Stop it, Taoist, Your Fight almost Ruins the DAO!-Chapter 318 - 248: The First Guest Elder of Hehuan Sect, Assisting with a Fist, Hei Mietian.
Hehuan Sect · Celebration Hall in Hehuan Mountain.
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At this moment, the hall was adorned with brightly lit lanterns and colorful decorations, bustling with the clinking of glasses—a lively scene indeed.
The banquet tonight was held in honor of Yi Chen for "repelling" Shi Changsheng, specially arranged by the Sect Master Qinyun and Vice Sect Master Hong Luo of the Hehuan Sect.
In Yi Chen’s explanation today, he naturally claimed that he had entangled Shi Changsheng with a secret technique, and Shi Changsheng, seeing that he couldn’t defeat Yi Chen quickly and fearing that the two sect masters would arrive and catch her in the act, had no choice but to retreat in advance.
Whether others believed it or not, he certainly did.
The explanation was a phrase that Yi Chen had devised after careful consideration, for claiming to have slain Shi Changsheng would only lead to more complications.
For a master nearly at the level of a True Monarch to come to serve as a guest elder for seven days for the sake of 150,000 taels of gold was implausible, so this explanation was perfect.
Above in the celebration hall, the lights were now brilliantly illuminated.
During the day, the unruly Zhen Ruan was now timid and did not dare to sit with Yi Chen. Instead, she sat obediently below him, occasionally sending flirtatious glances his way like autumn spinach.
The three Wo Long brothers sat diagonally opposed to Yi Chen, while several male and female elders sat in attendance within the hall.
Yi Chen now understood why Zhen Ruan had acted the way she did earlier.
It was all thanks to the instigation of the three Wo Longs.
They convinced Zhen Ruan that upon Yi Chen’s arrival at the city gate, he had stopped eating sunflower seeds and stared blankly the moment he saw her… it was obvious he was smitten with her—they had witnessed it with their own eyes.
Then they analyzed, how else could such a master start by asking for only 100,000 taels of gold? Although it seemed a large sum, it matched neither Yi Chen’s demonstrated strength, and it was clear that it was for her sake, thus repairing the plank road by daylight while secretly crossing the Wei River.
As for why Yi Chen refused her Jade of Union, it was naturally because he was responsible, indicating that Master Zhang was clearly not the sort of scoundrel who was only after her body.
In the end, he was enraged for the beauty, and faced the horrifying Corpse Emperor Shi Changsheng alone, keeping the danger to himself.
Could this kind of act be driven by a mere 150,000 taels of gold?
It absolutely had to be love.
With passion, righteousness, responsibility, good looks, and mutual affection.
Under the surging emotions, Zhen Ruan clearly was intoxicated, leading to that scene earlier in the day.
Afterward, the three Wo Long brothers had the audacity to claim credit from Yi Chen in secret, stating that they owed him a great favor and could only repay him in this manner…
Yi Chen had already decided to distance himself from these three Wo Longs.
They were just too good at stirring up trouble.
However, their boasting had brought Yi Chen a benefit: it rationalized his motives.
As music played softly like the melancholic moon behind willow branches, and songs were sung like the spring breeze beneath peach blossoms, Vice Sect Master Hong Luo sitting at the head of the hall suddenly turned her gaze towards Yi Chen:
"With such skill, Master Zhang, why are you not renowned in our Northern Region?"
Yet for such doubts, Yi Chen had a prepared response in his heart:
"I dare not deceive the Sect Master, ’Zhang San’ is indeed a name I have recently assumed. I have made a minor mistake, and my master has expelled me from the school. All events of the past are like clouds gone by; please excuse me for not wishing to mention them again."
"As for why I accepted this seven-day mission, it is because I was destitute upon leaving my sect and happened across Lotus City by chance."
"If the Sect Master suspects me, give me 50,000 taels of gold now and I, Zhang San, will leave immediately."
Yi Chen drank a sip of wine expressionlessly, apparently ’angered’.
Here was another lesson in the art of language.
How can a lie exist for a long time?
Make it unfalsifiable, or rather, raise the cost of falsification to a level unacceptable to others.
It’s not a problem if the name Zhang San raises suspicions; he admits it was a recent change. The rest is my sorrowful past that I don’t wish to speak of, and to press further would be impolite.
Then, he exhibited ’anger’ appropriately and pretended as if he was about to leave.
When faced with skepticism, ceaseless explanation and concession is the worst approach, especially when your position is indefensible. It’s better to learn to retort appropriately and pose a new challenge to your opponent for a better strategy.
It is also an excellent way to shift attention and focus.
For instance, in the past life, when singer someone was accused of lip-syncing during a concert, causing a huge uproar, he claimed he could sing E6 for ten beats, higher than High C by four notes, leading netizens to exclaim that it was wildly improbable, like a cicada reincarnated as a monkey.
Yet, who noticed that the focus of public opinion stealthily shifted from lip-syncing to whether ten beats of E6 was possible?
For instance, now, Sect Master Hong Luo was no longer preoccupied with questioning Yi Chen; the Hehuan Sect had to consider how to accommodate him.
This is the simple application of the art of language, proposing a new issue to dodge the old one, as digging deeper would reveal his inability to answer about his origin and intentions…
Sometimes, when you show weakness, others get tough; when you stand firm, others yield.
"Daoist Zhang is overthinking it; Sect Master Hong Luo was just asking casually."
"The agreement with our Hehuan Sect still stands, I am willing to add five more drops of Gold Essence to hire Daoist Zhang as the foremost guest elder for our sect’s mission, still limited to seven days. What do you think?"
"Frankly speaking, twenty drops of Gold Essence still means our Hehuan Sect is getting the better deal, but given that you’ve also captured my daughter’s heart, it’s quite a windfall."
Previously silent, Sect Master Qinyun suddenly spoke with a chuckle, immediately relaxing the atmosphere in the hall.
Sect Master Qinyun carried herself with graceful poise, her eyes tranquil as still water, wearing a long green dress that accentuated her lovely curves, with her legs slightly to one side.
As the vice-sect master of Hehuan, representing the ’Huan’ character lineage, she wore a fiery red, off-the-shoulder long dress, her figure seductively voluptuous, and without shoes, revealing her graceful arches.
Yi Chen: "... ." [The 150,000 taels have already been paid by Lord Lùxúnshēnjūn.]
"Sect Master, I agree to the task. However, I would like to ask who exactly is targeting the Hehuan Sect. Could you divulge some details to Zhang?" Finally, Yi Chen asked the question he had been wanting to ask all along.
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At these words, an unexpected blush tinged Sect Master Qinyun’s cheeks.
Sect Master Hong Luo clapped her hands to signal for the others to leave, then slowly said, "It’s difficult for my sister to speak directly on this matter, so I will tell you."
"This issue is also somewhat related to my sister."
...
Following the vice-sect master’s account, Yi Chen finally understood the reason behind it all.
According to Sect Master Hong Luo, the force targeting the Hehuan Sect was a mysterious evil faction known as ’Rolling Bead Curtain.’
Its leader, self-styled as Hei Mietian, was extremely secretive and had somehow seen Sect Master Qinyun’s visage, sending an engagement proposal with the intent to marry by force.
After being rejected, Hei Mietian then put out a bounty on them, sending people to cause trouble near Hehuan Mountain and claiming he would personally lead an assault to pay homage to the mountain after fifteen days—ten of which had already passed.
If Sect Master Qinyun refused, he vowed to flatten the Hehuan Sect.
"Daoist Zhang, the Rolling Bead Curtain is an evil power that has accumulated over the years, and under Hei Mietian’s command are countless ghoul ghosts, all evil experts, extremely vicious. I do not wish to deceive you with empty words; if you want to step back, it’s still not too late."
The gentle and smooth voice of a woman, like a fresh spring breeze, brushed past Yi Chen’s ears; it was Sect Master Qinyun speaking once again.
"Why stir me with these words, Sect Master?"
"I, Zhang San, shall never share the sky with those ghoul ghosts and evil spirits!"
"Is there no law left? No decree? With evil running rampant, I, Zhang San, shall handle this matter."
"Rest assured, Sect Master, I am committed to safeguarding the Hehuan Sect with all my might."
Yi Chen picked up the wine jar on the table and tilted his head back, downing it with great fervor.
Keyword get; his vigor surged instantly.
"Daoist Zhang’s spirit is commendable. Rest assured, our Hehuan Sect has some old friends. In two days, they will begin arriving to lend a hand. We will not let Daoist Zhang face this battle alone," said Sect Master Qinyun, a touch of relief showing in her smile. Zhen Ruan, upon hearing this, beamed sweetly, her face full of joy.
...
...
Night. The moonlight was like silver.
In the outer yard guest rooms of the Hehuan Sect.
A figure in armor crept to the door of a guest room.
"Daoist Zhang, open up, it’s me," whispered Zhen Ruan.
Soon, a firm and sturdy voice came from the room.
"There’s nobody inside, Zhang San is not here. Please go back, Daoist."
Zhen Ruan: "....."
"Blockhead, weren’t you kicked out with no money? I have some."
"Here, take these 300,000-tael Great Qin banknotes; you can use them first."
Three banknotes, each worth 100,000 taels, were squeezed through the crack in the door.
For a moment, Yi Chen was also somewhat speechless as he looked at the banknotes in the door crack.
[Abbess, what should I do if your husband is too charming? I’m waiting online, quite urgently.]
