232: Chapter 231: The Cost of Persistence 232: Chapter 231: The Cost of Persistence Hou Niao watched the monk Tihu arrive by raft, his round face radiating joy, an image of carefreeness as if everything was under his control.
From a distance, he bowed “Fellow Daoist, please, I am Tihu Monk, here for the sake of friendship.”
Hou Niao’s expression was as still as water, “This is a battlefield, you shouldn’t have come here for friendship!”
Tihu Monk was taken aback, but then thought it quite normal.
This man was exceedingly capable, and making an unorthodox entrance was indeed dishonorable, but with the old ancestors and uncles instructing him, how could he dare to openly disobey?
It was just a venting of anger through words, nothing more.
Well, let him have his moment, Tihu Monk considered himself to be of great magnanimity and didn’t bother to argue with such a coarse person.
“In that case, I shall ask for some instruction.”
With a gesture in the void, he protected himself with a Zen Staff and leaped forward, aiming a strike at the head; in his mind, a few back and forth mock fights, allowing the Sword Cultivator to vent, would naturally lead to a concession on some pretext.
But, before the staff could strike, a flash of sword light had already swept past his ribs, scattering blood.
Tihu Monk stumbled back several steps and fell to the ground, instantly losing his combat ability, yet disbelief remained in his eyes,
“You, you, dare to kill me?”
Hou Niao sneered, “Even if you were the favorite son of Heaven, I would still kill you!”
In a fluster, Tihu Monk swallowed an elixir and circulated his energy.
His injury looked frightening, but it was not life-threatening as it was just superficial.
Rest would naturally heal it.
The Buddhist Sect’s healing prowess was no less than that of the Daoist Sect.
With a few maneuvers, he switched danger for safety, stood up, and pointing at Hou Niao tremulously,
“You, how dare you disobey the master’s order!
It was all agreed upon, how can you go back on your word and benefit from it?”
Hou Niao shook his head lightly, “Sorry, I have no idea what you’re talking about.
All I know is that I must defend this flag and nothing else.”
Tihu was a bit confused, but not stupid, and immediately understood that this Sword Cultivator was blatantly defying their master’s order!
After you go back, I’m afraid your elders won’t let you off easily.
It’s just a flag; the blame is not on you.
Why be so obstinate!”
Hou Niao no longer looked at him but gazed up at the sky, “I’ve already conceded once, I cannot do so again.
To concede further would be to live in vain between heaven and earth!”
His gaze fixed on a gathering of Golden Core ancestors in the clouds, unsure if these significant figures had heard him.
This was not what he truly believed; what he truly believed was: How could he simply give up what Chong Ling Taoist defended with his life?
This was his bottom line!
What would those great figures of Quanzhen think?
He could not care less!
At worst, he’d be expelled from the sect, which might actually be a relief.
If he’s not appreciated here, another place will appreciate him.
He would not die for a cause like the old Taoist.
What use is conviction when dead?
One must live to annoy those who dislike him, enjoying seeing their faces filled with deep hatred yet unable to do anything about it.
Tihu Monk stammered, “You are playing with fire!
You are bound to be consumed by the karma of fire.
Do you know how many of us there are?
A full seventy brothers.
How many can you hold off?”
Hou Niao laughed dismissively, “Even if there were seven hundred, what difference does it make?
What matters is not whether I can hold off, but whether I want to!
If I don’t even dare to think about it, I might as well throw away this sword!”
Tihu Monk glanced at the situation and, realizing he couldn’t dissuade from the direct approach, started to work from the sides, “You can be free and reckless, disregarding the rules, but have you thought about your fellow disciples?
Because of your impulsiveness, they might be thrown back into danger.
You oppose us, the Buddhist Sect, Wu Sect will then take action against those three banners!
In the end, your Quanzhen Sect might not have a single banner left!”
Hou Niao looked at him as if he were looking at an idiot, “First, you need to get one thing straight—not I against the Buddhist Sect, but the Buddhist Sect against my Quanzhen Sect; don’t get the story twisted.
Second, I don’t care about my fellow disciples, from the moment they began learning the sword, they should have been prepared for this!
If they want peace and safety, they should not learn the sword.
Last, I want to tell you, even if Quanzhen ends up with not a single banner left, that doesn’t mean we should smear our faces with disgrace!
I would rather have nothing than something obtained through compromise!”
With a wave of his hand, “This is my stance!
There are still sixty-nine more, just watch, I’ll show you how many I can kill, get lost!”
He didn’t strike down Tihu Monk; this was a warning.
Next time, he wouldn’t be so merciful.
…On Lake Heart Island, Master Jia fumed more and more as he listened, slamming his palm down, “This scourge, when he comes back, I’ll personally cripple him.
Is the major matter of the sect something that a mere Bridge Connection like him can influence?”
Next to him, Uncle Master Li was red-faced, his anger from Tongtian Natural Realm barely containable.
A flying sword swiftly circled by his side, ready to strike at anyone,
If you dare to do that, I’ll cripple you first!”
He had the authority to make such bold statements, as he was the only one among the three at the Tongtian Natural Realm; the other two were merely at the Tongtian God Sensing Realm.
Master Jia was truly infuriated, “Li, this is your uncle master’s command; will you also defy the orders like that scourge?”
Uncle Master Li sneered, “Whoever dares to bow down on behalf of Quanzhen Sect, I’ll be the first to spare no mercy.
Don’t say it’s just an uncle master—even if it’s the founder, I’ll spit right in his face!”
Master Jia was genuinely afraid this madman would lose control, not daring to provoke him further; otherwise, this man might truly use his sword and turn a matter concerning disciple-level discourse into a full-scale war among upper cultivators.
He could only turn his head aside in complaint, “Brother Wang, what exactly did you write on that note?
You weren’t behind all this trouble, were you?”
Master Wang was also annoyed, “Even if I did instigate it, I wanted Quanzhen Sect and Wu Sect to go to war, to stir up chaos across the Jinxiu Continent so that I could profit from it, are you satisfied now?”
Master Jia heaved a deep sigh, “Alright, alright, you all have your integrity, being true sword cultivators, and here I am, the soft one.
Seventy monks plus seven true inheritors of Wu Sect, how would you propose we block that?”
Uncle Master Li shouted, “Block with our lives!
After they are dealt with, I’ll take over!”
While they quarreled fiercely below, the atmosphere above in the cloud gatherings was equally tense.
Here, nine Golden Core great cultivators, were the true arbiters of the Southwest debate.
Paper Arhat with a hostile expression, “Zhu Jiuling, what do you say?”
Zhu Jiuling remained serene, “Ha, perhaps Paper Master is not yet fully aware of our Demon Sect?
Defiance is a tradition with us; wantonness is a habit.
I did issue the order, but they didn’t listen, what can I do?
Perhaps, I should penalize him one month’s salary when I return?”
Mingled Golden Core also chimed in with no good intentions, “Yes, indeed.
Why else would we be called the Demon Sect?
Have you ever heard of a Demon Sect disciple who obediently listens?”
With Blood Transformation Golden Pill adding in agreement, “Exactly, exactly.
It isn’t easy for us ancestors to live; to keep our heads from these juniors is already quite an achievement.
Not listening is just fine, much better than being obedient and ending up a fool, right?”