Chapter 971: You Idiot!

Ju An hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. Ordinarily, with his grandmaster taking this attitude, he would not have said anything more or disturbed him. But the situation at the Maolu Annex was genuinely urgent.

After hesitating again and again, he still could not help reminding him once more. "Grandmaster, how should this matter be handled?"

He hoped Zhong Guzi would give some word. Even if Zhong Guzi did not appear personally, so long as he said something, Ju An could immediately return, invoke Zhong Guzi's words to force both sides to stop, and relieve the crisis facing the Maolu Villa side.

With his eyes still closed, Zhong Guzi said slowly, "How do you want it handled?"

Ju An said, "Grandmaster, please decide."

Without opening his eyes, Zhong Guzi asked, "Your Martial Uncle has gone to Sacred Realm. Are those people of the Maolu Annex disciples of Zijin Cave?"

Ju An said, "No."

Zhong Guzi said, "In name, they are all outsiders. Tell me, how am I supposed to decide? Am I supposed to reason things through, bend my elbow outward, punish our own sect's disciples, and offend disciples belonging to the factions of the other Supreme Elders? Or am I supposed to disregard reason, favor our own disciples, and punish the people of the Maolu Annex?"

Ju An understood his difficulty. "Grandmaster, at the very least you could help neither side and order both parties to stop the dispute."

Zhong Guzi said, "Matters like this naturally have the sect's disciplinary authorities to handle them. I have already withdrawn from affairs. If the sect can deal with something itself, it is not my place to step forward. It would be inappropriate for me to interfere. Ju An, I do not have many days left. If I publicly intervene in a matter like this, I will offend them. They do not dare do anything to me, but you people will be left with no road of retreat. Whether your Martial Uncle can return alive is still uncertain. Do you understand?"

To him, the other people of the Maolu Annex were not important. His lifespan was nearing its end, and he could not concern himself with so much.

Ju An lowered his head in silent acceptance...

Deep in the rear courtyard behind the main hall, Wen Mo'er waited inside an elegant pavilion for a while before Gong Lince finally arrived.

After leaving the Maolu Annex earlier, Wen Mo'er had come here to request an audience with Gong Lince. Her reason concerned Ju An. She had heard the rumors before, but Gong Lince had never spoken to her about the matter. Since he had said nothing, she had felt too embarrassed to ask on her own initiative. Perhaps her adoptive father's silence meant circumstances had changed. She had held on to a sliver of hope.

Only when Ju An arrived carrying a basket of fruit to show his goodwill, confirming what everyone had been saying, did she finally lose her composure and come here. Yet when she arrived, she learned that Gong Lince was discussing matters with Sect Leaders from other sects, so she had no choice but to wait.

Entering the pavilion, Gong Lince smiled and asked, "Mo'er, did you need something from me?"

Wen Mo'er said with restrained courtesy, "This disciple has interrupted Sect Leader's deliberations. I have committed an offense."

Gong Lince said, "It doesn't matter. If you have something to say, speak directly. There are no outsiders here. No need to be so distant. You may call me Adoptive Father." He did feel somewhat guilty toward the girl.

Wen Mo'er did not quite know how to begin. After a little hesitation, she finally tried asking, "This disciple has heard some rumors saying Adoptive Father and Elder Niu agreed that I am to marry Senior Brother Ju An of Tortoise-Slumber Pavilion. May I ask whether the rumors are true?"

Gong Lince fell silent. He had found this matter somewhat difficult to raise. Moreover, after returning from Sacred Island, Yucang and the Sect Leaders of Song's three major sects had all come to discuss matters with him, leaving him without a suitable opportunity to speak to her. He had not expected Wen Mo'er to ask on her own.

After a brief silence, he sighed. "Mo'er, you're not young anymore. There is nothing improper about this arrangement."

The answer was effectively an admission. Wen Mo'er bit her lip, pain appearing on her face. "Adoptive Father, this disciple does not want to marry."

Gong Lince stared at her and fell silent again before finally saying slowly, "As your adoptive father, I have a responsibility to consider your lifelong future. Ju An is honest and steady. He is a man you can entrust your life to."

Wen Mo'er said painfully, "Adoptive Father, back then you wanted me to marry Niu Youdao. Now you want me to marry Ju An. If circumstances change again, will you make me marry someone else next?"

The words struck directly at Gong Lince's sore point. It was hardly something honorable. In an instant, he flew into a rage. "Impudent!"

Wen Mo'er lowered her head. Her eyes reddened and filled with tears.

Gong Lince breathed heavily as he stared at her for a while. At last, he clasped his hands behind his back, turned away, and slowly walked to the railing. Looking out over the garden flowers, he waited until both their emotions had calmed somewhat before sighing again. "I have thought this matter through carefully. It is true that this wrongs you somewhat, but I am a man. I understand men better than you do. Marrying Ju An truly is not a bad thing."

"If what you want is power, status, and splendor, then Ju An may not be the right man. But if you want a dependable husband, Ju An will not fail you. He is a hundred times better than those slick, powdered young men with honeyed words. If you truly were the sort of woman who admired power and outward glory, you would not have remained unmarried until today. Mo'er, rest assured. Since I have made this choice for you, I will naturally take responsibility for it. So long as I remain here, the two of you will be able to live peacefully within Zijin Cave. No one will make things difficult for you as husband and wife."

Husband and wife? Tears blurred Wen Mo'er's eyes. "Must this disciple marry him?"

"A marriage is decided by the command of the parents. Such is the ancient rite, and it cannot be violated! The matter is settled. Enough. I still have business to handle. Several Sect Leaders are waiting for me. Go back first." With his back still turned, Gong Lince delivered the final decision in a tone that allowed no change, yet he did not dare turn around and look at her tearful face.

This was a marriage he and Niu Youdao had publicly sealed with a clap of palms. Unless absolutely forced to do otherwise, the dignified Sect Leader of Zijin Cave could not openly break his word.

Tears slipped down Wen Mo'er's cheeks. No one could understand what she felt at that moment. Crying, she slowly turned and began to leave.

Yet before she could even walk out of the pavilion, a Zijin Cave disciple flashed over rapidly. Seeing her crying, he froze briefly, but still urgently reported to Gong Lince, "Sect Leader, something has happened at the Maolu Annex. The people of the Maolu Annex and disciples of our sect have started fighting..." He rapidly explained the situation.

At those words, the tearful Wen Mo'er could not help wiping her eyes and turning back in astonishment.

Gong Lince was surprised as well. Niu Youdao had barely left, yet something like this had already happened. He asked heavily, "How did this happen? Has it been stopped?"

The disciple replied, "Elder Mo has already led people over and stopped the fighting. The two sides are in a standoff. Elder Mo sent this disciple to ask Sect Leader how the matter should be handled."

Gong Lince took a step, intending to go personally and see what had happened. After thinking it over, however, he stopped. "Go back first. Find out exactly what happened and report the full situation to me!"

"Yes!" The disciple hurried away.

Wen Mo'er wiped her tears again and left quickly as well.

Gong Lince paced inside the pavilion for a while, then beckoned another disciple over. "Go tell Yucang and the others that I have urgent business to deal with. We will continue our discussion tomorrow."

...

Open fighting had broken out inside the sect, creating no small disturbance and alarming many people. When Yan Li heard the matter involved his own disciple Guan Qingya, he hurried over immediately.

By the time he arrived, the two sides had already been separated. The people of the Maolu Annex had withdrawn to the entrance of the Annex and stood there watching warily, while a large number of Zijin Cave disciples had gathered on the other side, almost surrounding the entire Maolu Villa.

Elder Mo Lingxue was personally holding the line with her people and keeping the situation under control. Whether they would fight or kill remained to be decided by the sect.

On the Maolu Annex side, Yuan Gang stood out conspicuously, his clothes torn to rags and his whole body drenched in blood.

Yan Li frowned. He knew somewhat that Yuan Gang's relationship with Niu Youdao was no ordinary one. He first pulled aside a disciple and asked about the situation, especially whether anyone on either side had died.

When he learned that no one had been killed and that only some people on both sides were injured, Yan Li nodded slightly. Then he had Guan Qingya, who stood at the front of the standoff, called over and asked what had happened.

Naturally, Guan Qingya insisted that he was in the right. He repeated the same slander against Guan Fangyi, while the two disciples who had accompanied him corroborated his story.

Yan Li gave Guan Qingya a cold sidelong look. Back when his relationship with Niu Youdao had been good, he had often visited the Maolu Annex. No one in all Zijin Cave was more familiar with its people than he was, and he had dealt with Guan Fangyi frequently. He understood something of her character. That woman had the strong air of a social butterfly and was skilled at smoothing over awkward situations with pleasant words. With Niu Youdao absent, would a woman like that really say something so arrogant under these circumstances? Yan Li seriously doubted it.

And he understood his own disciple's temperament to some extent as well.

Under his master's cold sidelong glance, Guan Qingya felt somewhat guilty.

Seeing that guilty look, Yan Li tilted his head. "Come with me." He deliberately moved away from the others. There were things he wanted to discuss with his disciple privately.

"Yes!" Guan Qingya obeyed and followed him aside.

Once no one else was nearby, Yan Li stopped, turned, and stared at him. "Don't try to muddle through with me. What exactly happened? Tell me the truth!" Then he emphasized the warning again. "You had better not lie to me!"

Guan Qingya looked awkward, then deliberately put on an aggrieved expression. "Master, the people of the Maolu Annex were too arrogant. What kind of thing is that Niu Youdao anyway? He dared oppose Master, and twice in Beizhou he dealt viciously with Master's people. This disciple truly could not swallow the anger, so I taught them a small lesson..." Slowly, he explained the truth.

A trace of ferocity appeared on Yan Li's face. "So you were venting my anger for me, were you? Since when is it your place to stand up for me? I think you've been unable to forget Wen Mo'er and deliberately stirred up trouble because of her!"

Guan Qingya said indignantly, "Master misunderstands this disciple. Yes, I admit I have never forgotten Wen Mo'er, but that has nothing to do with teaching the people of the Maolu Annex a lesson. When Master is humiliated, this disciple shares the humiliation. I truly could not swallow that grievance. If I could help Master vent that anger, then even if I were killed for it, this disciple would have no complaint!"

Yan Li said, "Is that so? When Niu Youdao was here, I never saw you make a move. The moment Niu Youdao leaves, you suddenly start jumping around!"

Guan Qingya again put on an aggrieved look. "Niu Youdao is still a Sect Elder. No matter how much this disciple wanted to vent the anger, I would never treat the sect rules as child's play and act recklessly against an Elder."

Yan Li said, "So you do know fear? You've got quite the nerve. You actually dared slap Guan Fangyi across the face. Haven't you heard what kind of relationship Guan Fangyi has with Niu Youdao? Even when striking someone, one does not strike the face, yet you publicly slapped her! And then there's that Yuan Gang covered in blood. Let me tell you, his relationship with Niu Youdao is extraordinary. You people injured him this badly. If Niu Youdao learns of it, he'll skin you alive!"

Guan Qingya muttered, "He's already gone to Sacred Realm. Whether he can return alive is still unknown. Even if he does come back, the sect rules are here. I doubt he'd dare run wild!"

Yan Li gave two dry laughs. "Sect rules? You don't know shit! If sect rules could bind him that easily, the sect would have seized the forces in his hands long ago. Would it still be your turn to make a move? Are you truly so certain he won't come back from Sacred Realm? Let me tell you, I personally experienced what he did inside the Tiandu Secret Realm. The rumors outside do not tell the whole story. That man is far more terrifying than you imagine. Sacred Realm may not be able to kill him. If he truly returns, just wait and see whether he comes to settle this account with you!"

"I always thought you were fairly shrewd. How can you be stupid enough to do something like this? Even if you wanted to vent this anger, you should at least have waited until it was confirmed he could not return! I'm telling you, before Niu Youdao left, he arranged contingencies long in advance. No one dares casually touch his people. You thought you could seize on a handle like this and make an issue of it? You're too naive. The sect will not let a petty matter like this interfere with taking over the enormous interests controlled by Niu Youdao's people. We don't even know what this Sacred Realm tempering truly involves yet, and you already dared stir up trouble here? You idiot!"

[End of Chapter 971]