Chapter 1508 – Cut Down Nie Liang, Attack Yang Tao, Sword Pointing at the World (47)
After investigation, the powder was identical to the poison used on Nie Liang in his younger years!
This result was not something Nie Liang could accept, and Wei Ying found it too absurd as well.
When Nie Liang was poisoned, how old was Nie Yang?
At most just over ten years old, still just a child—what could he possibly do that’s so seamless?
If Nie Liang hadn’t been suspicious and re-investigated Nie Yang, he would never have discovered the hidden trapdoor, let alone catch the true culprit behind the poisoning.
Even if Nie Yang wasn’t the true culprit, he was certainly complicit in the poisoning.
Nie Liang forced a self-deprecating smile, his lips curling in thick mockery.
“Every day chasing after geese, only to have my eyes pecked out by them. I foolishly prided myself on being clever, yet I’ve been outwitted by a junior—how laughable…”
Ever since Nie Liang found out he was poisoned, he had been scrutinizing those around him, secretly sending people to investigate the poisoning.
But no matter how much he searched, he couldn’t find who had poisoned him; in following the existing clues, all he could trace back to were some uncles. However, Nie Liang knew these uncles, while having motives, hadn’t had the chance to act.
Therefore, the real villain still lurked in the shadows.
Nie Liang remained on high alert, who knew that new clues would pop up so unexpectedly?
Nie Yang was younger than Nie Qing; how could Nie Liang ever suspect him?
After discovering something was off with Nie Yang, Nie Liang did not immediately remove him from the picture. One, to consider his son Nie Qing; two, because… he genuinely found Nie Yang rather strange—without clarity, it was safer not to make any rash moves; and three, when someone plotted against you, you should at least collect a bit of interest in return.
Nie Liang planned to shift the blame for the murder of his kin onto Nie Yang, thus clearing his own name.
This would also help his son Nie Qing see the true face of this person.
Wei Ying said, “I really can’t fathom how he, at such a young age, has so much scheming; he’s even wiser than old foxes.”
When the greedy and ambitious old foxes of the Nie Clan heard Nie Liang was dead, they couldn’t contain their inner desires; yet, unexpectedly, Nie Yang could control his nature. Achieving this meant either Nie Yang was innocent and they misjudged him, or he was cunning to a degree that ordinary people couldn’t handle; or… could it be that Nie Yang had already guessed that Lord Nie Liang was not actually dead?
After Wei Ying voiced this speculation, Nie Liang replied, “What’s the use of pursuing that now? My body won’t hold out for many more days—I truly have the desire but lack the strength… Nie Yang is indeed crafty; a pity that… if not for that, he could’ve been Qing’s right-hand man…”
Nie Liang was relatively satisfied with his son, but he had one major concern: Nie Qing was too pure-hearted. That kind of character might be fine in a prosperous world—Nie Liang could protect him as a member of the gentry—but in chaotic times like these, even with Wei Ying and others assisting, Nie Liang couldn’t help but worry.
If Nie Qing weren’t so easily deceived, Nie Yang wouldn’t have had the chance to get so close to him; their bond was now inseparable.
Since it was established that Nie Yang was a potential threat, Nie Liang planned to quietly take care of it later.
These were matters he wouldn’t see come to fruition, but Wei Ying would help him achieve it; the outcome would be similar.
Wei Ying said, “This kind of person should not be kept around for long, it’s wisest to eliminate him as soon as possible.”
Both Nie Liang and Wei Ying were prudent; furthermore, Nie Liang was currently in the guise of someone who was “dead.” Logically, this conversation should be known only to them, yet Nie Yang’s cunning was beyond the understanding of ordinary people.
Nie Yang knew Nie Liang wasn’t dead and naturally wouldn’t let his guard down, often having the System keep an eye on things.
Naturally, Nie Yang overheard this conversation.
The System mocked, “Now you know the gap between you and Nie Liang, right? Without my help, you wouldn’t even know how you died.”
Nie Yang’s face faded into the shadows, only his eyes displayed a cold glimmer, killing intent bursting forth.
The System relentless continued, “If not for my assistance, you’d never have had the chance to poison Nie Liang; even if you had succeeded, he would have easily captured you. If not for me… Right now you wouldn’t even know that Nie Liang has developed a killing intent towards you, planning to use you up and then eliminate you to cover his tracks. Still not willing to admit that as a mere mortal, even with schemes, you cannot compare to my capabilities!”
Nie Yang’s previous attempt at reverse action infuriated the System, and now it spared no effort to knock him down a peg.
The System knew Nie Yang had schemes, but having schemes without the ability to implement them was merely a joke.
Taking advantage of this situation, the System wanted Nie Yang to completely recognize his own limitations, so he would obediently submit and refrain from challenging the System’s authority.
Now was a deadly game; a single misstep could lead to death, and Nie Qing wouldn’t be able to save him if he knew Nie Yang was the true culprit behind his father’s murder. What weight do you think your petty brotherly bond holds now? The only one you can rely on is me.
The System maliciously laughed, like a demon whispering sweet nothings into Nie Yang’s ear, tempting him to sink into darker depths.
After a while, Nie Yang chuckled eerily, still wearing a cold expression, but his eyes filled with madness and killing intent.
Rely on you? Nie Yang couldn’t help but laugh. He said, “Nie Liang wants to kill me, and you think you are some kind of sage?”
He still couldn’t forget the cruel lightning torture the System had subjected him to, where he was stuck between life and death.
With the System presenting itself this way, how could Nie Yang trust that it had his best interests at heart? To him, the System felt like a lurking evil spirit, plotting something. Once the System achieved its goals, he suspected that his fate would be even worse than death.
The System sneered, “At the very least, I can help you survive a few more days; you wouldn’t want to die without ever tasting the thrill of power, would you?”
Having been bound to Nie Yang for so many years, the System knew his obsession with power, to the point of being almost fanatical.
Nie Yang remained silent for a long while after hearing this, his youthful face twisting into a grimace of malice with the struggle within.
The System chuckled, “Have you made up your mind?”
Nie Yang asked it, “Do you have a way to turn the tables?”
Nie Liang and Wei Ying suspected Nie Yang; Nie Yang didn’t think he could turn the situation around—this was a deadlock.
The System responded, “Of course there’s a way. After all, the one who’s supposed to die is Nie Yang. What if you’re not Nie Yang?”
Nie Yang frowned upon hearing this, unsure of what poisonous scheme the System had concocted.
“Are you implying… that I disguise myself as someone else and find a replacement to take my place? That’s not very easy…”
The people around Wei Ying weren’t too familiar with him; finding someone with seven or eight points of similarity could slip through, but Nie Qing would definitely recognize him.
Unless the System had the capability to find someone who was exactly like him, in height, build, and appearance.
Indeed, how petty mortal thinking is! The System is omnipotent. I helped you poison him quietly back then, so naturally, I have the ability to help you escape this predicament. Speaking of which, if you hadn’t acted smart and guarded against me, leaving a loophole, Nie Liang would never have suspected you until his death. The System mocked, “I have something in hand that can make you perfectly become another person, and can also make another person perfectly become you. With your filthy rotten guts and liver, I assume you understand what I mean, right?”
Nie Yang trembled all over upon hearing this.
