As if they had agreed beforehand, as if they shared a telepathic connection, Yang Kai and Su Yan shouted out the same words, even their tone and expressions were identical.
Jie Hongchen was stunned by the outburst! He looked at Su Yan with great pain and said bitterly, "How is he not a good-for-nothing? In terms of status, he is merely a probationary disciple. In terms of cultivation and strength, he is only at the third layer of the Kaiyuan Realm. Such a person is a good-for-nothing. How could you take a fancy to him, Junior Sister?"
"Our affairs are none of your concern!" Su Yan clearly got into character, wanting to take this opportunity to摆脱解红尘多年的纠缠, even using intimate words like "us."
"Senior Brother, do you know what love at first sight means?" Yang Kai teased, looking at Jie Hongchen.
"Shut up!" Jie Hongchen snarled with a ferocious expression, "I'm talking to Junior Sister. What right do you, a good-for-nothing, have to butt in?"
Yang Kai narrowed his eyes and sneered.
"A good-for-nothing is a good-for-nothing!" Jie Hongchen's composure and elegance were long gone. Driven by jealousy, his handsome face was distorted, looking as ugly as it could be, "When I was your age, I was already at the Qidong Realm. You are only at the third layer of the Kaiyuan Realm, while I am now at the peak of the Lihuo Realm, two major realms and six minor levels apart. How can you compare to me?"
"Senior Brother, just wait and see!" Yang Kai didn't say much more. Some things were useless to talk about; only actions would prove effective.
"Jie Hongchen, I don't want to tangle with you here. Move aside. Thanks to your Law Enforcement Hall, he is severely injured. I need to treat his wounds!" Su Yan said coldly.
"Nobody will leave here today!" Jie Hongchen roared, looking at Su Yan with a pained expression, his body trembling slightly. He ordered, "Disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall, listen up! If anyone dares to rush out, kill them without mercy! Even if it's your Senior Sister Su, show no leniency."
Deep love, deep hate—Jie Hongchen perfectly embodied this saying at this moment.
Swish, swish, swish... After a moment of hesitation, over a hundred Law Enforcement Hall disciples immediately moved, surrounding Su Yan and her group once again.
"Do you insist on this?" Su Yan's eyes flashed with a dangerous light.
Jie Hongchen smiled bitterly, "Junior Sister, I know I'm no match for you, but if you want to pass through here today, you'll have to step over my dead body!"
He was ready to sacrifice himself, hoping to move Su Yan with his courage and determination.
Su Yan's chest heaved with anger!
She wasn't afraid of the Law Enforcement Hall. Her own strength was at the third layer of the Zhenyuan Realm, three minor levels higher than Jie Hongchen. Once she unleashed the Ice Heart Technique, no one here could stop her.
But... Yang Kai and Li Yuntian and the others were destined to suffer as well.
She was only one person and couldn't protect everyone under her wings.
The situation became deadlocked. Su Yan didn't dare to lead the group out, and the Law Enforcement Hall people didn't initiate an attack; they just blocked them here.
While the younger generation was in a heated dispute, the elders of the Lingxiao Pavilion were having a heated argument in another place.
In the Elder Hall, the five elders of the Lingxiao Pavilion were all present: Grand Elder Wei Xitong, Second Elder Su Xuanwu, Third Elder He Beishui, Fourth Elder Zhou Fei, and Fifth Elder You Zizai.
The five elders sat in two rows. On one side, Grand Elder Wei Xitong was at the head, with Fourth Elder Zhou Fei and Fifth Elder You Zizai sitting below.
On the other side were Second Elder Su Xuanwu and Third Elder He Beishui.
This was the current elder faction of the Lingxiao Pavilion.
Wei Zhuang and Su Mu, who had previously had a conflict, were kneeling side by side on the floor below, reporting the events of the day in turn.
Su Mu spoke first, recounting every detail of how he was cornered by Wei Zhuang, how he was provoked, and how he was humiliated in the sparring match, without any personal emotion.
After the five elders listened, they didn't speak, waiting for Wei Zhuang to repeat the story.
But the story from Wei Zhuang's mouth was somewhat different. At first, it was the same as what Su Mu said, but from the point where Yang Kai appeared, Wei Zhuang embellished the story, describing how Yang Kai was excessively aggressive, holding a secret treasure weapon, breaking his Xiuyun Lockmail Armor, and attempting to kill him on the spot.
His tone was so sorrowful that it made the listeners sad and tearful, and his exaggerated gestures magnified the scene a hundredfold.
"You're lying!" Su Mu was furious and couldn't help but curse.
"That's the truth!" Wei Zhuang, knowing Su Mu was unconscious and didn't see the situation, insisted.
"Truth my ass! You troublemaker, liar, and deceiver! You don't even bother to fabricate your lies."
"Both of you, shut up!" Grand Elder Wei Xitong slammed his chair, naturally angry that Su Mu was cursing his daughter-in-law in front of him. However, he couldn't directly punish the younger generation.
"Humph!" Second Elder Su Xuanwu coldly snorted.
Grand Elder Wei Xitong said, "The matter has been reported. What do you all think?"
Though he asked this, his eyes were fixed on Second Elder Su Xuanwu, clearly seeking his opinion.
Su Xuanwu said, "What's there to think about? This is clearly a challenge and sparring between the younger generation. Let them handle it themselves. Why disturb the Elder Council?"
Grand Elder Wei Xitong smiled slightly. Fourth Elder Zhou Fei, who always followed the Grand Elder, said, "Second Senior Brother, that's not right. At first, it was indeed a sparring match between the younger generation, but after Yang Kai provoked the incident, the nature of the matter changed."
"How did it change? In front of everyone, he openly challenged Wei Zhuang without breaking any rules. Wei Zhuang's own strength was inadequate, and he was defeated. Who can blame him?" Su Xuanwu, angry that his grandson was bullied, spoke harshly.
Fourth Elder Zhou Fei said, "If he had only challenged and defeated Wei Zhuang, it would be fine. But the fact is, during the fight, he took out a weapon and used it to break Wei Zhuang's Xiuyun Lockmail Armor. The rules state that disciples may not use weapons during sparring. Yang Kai clearly violated this rule and should be punished!"
Su Xuanwu sneered, "Fourth Senior Brother, are the rules really set like that? Has someone been bold enough to change the rules without the Master's permission?"
These words had a hidden meaning, and the Grand Elder's faction couldn't help but be taken aback. Wei Xitong said, "Oh? Then, Second Senior Brother, what do the rules say?"
Su Xuanwu sneered, "The rules state that disciples may not use weapons or any enhancing elixirs or secret treasures during sparring. Both parties can only use their own martial techniques and physical strength. Senior Brother, is this not correct?"
Grand Elder Wei Xitong's expression was stern, and he nodded, "That's correct!"