C7 I Won't Give Face to the Elders

As Hee Wudao lay on the ground, the crowd turned to Su Ping'an with awe, as if they were beholding a deity.

Hee Wudao was none other than the Sect Master's prized disciple, a figure whose word was law within the Elite Wound. And yet, he had been effortlessly dispatched by an unknown upstart. It seemed like some grand, international jest.

Struggling to his feet, Hee Wudao glared at the self-satisfied Su Ping'an, seething with rage. His whole body shook with anger as he stuttered out his accusations at Su Ping'an. "You—you trickster! I wasn't even ready!"

The surrounding disciples of the Elite Wound now regarded Hee Wudao as if he were a fool. That he could utter such words without fear of ridicule was astonishing. Gone was the time for his earlier bravado.

Su Ping'an couldn't help but snicker at the man's brazen shamelessness. With a look of scorn, he spat on the ground and addressed Hee Wudao. "If you still refuse to accept defeat, come at me. I'll wait until you're ready before I take you on again."

As Su Ping'an spoke, his gaze lingered on Hee Wudao with a teasing glint, as though he had seen right through him. True to Su Ping'an's expectations, Hee Wudao became much more subdued, no longer daring to act out, and meekly bowed his head.

This only fueled the crowd's disdain for Hee Wudao, and they began to openly criticize him. "What's happened to Senior Brother Hee today? He's usually so high and mighty." "It seems Senior Brother Hee hasn't been picking on the ordinary disciples today; no wonder he's lacking his usual vigor." "I've long understood Hee Wudao's true nature—he's nothing but a paper tiger."

Their words flew fast and furious, painting Hee Wudao's face with shades of red and yellow, reminiscent of a Sichuan opera mask. Unable to bear the whispers and taunts any longer, he exploded with fury. "Silence, all of you! Once I've healed, I'll settle the score with each and every one of you."

Hee Wudao's eyes widened as he glared at each person in turn, seemingly intent on etching their faces into his memory.

The crowd fell silent, none daring to utter another word. After all, Hee Wudao was fortunate to have a powerful master in his corner.

When one of Hee Wudao's followers noticed the tide turning against them, he dashed to the Elite Wound Sect's inner hall to alert the sect master of Hee Wudao's plight.

The sect master could only press his hand to his forehead in resignation.

What could he do? The boy was his disciple, and he couldn't intervene directly.

He summoned Elder Chen urgently, impressing upon him the need to ensure Hee Wudao's safety.

Elder Chen nodded vigorously in response to Sect Master Yang's lecture on virtue and morality, though inwardly he doubted its sincerity. If Hee Wudao's family weren't so affluent, he suspected the sect master would have discarded the young man long ago.

Despite his private thoughts, Elder Chen maintained a grave demeanor. After paying his respects to the Sect Master, he hastened toward the arena.

The contrast between the domineering Su Ping'an and the pitiful Hee Wudao weighed heavily on Elder Chen.

Recalling the Sect Master's earnest instructions, he gestured dismissively to scatter the onlookers.

"Disperse, all of you. You'd be better off spending this time learning how to advance yourselves. That's the true path."

Yet the crowd remained, more interested in the spectacle than in self-improvement, reluctant to stir up any discomfort for themselves.

Challenged by their inaction, Elder Chen's anger boiled over, and he bellowed with a face flushed with rage.

"Clear out, now! Anyone still here in a minute will face a ten-year confinement!"

Prompted by his threat, the crowd scattered like ants on a hot griddle, kicking up clouds of dust as they fled.

With the area cleared, Elder Chen's gaze shifted craftily as he pondered how to pin a crime on Su Ping'an to preserve the Sect Master's dignity.

Hee Wudao, seeing the crowd had dispersed, quickly approached Elder Chen, his cries of distress filling the air.

"Elder Chen, you must stand up for me! Su Ping'an has shattered every bone in my body! I implore you to discern the truth in this matter."

What a stroke of luck this was—an opportunity of a lifetime!

Elder Chen's face twisted with fury as he turned to Su Ping'an, his voice rising in a severe rebuke.

"Su Ping'an, are you unaware that disciples must not harm one another? Have you no regard for our sect's rules?"

Su Ping'an, observing Elder Chen's indignant demeanor, let out a scornful laugh. Any excuse would do to blame him.

"Elder Chen, please look at the facts. Hee Wudao was the one who provoked me first. And when the fight began, neither the Sect Master nor anyone else intervened."

Su Ping'an's unyielding stance was unexpected. It seemed he no longer saw himself as a minor player.

Elder Chen's eyes narrowed in an instant. His face remained nonchalant, but his voice was firm and unyielding.

"So, you still fail to grasp the gravity of your situation. Regardless, you're the one who benefited from this. Do you really intend to show no mercy?"

Su Ping'an felt a jolt of alarm at these words. Clearly, the old man had come to stir up trouble.

Yet, backing down now could mean trouble for him later in the Elite Wound Sect. So naturally, Su Ping'an stood his ground.

"What do you suggest we do then, Elder Chen? Are you saying I should compensate Senior Brother He for his supposed losses?" Su Ping'an asked, his tone icy.

Elder Chen seemed oblivious to Su Ping'an's demeanor, casually stroking his beard and nodding with a self-satisfied air.

"That would be ideal. Then I can report to the Sect Master that there's no need to punish you, sparing you from further suffering," Elder Chen said with a slight smile.

The irony was not lost on Su Ping'an. He had never expected an elder of the Elite Wound Sect to take such a stance. He began to question whether coming here was a mistake.

With a frosty look, Su Ping'an stepped closer to Elder Chen, his words biting and deliberate.

"Go to hell, you old fool. I've done nothing wrong. Why should there be any talk of compensation? If you have any sense, you'll have Hee Wudao bow down and apologize to me."

Elder Chen's face underwent a sudden transformation, as he hadn't anticipated the young man's continued defiance. It was clear that he needed to administer a lesson.

Yet, to his surprise, the moment he was about to deliver a severe reprimand, Su Ping'an moved with the swiftness of lightning, appearing instantly at Hee Wudao's side and seizing him by the throat.