My Sexy CEO Wife

Chapter 385 - 382: Scapegoat

"Everyone shut up!" Miao Kuangfeng bellowed, "One of you is a Chiliarch, the other a Centurion, cursing like ruffians. Have you no shame?"

Seeing Miao Kuangfeng getting angry, Gao Fei and Cao Buwei both consciously closed their mouths.

"Bring me Cao Buwei and Ding Dalin; imprison them. Without my orders, no one is permitted to see them," Miao Kuangfeng shouted loudly.

"Clatter..."

A group of soldiers rushed in from outside, surrounding Cao Buwei and Ding Dalin.

"My lord, why arrest me?" Cao Buwei panicked, "I truly haven't done anything."

"Yes, my lord, I have been wronged," Ding Dalin also sounded desperate.

"I will investigate this matter. If you have indeed been wronged, I will naturally release you," Miao Kuangfeng said, then added with a cold tone, "However, if I find out that you truly conspired with bandits to assassinate Gao Fei, don't blame me for being ruthless. Take them away!"

The soldiers escorted Cao Buwei and Ding Dalin out of the tent.

"Gao Fei, rest assured, I will give you an explanation," Miao Kuangfeng assured Gao Fei.

"With those words from you, my lord, I am at ease," Gao Fei nodded in response.

"As for this man..." Miao Kuangfeng turned to look at the old man who had fallen to the ground, "You're not lacking in cultivation. You must have some status among the bandits, right?"

"It's passable," the old man said listlessly, "I'm a leader of sorts, with a few thousand men under me." He had been living comfortably until his complacency led to Gao Fei's ambush, resulting in his capture, filled with extreme regret. If given another chance, he would definitely not provoke Gao Fei.

"You must know quite a few secrets, right?" Miao Kuangfeng asked emotionlessly, staring at the old man, "Reveal all the secrets you know, and I can spare your life."

"No need," the old man sighed with a wry smile, "my Dantian is destroyed, my cultivation lost. Living is suffering, death would be a release."

"I can help you repair your Dantian, to restore you to your peak cultivation," Miao Kuangfeng stated indifferently.

"What?" The old man's eyes widened and his mouth fell open, "What did you say? You can help me repair my Dantian? Restore my cultivation?"

Miao Kuangfeng nodded, "Yes."

"Good, good," the old man said excitedly, "as long as you restore my cultivation, I... I promise you, I will reveal everything I know..." He quickly added, "You must keep your word."

"Don't worry, once I've made a promise, I certainly won't go back on it," Miao Kuangfeng responded.

"Alright, I'll tell you now..." the old man had not finished speaking when Miao Kuangfeng interrupted him.

Miao Kuangfeng waved his hand wearily and said, "Gao Fei, take care of this old man. Record everything he knows."

"Understood," Gao Fei nodded, picked up the old man, and walked out of the tent. Once they exited, Gao Fei said to the old man, "Old guy, you're really lucky."

The old man pursed his lips, ignoring Gao Fei.

"Old guy, do you think just because Wan Fuchang has granted you clemency, I wouldn't dare to kill you?" Gao Fei hummed.

"What do you mean?" The old man's complexion changed.

"I just want to tell you that I have plenty of ways to kill you."

"... I've already admitted defeat. What more do you want?"

"The moment you regain your cultivation, you'll definitely seek revenge."

"No, I won't." The old man shook his head hastily, "I definitely won't seek revenge. I can swear to it."

"I hope so," Gao Fei said indifferently, "Old man, remember this, I can kill you once, and I can kill you twice. If you want to live, it's best not to provoke me."

"Of course, I've already feared you. Even if I regain my Cultivation, I wouldn't dare to provoke you," the old man said with an earnest appearance, though whether he truly felt that way inside was unknown.

"Remember what you've said," after threatening the old man a few more times, Gao Fei strode away.

...

Inside a tent guarded by heavily armed soldiers.

Cao Buwei and Ding Dalin sat on the ground, heads tilted, whispering to each other.

"My lord, what should we do now?" Ding Dalin asked with a pale face; he was genuinely terrified.

"Dalang, do you remember what you said?" Cao Buwei looked at Ding Dalin with piercing eyes.

"Ah? What?" Ding Dalin was startled.

"You said... if things got exposed, you would take full responsibility and wouldn't involve me."

"That... I..."

"What? You forgot?" Cao Buwei's expression darkened as a murderous aura emanated from him.

"No, I haven't forgotten. I did... say those words..." Ding Dalin felt like he was hoisting a rock only to drop it on his own feet.

"Now that the matter has been exposed, it's time to honor your promise."

"This... this... My lord... I..."

"Don't blame me; I've been forced into this too."

"I..."

"Rest assured, once you take responsibility for this, I will do everything possible to protect you. If I really can't... then I'll take care of your family, ensuring they live a carefree life. I keep my word," Cao Buwei said sternly.

At this moment, Ding Dalin wanted to cry; he really didn't know what to do.

To agree would mean a dead end!

To refuse meant Cao Buwei would definitely not let him off, and his family would also be implicated.

What to do?

What on earth should he do?

Ding Dalin was sweating profusely from anxiety. He regretted, truly regretted; his guts were almost turning blue from it. It was he who had suggested bribing bandits to assassinate Gao Fei, and it was he who had approached the bandits... Now, the plot had been exposed, and Cao Buwei was using him as a scapegoat.

The most pathetic part was that Ding Dalin didn't even dare to refuse.

"What? Is it too difficult for you?" A sharp glint flashed in Cao Buwei's eyes.

"My lord, I don't want to die..." Under immense pressure, Ding Dalin's face contorted as tears began to flow.

"Stop crying," Cao Buwei rebuked, "You're already an adult. Don't cry like a child." He softened his tone a bit, "You are my most capable subordinate, I value you greatly. If there was any other way, I wouldn't sacrifice you."

"My lord," Ding Dalin looked at Cao Buwei with a pitiful gaze, "Is there really no other way? What if you admit your wrongs to Chiliarch and beg him to let us go?"

"Don't be naive," Cao Buwei snorted, "I understand Chiliarch too well. He despises bandits to the core. We've committed a great taboo by colluding with bandits; Chiliarch will definitely not let us go." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "Instead of both of us suffering, better push all the responsibility onto you. Once I'm free, I can take care of your family.

If I get into trouble, there would be no one to care for your family." Cao Buwei's words sounded convincing, but they were nothing more than a threat using Ding Dalin's family. If he wanted his family to be safe, he had to take all the responsibility.