Chapter 5133 — A Clash Between Factions
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
"Oh? So Deputy Sect Master Xue is aware that this took place on their ground?" Chi Qianqiu gave him a look that was neither quite a smile nor quite not. Then he turned to the crowd. "Everyone, just imagine this for a moment. If two men suddenly came charging into the Cangwu Sect of North Island and, without a word of explanation, made straight to seize people by force—what would you do?"
"Why, naturally we'd give them a proper lesson in manners," came the near-unanimous response from the assembled Snow Sword Sect leadership.
"And so, in this old man's view, it is far too much of a stretch to lay this at the Cangwu Sect of North Island's door. Saying so abroad will only hand others a handle to mock us with. When all is said and done, it was our own people who acted improperly. Bing Wushuang and Xue Jianming went to another's ground for no reason at all, throwing their weight around and trying to seize people. Being beaten for it is only natural. That they were tossed back as two cripples is already considerable courtesy. Had it been this old man, there would have been two corpses." Chi Qianqiu looked at Xue Liping as he spoke.
The sect leaders nodded in unison, and Xue Liping's face could no longer hold its composure. "I seem to recall that Elder Chi is an elder of our Snow Sword Sect," he said in a strange, needling tone. "Not someone sent over from the Cangwu Sect of North Island, is he?"
"What did you say?" Chi Qianqiu's face darkened as well. The two had never seen eye to eye, but Xue Liping's words had plainly crossed the line—little short of tearing all pretense of civility apart in public.
The other Snow Sword Sect leaders of Chi Qianqiu's faction were even more indignant, barely restraining themselves from pounding the table and rising. At the same time, the sect leaders of Xue Liping's faction were likewise roused to fury, one and all. The air in the council hall turned abruptly tense—a single ill-chosen word and it might well descend into a free-for-all.
Just then Hong Qingyuan gave a light cough, and the two factions, fists already clenched, fell silent at once. Devoted as these men were to Chi Qianqiu and Xue Liping, Hong Qingyuan as sect master of the Snow Sword Sect was no mere figurehead. Once Hong Qingyuan's temper was roused, even Chi Qianqiu and Xue Liping would tremble—let alone the likes of them.
Hong Qingyuan tapped his fingers on the table out of habit and said mildly, "We are all of one sect. Speak your minds civilly. Do not wound the harmony between us."
At this, Chi Qianqiu and Xue Liping exchanged a glance and could only give slight nods. "Forgive us, Sect Master. We lost our composure."
"Continue," Hong Qingyuan said, waving a hand. On this matter he still betrayed no inclination whatsoever, as though he meant to stand back and let Chi Qianqiu and Xue Liping's people fight it out among themselves.
"Elder Chi, you say this happened on the Cangwu Sect of North Island's ground, and therefore we cannot pursue the matter? Hmph. Then why do you not consider why Bing Wushuang and my son went there in the first place? If not to carry out the sect's orders and arrest the traitor Lenglen, why would they have gone to make trouble at their door?" Xue Liping snorted coldly.
Hardly had the words left his mouth, before Chi Qianqiu could even rebut, when a female leader in the distance could contain herself no longer and rose without hesitation to demand, "Who are you calling a traitor?!"
All turned at the sound, and only after they had made out the speaker's features did looks of dawning comprehension spread across their faces. This person was Xu Xiaoshuang—Lenglen's master. No wonder she had bristled so.
"Hmph, Xu Xiaoshuang, this deputy sect master advises you to mind your station. Is this an occasion where a mere candidate elder like you has any business opening her mouth?" Xue Liping cast her a contemptuous glance.