Ling Fan's eyes were like a tranquil lake.
Even under the accusations and attacks of everyone, his expression remained unchanged.
However, Lan Tianxiong's mournful and pained demeanor touched the softest part of his heart.
He looked directly at Lan Tianxiong and said, "Naturally not. I have never colluded with the Jin family. Although I don't know what has happened, I will investigate thoroughly and give you an explanation."
Before Lan Tianxiong could speak, the others erupted, "It's come to this, with ironclad evidence, and you still want to quibble!"
"Tell us, did you sell that set to the Forgemaster Association? Did you squander millions in ill-gotten gains at the Myriad Merchants Bank? If you didn't betray the Lan family, where did the money come from? Speak!"
At this moment, Li Shan, from within the crowd, could no longer restrain himself.
He feared that if he didn't speak up soon, Ling Fan would be wrongly accused to death by everyone.
He disregarded Ling Fan's explanation and said, "Esteemed elders, Patriarch, you have truly wronged son-in-law. Son-in-law is innocent! Son-in-law did indeed take a set, but that set was forged by himself, and the difficulties with this set were all resolved with son-in-law's guidance!"
Li Shan's words were too astonishing.
Everyone was dumbfounded, their faces etched with disbelief.
How could this be? Ling Fan was merely an untalented good-for-nothing, incapable of anything. Yet you claim he forged a top-tier mortal weapon himself, and was also the one who solved the set's challenges? Who would believe this?
Immediately, someone sneered, "Li Shan, what nonsense are you spouting? You're so eager to jump out and defend Ling Fan. I strongly suspect you are Ling Fan's accomplice!"
Being slandered in such a manner, Li Shan's expression changed instantly.
However, he did not retreat and continued to stand behind Ling Fan.
Most people did not believe that Li Shan and Ling Fan were accomplices, because Li Shan had been loyal and dedicated all these years, and they trusted his character implicitly. If anyone would betray them, it wouldn't be Li Shan.
They believed that Li Shan was simply pitying Ling Fan and had fabricated this lie.
"In the face of right and wrong, how dare you be so flippant!"
"Li Shan, this is not the time for womanly kindness. Step aside!"
"Ling Fan, no one can help you. Give up hope, and quickly kneel and confess!"
No one believed Li Shan's words. After all, Ling Fan's image as a failure was deeply ingrained. To suddenly claim he was a master forger, no one would believe it.
Just then.
Suddenly, someone rushed in from outside the council hall.
"Bad news! Bad news!"
An elder reprimanded, "What's the rush? Our Lan family hasn't fallen yet!"
"The Jin family is here! They... they want to have a forging duel with us!"
As this news spread, everyone's expression changed.
The so-called forging duel was when two families each put forth one or more forgemasters to wager everything and compete in forging skills.
Whichever family won would have the last laugh.
The losing party could only retreat in disgrace.
For two forging families, when the conflict escalated to a forging duel, it meant the gloves were off, and it was a fight to the death.
The Jin family, currently on a strong offensive, was suffocating the Lan family and had even invited a forging master like Master Zheng, second only to Master Wang.
To initiate a forging duel now was to try and exterminate the Lan family!
The crowd parted, and a group of people arrogantly strode into the council hall.
It was indeed the Jin family.
Leading them was the eldest young master of the Jin family, Jin Wudao, one of the Ten Great Young Masters of Jiangnan City.
He was tall and imposing, with an arrogant gaze, exuding a powerful aura that was no less than that of some middle-aged powerhouses.
Even on Lan family territory, he remained haughty, acting as if he held all the Lan family members in contempt.
When his gaze fell upon Lan Xueyi, a flash of admiration and greed flickered in his eyes.
And when he swept his gaze over Ling Fan, he let out a contemptuous smile.
He casually threw a gilded challenge letter onto the ground and said, "Three days from now, our Jin family will be waiting at the Jiangnan City Forgemaster Association for the masters of the Lan family. This forging duel will be to the death. The loser will be completely expelled from Jiangnan City. Of course, you can also be cowardly turtles and not come, but in that case, the Lan family's last shred of dignity will be trampled upon, and they will cease to exist in name only, unable to remain in Jiangnan City."
"However, I can give you an opportunity. Marry Lan Xueyi to me, and then all of the Lan family's assets will be merged into our Jin family, and we will spare your lives. Otherwise, your Lan family can await extermination by our hands! Hahaha!"
After speaking, Jin Wudao, with deep contempt and provocation, cast a glance at Ling Fan and left with his entourage in an extremely arrogant manner.
"You brat, you've gone too far!"
"Never mind the forging duel or not, I'll kill you, you scoundrel first!"
During this, someone, unable to contain their anger, tried to stop him but was restrained by Lan Tianxiong's gaze.
After Jin Wudao left.
In the vast Lan family council hall, dozens of high-ranking and mid-ranking members.
All fell silent.
The word "humiliation" was written on everyone's faces.
The Lan family, one of the two great families in the forging domain of Jiangnan City, was today so thoroughly insulted by a junior from the Jin family, it was as if they were being defecated and urinated upon!
Even worse, Jin Wudao, that scoundrel, had the audacity to suggest that Lan Xueyi marry him. It was truly unbearable.
What did they think the Lan family was!
Unfortunately, they could only rage in their hearts and were powerless to act!
Upon thinking of the forging duel three days later, their faces were filled with even greater worry and despair.
At the same time, their attitude towards Ling Fan became even more hostile, and they had already placed all the blame on him.
However, at this point, no one had the inclination to pursue the matter.
The demise of the Lan family was imminent.
When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. If the Lan family falls, how could Ling Fan, the live-in son-in-law, fare any better?
Moreover, he was a useless cripple. Without the Lan family, he couldn't survive at all.
How to overcome this tribulation was the most crucial matter. As for assigning blame, they could worry about that after they managed to survive this ordeal.
Unsure who started it, the council hall was soon filled with discussions.
Some advocated for engaging in the forging duel with the Jin family, to settle the score.
Some proposed leaving Jiangnan City and seeking a new path.
There were also some who suggested surrendering directly to the Jin family.
Even the second elder of the Lan family, Lan Tiankui, Lan Xueyi's own uncle, subtly proposed giving Lan Xueyi to Jin Wudao to save the Lan family from disaster.
But as soon as this idea surfaced, it was sternly rebuked by Lan Tianxiong.
He, Lan Tianxiong, would rather die than sell his daughter to survive!
Just as everyone was arguing incessantly.
Lan Xueyi spoke.
"Father, let me fight. Let's have a forging duel with the Jin family! No matter how strong that Master Zheng the Jin family invited is, as long as he hasn't reached the level of a Yellow-tier Forgemaster, we still have a chance."
Her pure and ethereal face was filled with determination. Although she was merely a delicate woman, her backbone was far sturdier than many of the men present.
Lan Xueyi's fighting spirit caused those who advocated for fleeing without a fight or even surrendering to feel ashamed.
"You, come with me."
As Lan Xueyi passed Ling Fan, she said coldly and walked forward without looking back.
Ling Fan nodded faintly. He seemed to have guessed what Lan Xueyi wanted to tell him.
In Lan Xueyi's boudoir.