Chapter 60: Chapter 60 Brothers At Odds
Just for a moment, the noise erupted, a chaotic mess.
It was not long before over a dozen people rushed into the main tent.
Chu Bing led the charge, followed by various high-ranking officers of the City Guard Army. Though the strongest among them was just a Primary Level martial master, their control over the army allowed them to stand on equal footing with the heads of great clans within the city.
The Moon-Slaying Bow, which could kill a high-level martial master!
This was a balance of power that kept the major families from being too arrogant.
“Chu Fei, you heartless beast!” roared Chu Bing, pointing his finger at Chu Fei, “You actually dared to murder your own father!”
Chu Fei was stunned. He had been immersed in shock and sorrow, but Chu Bing’s accusation made it impossible for him to remain silent.
“You misunderstand. I didn’t do this!” he argued.
“If not you, then who?” Chu Bing coldly sneered.
Chu Fei pondered for a moment, then said, “Chu Bing, why are you so certain I’m the murderer?”
He was beginning to see through the accusation.
Just then, the heads of the great families arrived one after another and were shocked by the scene.
Chu Wei was a Martial Sect, and he had been assassinated?
“Everyone arrived just in time to judge this patricidal fiend!” Chu Bing pointed at his brother, pronouncing each word clearly.
Chu Fei was furious and said, “Chu Bing, don’t spit blood!”
“I spit blood?” Chu Bing scoffed coldly, “Let everyone take a good look at our father’s death scene!”
Once everyone had a clear view, Chu Bing continued, “Clearly, father must have been killed in one strike. But, father was a Martial Sect expert, who could have managed that?”
He paused, giving everyone a moment to think, but without waiting for them to ponder deeply, he immediately added, “There is only one possibility!”
“That is, father was in a very relaxed state, yet he was ambushed by the person he trusted most!”
“One is father’s son, the other is a Martial Sect expert, so if they coordinated, one distracting father while the other struck suddenly, even father’s wisdom and bravery could not have saved him.”
“After all, how could he have guessed that his own son would betray him!”
These words incited rage among the military officers, who looked at Chu Fei with the ferocity of a wild beast wanting to devour its prey, while the heads of the major families showed a hint of doubt.
Chu Fei had by now completely calmed down and said, “Chu Bing, this is just your side of the story! First, there’s no reason for Young Master Shi and me to kill father!”
“Secondly, Young Master Shi and I just arrived here a bit earlier than the rest of you, which the messengers can verify.”
Chu Bing laughed heartily, then suddenly his expression turned cold: “You say you have no motive? You do! Last night, father told me in private that he decided to pass the throne to me. But as I left, I clearly saw you hurrying away.”
“Thus, you must have been unwilling to accept me succeeding to the throne and were driven to murder!”
“Regarding your second point, haha, bring in someone!”
Soon, a guard entered and bowed to the military officers and family heads.
“This is the guard on duty today. Let’s ask him what time Chu Fei and Shi Hao arrived!” Chu Bing said calmly.
“Young Prince Chu Fei and Young Master Shi arrived about half an hour ago,” the guard said.
“Nonsense!” Chu Fei immediately became agitated.
“Hmm?” Chu Bing’s eyes widened, “Chu Fei, don’t even think about threatening the witness!”
Since when did this guard become a witness?
Chu Fei finally realized that this was a premeditated trap set deliberately.
Chu Bing had definitely been planning this for a long time, and he was completely unprepared. Who could have imagined that this person would actually kill his father and was even capable of killing a martial master?
“All family heads, do not believe his nonsense!” Chu Fei solemnly stated, “My father had long considered passing the throne to me, thus, Chu Bing harbored resentment and struck first!”
Chu Wei had indeed intentionally or unintentionally revealed that he wanted to pass the throne to him, being his legitimate son and also capable of uniting the powerful families to stabilize the rulership.
Replacing a general was simple, but prominent families were different. They had amassed power over hundreds of years, or even longer, with influence spreading into every corner of Duke City, not merely through martial strength.
For a moment, the heads of the prominent families found themselves in a dilemma.
They knew that one of Chu Wei’s sons had killed their father for the throne, but the question was which one.
However, the prominent families were tied to Chu Fei. If Chu Bing were to ascend, he would represent the military’s influence.
The rise of a new power inevitably meant the decline of an old one.
Therefore, if Chu Bing were to inherit the throne, he would definitely use various reasons to weaken the major families or even annihilate them outright, replacing them with military generals.
Yes, the strong individuals in the army were much lower in rank than the prominent families. However, they controlled the Moon-Slaying Bow.
This was a national weapon, originally intended to repel foreign enemies and eradicate bandits, but used on one’s own people… it was equally formidable and effective.
Hence, Chu Bing must not ascend to the throne.
“I think we should first return the Prince’s body to the city and then discuss further,” a head of a smaller prominent family suggested.
Once back in Duke City, they could mobilize their families’ power and wouldn’t have to face an army alone.
“Exactly, taking care of the Prince’s funeral matters most,” other heads of prominent families nodded in agreement.
Chu Bing sneered and nodded towards a general.
That general immediately dismantled the tent, and a frightful scene unfolded. Outside, the City Guard Army densely packed the area, each with bows drawn, pointing directly at the tent.
“Mr. Chen, why not reconsider?” Chu Bing said indifferently.
This was a blatant threat, yet with the Moon-Slaying Bow aimed at them, which one of them could avoid trembling?
The head who spoke earlier dared not make a sound anymore.
“Chu Fei, do you admit your guilt?” Chu Bing ignored the others and turned his gaze to Chu Fei.
Once Chu Fei was dead, the throne would be his, and since it was bestown by the Royal Family, no one would dare to remove him, no matter how audacious.
Thus, regardless of how upset these powerful families might be, none would dare to oppose him.
Because opposing him would be akin to opposing Hua Yuan Nation, tantamount to rebellion.
Chu Fei couldn’t help but burst out in a loud laugh, “Chu Bing, oh Chu Bing, for the sake of power, you really are sick-minded! Bah, I do not admit it, I refuse to believe that you can cover the sky with one hand!”
“Since you remain deluded, I shall send you on your way!” Chu Bing smiled, turning to the Han Family head, “Mr. Han, Chu Fei killed his father, should he not be executed?”
Mr. Han was Chu Fei’s uncle. He clenched his fists, his face ashen.
“Heh,” Chu Bing chuckled. One of his generals waved a hand, and suddenly ten Moon-Slaying Bows were aimed at Mr. Han.
“Alas!” Shi Hao sighed, stretching lazily, “Chu Bing, your calculations are clever, but your biggest mistake was involving me as well.”