After much deliberation and repeated negotiations, everyone finally decided to head to Xingcheng together on the third day.
Xingcheng was not far from Lecheng, only about three to four hours away by car. To accommodate the elder Sun Liansheng, Han Lang specifically arranged for him to ride in Ma Long's car. With Tongtong there, the elder and the young one wouldn't be bored on the journey.
The journey was uneventful, and everyone soon arrived smoothly at one of Xingcheng's most luxurious hotels, the Xinghui Grand Hotel, which Tang Geng had specially arranged. Tang Geng himself was already waiting there to welcome them.
"Welcome, welcome, Brother Han Lang. Welcome to Xingcheng!" Tang Geng greeted everyone warmly.
"You're too kind, Brother Tang Geng. Arranging such a luxurious hotel must have cost a lot?"
"Not at all! It's all our own property, hardly worth mentioning, hardly worth mentioning! Haha..."
As Tang Geng spoke, he arranged for hotel staff to guide everyone to their rooms.
Everyone excitedly followed the staff upstairs, leaving only Han Lang and Ma Long behind.
"How is it? Brother Tang Geng. What's the current situation?"
Finding a quiet spot, Han Lang got down to business.
"The Director of the South China Regional Division of the Xia Nation's Special Investigation Department attaches great importance to this matter and has personally led the Enforcement Department to Xingcheng to thoroughly investigate. However..."
Tang Geng seemed to hesitate, as if there was more to say.
"However, the situation is not developing as we expected. The preliminary trial just concluded a few days ago. The Zhao family readily admitted to supporting Wang Shan, but regarding colluding with ability users, they insisted it was Wang Shan's personal decision and the Zhao family was unaware. Therefore, the second trial requires you two to testify!"
After hearing Tang Geng's account, Han Lang and Ma Long's expressions also turned serious. Han Lang asked with suspicion,
"This matter is probably not that simple, right? Even if we testify, what are the chances of convicting the Zhao family?"
Tang Geng fell silent for a moment before replying with a hint of helplessness.
"To be honest with you both, even with your testimony, it might not be enough to convict the Zhao family. After all, although we have witnesses, we lack any physical evidence to support their testimony. So..."
Han Lang frowned, pondered for a moment, and then asked, "In that case, based on the current situation, what impact do you think this matter will ultimately have on the Zhao family? Will it just be dropped like this?"
Ma Long chimed in, "Yes! No matter what, Wang Shan was, to some extent, a member of the Zhao family. Even if they can't be charged with treason, they should at least bear some joint responsibility, right?"
Tang Geng chuckled, "That's natural. The Zhao family is definitely not going to escape this charge. However, when determining the sentence, their past contributions and merits to the cultivator world will certainly be taken into consideration. So, the final outcome might be primarily a fine."
"A fine?" Ma Long sounded agitated. "For a prominent family like the Zhao family, would they even care about such a small fine? Such a punishment would be insignificant and inconsequential, wouldn't it?"
Seeing Ma Long's indignation, Tang Geng quickly explained, "No, no, Brother Ma Long, you've misunderstood. How could a penalty personally imposed by the Director of the Special Investigation Department be so simple? This so-called fine doesn't just refer to money; it also includes some cultivation resources, which even for a wealthy family like the Zhao family, would certainly not be entirely insignificant!"
Ma Long still seemed unconvinced by these words. He snorted and said, "Hmph! Even so, it probably won't hurt their foundation much, and the Zhao family might not care that much, right?"
"Uh..." Tang Geng was momentarily speechless.
Because Ma Long's statement was indeed quite close to the truth.
But just as he felt at a loss for words, Han Lang, who had been contemplating, suddenly spoke.
"Alright, Brother Ma! We have no past grievances or recent enmity with the Zhao family, so there's really no need to hate them. As long as this superior Director of the Special Investigation Department handles it impartially and confirms that the Zhao family is indeed not involved with ability users, we should be grateful enough."
Hearing Han Lang's words, Ma Long was a bit stunned.
Tang Geng also seemed to have a sudden realization and replied, "Yes, yes, Brother Han Lang is right! In the face of ability users, the cultivator world should unite against them. Although my Tang family has some competitive relationship with the Zhao family, these competitions are generally healthy. As long as they are also wholeheartedly dedicated to the development of the cultivator world and jointly resist ability users, there's really no need to dwell on this matter!"
Looking at Tang Geng's open and smiling face, Han Lang couldn't help but feel deep respect and admiration for him.
After hearing Tang Geng's words, Ma Long felt extremely embarrassed and self-reproachful. He sheepishly scratched his head and chuckled.
"Heh heh... That's right, that's right! My mind was clouded by that arrogant and overbearing young master Zhao Wei. When confronting ability users, naturally, the more people, the more strength. I shouldn't have viewed them with prejudice. My apologies, my apologies!"
Seeing Ma Long's simple and honest demeanor, Han Lang and Tang Geng found it somewhat amusing.
However, although both agreed with Han Lang's viewpoint, he still reminded them.
"Of course, what we've discussed so far is just our speculation. We should still maintain our skepticism towards the Zhao family. Therefore, when it comes to testifying, we should be truthful and recount everything we've seen and heard on the witness stand!"
Before Han Lang finished speaking, Ma Long immediately agreed, "Yes, yes, maintaining appropriate skepticism and truthfully stating the facts and raising questions is what we should do as witnesses. As for the verdict, that's for the Director of the Special Investigation Bureau's regional division to worry about! Tang Geng, has the final trial date been set? When do we go to testify?"
"The time has long been set! It's tomorrow morning at ten o'clock. I will personally come to pick you up then. As for the steps and procedures for testifying, someone will guide you when we get there. You just need to truthfully state what you have seen and heard according to the requirements, so there's no need to worry!"
After hearing this, Ma Long was overjoyed. "So, we don't need to rehearse tomorrow's procedures. We can still eat, sleep, and even go out and have fun tonight?"
"That's right!" Tang Geng confirmed, and then couldn't resist teasing, "What? Brother Ma Long, as a newcomer to Xingcheng, do you have any important matters to attend to?"
Ma Long replied a bit sheepishly, "Not really! I was just worried that things might get busy later, so I wanted to spend tonight with my son."
The son Ma Long referred to was naturally Tongtong.
Since he had confirmed his relationship with Wang Fang and Tongtong had gradually accepted him, their forms of address had naturally changed.
Seeing Ma Long's happy expression, Tang Geng couldn't help but praise him repeatedly, "Good, good! Brother Ma Long is indeed a model father, no wonder Tongtong likes him so much! When we start our own families in the future, Brother Ma Long, you'll have to impart some of your experience to us!"
"Heh heh, it's a small matter! A small matter! Heh heh..."