Contradiction

Xia Lun walked out of the room.

He slammed a heavy punch against the wall, sending spiderweb-like cracks spreading across the surface.

"To think that even you would lose your mind like this." Aina placed her hand on Xia Lun's shoulder and leaned in gently. "Don't overthink it."

"You knew all along, didn't you, Aina?" Xia Lun asked softly. "You saw long ago that Aise's condition never got better, and that he was just acting."

Aina remained silent, but that was an answer in itself.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Xia Lun questioned his wife, his voice tinged with suppressed agony. "Am I the only one you all kept in the dark?"

"What good would telling you do? Is there anything you could have done? Do you have a cure for Aise's condition?" Aina fired back with a series of questions. "If you knew the truth, you would still just walk around moping all day, wouldn't you?"

Xia Lun's breath caught slightly.

"I'm sorry, Aina."

"It's fine, Xia Lun." Aina seemed to realize her tone had been too harsh, and her voice softened a bit.

"I really am an unqualified father. Aise turned out like that, and I am completely powerless to help him..."

"You don't have the right to say that in front of me," Aina said flatly. "Even now, I still don't feel like I'm Aise's mother."

Xia Lun opened his mouth, but his throat was dry, and no words came out.

"This isn't our fault, Xia Lun. You've already done the best you could... That's why Aise was willing to cooperate with you before, suppressing his own nature just to make you happy." Aina pressed her cheek against Xia Lun's back and gently wrapped her arms around his waist. "Don't worry about him too much."

"But I am his father," Xia Lun said firmly.

"Aise is an independent person, and he was born this way. You can't change him... Your stubbornness will only cause you more pain, Xia Lun."

"Then I should bear that pain. I am his father, Aina."

"He will hurt you... You are only holding yourself hostage."

"I don't care."

"But I care." Aina pounded her fist lightly against Xia Lun's back. "You are my husband..."

A soft spot in Xia Lun's heart was suddenly touched. He turned around and hugged his wife. "I'm sorry, Aina... But I will be fine."

"Hmph, suit yourself then," Aina turned her head away, her tone stiff. "I won't bother with you anymore."

Stubborn fool... Listening to her was clearly the right thing to do, so why wouldn't he listen to reason?

A nameless anger rose in Aina's heart.

Ever since she noticed Aise's abnormalities, she had been on guard against him, yet Xia Lun continued to waste his emotions on that guy.

"Aina, are you angry?" Xia Lun tapped Aina's nose playfully.

"No." Aina glared at Xia Lun coldly and swatted his hand away. "Don't touch me tonight."

Xia Lun withdrew his hand sheepishly.

Well, it was obvious that Aina was very angry.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps approached from a distance.

"Lord Xia Lun."

A maid came running over in a hurry, lifting the hem of her skirt. She first glanced at the cracks on the wall in astonishment, but didn't dare say anything about it.

"What is it?" Xia Lun quickly reined in his emotions, restoring the steady composure befitting a lord.

"It's about the diversion and expansion of the river... This morning, two groups of people in the territory broke into a conflict, resulting in some casualties," the maid hurriedly reported.

"What?"

Xia Lun's face immediately darkened. This project was intended to solve the irrigation and drinking water problems for the surrounding farmlands and villages. It was a beneficial initiative he had personally promoted. How could it lead to bloodshed?

"They are still arguing in the Tribunal right now, hoping you can go and uphold justice," the maid added.

Without another word, Xia Lun immediately set off with Aina.

The Tribunal was located on the east side of the lord's manor, a spacious stone building. Even before entering, the boiling voices and loud arguments could be heard from inside, like a pot of boiling water.

"Lord Hero."

"My Lord."

Upon seeing Xia Lun, the crowd immediately quieted down.

The crowd parted automatically to make way for him, their eyes turning towards him with awe and anticipation.

Xia Lun's sharp gaze swept across the surroundings.

On one side were villagers led by an old village chief with a white beard and hair, leaning on a cane. Most of them wore coarse linen clothes, their faces bearing the weathering of hard labor and the indignation of the moment. On the other side were manor personnel led by a slightly plump wealthy merchant wearing a silk shirt. Their guards wore leather armor, hands resting on the hilts of their swords, looking vigilant and resentful.

The village chief was named Lyle, and the wealthy merchant was named Reid. Xia Lun had had some contact with both of them before.

The cause of the conflict was simple: both sides wanted the diverted river to run closer to their own land.

Both places were quite a distance from the main stream of the river. If the water was to be diverted to flow through both areas, the volume of water from the main river would likely be insufficient.

Village Chief Lyle stated that their village had a large population, and if the river was too far away, it would be extremely inconvenient for the villagers to fetch water.

The wealthy merchant Reid, on the other hand, argued that a portion of the massive funding for excavating the river channel came from his donations. Furthermore, he was the one who initially sent people to survey the surrounding terrain and conduct on-site explorations, which took a lot of effort. Therefore, he naturally had the right to decide the course of the river.

As it happened, the terrain right between the two locations was elevated, making it obviously impossible to dig a river channel there. Consequently, the river had to be routed closer to one side or the other.

Hearing this, Xia Lun could not help but feel a headache coming on.

"Lord Hero... you must be on our side, right?" Lyle leaned on his cane, trembling as if a gust of wind could easily blow him over.

"Those filthy nobles only know how to oppress us weak commoners..." Lyle pointed at the other party's nose and cursed. "A great man like you, Lord Hero, surely wouldn't collude with them..."

Reid merely let out a disdainful sneer, watching coldly as if observing a clumsy performance.

"I will judge for myself who is right and who is wrong," Xia Lun frowned. "At the end of the day, who struck first in this incident? And how many casualties are there?"

"Well..." Lyle and the group of villagers averted their eyes somewhat evasively.

"My people were attacked first, My Lord," Reid stepped forward, bowing slightly to Xia Lun, his tone calm yet clear. "Two of my guards were beaten to death with hoes and shovels, and nine others suffered varying degrees of injuries. On their side, five young men died, and about a dozen were injured."

Reid paused for a moment before adding, "The conflict started because a few hot-headed young men tried to forcefully destroy the survey markers we had set up. My guards stepped forward to stop them and were subsequently mobbed."