234 Good Intentions (1/2)
”You...”
Just now, Fang Baiwei had merely intended to scare Zhou Donghuang. He had not anticipated that not only would Zhou Donghuang be immune to his threats but even return the taunt and challenge him. Fang Baiwei was momentarily so enraged that his entire face swelled red, and his essential core was revealed, gathering around him in the form of a three-meter tall Dharma figure.
Although he had revealed his Dharma power, Fang Baiwei did not have the courage to take any concrete action.
The punishment that the Lightning Sword Sect meted out to those who took action against innocent fellow disciples was truly too severe to take a gamble on.
Furthermore, if he took action, it would seem like he was a bully and that he was using his powers to bully someone weaker. Under such circumstances, the potential consequences he would face would be even more severe.
In any case, he was already 40 years old while the young man dressed in white before him could only be about 20.
He was a mid Dharma adept while the young man had not even entered the Dharma stage yet.
”Zhou Donghuang.”
As Fang Baiwei stood before Zhou Donghuang and displayed his Dharma power, Zhong Yin glanced at Zhou Donghuang with a gaze as piercing as lightning and asked in a low voice, ”Did you carry out this elaborate scheme all for the sake of revenge on behalf of your fellow disciple of the Autumn Valle, Da Zhuang?”
The other disciples and elders of the Summer Valley now all cast their gaze and focus on Zhou Donghuang as well.
”You could say that.”
Zhou Donghuang glanced casually at Zhong Yin. ”There's something else that you may not be aware of... Previously, when Da Zhuang had purchased the fake nine-ringed bamboo from your Summer Valley people, it was me who had asked him to make the purchase on my behalf.
”The spirit stone veins that were lost, belonged to me.”
As he spoke, the corners of Zhou Donghuang's mouth turned up slightly. It seemed as though he was amused at something, and not really affected by the loss of his spirit stone veins previously.
In reality, he truly did not care about the loss of his spirit stone veins at all.
Even if he did, he had already earned it all back from the people of the Summer Valley as of yesterday.
”You decided to throw caution to the wind and deign to offend so many people of the Summer Valley over such a trivial event?” Zhong Yin asked in a dark, grave tone.
”Offend?”
Zhou Donghuang glanced at Zhong Yin with a look of surprise. ”Do make yourself clear.”
”You purposely sold so many fake items to others, who then sold them to the nine of us... Did you not think we would be offended by this matter?” Zhong Yin's voice became even lower as he replied.
”This is considered an offense?”
This person was no ordinary man. He was a Lightning Peak elder, Han Ku.
”Although I've only entered the Lightning Sword Sect for a short period of time, don't think that I am not aware of the sect rules... In this trade center, I am aware that even if one, unfortunately, purchases fake goods, they can only blame themselves for their own foolishness.
”Within the sect, swallowing one's pride may be a wise thing to do, lest you ruin your own reputation and embarrass yourself.
”You could also say that... Even if those items were fake and even if I indirectly managed to sell them to you, as long as you finalized the purchase and transaction, you can only mourn your own misfortune.
”Furthermore, those items were not even sold by me to you.
”You all bought these items from various sellers, and yet you are here to find trouble. Isn't this going a little overboard?” Zhou Donghuang replied in a casual way.
”Are you trying to talk your way out of this mess?”
Out of the two elders of the Summer Valley, one glared murderously at Zhou Donghuang.
”Young man, you are well aware of how this whole matter came about. Don't even try to deny it!
”Do you really think that you can manipulate the sect rules to your favor and get away scot-free after playing tricks on nine people from the Summer Valley?
”Unless... you intend to stay within the sect for the rest of your life and never step out of it?”
As he spoke to this point, this elder of the Summer Valley suddenly smiled in a mocking fashion.
With his words, there was no denying the underlying threat that was implied.
”Ah?”
Zhou Donghuang glanced at the smug look on this elder's face and said, ”Do you mean to say... whenever I choose to leave the sect, you people of the Summer Valley will then come forward to exact your revenge?”
”You could say that.”
The elder of the Summer Valley smiled coldly.
In the next instant, this elder's facial expression changed dramatically as he glanced in the direction that Zhou Donghuang was gazing at and saw what was in the skies.
”Elder Han Ku, you've heard it all? Well, I am not going against any of the sect rules. However, these people of the Summer Valley are threatening me, and they mentioned that they will take their revenge on me after I leave the Lightning Sword Sect.”
These were the original words spoken by Zhou Donghuang towards the Lightning Peak elder, Han Ku, who had arrived at the scene.
”Elder Li.”
At this instant, Han Ku had on an extremely cold expression, and he spoke directly to the elder of the Summer Valley while staring at him. ”Will, you willingly head down to the Law Enforcement Hall yourself to receive your punishment or shall I make a report to them and let the officers of the Law Enforcement Hall take you away?”
”Elder Han.”
The elder of the Summer Valley, Li Dahu, glanced at Han Ku with a pained expression on his face. ”I... I was merely joking around.”
”Save your words for the officers of the Law Enforcement Hall.”
Han Ku cast a cold, sweeping glance at Li Dahu and said, ”You should be clear of the difference in punishments between you willingly turning yourself in to the Law Enforcement Hall and me reporting you to them before the officers come to bring you to the Law Enforcement Hall.”
Li Dahu's facial expression changed again, and he turned to glare at Zhou Donghuang with an extremely cold and murderous expression before unwillingly forcing himself to leave the scene and head for the Law Enforcement Hall.
In an instant, the entire trade center had fallen silent, and it was deadly quiet.
An elder of the Summer Valley and an inner elder of the Lightning Sword Sect at that had been sent to the Law Enforcement Hall simply due to two or three sentences by a mere disciple of the Autumn Valley.