CHAPTER 2061: CHAPTER 2059: HER OWN PRIDE

Bai Ruozhu had thought carefully earlier, why did the mechanical cat of the Second Elder contain black meteoric iron? It was indeed unexpected, but after some thought, one could guess a rough idea.

The mechanical cat wasn’t the Second Elder’s proudest mechanical creation, but something he made in his early years. Outsiders thought he was nostalgic, plus the mechanical cat was indeed exquisitely crafted, much more agile and swift than ordinary mechanical puppets of the same level, which is why he had continued to use it until now.

Actually, things weren’t as they appeared on the surface. At that time, many people liked to keep a low profile about their wealth, especially with something as extremely rare as black meteoric iron. The Second Elder wasn’t willing to tell anyone, not even his family.

When he was young, he had unexpectedly obtained that piece of black meteoric iron and excitedly made the mechanical cat, even adding his own heart’s blood. But his craftsmanship at that time wasn’t advanced, and he couldn’t maximize the iron’s potential. Yet, because of the heart’s blood, he was unwilling to destroy the mechanical cat and hurt himself internally, so he kept it with him, perhaps waiting for a better opportunity to use the iron to create other mechanical puppets.

Such a cherished item shouldn’t have been lent to Fo Lanying, but he couldn’t resist his granddaughter’s pleading, coupled with an eagerness to win, and even underestimating Bai Ruozhu, the result was the mechanical cat being destroyed and the black meteoric iron lost.

Bai Ruozhu was adamant about not handing over the meteoric iron. Would the Second Elder spare her if she did? Wouldn’t that just confirm the accusation and allow the Second Elder to make an example of her?

Besides, it was her trophy, once consumed, why should it be regurgitated?

Anyway, she had hidden it in the space, no one could find it, and she’d deny it even if beaten to death.

"The competition was held under the public’s watchful eyes, if the Second Elder feels uneasy about leaving early, he could ask Elder Su, Elder Wu, and the others who stayed to watch if they saw any meteoric iron or if I took any meteoric iron!" Bai Ruozhu said loudly.

The Fourth Elder and Seventh Elder, who had arrived, thought the matter serious upon hearing about the black meteoric iron and understood why the Second Elder was angry, but after hearing Bai Ruozhu’s account, they too felt suspicious. Why hadn’t they heard before that the Second Elder’s mechanical cat had black meteoric iron? If it did, shouldn’t it be a higher-level mechanical puppet?

Of course, the Second Elder was embarrassed to admit that his skills back then weren’t refined, and he hadn’t made a good mechanical cat.

"Do I, the Second Elder, need to falsely accuse a youngster like you? Just hand over the black meteoric iron, and let’s call it quits. I won’t bother arguing with you, otherwise no one’s words will help you today!" the Second Elder said.

"I don’t have any black meteoric iron, so how can I hand it over? With just a word, you claim the mechanical cat had black meteoric iron and accuse me, but where’s your evidence? So many people were watching, did anyone see the black meteoric iron? Had there been real black meteoric iron, people would have shouted out." Bai Ruozhu sighed, "Isn’t it just adding charges without evidence? According to the Second Elder, if I don’t produce a piece of black meteoric iron, am I to die?"

The Fifth Elder, long stifled with anger, stepped out and said, "Second Elder, is there perhaps a misunderstanding? We were all watching, and truly, we didn’t see any black meteoric iron."

"That girl was quick, she surely hid it when none of you were noticing," the Second Elder insisted.

"Second Elder, you must speak with evidence. You say I took your black meteoric iron, where’s your proof?" Bai Ruozhu asked, extending her hand.

The Second Elder glared, "Since you’re so justified, let me search and see!"

Bai Ruozhu had no problem with him searching the room, since the item was in the space and the Second Elder couldn’t find it. But her attitude couldn’t be too indifferent to avoid arousing suspicion.

"Why should I? Just because you say so? If you search and find nothing, will you accuse me of hiding it with my family and demand to search them all? And if my family comes up clean, will you say I hid it somewhere outside and pressure me to produce it?" Bai Ruozhu said angrily.

Her resistance made the Second Elder more convinced she was guilty, and he firmly demanded, "Today, I must search thoroughly. Go get Du Fei, and search Bai Ruozhu’s body!"

"Who dares!" Jiao Yunyun descended from the stairs, "Fo Hui, don’t bully people too much!"

Seeing her grandmother angry, Bai Ruozhu felt pained and quickly went to support Jiao Yunyun, whispering, "Grandmother, don’t involve yourself in this; take care not to upset yourself. I’ll handle it."

Jiao Yunyun felt even sadder, thinking that if she hadn’t been so willful and waited foolishly for that person for years, she wouldn’t be so powerless now, unable to even protect her granddaughter from bullying.

"Grandmother isn’t angry; I’ll just watch from the side and see what our Jiuli Clan has become," Jiao Yunyun gritted her teeth.

"Jiao Yunyun, what right do you, a criminal, have to speak? Look at the granddaughter you had with an outsider!" the Second Elder said disdainfully.

The Bai Family members were all very angry at this, and Fen Jiu directly stepped in front of Jiao Yunyun, saying, "What does the Second Elder mean? My mother-in-law can’t even utter a fair word? Since when has Jiuli become your realm, Second Elder?"

"Don’t think just because your Fen Family once had a clan leader, you’re remarkable. Jiuli currently has no clan leader!" the Second Elder sneered, "Mother-in-law? I didn’t know you would marry a woman left behind by that traitor."

Just as the words fell, Fen Jiu rushed up; the Second Elder relied too much on his status, his words too offensive.

Fen Jiu wasn’t usually a match for the Second Elder, but the Second Elder had just suffered internal injuries, making their fight evenly matched. Elder Su and the others had a hard time pulling them apart.

"It’s just the younger generation’s competition, why should you, Second Elder, be so emotional and find fault with them?" Elder Su said angrily.

The Second Elder glared in anger; he genuinely lost the black meteoric iron, but it sounded as if he intentionally accused Bai Ruozhu.

"Are you siding with outsiders? If I don’t find the black meteoric iron today, this won’t end!" the Second Elder shouted with red eyes.

Seeing his son Fo Wen arrive, he immediately said, "Call your wife over to search Bai Ruozhu’s body, you go search her room, and make sure to find my meteoric iron!"

Fo Wen was taken aback, "Body search? Father, isn’t that too serious?"

"You fool, do as I say!" the Second Elder fumed, feeling nothing went his way today.

Bai Ruozhu stood in place calmly and said, "I’ll see who dares search me. The people of the Jiuli Clan have their pride, and as a fourth-rank female doctor in Danliang Country and head of the Medical Alliance, I have my own pride too!"

Her words were forceful, stunning everyone, reminding them she was skilled in poison arts, and had previously poisoned Fo Lanying. If not for her promise to refrain from using poison in the competition, Fo Lanying couldn’t have lasted a few rounds against her.

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Here’s the fourth update; just a note, some say Mouka only adds more updates when requesting for monthly votes. That’s really the opposite. The truth is, I want votes every day; I just don’t have the face to ask with only sparse updates, face hidden~