Chapter 137

Third Elder leaned back in the seat, smirking at Fifth Elder.

It seemed as if victory was already in hand.

"What on earth is going on?"

Gu Xiao Dao glanced indifferently at the Fifth and Eighth Elders, who had earlier spoken so confidently.

The witnesses they had voluntarily offered.

But the witnesses all stood on Third Elder's side!

This made Gu Xiao Dao feel deceived!

Eighth Elder's face was grim, glaring at Gu Fangyun and the others with frustration.

Although he knew, it must have been some trick used by Third Elder.

But it was surely also because their will was not firm, allowing Third Elder to bribe them!

Eighth Elder instantly felt anxious.

They had already broken with Third Elder.

If today we don't have an explanation, even the Family Head will likely hold a bad impression of us!

"Originally, Third Elder came to our door, threatening us mother and son, forcing Xiao Han to take Gu Han Young Master's place in the army."

Just then, Xu Xin Zhu stepped forward a few paces, her voice trembling with sobs,

"After Cold Mountain died, our family had only Xiao Han as a male descendant; we finally waited for him to grow up, yet he has no support and only average strength—how could I bear to send him to the front lines as a soldier?"

"But Third Elder threatened that if Xiao Han refused to go, our family of three would have no place to stay in the Gu household."

"We are merely a branch line, with no way to oppose Third Elder."

"Helpless, we could only follow his arrangement, contacting the Chengzhu Fu steward to change Gu Han Young Master's name to our Xiao Han's name."

Xu Xin Zhu's eyes streamed tears, she could not stop crying.

Her genuine expression moved everyone present.

Gu Si and the others, who had originally expressed their stance through silence, now felt an inner turmoil.

To speak up for Xu Xin Zhu would surely earn Third Elder's disfavor!

But if they tacitly sided with Third Elder, they could not overcome their own conscience.

After today, what face would they have to meet Xu Xin Zhu and Gu Han?

Thinking this, Gu Si ignored Third Elder's murderous glare and stepped forward, saying,

"Report to the Family Head, I was also present that day; I can testify that Third Elder indeed said those words."

"He also said that letting Gu Han replace Gu Han Young Master in the army was a favor to Gu Han!"

Other branch members exchanged glances, and several of them also stepped forward.

"That's right, we heard it too."

These individuals are the parents of the new recruits of Mu Shan Cheng—Gu Lin, Gu Hang, Gu Jing, and Gu Fan.

Their children left the recruit camp together with Gu Han, and with Gu Han's help entered the first‑tier Warrior Camp even earlier.

Although they too were threatened by Third Elder, they were unwilling to bear the guilt of colluding with him.

"Fourth Brother..."

Xu Xin Zhu's eyes were moist; she looked gratefully at Gu Si and the others, thanking them repeatedly.

Gu Si's face was a little embarrassed; he dared not take credit, quickly helping Xu Xin Zhu rise as she tried to bow.

Now, the numbers of those siding with Third Elder and those siding with Fifth Elder were almost balanced.

Third Elder's face was grim as he looked at the suddenly rebellious Gu Si and company.

After today's affair ends, he will surely have to deal with these people properly!

"Family Head, these branch people have deep motives; they are smearing me together with Fifth Elder!"

Third Elder tried to redirect the blame from his own actions onto the conflict between the main and branch lines!

The number of witnesses on both sides was nearly equal.

Without any physical evidence, it is utterly impossible to convict Third Elder!

And Third Elder was very confident about this.

No one would leave such a loophole as physical evidence for this kind of thing.

As long as today passes, it will be his time to strike back!

Meanwhile, Fifth Elder curled the corner of his mouth and said calmly,

"Family Head, I still have witnesses on my side!"

"Oh?"

Gu Xiao Dao looked at Fifth Elder in surprise, and Fifth Elder immediately clapped his hands,

"Come in."

Soon a man in black robes walked in from outside the Yishi Ting.

Gu Xiao Dao furrowed his brows at that person, feeling somewhat familiar.

When the black‑robed man lifted his hood, everyone present turned pale.

"Steward He, how did you come here?"

Steward He is the official in Chengzhu Fu specifically responsible for registering new recruits.

Although his cultivation is only early‑stage Martial Sect, anyone from Chengzhu Fu naturally outranks the four great families!

And at the moment Steward He appeared, everyone's mind rose with a speculation.

Third Elder's face turned ashen, feeling a surge of despair!

Steward He is exactly the person he originally commissioned to change the name so that Gu Han could avoid military service.

But before today's events, he had not invited Steward He to come.

This means that Steward He is very likely to have been invited by the Fifth Elder.

Yet the Third Elder felt deep puzzlement in his heart.

Although he bribed first, Steward He's act of changing his name is also a grave crime!

He does not understand why Steward He is willing to serve as this incriminating witness!

Once it gets out, even if Steward He is deeply trusted by the City Lord, he won't be able to get away with it!

The Eighth Elder, meanwhile, was overjoyed!

No wonder the Fifth Elder had been so calm and composed earlier.

As it turns out, they actually managed to get Steward He to appear in person!

As an intermediary, Steward He is absolutely the person who knows the events best.

With him appearing, even without any other witnesses,

it can directly outweigh all other evidence!

Steward He gave a slight nod to the Fifth Elder, then clasped his hands toward Gu Xiao Dao and said, neither humble nor arrogant,

"Today I came here to tell the Gu Family Head that I indeed handled the matter of helping the Third Elder alter the military service roster."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in an uproar!

Apart from the Fifth Elder, nobody had expected Steward He to so openly expose the bribery!

As for the crowd's shock, Steward He could say it was hardly surprising.

He looked confidently at the bewildered Gu Xiao Dao and said in a deep voice,

"After all, this matter is not honorable; I originally did not want to get involved, but Gu Han has achieved such remarkable results on the front lines, yet still faces difficulties within the Gu Family."

"I cannot bear to see such a talent bullied, which is why I am willing to step forward on his behalf."

"However, I ask the Gu Family Head and everyone present to keep this secret; otherwise, neither I nor the Gu Family will likely have a good outcome."

The Fifth Elder beside him, fiddling with an abacus, chuckled and said,

"Third Elder, do you have anything else to say?"

Steward He naturally came not only because of Gu Han.

If it weren't for the Gu Family's God of Wealth, with Gu Ren taking action, Steward He would not risk his life to make this trip.

As the saying goes, money can make ghosts turn millstones, and those who need cultivation resources are even more so.

If Steward He were unwilling to come, there would be only one reason.

That the money offered is not enough!

At this moment, the Third Elder finally felt the sensation of being abandoned by all and alienated from kin.

He smiled helplessly, his laughter seemingly filled with despair.

The Third Elder leaned back in his chair, no longer pondering why Steward He had appeared here, but instead coldly surveyed those present.

"Do you think you are opposing me for the sake of a genius?"

"If I tell you that the one you are helping is merely a corpse, what would you do then?"