Chapter 21 — The Most Despised Son Who Shocked the World

Three days after the final match that shocked the entire Tuong Palace, the Tuong Family elder council convened a special deliberation session at the main hall, with the participation of all elders, the head of the Tuong Trong Khang family, and representatives of the families in the Eight Clan Alliance invited to testify to the transparency of the verdict.

Tuong Khinh Vu, his hands and feet temporarily sealed to avoid violence, knelt in the middle of the main hall, his head bowed, without any arrogant and boastful appearance like before. Around him was all the evidence that had been publicly presented: the testimony of the maid, traces of buying and selling stimulant drugs, the testimony of the assassin captured alive, along with a detailed report from the mouth of Mr. Loi himself - the man who was arrested right after the final match and told the whole truth in hope of leniency.

"Tuong Khinh Vu, the only son of the family head, is expected to be the successor of the Tuong family." The elder presiding over the deliberation session, an old man with white hair and beard with the highest prestige in the council, spoke sternly. "You are accused of masterminding the murder of Ha Nhat Pham leading to permanent disability, and of masterminding the assassination of Ha Thu Nhan. Do you have anything you want to defend before the council makes the final verdict?"

Khinh Vu raised his head, his empty eyes looked towards his father sitting in the chair. Tuong Trong Khang's face was as cold as ice but hidden deep inside was a pain that could not be hidden.

"I have nothing to defend." Khinh Vu said, his voice was hoarse. "I was wrong. I let my jealousy and fear of failure cloud my reason, causing unforgivable crimes. I just ask the council not to implicate my father for what I did."

Another elder, who was close to the homeowner, asked further, his voice still a bit skeptical. "Do you really dare to admit all the crimes? This is a serious matter. Once declared before the council, it cannot be taken back."

"Junior admitted." Khinh Vu replied, without any hesitation, as if he had given up all hope of justification. "The evidence is so clear, junior has nothing to deny anymore."

Representative Duong Gia, sitting in the guest row, exchanged glances and nodded in agreement with the transparency of the deliberation session. This is exactly what Tuyet Y persistently persuaded her father to agree to participate in, to ensure that justice is carried out openly and cannot be hidden by any force.

Tuong Trong Khang closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them, his voice rang out steadily but as heavy as a rock. "The Tuong family's laws do not distinguish between relatives. Those who plot to harm a relative in the family, no matter how noble their bloodline, must suffer the most severe punishment according to the family rules established by their ancestors."

He stood up, his voice became solemn as if he was reading a decree. "Tuong Khinh Vu, stripped of all family titles, stripped of Toa Thien Giap's inheritance and all inheritance related to the position of successor. Permanently sealed cultivation to the minimum level, only enough to maintain basic health, not enough to harm anyone else. Imprisoned in Tinh Tu Vien for life to repent for his sins."

Shocking whispers arose throughout the great hall. This was the heaviest punishment a descendant had ever suffered in the recent history of the Tuong Family, but no one in the council spoke out against it, because the evidence was too clear and the crime was too cruel to be lenient no matter how noble the offender's status was.

As he was being led away, Khinh Vu looked back one last time, his eyes stopping at Vo Ky standing quietly in the corner of the main hall. "You win. I really have nothing more to say."

Vo Ky looked at him, without any gloating or hatred in his eyes, only a calmness mixed with a bit of pity for the person who had lost everything because of his own jealousy. "I didn't win because I wanted to defeat you. I just wanted to protect the people I love. If you had used half of your energy to appreciate what you have, instead of focusing on destroying others, maybe you wouldn't have ended up in this situation."

Khinh Vu did not answer, just bowed his head to be led away behind the main hall door, carrying with him all the illusions of absolute superiority that he had believed in and clung to all his life.

After the deliberation, Tuong Trong Khang met privately with Vo Ky in a small hall behind the main hall, where there were few passersby. He stood silently for a long time before speaking, his voice full of regret, his eyes not daring to look directly at him.

"I owe you and your mother a much more sincere apology than what was said in the arena." he said. "For seventeen years, I have let old prejudices about Ma Cot cloud my reason, allowing you and your mother to endure countless humiliations in the very family I am supposed to protect. I have also been too biased, too easily ignored the unusual signs in Khinh Vu because I did not want to admit that the child I hoped for had such a serious problem."

"Homeowners don't need to blame themselves too much." Vo Ky replied, his voice calm, without any resentment in his eyes. "What's important now is that the family learns from this, so no one else has to endure what you and your family went through."

Tuong Trong Khang nodded, his eyes clearly showing appreciation for the tolerance of a young man who was much younger than his own son in terms of temperament. "I will summon all the elders, officially restore the honor of you and your mother, and at the same time review all the antiquated regulations regarding Ma Cot that have existed for the past thirty years."

"There are three seniors left at Tuyet Cot Nhai." Vo Ky added, not missing the opportunity to seek justice for those who sacrificed their lives for him. "They have been unjustly stripped of their positions for thirty years just because they dared to defend what is right. I hope the homeowner will vindicate them in a worthy way."

"Of course." Tuong Trong Khang replied immediately, without any hesitation. "I will personally go to Tuyet Cot Nhai to invite them back and restore all the status and honor that they should have received thirty years ago."

News of the verdict quickly spread throughout Tuong Phu Thanh, causing a wave of dizzying changes in attitude from those who once despised Wuji. Many disciples, including Tuong Nhat Cuong, who had lost to him in the preliminary round, came to apologize for the previous insults, their eyes both embarrassed and admiring.

"I'm sorry for what I said before." Tuong Nhat Cuong bowed his head, his voice rare sincerity. "I completely misjudged you. If you don't mind, I look forward to the opportunity to learn more from you in the future."

"No problem." Vo Ky replied, his voice without any resentment. "Everyone has the right to see it their way based on what they see. The important thing is that now, we can start again in a more equitable way."

Not everyone can easily change their attitude overnight. Some of Khinh Vu's former close disciples still kept their distance, their eyes still somewhat skeptical and uncomfortable at this sudden change in status, but most of them did not dare to publicly express their dissatisfaction with the clear evidence of guilt of the person they once worshiped.

Manager Ton, who had repeatedly said the harshest words to Vo Ky, also came to kneel in front of him, trembling and asking for forgiveness. Vo Ky just quietly helped him up, without saying a word of reproach, just nodded slightly and left, leaving behind all the past years of humiliation like a closed chapter.

Duong Tuyet Y, after presenting all the evidence to the council and witnessing the verdict being read, came to Vo Ky's side just as the main hall gradually emptied of people. She held his hand, her eyes filled with relief mixed with emotion.

"We did it." She spoke, her voice trembling with emotions pent up over many stressful days.

"Thanks to her." Vo Ky replied, squeezing her hand tightly. "If it weren't for your courage in standing up in front of the entire family and the invited representatives, perhaps the truth would forever be buried, no matter how many times I defeat him in the arena."

Old man Duong, standing not far away, looked at the scene of two young people holding hands, nodded slightly, somewhat accepting the fact that his daughter had found someone worthy, not because of status or blood, but because of her true qualities as a person.