Chapter 177: Simply preposterous!

Tang Jihuai's words pushed Xu Tian directly into the eye of the storm.

In an instant, the suspicious gazes of everyone present intensified.

Just moments ago, they had all been anxious to figure out who the real traitor was and hadn't delved into the details of how Xu Tian had impersonated another organization to scare off Tattoo. Now that Tang Jihuai had brought it up, everyone noticed the oddity of it.

"That's right, how does this kid know the news from Shadow so clearly?"

"Could he be a traitor too?"

"It must be. If he isn't a traitor, how would he know so much internal information?"

"Ordinary people probably haven't even heard of the two organizations, Tattoo and Shadow. Isn't Xu Tian just an ordinary office worker? He hasn't even been involved in Tang family affairs, so how could he understand the detailed data of those two organizations?"

Seeing everyone questioning Xu Tian one after another, A Wei felt anxious and wanted to defend him, but he didn't know how to speak up.

He had already been labeled a traitor; if he spoke up now, it would look like he was just covering for his accomplice.

A Wei knew well that if he pleaded for Xu Tian now, it would only confirm his own suspicion, so he could only clench his fists in frustration, looking at Xu Tian with a worried expression.

His own suspicion was already impossible to clear; he didn't want any more innocent people to be implicated.

But Xu Tian didn't look at A Wei.

His gaze was calm and ripple-free, as if he had long expected Tang Jihuai to question him like this, and he said calmly:

"I don't have the ability to predict the future. This is modern society, Sixth Elder; isn't it a bit inappropriate for you to openly engage in feudal superstition?"

The expression on Tang Jihuai's face was as ugly as if he had eaten a fly. He suppressed his anger and said coldly:

"Since you know no one can predict the future, you'd better explain to everyone why you took that box of performance costumes to the Lighthouse Country!"

"Could it be that you are the real Shadow Master, or a member of the Shadow organization? That would explain why you were carrying clothes that only Shadow members would wear."

Boom!

Tang Jihuai's words once again stirred up a huge commotion.

However, Xu Tian remained calm.

"Sixth Elder, stop joking. Just a moment ago you said I was just an ordinary office worker; how could I possibly be the Shadow Master?"

"Don't try to distract me!"

Tang Jihuai lost his patience:

"Even if you aren't the Shadow Master, you are at least a member of Shadow! Confess quickly—what is your motive for infiltrating our Tang family? Someone, take him down and drag him out to be beaten to death!"

After saying this, Tang Jihuai waved his hand at the several Tang family bodyguards beside him.

Those bodyguards immediately swarmed forward, preparing to seize Xu Tian.

Xu Tian swept a cold glance at the bodyguards rushing toward him, his tone filled with unquestionable majesty: "To lay hands on me based on a few words—Sixth Elder, you have quite the temper!"

The bodyguards paused, unsure whether to follow Tang Jihuai's orders, and all froze in place.

Immediately after, Xu Tian continued: "Sixth Elder, logically speaking, you are a respected elder of the Tang family, and your strategy and intelligence should be among the best of the Tang family. But based on your performance just now, I am a bit curious: how exactly did you get into your current position?"

"You dare to question me?" Tang Jihuai was furious.

"I don't just question you; I also question those who recommended you to become a Tang family elder."

Xu Tian scanned the elders present and continued: "If it were true as the Sixth Elder says, that I am the Shadow Master or a member of Shadow, then shouldn't you all consider what the Tang family would face after dragging me out and beating me to death?"

Hiss!

Xu Tian's words made the elders suddenly gasp.

Shadow was an existence that even those in the dark forces dared not provoke!

Not to mention whether they had the ability to kill the Shadow Master, even if Xu Tian wasn't the Master but just an ordinary member, given the Shadow Master's protective nature, they would definitely come to settle the score with the Tang family.

Therefore, if those bodyguards had really followed Tang Jihuai's orders and beaten Xu Tian to death, their Tang family would be facing an imminent catastrophe!

"So I say the Sixth Elder's idea is truly stupid—so stupid that I can't help but suspect he isn't just brainless, but is deliberately trying to lead the Tang family to a dead end."

"Simply preposterous!"

Tang Jihuai was embarrassed and angry: "I am also a member of the Tang family; what good would this do me?"

"That, I wouldn't know."

Xu Tian shrugged.

"In any case, I am not the Shadow Master, nor am I a member of theirs."

"Furthermore, given Shadow's influence and ability within the dark forces, if they wanted to deal with the Tang family, do you think they would choose to send an undercover agent to infiltrate the Tang family—a method that is time-consuming and yields little?"

Although the Tang family elders held prejudices against Xu Tian, they had to admit that his words made some sense.

Although their Tang family had quite a reputation in Huaxia, they currently lacked the strength to contend with Shadow.

If Shadow wanted to target them, they could just act directly; there was indeed no need to go through the trouble of arranging an undercover agent.

Tang Jihuai noticed the change in the expressions of the other elders, his hands clenched into fists behind his back.

He had truly underestimated this kid before.

"Fine, I won't pursue why you know Shadow's internal data for now."

Continuing to pursue this issue would only bring trouble upon himself, so Tang Jihuai gave up targeting Xu Tian and turned his focus to A Wei.

"I only ask you: why are you so adamant that A Wei is not a traitor?"

"If you can produce evidence to prove he was framed, then our Tang family elders won't make things difficult for him."

"But if you cannot produce evidence and cannot clear his suspicion, then don't say you are just a son-in-law of the Tang family; even if Bingyan were present, she would have no right to show special mercy to a traitor."

Xu Tian looked at him indifferently: "Since I dare to say A Wei is innocent, I naturally have evidence in my hands to prove his innocence."

As he spoke, he observed everyone's expressions unhurriedly and spoke slowly:

"Actually, before Bingyan went to the Lighthouse Country, I already knew that Tattoo would be lying in ambush along the way, waiting for an opportunity to act against us."

"What did you say?"

Everyone present stared at Xu Tian, dumbfounded.

"As an outsider, why would you know in advance that Tattoo planned to act against us? Could it be that you aren't an undercover agent sent by Shadow, but someone from Tattoo's side?"

Seeing everyone's questioning, a flash of calculation crossed Tang Jihuai's eyes.

He coughed heavily to signal everyone to be quiet, then put on a stern face and asked: "Why did you know about Tattoo's actions in advance?"

He originally hadn't been able to drive Xu Tian out of the Tang family, but now that Xu Tian had handed him a handle, it would be a disservice to his years of careful planning if he didn't make good use of it.

Anyone who dared to hinder his actions had to die!

"I knew about the Tattoo organization's operation because someone notified me in advance. Long before Bingyan and the others set off, I received news that the Tang family would encounter danger on their trip to the Lighthouse Country. Tattoo assassins would be lying in ambush along the route, intending to find an opportunity to assassinate Bingyan, so they wanted me to find a way to make Bingyan change her itinerary."

"But no matter how I tried to persuade her, Bingyan insisted on going to the Lighthouse Country as scheduled to negotiate with the AM company. Therefore, I contacted the person who tipped me off, and the other party told me that if the itinerary couldn't be changed, I could impersonate a member of the Shadow organization at a critical moment."

"He told me that Tattoo's assassins feared the Shadow Master most; as long as I impersonated the Master, I would definitely be able to scare them off."

"That person also told me detailed information about the internal workings of the Tattoo and Shadow organizations, so that I could successfully impersonate them."

"Actually, I didn't know who this person providing me with information behind the scenes was before, but just now when you said A Wei was in contact with members from Tattoo's side, it suddenly dawned on me."

"It turns out the person who tipped me off was the undercover agent A Wei had planted on Tattoo's side. He must have known about Tattoo's actions in advance, which is why he risked his life to warn me."

Xu Tian's explanation plunged the guest hall into dead silence once again. ===== CHAPTER 178 =====