Wang Tianwen was stunned for a moment, then his face filled with a look of extreme fear and sincerity.
"Father, what are you saying? Second Brother is my own brother. How could I possibly wish for him to be killed by someone else?"
Wang Xingde grunted, "If you didn't want him dead, you wouldn't have leaked the information to him, nor would you have stood by and watched him attempt to assassinate that kid surnamed Chen without intervening!"
Wang Tianwen's lips moved, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Wang Xingde's reprimand was clearly not over.
"Wang Tianwen, that was your own brother! He was killed, and you didn't even care about his body, but rushed straight to me. Tell me, what kind of heart do you have?"
Wang Xingde questioned loudly, his eyes blazing with anger!
Wang Tianwen's heart trembled violently. So, his father knew everything.
Thinking of this, he dropped to his knees before Wang Xingde.
"Father, I was just momentarily possessed. I beg you to forgive your son this once!"
"Hmph!"
Wang Xingde snorted angrily, "Forgive you? Wang Tianwen, I truly regret giving birth to a wolf cub like you. Do you still think I don't know what you're scheming?"
Wang Tianwen knelt on the ground, head bowed, weeping profusely, but not daring to say another word.
Wang Xingde continued his furious tirade, "Your goal is nothing less than the position of the Hidden Sword Pavilion Master! Third Brother died outside, and now Second Brother is also dead. The only one who can stop you from becoming the Hidden Sword Pavilion Master is this old man! As soon as I die, you can smoothly ascend to the position!"
"Father, your son wishes you a long life, no, no, a hundred years, three hundred years... a thousand years! How could I possibly wish for you to die?"
Wang Tianwen stammered, his voice trembling.
Wang Xingde slammed the table, "You still refuse to admit it? Must I expose all your little schemes?"
"You allowed Second Brother to assassinate Chen Xiao, not for the sake of Third Brother, but for me!"
"Because you knew that once Second Brother died, I would be greatly stimulated. At that time, I would take the Dragon Tiger Body Burst Pill to seek revenge and fight that kid surnamed Chen to the death!"
"And even if I killed that kid surnamed Chen, my lifespan would only be a little over ten hours. Once I die, you can smoothly take over as the Hidden Sword Pavilion Master. Eldest Son, is there a single word I've said that is incorrect?"
Wang Tianwen prostrated himself on the ground, his body subtly rising and falling. He appeared to be trembling, but if Wang Xingde could see his expression at that moment, he would have been so enraged that he would have exploded instantly.
Because Wang Tianwen was smiling.
The continuous rising and falling of his body was not due to fear, but merely because he was suppressing the urge to burst into laughter.
Slowly, Wang Xingde also sensed that something was amiss. He looked over and immediately flew into a rage, "You unfilial son, you're laughing?"
Having his truth exposed by his father, Wang Tianwen could no longer restrain himself and burst into laughter.
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Hahahahahaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"..."
Once Wang Tianwen started laughing, he couldn't stop. He rolled on the ground with laughter, tears and snot streaming down his face.
"Hahaha, Father, you're truly something. You figured it all out. I have to admit, old ginger is indeed spicier!"
Even though his father had seen through him, Wang Tianwen remained unfazed.
Because the outcome was already decided. Second and Third Brothers were dead, and Fourth Brother's whereabouts were unknown, but he posed no threat to him.
As for his father, Wang Xingde, he had already taken the Dragon Tiger Body Burst Pill, and his death was a foregone conclusion.
Therefore, even if his father had seen through him, the outcome would not change in the slightest.
He, Wang Tianwen, had succeeded!
Although among Wang Xingde's four sons, he was not the most talented, nor the most capable, nor the strongest.
But he had meticulously planned, step by step, relying on the accumulation of every little detail, and had ultimately become the final big winner in this palace struggle!
He was the victor, and the victor should indeed laugh this happily!
"You still dare to laugh!"
Seeing his eldest son's smug and ecstatic demeanor, Wang Xingde's body trembled uncontrollably with anger.
Wang Tianwen spoke with a manic intensity, "Father, I won! I became the final big winner. Shouldn't you congratulate your son? Shouldn't you feel proud and honored for your son?"
"I know that since childhood, you never thought highly of me, always telling me to yield to my younger brothers, saying it was what an elder brother should do. But what of it? What has become of those good-for-nothings you favored?"
Wang Xingde let out a cold snort, "Do you really think you've won? But you've forgotten one thing. Your brothers are dead, but I am not!"
Wang Tianwen was slightly taken aback, then his face turned ashen with shock, "Father, what do you mean by that? Even a tiger doesn't eat its cubs. You wouldn't... you wouldn't lay hands on me, would you? Moreover, I am your only son now. If you kill me, our Wang family will be without an heir, and this vast enterprise of the Hidden Sword Pavilion will all fall into the hands of others!"
Wang Xingde also began to laugh, "Heh heh, you think I would care about these things when I'm about to die?"
Wang Tianwen's eyes sharpened, and a fawning smile appeared on his face, "Father, don't joke with me. I am your own son. I've been by your side all these years, serving you diligently, and I've never done anything to defy you!"
Wang Xingde slowly stood up, "You are indeed my own son. Otherwise, do you think this ruthlessness you possess was inherited from someone else?"
"Father, no! Your son knows he was wrong. Please spare your son's life! I truly know my mistakes!"
Wang Tianwen panicked, kowtowing as if pounding garlic.
But it was too late. From the moment he entered the door, Wang Xingde had already harbored the intention to kill him!
"If I were to hand over the Hidden Sword Pavilion to a beast worse than a pig or a dog like you, I would rather it disappear from this world!"
Wang Xingde took a step forward, slowly walking towards Wang Tianwen.
With every step he took, Wang Tianwen felt his heart pound fiercely.
"Father, no! Son begs you, for the sake of my deceased mother, I beg you..."
Wang Tianwen's eyes welled up with tears, and he pleaded desperately.
But Wang Xingde's resolve was firm, how could he be swayed?
Suddenly, nine long swords floated behind Wang Xingde!
"Son, to die by my sword is your honor!"
"Sword of Void Breaking, go!"
With a command from Wang Xingde, a long sword behind him flew directly towards Wang Tianwen.
Wang Tianwen, in a panic, rushed towards the door. Unfortunately, he had only taken two steps before the sword pierced his chest.
Thus, all three of Wang Xingde's sons were dead.
And Wang Xingde himself had only a little over ten hours left to live.
In a little over ten hours, the once glorious Hidden Sword Pavilion would rapidly decline, gradually fade away, and eventually disappear completely into the long river of time.