Chapter 258: The True Face
Chapter 258: The True Face
“What?”
Hearing those loud shouts, the entire Great Qingjiang City froze for a moment in shock.
Were those two elders… cursing at Old Master Fan?
In the memories of the people of Qingjiang City, or rather, the Qi Refiners from surrounding forces, Old Master Fan had never faced such fierce insults. His reputation had always been one of perfect purity, unblemished to the point of being a living saint. No one would dare even show him slight disrespect in everyday talk, let alone curse him so harshly.
But now, he was being publicly cursed like this?
These two elders of Shoushan Sect were not unknown figures. At the Crow Mountain demon-slaying incident, they had fiercely denounced the Five Sects, showing righteous spirit. They finally pushed through the demon-slaying mission and even nailed the head of the Demon Hound to the Qingjiang City gate. That earned them real fame. Even today, their mighty reputations lived on among the Qingjiang people, who called them “old immortals.”
But now, were these two old immortals cursing their beloved living saint?
…
…
“You scoundrels!”
Even Old Master Fan was so enraged by their cursing that his eyes seemed to spit fire, and he almost choked on his fury.
For a living saint like Old Master Fan, who cherished his honor, such insults were unthinkable. It was like a heavenly maiden in spotless robes suddenly being drenched head-to-toe with dog blood by a filthy street beggar…
He was stunned by the curses!
Because it was so unbelievable, he forgot to argue back at first. Only the words “you scoundrels” blurted out of his mouth.
But instead, that only stirred the other two on.
Their eyes burning with rage, they swept their robes back. Elder Green Pine boomed in a deep voice, “You are the scoundrel, you old fool! You talk all day about virtue and wisdom, but your belly is full of filth. I ask you this: as Governor of Qingjiang, did you know or did you not know that the Seven Clans were secretly dealing with the Demon Lord and selling forbidden goods? Our Shoushan Sect bustled all around and uncovered countless dossiers and evidence. Did you look at them? Even the son of a Seven Clans family, who understood grand principles, revealed this dirty affair publicly. And how did you respond?”
Elder Cold Stone stamped his feet and shouted loudly, “You shameless wretch!”
As they cursed, they pulled someone out from behind them. Young Master Bai Huaiyu, his clothes a mess, stood there timidly, as if he had been briefed. He yelled at Old Master Fan, “Old Master Fan, sir, I trusted your fairness and justice, so I told you the truth and begged you to make things right. But then… then what did you do?”
“You ordered them to kill me and cover it up!”
“Whoosh!”
Old Master Fan’s face changed instantly at those words.
He already knew that Shoushan Sect had brazenly kidnapped this Young Master Bai. He didn’t care at the time because they had gotten the key proof. As long as everyone sat down calmly and presented it a little, Shoushan Sect would be speechless and doomed. But he never expected that Shoushan Sect would act first, bringing this matter to the people…
This was so bizarre that he found it absurd himself.
Even the crowd of Qingjiang citizens gasped in shock. Hearing the fierce cries of these two old immortals, they felt like they couldn’t trust their own ears. Would the respected Old Master Fan really let bad guys go and even help them kill witnesses? They a hundred times over did not want to believe it. But the two old immortals had some fame, and they had an eyewitness testifying…
“Nonsense! You deserve to die!”
At that moment, the people by Old Master Fan’s side, sensing trouble, roared in anger, “How dare you foul old devils stain an elder’s spotless name? Your Shoushan Sect is scheming evil. You even fostered the Ghost Official. You should be caught just for that. Now you smear others?”
“You infuriate me!”
Because Shoushan Sect had attacked first and they were counterattacking now, their words, though true, sounded like heated, desperate retorts. They lacked the punch of the Shoushan Sect elders’ curses. Still, their shouts prompted a quick reaction from the crowd nearby…
After all, it was old immortals cursing a living saint…
With both sides yelling accusations and the truth hard to figure out, who would they trust?
It was obvious.
It was impossible for the people to grasp all this quickly. They just saw both sides truly furious and wanted to join in themselves. So, angry shouts roared out from among the crowd. An elderly man, trembling as he climbed a high building, screamed at the Shoushan Sect elders, “Who dares to insult Old Master Fan?”
A kid spat into the sky at the grounded Shoushan Sect elders, “Ptooey!”
Countless citizens cursed, “We thought you were good men, but now you trouble Old Master Fan!”
A rising wave of angry cries rolled through the people, threatening to drown the two elders.
Old Master Fan’s prestige among the crowd was simply too high, almost unbreakable. Even though the Shoushan Sect elders had earned their name as old immortals, they were nowhere near Old Master Fan’s level!
“Thank goodness…”
Even Old Master Fan up in the air couldn’t help sighing in relief.
Seeing the people below stirred up like rapids, he felt a bit calmer. Shoushan Sect jumping out recklessly to accuse him publicly had caught him off guard. He felt real fear in that moment, but seeing the people’s reaction, he knew it wouldn’t hurt him. The hearts were with him, so who would believe such talk?
Who dared to believe it?
As for Shoushan Sect…
He already had dirt on them. He was just thinking about how far to take it.
How hateful that they started this fight. Now how could he spare them?
“Hmph, your accusations and insults against me don’t matter much. Truth lives in the public heart!”
Old Master Fan took a deep breath, his eyes shining darkly. He thundered, “But Shoushan Sect fostering the Ghost Official and plotting misdeeds is beyond my limit. I was about to find you, and you handed yourselves to me. Don’t blame me now…”
As he spoke, he raised his palm.
Around him, the Chief Warden and Divine General stood armed and ready.
Even the Qi Refiners of the Seven Clans prepared too, clearly set to help him attack.
The atmosphere grew tense, thick with murderous intent.
…
…
“What is Shoushan Sect playing at?”
Seeing this, the sect leaders and elders from various places gasped in shock.
They had heard about the County Mansion’s findings and knew Shoushan Sect was soon doomed. But they hadn’t expected Shoushan Sect to strike first in this situation, accusing Old Master Fan before all the Qingjiang people.
How foolish! Who could shake Old Master Fan’s prestige in Qingjiang?
That was suicide!
Especially with everyone ready to strike and the crowd passionately furious, they felt a chill inside.
No one dared speak up for Shoushan Sect now…
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…
“Huh, what’s all the commotion?”
Just then, as Old Master Fan’s raised hand hadn’t yet dropped, a voice rang out.
Second Young Master Fang Cun stepped out from under the small pavilion into the sky. His white robe fluttered as he ascended, followed by Divine Eye Young Master Lu Xiao, Meng Zhixue, and other top talents from various sects. Old Master Fan’s hand paused slightly in the air, not dropping immediately…
Old Master Fan had delayed action against Shoushan Sect earlier for Second Young Master Fang’s Dragon Stone.
His plan was to take Shoushan Sect on for the Ghost Official business after getting the Dragon Stone.
The current mess was purely because Shoushan Sect’s reckless attack had enraged him.
But since Shoushan Sect charged blindly first, he wasn’t afraid of what Second Young Master Fang might do. He just slowed his motion slightly and turned to Fang Cun coldly, “Young friend Fang, I act selflessly without caring for my status or name. I finally steadied things to seek a glimmer of hope for Qingjiang. Yet your Shoushan Sect ignored the greater good. Now that we’re here, what more do you want to say?”
“Acting selflessly…”
Fang Cun shook his head with a smile at Old Master Fan’s words. “Master, you’ve deceived yourself with that, haven’t you?”
Old Master Fan’s face instantly twisted nastily. “Young friend Fang, what do you mean?”
“Why feign innocence?”
Fang Cun spoke softly, “Your fame is fine, Master, but what kind of state is Qingjiang in? Do you not have a clue? How big were the sins of the Seven Clans? Don’t you know? What deal did you strike with the Seven Clans? Is that place blank for you?”
Silence fell all around. The citizens were startled, then anger surged through them.
The seven clans and six sects, along with the Qi Refiners, heard Fang Cun and paled in horror.
Amid the chaos, without notice, a black-robed man in elegant clothes appeared in Qingjiang Prefecture.
He sat by a tea booth, sipping tea slowly.
A small striped tiger-patterned kitten crawled on his table, hunting for snacks.
Two puppy siblings fought over a bone bone at his feet.
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…
Old Master Fan exploded with rage and roared fiercely, “Young Fang, what is your meaning?”
He hadn’t expected Fang Cun to bring this up suddenly now. His fury raged unchecked.
Way back at Lingwu Sect, he had a “heart-to-heart” talk with Fang Cun. He thought Fang Cun was persuaded by him and had even prepared a way to let Fang Cun live—free from the Ghost Official scandal—while destroying Shoushan Sect for good. How virtuous was that? Yet Fang Cun said these things.
At this hour, was he siding with those Shoushan Sect people?
Or was their stupid, self-destructive charge cooked up by Fang Cun all along?
Either way, Old Master Fan’s rage peaked.
“What meaning?”
Fang Cun met Old Master Fan’s fierce gaze head-on and bellowed darkly. “I just want the world to know the truth!”
“To know you, Old Master Fan, for your true face…”