I picked up skill fragments in the demon world.

Chapter 911: Fight to the death!

Watching the fire engulf the Zhang family's ancestral home, Zhang Chen's lips curled into a smug smile. He then turned and disappeared from the spot, reappearing at the Gong family's residence. Since he had set up the stage, how could he miss this grand show?

Gong family
When Zhang Chen appeared at the Gong family's residence, the atmosphere became extremely tense. Everyone looked at each other, a hint of murderous intent and barely suppressed anger brewing in the hall. No one noticed that a small flying insect had silently stuck to the door.

Gong Xufeng sat upright in the center of the hall. After inviting the Zhang family members to take their seats, he looked at the servants beside him with a gloomy expression and said, "Summon Gong Chun."

The servant obeyed and left. Not long after, Gong Chun arrived. When he saw the densely packed Gong family members with their predatory eyes, he was startled and a bad premonition welled up in his heart.

"Greetings, Father. Greetings, Uncle Zhang." Gong Chun entered the main hall and bowed.

"Gong Chun! The Zhang family has come knocking on our door. They say you stole the Zhang family's Book of Life and Death. What's your explanation?" Gong Xufeng asked.

Gong Chun was completely stunned upon hearing this, and looked at Gong Xufeng with disbelief: "Father! What are you saying? I don't understand."

"Still pretending to be confused! Everyone witnessed you infiltrating the Zhang family and stealing the Book of Life and Death. It's absolutely undeniable. Why are you still putting on an act?" Zhang Shenqi slammed his hand on the table, staring angrily at Gong Chun.

Gong Chun was completely dumbfounded, her mind filled with questions. She stared blankly at Zhang Shenqi: "I've stayed in the manor all day and haven't gone out at all. How could I have stolen the Zhang family's Book of Life and Death..."

At this point, Gong Chun suddenly stopped speaking, a look of horror crossing his face. He suddenly remembered the figure that had broken into his room, and a sense of unease rose in his heart: 'No way! Something terrible is about to happen! I've been framed!'

"You didn't leave the Gong family mansion, so could it be that what appeared in my Zhang family today was a ghost or monster?" Zhang Shenqi's eyes flashed with a cold killing intent.
"Do you dare to let us freely question the servants guarding the gate of your Gong family to see if they saw Gong Chun barging in from outside?"

Everyone witnessed Gong Chun barging into the Gong family mansion from the outside, especially the four guards, who even greeted Gong Chun. If the Zhang family's mind-controlling technique were used for interrogation, they would surely be able to get a clear answer from him.

"Gong Xufeng, if this wasn't done by your Gong family, then hand over the guard at the gate to us for interrogation. If you refuse, then you have a guilty conscience, and we will fight you to the death!" Zhang Gaqi's voice was icy cold.

Zhang Gaqi's words put Gong Xufeng in a difficult position. Recalling the scene of Gong Chun's panic earlier, he had already sensed that something was wrong, so he dared not say a word. If those four guards were really pushed out and interrogated, it would be a big problem.

However, if they don't agree to the Zhang family's conditions, it would be obvious that they have a guilty conscience, and the outcome would be the same.

Gong Xufeng looked at Gong Chun with both eyes: "You wicked child, what explanation do you have? If you really stole the Book of Life and Death, then hand it over immediately, lest you damage the relationship between our two families."

Gong Chun smiled bitterly upon hearing this, turned to look at the Zhang family members, and met their murderous gazes. Gong Chun said helplessly, "Uncles and elders, would you believe me if I said I was framed? To tell you the truth, just now, a Gong Chun broke into my house and then disappeared instantly. Clearly, someone impersonated me and wanted to pin the blame on me."

"Impersonating you? Would you believe that? If you're an imposter, how do you explain Gong Hei and Gong Bai?" At that moment, Zhang Gaqi addressed the Zhang family members behind him:
"Bring Gong Hei and Gong Bai up here!"

Upon hearing this, Gong Chun was startled, and Gong Xufeng next to her had his eyelids twitching wildly. Then they saw the two elders of the Gong family being tied up and pushed out.

“These two were caught red-handed by my Zhang family. How does your Gong family explain this?” Zhang Shenqi said coldly.

"Grandpa Black, Grandpa White, how... how..." Gong Chun looked at Gong Hei and Gong Bai, and was so shocked that she couldn't speak for a moment.

"Gong Hei and Gong Bai, is what the Zhang family head said true? Did you really go with Gong Chun to steal the Book of Life and Death?" Gong Xufeng looked at the disheveled Gong Hei and Gong Bai with a pounding heart.

"Patriarch, it was Gong Chun who ordered us to take action," Gong Bai said, then turned to Gong Chun and said, "Boy, we made a mistake and got captured, which has embarrassed you. But it's too late now, we've already been discovered by the Zhang family, so just admit it and hand over the Book of Life and Death to avoid causing a major disaster and ruining the relationship between our two families."

"What nonsense are you spouting! When did I ever ask you to steal the Book of Life and Death!" Gong Chun was stunned, then became furious and shouted angrily at the two of them.

"There's no use in making excuses. We've been caught red-handed. Do you think you can get away with it by denying it? You'd better hand over the Book of Life and Death obediently," Gong Hei added from the side.

Gong Chun's head was buzzing. Looking at the two elders, one black and one white, who insisted he had stolen the treasure, she was about to continue her defense when the Gong family patriarch slammed his hand on the table, his voice like thunder as he roared, "You scoundrel! You beast, how dare you do such a daring thing! Hand over the Book of Life and Death immediately, then kneel down and apologize to the Zhang family uncles!" "I...I didn't...I'm innocent..." Gong Chun was completely stunned, standing there helplessly.

“Gong Chun, if you hand over the treasure, we can let bygones be bygones and pretend none of this ever happened. If you continue to be stubborn, do you really think we're fools?” Zhang Gaqi’s face was very ugly.

Gong Bai chimed in, "That's right! Young Master, you shouldn't stubbornly refuse. Just admit it! Hand over the Book of Life and Death, and we'll all be fine. The uncles and elders of the Zhang family will also consider the friendship between our two families and won't make things too difficult for you. If you continue to be stubborn and choose to resist to the end, then you're just being unreasonable."

“That’s right! Our eight families are all of the same blood, and we can’t let our friendship be ruined by you.” Gong Hei chimed in from the side.

"..." At this moment, Gong Chun's mind was buzzing and he wanted to kill someone. He stood there blankly, looking at Gong Hei and Gong Bai. No matter how eloquent he was in the past, he didn't know how to defend himself when he saw the two people who were sticking to him.

“There must be some misunderstanding!” Gong Chun said. “Someone must have impersonated me and deceived Gong Hei and Gong Bai.”

"You're still stubbornly refusing to confess!" Zhang Shenqi was so angry he laughed, turning to look at Gong Xufeng: "What do you have to say?"

Gong Xufeng looked at Gong Chun with a gloomy expression: "I'll ask you one last time, will you confess or not! If you confess, we can let this matter drop. If you don't confess, I will give the Zhang family an explanation today."

"Father, I don't know anything. I've been framed. What are you asking me to confess?" Gong Chun was going crazy.

Upon hearing this, Gong Xufeng looked at Gong Chun with disappointment, then stood up and said to the servant beside him, "Tie up this unfilial son."

At his command, guards rushed in like wolves and tigers, and immediately grabbed Gong Chun by the arms and tied him up.

"Father, you must believe me, I am truly innocent," Gong Chun cried out in distress.

"Uncles and elders of the Zhang family, our Zhang family and the Gong family have a friendship that has lasted for thousands of years. We must not let some trivial matter ruin our friendship. I will hand this rebellious son over to you all. Whether he lives or dies, is up to you to decide." Gong Xufeng was decisive and handed Gong Chun over directly, trying to settle the matter peacefully.

Although Gong Chun is his eldest son and the future heir of the Gong family, he still has to be sacrificed for the sake of the Gong family's grand plan.

"Gong Xufeng, are you trying to shirk responsibility? What use is a mere Gong Chun to us? What we want is the Book of Life and Death. Hand it over to us," Zhang Shenqi said with dissatisfaction.

"I have already handed over Gong Chun. Since you all believe that this rebellious son stole the Book of Life and Death, with the abilities of your Zhang family, surely you can find out where the Book of Life and Death is? As long as the Book of Life and Death is in the Gong family, I will hand it over immediately without any hesitation." Gong Xufeng patted his chest and guaranteed, his voice filled with determination.

He wasn't stupid. The Book of Life and Death was the foundation of the Zhang family. If they couldn't find it, the Zhang family would never give up. What awaited him then was a life-or-death battle between the two families.

For him, the best option was to hand over Gong Chun, because the Gong family was indeed innocent in this matter.

“Since we can’t use any methods within the capital, we’ll take Gong Chun outside the capital.” Zhang Gaqi stood up with a grim expression, his eyes looking down at Gong Chun: “Boy, if you hand over now, we won’t pursue the matter. But once we’re outside the capital, you still won’t be able to withstand the Zhang family’s Soul Search and Spirit Seizure. The Gong family has already given up on you, so why do you insist on resisting to the end?”

Upon hearing this, Gong Chun's face filled with panic, and his eyes were filled with horror: "Uncle, it was definitely not me! Please don't wrong me! I, Gong Chun, swear on my soul that if I did this, I will surely be annihilated."

"Heh! Whether you swear an oath or not, if you don't confess honestly, you're not far from being annihilated." Zhang Shenqi sneered and said to the Zhang family members beside him, "Tie him up."

He then turned to Gong Xufeng and said, "This matter is not over until we find the Book of Life and Death. My Zhang family will spare no effort, even if it means fighting to the last man, to retrieve the Book of Life and Death. No matter who has it, we will take it back."

After speaking, the group strode away, dragging Gong Hei, Gong Bai, and Gong Chun along with them. In the blink of an eye, they disappeared into the street without a trace.

(End of this chapter)