Chapter 76
Before Yueke and the others entered the lava pool, some people had already left the Ashes Ruins.
Of course, it was Leng Huai who let them out.
They were the last group.
When they entered the lava pool, they found two people sitting on the high platform.
"Demon Lord and Demon Queen!" Li Zhao called out.
Leng Huai looked down at the crowd slowly entering through the stone gate. All three major families were here. Very good.
The only thing missing is Min Dibao, the head of the Min family. Presumably, he has either encountered danger and died, or he is still hiding somewhere.
It doesn't matter, he will wait until the last minute of the tenth day before going out.
Not a single fly will be spared.
With the air of a controller, Leng Huai said slowly in a low voice, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."
When Ye Deqing saw the key in Leng Huai's hand, his face darkened. He had already made a rough prediction in his mind, but on the surface he still maintained a smile: "The Demon Lord truly loves his people, waiting for us subjects to go out together. I am truly moved."
Leng Huai: "I won't put on airs. Let's get straight to the point. My purpose in entering the Ruins of Ashes this time is to deal with the four major families that have been disrupting the lives of ordinary people. Now that the heads of your three families are gathered here, I must get to the bottom of this."
Everyone's expression changed; they hadn't expected Leng Huai to choose this moment to make things difficult for them.
Ye Deqing sneered inwardly, but remained polite on the surface: "I wonder what the Demon Lord wants to ask us? Wouldn't it be better if we went outside to talk? It's too hot and dangerous here."
Leng Huai coldly stared at Ye Deqing: "Patriarch Ye, since you're so impatient, then let me ask you first. The medicines sold by your Ye family are expensive and ineffective. Patriarch Ye, how do you explain this?"
Having not been questioned like this in a long time, Ye Deqing was somewhat displeased, but since the person was Leng Huai, he dared not overstep his bounds.
Ye Pingwei replied, "Your Majesty, all the medicines of the Ye family are made from precious medicinal herbs, so they are naturally expensive, but it is absolutely impossible for them to be ineffective!"
Leng Huai's lips curled into a mocking smile: "Is that so? How many people in the Demon Realm have died because of your medicine? Don't think I don't know! Furthermore, you've been plundering medicinal herbs from the very source, leaving no opportunity for others to gather them. You've monopolized all the medicines in the Demon Realm, and all medical clinics have to get their medicines from your Ye family to survive. How are other medicine merchants supposed to live?"
Ye Pingwei opened his mouth to explain, but didn't know where to begin.
Ye Deqing smiled slightly, as if the issues Leng Huai raised were not a big deal at all: "What the Demon Lord is referring to is that our Ye family has won in the business world. This world is about survival of the fittest. If we were to give all these things to others, how could our Ye family survive?"
What a silver tongue she had, but Leng Huai was no pushover either.
Leng Huai: "Patriarch Ye, that's not how it works. You've blocked everyone's path to survival just to steal medicinal herbs. You've prevented them from growing them and only allowed them to grow them. If they don't comply, you burn down all their herb gardens. How are they supposed to live?"
Ye Deqing's smile remained unchanged: "Our Ye family would never do such a thing."
Leng Huai could tell that Ye Deqing intended to deny everything and refuse to admit it.
Yueke and Xianfei could both tell that Leng Huai wanted to discipline them.
The Yue family has always maintained neutrality, and Yue Ke has always been disgusted by the Ye family's domineering behavior. However, she is not willing to do anything against them, since the Yue family still needs to establish itself in the Demon Realm.
Since Leng Huai has stepped forward to take charge, she should also show her attitude to avoid affecting the Yue family.
Yue Ke said, "The Yue family makes a living by pawnbroking and has never done anything to harm people. The account books are clear and in order. Lord Demon Lord can check them."
Xian Fei followed suit, stating, "My Xian family is all about eating, drinking, and having fun. Nobody says we're from a family that oppresses the people, right? Our restaurants always offer discounts and coupons; we have everything..."
"Alright, that's enough." Leng Huai interrupted Xian Fei's incessant chatter.
Xian Fei awkwardly shut up.
Yue Si covered her mouth and chuckled.
Leng Huai glanced at Xian Fei and Yue Ke. These two families had always been in a neutral position. They were usually suppressed by the Ye family and had to do some things that went against the rules, but it was nothing serious. He knew what was going on.
He just didn't know which side they were leaning towards. If they were leaning towards the Ye family, he wouldn't let them off today. But since they had made their stance clear, he wouldn't make things difficult for them.
Ye Deqing was not annoyed when both families immediately stated their positions. He understood that Leng Huai was definitely targeting him this time and must have found out about him, but he certainly had no evidence, otherwise he would not have come to the Ruins of Ashes to threaten him.
He was emboldened: "Our Demon Lord has always been impartial and incorruptible in enforcing the law. Does he have any evidence to prove that the Ye family has done such things?"
Leng Huai thought to himself, "He really is an old fox; he can figure out everyone's intentions in just a few words." But Leng Huai wasn't unprepared; he already knew Ye Deqing would say that.
Ye Deqing was indeed meticulous and cautious in everything he did. But even the most careful person can have flaws and oversights. And the human heart is the easiest place to breach.
Qiao Yun traced the medicinal herbs step by step, from the planting of the herbs to their production and sale. Throughout the process, there were always greedy and lustful people involved. By following the clues, he found witnesses and physical evidence.
Leng Huai pulled out a stack of transaction receipts, and even though Ye Deqing was far away, he could still clearly see the conspicuous Ye family seal.
Ye Deqing's heart sank. This was a secret contract they had made, the kind that only core members of the Ye family would have, a contract for accounting and bookkeeping.
Why would Leng Huai have it?
Leng Huai clearly noticed Ye Deqing's expression change. He said, "This is proof that you plundered medicinal herb growers and forced them to sell their herbs. The price is extremely low, far below the market price."
Ye Deqing still wanted to deny it.
Leng Huai continued, "I also have witnesses."
Ye Deqing twitched the corner of his mouth: "It's so far away, I can't see clearly."
Leng Huai: "Whether you see it clearly or not is not important. According to the laws of the Demon Realm, the Ye family will be imprisoned in the Demon Realm Hell."
Ye Deqing frowned and clenched his fist: "So, Lord Demon Lord, you're determined to pin the blame on me?"
Leng Huai waved the key in his hand: "Whether it's forced or not, you know in your heart. I never like to procrastinate. If you want to leave today, you will have to pay the price."
Leng Huai's meaning was crystal clear: if Ye Deqing did not want to confess, then he could forget about leaving the Ruins of Ashes.
Having already broken off all pretense, Ye Deqing stopped putting on airs and glanced at Ye Pingwei: "Aren't you going to clear a path for me?"
Ye Pingwei was somewhat surprised, then nodded.
Ye Pingwei glanced at the bubbling lava and swallowed hard. His expression changed as he looked at Li Zhao, who was closest to him: "You, come here."
Li Zhao stiffened. He knew what these people wanted to do; they wanted to use him as a pawn.
Liu Qing tugged at Li Zhao's sleeve worriedly. She didn't want him to take the risk, but the person in front of them was Ye Deqing. Even if they joined forces, they might not be able to defeat him.
Li Zhao nodded slightly, indicating to Liu Qing not to worry.
Li Zhao walked past Ye Pingwei and Ye Deqing to the front, his eyes fixed on the steaming, bubbling lava.
All eyes were on Li Zhao.
Mo Xiaoxin sat on the high platform, fanning herself with her sleeves from time to time, as if she were watching a good show, looking quite relaxed.
The magnetic field of fire magic here is particularly strong, which has significantly weakened the magical power of all those who practice alchemy.
Li Zhao originally wanted to fly onto the rock, but found that he couldn't fly at all; it felt as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on his head. He stepped out with his right foot onto the nearest rock, first lightly touching the edge of the lava rock with his toe to feel the weight of the rock.
The rock seemed to float lightly on the lava, and before Li Zhao could put all his weight on his right foot, he felt the rock sink much deeper.
He immediately pulled his right foot back and then stepped onto the middle of the rock.
Fortunately, this time there was a support point in the middle, and the stone did not sway to either side.
Li Zhao placed his right foot on the rock, shifting his weight to the right. After observing that the rock did not wobble or sink, he placed his left foot on it, standing completely on the rock.
Suddenly, the stone sank halfway down.
As the rock sank, everyone gasped, and Liu Qing's heart leaped into her throat.
Li Zhao's heart raced. He forced himself to calm down and carefully observed the movement of the rocks. If the rocks showed signs of sinking further, he could still jump back from the shore since he was not far away.
Fortunately, the rock only wobbled slightly and did not continue to sink.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief once the rocks stabilized.
Li Zhao, a man of such thinness, weighed only slightly more than a woman, yet he had already caused the stone to sink by half. If there were several more men, the stone might not be able to support their weight.
After Li Zhao stood on the rock, he felt a wave of heat mixed with the smell of sulfur rushing towards him. Under his feet was surging dark red magma, and the occasional burst of bubbles sent sparks flying, burning black holes in his clothes.
Li Zhao looked at Liu Qing, gesturing for her to follow him. Then he used the same method to walk to the second stone.
Liu Qing understood and followed behind Li Zhao. She waited until Li Zhao stepped onto the second stone before she followed him onto the first one.
Just as Li Zhao was about to move on to the third piece, a voice came from behind him.
Ye Pingwei: "Wait a minute."
Ye Pingwei looked at Li Zhao: "You will meet me at the second rock."
Li Zhao understood Ye Pingwei's meaning. Ye Pingwei wanted him to switch places with Liu Qing because he was afraid the stone would sink.
Li Zhao and Liu Qing balanced themselves and helped each other switch positions.
Now Liu Qing is on the third stone at the very front, and Li Zhao is on the second one.
Ye Pingwei's palms were sweaty, and the heat waves kept hitting his face, making his eyes feel a little uncomfortable.
Among everyone, he was the most important.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself not to think about those messy things.
Before entering the Ruins of Ashes, his father promised that once he left the Ruins of Ashes, his father would officially hand over the Ye family to him, and he would be the next head of the Ye family.
But why would his father put him in such danger today?
He was very obedient to his father from a young age, and among the three children, his father loved him the most and favored him unconditionally. Although Ye Hualing was more talented in business than him, his father's attention remained solely on him.
He was emboldened by the love he received, but he remained wary of Ye Hualing and Ye Songlan.
His father always had him learn business from him, and he was confident enough to say that his father loved him. But just now, he had some doubts.
He could only console himself by saying that it was precisely because his father trusted him that he was allowed to go; otherwise, why wouldn't he let Ye Hualing and his sister go?
Ye Deqing's voice rang out from behind: "Pingwei, be careful."
Ye Pingwei snapped out of his daze and forced a smile: "Father, I'll be careful."
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