

Upon hearing these words, Ao Wuchang felt a tug in his heart; he too knew this outcome was inevitable. However, he truly didn't want to admit it.

"Great General!" Suddenly, Ao Wuchang knelt down and said, "The fact that Muh Han has become what he is today is entirely due to my lack of proper discipline. All the responsibility lies with me alone. Whatever punishment the Great General imposes on me, I, Ao Wuchang, accept it wholeheartedly without complaint, and only beg the Great General to grant Muh Han a path to life, a chance to turn over a new leaf!"

Aomuhan looked at his father, utterly stunned. He never imagined that his father, whom he had always considered towering and unwavering, would actually kneel and beg in front of so many people. The prideful father was able to lay down his dignity to kneel here. At this moment, his heart also wrenched because he knew it was all because of him!

Seeing Ao Wuchang's state, Helian Tiehua sighed and said in a deep voice, "Ao Wuchang, the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance has its own rules. If the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance cannot uphold its rules, how can it stand in the world? According to the rules, Aomuhan must compensate with his life for what he has done!"

Helian Tiehua's words were firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Ao Wuchang's face turned pale instantly; he originally intended to take this responsibility, to protect his son. However, he realized it was basically impossible. The rules of the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance were strict and unbreakable. Especially in these troubled times, Aomuhan's collaboration with the Corpse Ghost Dragon people is essentially a death sentence!

Helian Tiehua glanced at Ao Wuchang, sighed once more, and turned to say, "Take Aomuhan away, deal with him according to the rules of the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance!"

The two individuals who dragged Aomuhan in earlier immediately came forward again, grabbing Aomuhan's arms and began to drag him out.

"Dad! Dad! Save me! Save me!" Aomuhan yelled anxiously, knowing that stepping outside this room meant his life would be forfeited.

Ao Wuchang watched his son, his eyes growing red. He couldn't save him; he couldn't rescue him.

"Wait a moment!" Just then, a voice suddenly sounded, and everyone turned simultaneously to look at the person who had just spoken.

The one speaking was Ye Qing. He walked to the center of the hall, bowed slightly towards Helian Tiehua, and said, "General Helian, could you spare a moment to listen to me?"

"Speak," Helian Tiehua nodded.

Ye Qing took a deep breath and said, "To be honest, what Ao Muh Han has done is closely related to me. The reason Ao Muh Han did these things was mainly to deal with me. It doesn't count as betraying the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance, nor betraying everyone in Huaxia. This can only be regarded as a personal grudge between the two of us!"

"Hmm?" Helian Tiehua was taken aback and looked at Ye Qing in astonishment, not understanding why he suddenly said these words. What Ye Qing said was practically exonerating Ao Muh Han.

Ao Wuchang was secretly delighted and hurriedly said, "This... What Ye Qing... Mr. Ye said is quite correct. Muh Han's intent, indeed, was not to betray the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance. After all, Muh Han is a member of the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance, no matter how excessive his actions might be, he would never betray the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance!"

The Patriarch of the Bai Family said in a deep voice, "He just called Shen Qianyue and told him all of our information. Isn't that betraying the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance?"

Ao Wuchang frowned but did not argue, as disputing at this time would only cause more trouble for his son.

"The matter of informing Shen Qianyue can't be entirely blamed on him alone," Ye Qing said. "He just mentioned that Shen Qianyue gave him poison, which forced him to obey Shen Qianyue's orders. In this case, we can't say he was wrong, nor can we say he was right. Because even insects cling to life, let alone humans? In such circumstances, not to mention Ao Muh Han, I fear any of us present wouldn't know how to choose!"

"Hmph, at least I would not betray the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance!" the Patriarch of the Bai Family coldly replied.

"Shut up!" Ao Wuchang finally erupted with anger, slamming his palm on the nearby table, shattering it instantly.

"What, trying to scare me?" The Patriarch of the Bai Family immediately stood up.

Ao Wuchang wanted to vent his anger, but Ye Qing quickly interjected, "Mr. Ao, could you listen to me for a moment?"

Earlier, when Ye Qing spoke to exonerate Ao Muh Han, Ao Wuchang was already deeply grateful to Ye Qing. Upon hearing these words, all of his anger immediately subsided, and he said, "Mr. Ye, please continue."

"Thank you." Ye Qing nodded and said, "Ao Muh Han was controlled by Shen Qianyue using poison, hence he passed our information to Shen Qianyue. In my view, he wasn't subjectively intending to betray the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance, he was simply coerced. Therefore, even if he is guilty, the crime is not deserving of death!"

Helian Tiehua slightly frowned, fell silent for a moment, and said, "Alright, regarding the matter with the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance, his crime is not deserving of death. However, Ye Qing, what he did to you is also against the rules of the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance, this charge he cannot escape!"

Ye Qing was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "General Helian, what if I forgive him?"

"What?" Everyone exclaimed in shock. Ao Muh Han had done all these things to Ye Qing, yet Ye Qing was actually forgiving him?

In truth, Ye Qing was also deeply resentful of Ao Muh Han. However, seeing Ao Wuchang kneel just now, he felt a twinge of sympathy, which made him step forward. Moreover, if he saves Ao Muh Han, the Proud Family would definitely be deeply grateful to him and follow his lead unwaveringly.

Huangfu Ziyu is now the Patriarch of the Seven Families, but most members within the Seven Families are only obedient on the surface. Among the Seven Families, the Proud Family's influence is also very strong. If Ye Qing can protect Ao Muh Han this time, he can definitely win over the Proud Family, which would also be beneficial for Huangfu Ziyu. Ye Qing considered all aspects comprehensively before stepping forward to save Ao Muh Han.

"This... this kind of situation has never occurred before..." Helian Tiehua tightly furrowed his brows, with Ye Qing stepping in to plead, he couldn't dismiss it.

Ye Qing said, "General Helian, I will not hold Ao Muh Han responsible for anything, and I make a personal appeal to the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance, hoping the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance can show mercy."

Helian Tiehua looked at Ye Qing, then at Ao Wuchang, and after a long silence, suddenly slapped the table and said, "Fine, since Ye Qing personally steps forward to plead for Ao Muh Han, let him live for now!"

Upon hearing these words, Ao Muh Han nearly collapsed, sitting directly onto the ground. Ao Wuchang was even more excited, nodding to Ye Qing gratefully. Although he didn't say any words, undoubtedly, he would see Ye Qing as his greatest benefactor from now on.

"However..." Helian Tiehua suddenly said, "He will be spared the death penalty, but he can't escape life punishment. Ao Muh Han did many things, if there's no penalty, that's impossible. Therefore, I've decided to abolish Ao Muh Han's martial arts, as a form of punishment, serving as an example!"