Chapter 615: Interrogation

Chen Han froze, then let out a bitter laugh: "You want me to make the Chen family pay?"

Xue Shao: "What does this have to do with Young Master Chen? Didn't Elder Brother Chen himself, before everyone, promise the compensation? He pledged the Chen family's reputation—so regardless of whether Second Master returns, the Chen family must pay. Unless…"

Pan Yun cut in coldly: "Unless the Chen family plans to betray Great Ming."

"That's impossible!" Chen Han exclaimed urgently, then fell silent as he understood.

They didn't intend to expose the Chen family—perhaps they lacked evidence, or perhaps the Chen family hadn't caused them enough harm, or maybe they just wanted the money the Chen family had promised…

But now that the truth had surfaced, erasing it completely was impossible; to quell it, they'd need to sacrifice a scapegoat to take full blame—someone who couldn't implicate any other Chen family members. It would be even better if the Chen family and the martial heroes could both become victims.

Chen Han slumped, head drooping, saying nothing.

Who could be a more suitable candidate than him?

Chen Han's eyes turned red; he lowered his head and wrote their script for them.

The adopted son, ambitious and resentful after moving to the Chen family with his mother, colluded with Japanese pirates—not only plundering the Chen family's merchant ships, but also conspiring with them to ambush and kill the Wu Lin Alliance's heroes and the Celestial Masters' Daoists, framing the Chen family…

Pan Yun looked at him with feigned sympathy, patted his shoulder, and sighed: "You haven't eaten much seafood, have you? Let me treat you. And this seaweed—don't let its name fool you; it's a delicious dish. I'll treat you to all of it. For the next few days, eat whatever you want."

A surge of rage rose in Chen Han; he snapped his head up, glaring hatefully at Pan Yun: "You've just given in? So the Celestial Masters aren't much, are they?"

Pan Yun looked wounded: "Young Master Chen, I'm showing you sympathy—how can you speak to me like this?"

"I don't need your sympathy!"

Pan Yun grew anxious: "How can you be like this? We didn't kill you—it was the Chen family's doing. If you have the guts, go confront them…"

"Aren't you supposed to be heroes? You know the truth—why won't you speak it? Why won't you expose them?" Chen Han glared at her, eyes bloodshot: "I'm just a pawn. You're discarding me to serve your own interests—is that righteous conduct?"

Pan Yun hurried to defend herself: "If it were only your Chen family, I wouldn't fear them—even if Lin Mengzhu of the Wu Lin Alliance stayed silent, my senior brothers wouldn't let it slide. But your Chen family reached this level only because they have imperial court officials aiding them. Common folk don't fight officials—we're just ordinary people. What can we do?"

Chen Han sneered: "You're ordinary?"

He turned to glare at Xue Shao: "Aren't you a Provincial Graduate? You hold an official degree—surely you're not ordinary? And you, Pan Sanzhu, Pan Yun—perhaps those rough江湖 types don't know your identity, but I, and all of the Celestial Masters, know you're the daughter of Inspector Pan Hong, the woman who once clashed with Grand Eunuch Wang Zhen in Jingcheng!"

Pan Yun slightly raised an eyebrow.

Though the Xue Pan case made a huge stir last year, only officials knew about it—what did martial artists care?

So few in the martial world knew Pan Yun, and none connected the Quanzhou Pan Sanzhu with Pan Hong's daughter, Pan Yun.

Only the Celestial Masters knew, because she was a scholar-disciple, and when Zhou Bapi dug into her past during the case reversal.

Even Qu Le, who was in Jingcheng then, didn't know.

So the martial world truly isn't a threat—this political ignorance means court elders can easily manipulate and destroy them.

Pan Yun looked pained as she told Chen Han: "My family is a scholarly farming household. My father was deeply learned in Confucian classics—he was furious I became a Daoist priest and wandered the martial world."

Xue Shao turned to look at her.

"After my father was exonerated, he wanted to keep me in Jingcheng, arrange a marriage for me, and make me a bride. I refused—that's why I ran back to Long Hushan."

Chen Han frowned. Why was she telling him this?

Pan Yun: "So now I'm no longer the inspector's daughter. Strip away that title, and I'm just an ordinary little Daoist. Where would I go to meet Wang Zhen or the Emperor? If I ever meet officials in the future, I'll only hide—I'll never approach them."

She patted his shoulder with a look of shared suffering: "I know you're the one abandoned by your family—I'm the same. That's why I'm treating you well, letting you enjoy your final days…"

Chen Han leapt to his feet: "I'm not like you! You were completely discarded by your father—but I still have my mother!"

Pan Yun: "But your mother's life is in the Chen family's hands. What do you have to fight them with? When I fought Wang Zhen, I held his secrets—he dared not act rashly…"

"I have the Chen family's secrets too…" Chen Han sneered: "They colluded with Zhang Kai and others to smuggle maritime trade, even secretly supporting sea pirates…"

Chen Han paused, looking at Pan Yun and Xue Shao.

Both stared eagerly, waiting for him to continue; when he stopped, they urged: "Go on! Why are they supporting sea pirates?"

Chen Han's face was blank: "You're a junior Daoist of the Celestial Masters, and you're a failed Provincial Graduate. Why should I tell you?"

Pan Yun and Xue Shao: …

Chen Han: "I want to see Li Wenying and Lin Mengzhu."

Pan Yun: "…Lin Mengzhu isn't here—he's leading troops to attack Dongyang Island. Li Wenying can decide, but he's only one of the three leaders. Why not tell me? I'm Zhang Zhenren's son, and the next Zhang Zhang Tian Shi of the Celestial Masters is my half-brother—we're extremely close…"

"I want to see Li Wenying!"

Pan Yun sighed: "Fine. I'll take you to him."

Pan Yun handed all the fish to Xue Shao, then led Chen Han to see Li Wenying. Along the way, they met many heroes, all warmly greeting the two.

Chen Han noticed their faces showed no suspicion—they didn't know the Chen family's crimes—and quietly exhaled in relief.

Li Wenying spoke with Chen Han inside the room; Pan Yun sat on the wooden steps of the second floor, chin propped on her hand, lost in thought.

It was a two-story wooden house, built in Japanese style, with a railing in front and morning glories planted nearby—now in full bloom, purple and red blossoms brightening the little house with vitality.

Clearly, this town had stood for many years, built with great care.

Such a fine place, such a perfect transit hub—it would be a waste to abandon it.

Thinking of her third senior brother and fourth senior sister still wandering chaotically in Japan, Pan Yun lowered her eyes, suppressing the cold light within.

The door opened; Li Wenying escorted Chen Han out, glanced at Pan Yun sitting on the steps, then said sternly to Chen Han: "Rest assured. Once we verify your words, if they're true, I'll plead for mercy on your behalf to the imperial court and the Wu Lin Alliance."

Chen Han exhaled in relief, bowed, and left without even glancing at Pan Yun as he walked past her down the stairs.

Pan Yun stood, brushed off her backside, and crossed her arms to watch Li Wenying.

Li Wenying turned and opened the door: "Come in."

Pan Yun immediately scampered after him.