Chapter 249: The Elder's Fate

People with ill intent don't deserve politeness. They won't change their attitude because of your generosity; on the contrary, they'll only see you as easier to bully.

Such a loud rebuttal drew curious glances from people inside and outside the hall. Fu Chaojun felt a pang of guilt and retorted, "I just asked a question, what's with your attitude? It's as if I'm trying to bully a junior!"

Jiang Fan replied bluntly, "Is what goes on between Sect Master Gong and me something you can ask about? Also, while you may be older than me, you're not strong enough to bully me."

Fu Chaojun was already fuming with anger. Now, being publicly lectured and disrespected by a new disciple made his face turn cold. "Since when could someone as insignificant as you look down on me, Fu Chaojun? Come challenge me after you've accomplished what I have!"

Jiang Fan found it amusing. It was clearly the other person who thought he was an easy target and initiated the provocation. Yet, after he simply retorted firmly, he was now labeled the provocateur. Recalling Fu Chaojun's various achievements, though impressive, Jiang Fan knew he could also achieve them. "I have no interest in your accomplishments," he said. "If you want trouble, I'll oblige. If not, then leave!"

He waved his hand, completely dismissing Fu Chaojun. Gong Caiyi showed a look of approval. She had always worried that Jiang Fan's gentle nature made him susceptible to bullying. Now she saw how resolute he could be when faced with disrespect. He was as calm as water when he should be gentle, and as powerful as thunder when he needed to be firm. This put her mind at ease.

However, Jiang Fan was still a junior she was fond of, and Fu Chaojun was a guest. As the host, she naturally couldn't stand by and watch them argue. She stepped forward and said, "Isn't this inappropriate in my main hall?" She gave both of them a stern look. Of course, her gaze towards Jiang Fan was gentle, while towards Fu Chaojun it was a warning.

Fu Chaojun then realized that this was the Spirit Beast Sect, and more importantly, the Sect Master's territory. It was not a place where he could act recklessly. Therefore, no matter how displeased he was with Jiang Fan, he could only swallow his anger. "For Sect Master's sake, I'll endure his disrespect..."

Before he could finish, a somewhat grim voice drifted in from outside the hall. "Endure what?"

The newcomer was none other than the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Sound Sect, Ming Youlian. Her chest heaved with anger, and her old face darkened. Accompanied by Gu Nianchan, she had leisurely returned to the Sect Master's Peak. Noticing something was happening in the main hall, she stopped to observe. To her surprise, she saw her precious disciple being spoken to disrespectfully by some unknown wild disciple.

"Alright," she thought. As an Elder, and a Grand Elder at that, it would be undignified for her to interfere in a dispute between disciples. However, Sect Master Gong's clear favoritism towards that wild disciple made her unable to tolerate it! Was her Heavenly Sound Sect's chief disciple supposed to come to the Spirit Beast Sect just to suffer indignity?

So, clutching her walking stick, she stomped angrily inside. Gu Nianchan tried to call her back but couldn't. Gong Caiyi frowned, her face showing displeasure. "Did I tell you to come in?" she snapped. "Get out!" Her demeanor was naturally authoritative.

The furious Ming Youlian stopped just in time and bowed, saying, "Sect Master Gong, this old one had no intention of offending you. But please grant me a chance to speak. Do not let a disciple of my Heavenly Sound Sect return having been bullied."

Gong Caiyi's frown deepened. This old woman was truly skilled at spreading rumors! Who had bullied Fu Chaojun? If this got out, uninformed people would truly believe the Spirit Beast Sect had slighted the Heavenly Sound Sect, causing unpleasantness between the two sects. "Elder Ming, explain yourself clearly!" Gong Caiyi demanded, returning to her chair and looking down imperiously. "When was your sect's disciple bullied?"

Ming Youlian cast a furious side-glance at Jiang Fan and retorted, "Chaojun merely asked a question, but what kind of attitude did that disciple named Jiang Fan display? Chaojun is the chief disciple of my Heavenly Sound Sect! He represents the face of my sect. To treat him poorly is to disrespect my Heavenly Sound Sect!"

She had just claimed Fu Chaojun was bullied. Now, when asked how exactly he was bullied, she changed the subject to Jiang Fan's bad attitude. This made Gong Caiyi feel great contempt. She tapped her fingers expressionlessly and said, "Elder Ming, protecting disciples too much isn't always a good thing. Disciples who lack setbacks tend to become emotional and lose their rationality when faced with difficulties, which harms them in the long run. Matters between disciples should be resolved by the disciples themselves. Your forceful intervention will only backfire."

Ming Youlian felt even more indignant. She and Fu Chaojun had traveled a great distance to help Gong Caiyi. Not only did the Sect Master not side with them, but she was also lecturing her! So, she stiffened her old face and spoke irrationally, "Sect Master's words are reasonable. However, one thing is separate from another! Jiang Fan was greatly disrespectful to my Heavenly Sound Sect's chief disciple, and I cannot let this matter go!"

Gong Caiyi's phoenix-like eyes narrowed. Was she trying to take advantage? Just as she was about to reprimand Ming Youlian, Jiang Fan stepped forward. He couldn't let his verbal dispute with Fu Chaojun escalate to a conflict between Gong Caiyi and Ming Youlian. It was best for him to resolve this himself.

With his hands behind his back, he calmly said, "If we're talking about disrespect, you surely heard Fu Chaojun call me an insignificant piece of trash, didn't you?" To Jiang Fan's slight surprise, Ming Youlian tilted her head slightly, appearing somewhat arrogant. Without even looking him directly in the eye, she said, "What is the status and position of my sect's chief disciple? And what is your status? When he speaks to you like that, it's criticism and education; it's for your own good! For you to be ungrateful and retort with harsh words is great disrespect towards him! This old one cannot stand to see you juniors, with no sense of proper order, defying your betters!"

Everyone, both inside and outside the hall, was stunned by these remarks. Yi Lianxing, who thought she was domineering enough within the sect, felt she was usually too easygoing after hearing the Heavenly Sound Sect Grand Elder's incredibly arrogant words. Qin Caihe clenched her delicate fists in anger. "Has she no shame? When her own disciple insults others, it's for their own good. But when someone else insults her disciple, it's great disrespect?" Even the innocent Chu Xingmeng frowned in annoyance, her pretty eyebrows knitted. "She's being completely unreasonable, isn't she? This is still the Spirit Beast Sect; if it were on Heavenly Sound Sect territory, wouldn't she just attack directly?"

The few people inside the hall were also speechless. Yuan Zhiyu's eyes widened; it was truly an eye-opener for her. Her master had even warned her not to interfere, yet not only did she ignore the advice, but she also brazenly uttered such words?

Gong Caiyi's face turned cold. Her heart filled with displeasure. Ming Youlian's words were not only extremely contemptuous of Jiang Fan but also showed a complete disregard for her, the Spirit Beast Sect Master. Indeed. In Ming Youlian's eyes, the Spirit Beast Sect Master still had to rely on a Heavenly Sound Sect disciple to comprehend the sect's ultimate techniques! How could she not look down on her?

Just as she was about to reprimand Ming Youlian, Jiang Fan interrupted her again. "I understand what Elder Ming means," he said. "Because Fu Chaojun is strong, everything he says is reasonable, right?" Ming Youlian haughtily tilted her neck, letting out a soft snort through her nostrils. "Something like that. What, are you not convinced?" So what if he wasn't convinced? The rules of the martial arts world had been like this for thousands of years: the strong prey on the weak, and the victor is king!

With his hands behind his back, Jiang Fan calmly stated, "According to Elder Ming's logic, then what I just said wasn't disrespectful at all. Because I am stronger than Fu Chaojun."