Mysteries of Immortal Puppet Master

Afterward, Ning Xiaoren secretly summoned Ning Ze.

Ning Ze, with bandages wrapped around his forehead, came to see Ning Xiaoren, showing a very respectful attitude.

Ning Xiaoren coldly snorted in his heart, knowing well that Ning Ze could have easily healed the wound on his forehead but deliberately left it to garner sympathy. This was his way of expressing his grievances, subtly reminding Ning Xiaoren of his merits and hardships.

"Ning Ze, come, have a seat." Ning Xiaoren once again displayed a gentle smile on his face.

Ning Ze promptly sat down. "I am truly puzzled. It was clearly you, Young Clan Leader, who instructed me. But why did you suddenly…"

Ning Xiaoren raised his hand, stopping Ning Ze from continuing. "I'll explain with just one sentence: the true inventor of the Mechanical Explosive Monkey is actually Ning Zhuo."

Ning Ze was stunned, thinking he had misheard. "W-what?"

Ning Xiaoren did not explain further but leaned back in his chair, slowly sipping his tea.

Ning Ze, fully comprehending the situation, was so shocked that he stood up, unable to stay seated. He widened his eyes and murmured, "Little Zhuo… Little Zhuo is actually the creator of the Mechanical Explosive Monkey?"

Ning Ze's mouth gaped open, his eyes vacant, lost in thought for a moment before he regained his focus.

"No wonder, no wonder he has such a large sum of money!"

"But, but according to him, this matter involves a Golden Core stage cultivator."

Ning Xiaoren set down his cup and sighed. "It was Fei Si. Fei Si wanted to take credit and presented the Mechanical Explosive Monkey to the City Lord. Chen Cha was his subordinate, not Ning Zhuo's! So, Chen Cha secretly forced Ning Zhuo and took the honor for himself."

"This matter is still under investigation, but it's likely close to the truth!"

"So that's how it is, that's how it is!" Ning Ze let out a heavy breath, a look of guilt appearing on his face. "I wronged him."

"But in that situation, I had no other choice!"

"I had to give the clan, especially you, Young Clan Leader, an explanation!"

Ning Xiaoren smiled. "I understand, I understand. Come, sit down."

Ning Ze sat down again.

Ning Xiaoren continued, "I know you are loyal, and you provided me with an explanation. But now, how should I explain things to Ning Zhuo?"

"Huh?" Ning Ze was perplexed.

"You see, here's the situation." Ning Xiaoren stood up and slowly walked around the desk to the front.

"Ning Zhuo has reached the peak of the third layer of Qi Refining. The Five Elements Qi Regulation Art is particularly well-suited for him, and he can even create the Mechanical Explosive Monkey. So, he will undoubtedly be the main force in our clan's exploration of the Lava Immortal Palace."

"Our clan needs him, we need him greatly, we must use him heavily!"

"He is a rare Mechanical prodigy of our clan."

"But now, he feels wronged, and there is a rift between him and the clan!"

"If you were in his place and encountered this situation, how would you feel?"

As he said this, Ning Xiaoren walked up to Ning Ze.

Ning Ze hurriedly stood up, a growing sense of unease in his heart. He said, "If I were Ning Zhuo, what is this investigation to me? It’s nothing to be upset about. On the contrary, having the opportunity to prove my innocence, I would be very grateful to the clan for giving me this chance."

"I am a member of the Ning family, loyal to the clan. Contributing to the clan and making sacrifices is my duty!"

"Hahaha…"

Ning Xiaoren pointed at Ning Ze with his finger, nodding, "You have great awareness, Ning Ze, you are remarkable!"

"I was not wrong about you."

Ning Ze quickly expressed his humility.

Ning Xiaoren suddenly shifted his tone, "But Ning Zhuo is not you. He is only sixteen years old. How much can he understand? How much awareness like yours can he possibly have?"

Ning Ze replied, "Yes, I will certainly guide him well in the future, leading him onto the right path."

Ning Xiaoren nodded, "That is for the future!"

"But for now, Ning Zhuo is hurt. As elders, we naturally need to take care of him, soothe his heart, heal his wounds, and let him grow up happily and cultivate joyfully, don’t you think?"

The more Ning Ze listened, the more he felt uneasy.

Ning Xiaoren added, "As elders, we should have a spirit of sacrifice. Ning Ze, do you have such awareness?"

Ning Ze, under direct pressure from Ning Xiaoren, could only grit his teeth and ask for advice.

Ning Xiaoren then transmitted his plan to Ning Ze.

Ning Ze was horrified and immediately waved his hands, "S-Sir, how could you do this? Where would that leave me?"

It turned out that Ning Xiaoren's plan was to have Ning Ze investigated next. Ning Ze, unable to bear the pressure, would "confess the truth"—that over the years, Ning Xiaoren had been secretly funding Ning Zhuo's cultivation with a great deal of spirit stones and resources, but Ning Ze had embezzled them, mistreating Ning Zhuo. Now that Ning Zhuo was making a name for himself, Ning Ze, upon hearing that Ning Zhuo had amassed a fortune, could not resist his jealousy and greed. Under the guise of an investigation, he attempted to extort Ning Zhuo, only to be stopped by the kind-hearted and family-minded Ning Xiaoren, who then discovered the truth that had been buried for over a decade!

Ning Ze did not want to bear such false accusations in the slightest.

Clearly, it was Ning Xiaoren who had been unkind, who had forgotten old favors, neglected Ning Zhuo for over a decade, only to now turn the blame on him!

This was too despicable, too vile.

"Will you do it or not? Are you still my subordinate?" Ning Xiaoren glared, directly threatening him!

"Dare you refuse? Think about the consequences."

"Think about your son, Ning Ji, right? He’s living quite well in the family estate right now!"

A bone-chilling coldness enveloped Ning Ze's heart.

Looking at the stern and severe Ning Xiaoren, he suddenly realized, "So, Ning Xiaoren appointed me as the leader of the investigation team not because he wanted to rely on my relationship with Ning Zhuo to find out the source of the large sum of money."

"No, Ning Xiaoren, this damned guy, wants to take Ning Zhuo’s money for himself while framing me, stepping on my body to deceive Ning Zhuo, to win Ning Zhuo over."

Understanding the truth, Ning Ze was furious, his face turning red, fists clenched, breathing heavily.

Seeing his reaction, Ning Xiaoren sneered disdainfully.

It was this light sneer, like icy water from the polar regions, that extinguished the flames of anger in Ning Ze's heart.

After all, Ning Xiaoren was the Young Clan Leader, and also his immediate superior. What could he do?

Clearly, it was Ning Ze who had raised Ning Zhuo over the past decade, though not with great care, but still protecting him.

But now Ning Xiaoren wanted to win over Ning Zhuo, take the credit, and frame Ning Ze to cover up his own mistakes!

So sinister, so despicable.

There was nothing he could do. Ning Ze had no choice!

He could only swallow this unjust blame and responsibility.

Because he was a subordinate, making a living under Ning Xiaoren’s command. Ning Xiaoren was the Young Clan Leader, second only to the Clan Leader of the Ning family.

Even if Ning Ze resisted to the death, he would still be forced to comply.

At this moment, Ning Ze suddenly thought of Ning Zhuo, whom he had pressured not long ago.

"So, this is how it feels to be coerced by someone, unable to resist, so painfully unbearable!" His heart was filled with bitterness and despair.

Thinking this, he suddenly felt that perhaps he deserved this.

"Indeed, Young Clan Leader, I embezzled the resources you secretly provided and wronged Ning Zhuo. It was all my fault." Ning Ze’s voice became low and resigned, his expression extremely gloomy.

Only then did Ning Xiaoren pat his shoulder. "I won’t treat you unfairly."

"You’ll move into the family’s dungeon first!"

"I’ll notify your wife to visit you!"

Ning Ze was stunned. He hadn’t expected things to move so quickly. He couldn’t help but look up at Ning Xiaoren.

Ning Xiaoren’s face was all smiles, but his eyes were filled with cold light.

Ning Ze could only lower his head, his tone heavy, "Yes, I accept the order!"

The Ning family’s Clan Leader, with a smile on his face, returned to the mansion.

In this negotiation, he had secured many practical benefits for the Ning family, far exceeding previous expectations.

Ning Xiaoren came to report, laying out his entire scheme of framing Ning Ze and winning over Ning Zhuo.

The Ning family’s Clan Leader stroked his beard and pondered, "You handled it quite well."

"Remember, Ning Zhuo is no longer the same. At least for now, the family needs to rely on his strength. You should curb your nature."

The Ning family’s Clan Leader was well aware of his son’s greedy nature

.

With just a quiet glance, Ning Xiaoren broke out in a cold sweat and quickly nodded, promising never to do such a thing again.

"Father, this is the result of my urgent investigation." Ning Xiaoren then presented a stack of reports.

The common thread in these reports was Ning Zhuo.

They were all closely related to him.