Chapter 626 - 401: Summoning Lightning

At this moment, it was not during office hours, so Wang Maochun and Chen Shanmeng arrived in casual attire.

As soon as they saw Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng here, they knew it must be related to Zhu Shizhong’s Thunderbolt case.

Wang Maochun and Chen Shanmeng were already in their fifties and had spent most of their lives in the official circles. They had already guessed at the entrance that Ge Hengtai wanted to make Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng uncomfortable.

If not for that, why else would Ge Hengtai summon them both?

Sure enough, when Ge Hengtai saw them enter, after a few pleasantries, he handed them a charred piece of wood and then explained the situation.

"My lords, tell me, is this not arbitrary accusation and endangering lives?" Ge Hengtai asked sternly with a dark expression.

Wang Maochun saw Ge Hengtai’s anger but remained calm and silent, just standing there.

Chen Shanmeng pondered for a moment, then turned to glance at Zhu Cheng, asking, "Temple Chief Zhu, are you the one who said this object can draw down thunder?"

Although Chen Shanmeng’s voice was soft, the implication was overwhelming.

Zhu Cheng immediately broke into a cold sweat, unable to deny it but also not daring to confirm it.

The room was silent, with everyone’s eyes fixed on Zhu Cheng. He felt as if a thousand arrows pierced his heart.

At this moment, Duan Rong suddenly coughed.

In the dead silence of the hall, his cough was as jarring as a drumbeat.

Sure enough, Ge Hengtai, Wang Maochun, and Chen Shanmeng all turned their gazes toward him. Wang Maochun and Chen Shanmeng, not recognizing Duan Rong, looked somewhat puzzled.

Duan Rong said, "Pardon me, my throat is a bit uncomfortable. However, that thing indeed can draw down thunder."

Chen Shanmeng scrutinized Duan Rong and asked, "Forgive my ignorance, which government office do you belong to, sir?"

Ge Hengtai immediately introduced Duan Rong’s identity to Wang Maochun and Chen Shanmeng, who then looked at Duan Rong with enlightened expressions.

Chen Shanmeng said, "Lord Duan, are you saying this object can draw down thunder?"

Chen Shanmeng weighed the piece of wood in his hand, looking at Duan Rong.

Duan Rong said, "Exactly!"

Chen Shanmeng said, "What evidence do you have, Lord Duan? I have spent most of my life in criminal law! It’s the first time I’ve heard of drawing down thunder to commit murder. Moreover, using such a small thing? Without further evidence, it’s hard to convince anyone!"

Duan Rong truly admired Chen Shanmeng’s composure and poise.

Clearly, Chen Shanmeng believed he was talking nonsense, yet he could articulate such a long string of high-sounding rhetoric.

Duan Rong said, "There isn’t any special evidence."

As soon as he said this, Chen Shanmeng remained expressionless. But Ge Hengtai and Wang Maochun both smiled faintly.

Then, they heard Duan Rong say, "We can only draw down the thunder again."

Ge Hengtai and Wang Maochun’s smiles froze on their faces, thinking they had misheard.

Chen Shanmeng’s expression changed as he weighed the piece of wood again, asking, "You mean to use this to draw down thunder again?"

Duan Rong said, "Not this one. This one is broken. I will make another and draw down the thunder again."

Everyone in the hall stared at Duan Rong with astonished expressions, including Zhu Cheng and Zhu Peng who stood beside him.

Duan Rong wanted to tell them this was called an experiment. A series of operations or activities designed to test a theory or verify a hypothesis. According to Yang Zhenning, ninety percent of science is experimental activity, the foundation of science is experimentation.

Chen Shanmeng looked at Duan Rong, seeing his calm demeanor and gentle gaze. For a moment, he even doubted whether the object in his hand could really draw down thunder.

Chen Shanmeng’s expression shifted, with a tone of caution, he said, "Lord Duan, this is a serious matter, not something to joke about!"

Duan Rong said, "I know. Drawing down thunder again is actually quite troublesome. But if we don’t, won’t Lord Ge accuse us of reckless accusation and endangering lives? Then we’ll have to draw it down again."

Everyone in the hall was taken aback, thinking, is this just a matter of trouble?

Drawing it down again???

Listen to your tone, as if the thunder belongs to your family?

Do you think you are the Thunder God?!

At this point, Zhu Cheng couldn’t worry about formalities anymore. He pulled Duan Rong aside.

Looking at Duan Rong, Zhu Cheng felt quite grateful to him for not hiding away at this time, but instead taking charge of the situation. Just a moment ago, he was truly at a loss.

Zhu Cheng whispered, "Brother Duan, if we admit to negligence now, there’s still room for maneuver. Zhu Peng and I might lose some salary, and you might lose some Merit Points, but with your previous achievements, advancing to Inner Sect Disciple is not a problem. But if you stubbornly persist, things might escalate, and it will be harder to end."

Duan Rong said, "Rest assured, Lord Zhu, if anything happens, just tell them I instructed you to arrest the person. The matter of drawing down thunder was also my suggestion. At most, the two of you will be charged with negligence."

After saying this, Duan Rong smiled and patted Zhu Cheng’s shoulder.

Zhu Cheng was speechless, but somehow he realized that Duan Rong seemed quite confident.

"Could it be that thing really can draw down thunder?" Suddenly, a wavering doubt arose in Zhu Cheng’s mind.

Duan Rong indeed had confidence.

Because this thing had been verified countless times in his previous life and was already widely used.

As they say, practice is the only criterion for testing truth.

This object, in essence, is constructed like a lightning rod.