Shen Wang said calmly, seemingly not in a hurry at all.
It’s simple; this person’s reasoning is untenable and overly far-fetched.
The most crucial point is that until now, no more formidable character has emerged to stop or suppress him, but surely they are watching from the shadows, perhaps waiting for them to fight until an outcome is reached.
Moreover, the crowd watching is growing, and it’s no longer just a conflict between him and these three people; it’s a struggle between all the tributors and the Inner Sect. If he were taken away today, what grounds would the Hundred Refining Sect have to convince the masses?
With these speculations in mind, he didn’t mind playing with these few people.
"Xie Jintong probably can’t handle him."
"The actions of the Body Refining Pavilion are indeed unsightly, it’s clearly a deliberate provocation, pouring dirty water as a tactic."
"At such a time they aren’t united against outside threats but are instead engaged in internal conflict, sooner or later this will give others a chance to exploit."
The spectators nearby discussed, and Shen Wang listened in secretly, lost in thought.
Judging by this, the Body Refining Pavilion and the Array Refining Pavilion are in a conflict. These few individuals aren’t simply targeting him, but the entire Array Refining Pavilion.
"Is the dispute between the two pavilions because of Zheng Yunshu or some other reason?"
Shen Wang pondered; this matter could only be solved by asking directly.
Seeing that Xie Jintong and the others had little hope of breaking through the array, Shen Wang knew this person was no match for Xie Xianlong, likely just an ordinary character.
He thought about whether to use the Tai Chi Yin Yang Mirror to probe the surroundings but worried that a formidable expert might sense it, he suppressed this thought, and continued eavesdropping on the spectators’ conversations.
As the stalemate persisted, finally, someone spoke up.
Li Yuanliu, whom Shen Wang knew, emerged from the crowd and said coldly, "Xie Jintong, how long will you keep stirring things up?"
"Li Yuanliu, I’m acting under orders from within the sect, striving to eliminate hidden dangers, not causing trouble."
Xie Jintong paused, his attitude still tough, yet leaving a bit of room.
"This person was recruited through normal channels as a tributor; he isn’t entirely one of us in the Hundred Refining Sect, but a special guest. Is this how you treat guests? Do you want to drive away all the tributors of the Array Refining Pavilion? Even the entire sect’s tributors?"
Li Yuanliu sneered, tossing the accusation forward.
"Don’t talk nonsense, my conflict with this person hasn’t escalated to such an extent."
Xie Jintong refused to admit.
"Ha, you can ask the tributors present; do they wish to be questioned thoroughly?"
Li Yuanliu countered, drawing the spectators into the discussion, no longer fighting alone.
"Steward Li makes a valid point; we’ve been questioned quite a bit recently, and more than ten have already left because they couldn’t tolerate it."
"We came here because it is relatively relaxed, and business is better. If the Hundred Refining Sect continues , we can’t bear it."
"Indeed, as tributors we all have some unspeakable secrets; we can’t possibly reveal our entire background."
"We are tributors, not part of your Inner Sect, so why treat us as though guarding against thieves?"
Suddenly, tributors with opinions spoke up, chattering noisily.
Xie Jintong’s face looked grim.
Previously these people had endured when subjected to this, but now they’ve stopped tolerating it.
He glared at Shen Wang viciously; it’s because of this person’s resistance that this has happened.
Otherwise, how would these people dare?
Shen Wang laughed as he listened, "Oh, you’ve stirred public anger, huh? Honestly thinking tributors are just diligent and uncomplaining, easily suppressed without rebelling. You must realize, Hundred Refinements City’s prosperity is inseparable from the many tributors."
Tributors are special collaborators, similar to employees, but with some autonomy; there are also high-status ones among tributors who naturally have a right to speak.
Unless the Hundred Refining Sect completely abandons these tributor honored guests, there will inevitably be backlash, and his arrival merely triggered it ahead of time.
Li Yuanliu said coldly, "Xie Jintong, do you think today’s matter is something you can resolve?"
Xie Jintong’s complexion alternated between green and white; such matters of public anger, he can’t solve them, so he can only say harshly, "Fine, if he encounters any problem, you’ll be responsible!"
"Are you shirking responsibility? Hundred Refinements City has so many people, are you planning to let me be responsible for them all?" Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs Nove1Fire.net
Li Yuanliu outright rejected, "I don’t have that authority, neither do you, leave now; staying longer is just wasting time, increasing embarrassment."
Xie Jintong’s face turned ashen, he glanced into the distance but saw no one stepping out; he realized the upper echelon planned to let him bear the brunt of public anger and let the matter temporarily pass.
He clenched his teeth, "Fine, today I admit defeat; Wang Sheng, you’d better not let me catch you, otherwise..."
"You should be grateful it’s here you’re causing trouble."
Shen Wang’s gaze grew cold; who couldn’t talk tough? Besides, he meant it.
If it were outside, these three would’ve been killed long ago, no chance to chatter nonsense before him, much less talk tough.
Xie Jintong wanted to say more; then a thought was transmitted, "Not embarrassed enough? Get back!"
His expression changed, not daring to speak further, he gestured to the other two and left through the crowd, tails between their legs.
Some spectators whistled and cheered.
"Well done, Grandmaster Wang!"
"Haha, finally someone stood up!"
"We tributors aren’t slaves, we shouldn’t endure everything blindly."
Of course, some within the Hundred Refining Sect’s Inner Sect felt Shen Wang went too far.
Clearly not giving face to Xie Jintong today equated to offending those with real power within the sect; hence he’d be kept in sight and surely bear the consequences.
"Wang, are you still not removing the array?"
Li Yuanliu asked with a bit of helplessness once Xie Jintong and his group had left.
"If I remove the array, you won’t deal with me, will you?" Shen Wang bantered.
"How could I? Since I stood out to speak for you, how would I oppose you?"
Li Yuanliu said bitterly, "This matter put you through grievance, not just you but all our tributor honored guests of the Artifact Refining Pavilion; they’ve endured grievances too during this period."
These words eased some troubled faces making expressions slightly better.
Someone said, "You can’t be blamed, Steward Li; some matters are hard to express."
"We are the middle to bottom-tier cultivators, being differently treated in this special time is normal."
"We can only say those from the Body Refining Pavilion are excessively overbearing!"
Li Yuanliu quickly waved to them, "I’ve heard everyone’s opinions, but go rest first."
Only then did the crowd disperse.
Shen Wang also removed the array and said to Li Yuanliu, "It’s clear quite a bit has happened during my absence."
"Indeed, follow me; I’ll explain in detail."
Li Yuanliu led the way, and Shen Wang followed into the backyard, this time unnoticed.
In a quiet room, Li Yuanliu said, "Actually, we’d like to thank you for today’s events; you were the first today to openly resist their excessive interrogation."
Shen Wang’s eyes flickered, "Why excessive? Because of the Demon Suppression Department’s threat?"
"That’s part of it; the Demon Suppression Department targeting Celestial Travel Sect certainly makes us tense too, but not to this extent, deliberately antagonizing tributors, honored guests."
Li Yuanliu sighed, shaking his head, "It’s only our Artifact Refining Pavilion; other sub-pavilions haven’t been as excessive."
Shen Wang directly affirmed it’s indeed internal factional strife, not questioning further, simply staring at Li Yuanliu, trusting he’d explain.
"This differential treatment mainly arises from a conflict between the Body Refining Pavilion and our Array Refining Pavilion; more precisely, the Array Refining Pavilion is being jointly targeted by the Artifact Refining Pavilion and Body Refining Pavilion."
Li Yuanliu sighed sadly, "With them being the strongest sects within, we have no remedies."
"I’m curious, what reason do they have to target us?"
"They suspect the missing Zheng Yunshu colluded with the Demon Suppression Department, killed the Pavilion Master of the Body Refining Pavilion along with his son and others; hence our Array Refining Pavilion might have infiltrators of the Demon Suppression Department warranting investigation."
Li Yuanliu smiled bitterly, "Being questioned is still fortunate; some within our pavilion have even lost personal freedom."
Shen Wang suddenly understood, revealing it all.
He previously executed members of the Xie Family, yet pinned it on the opportunistic Demon Suppression Department.
Zheng Yunshu’s disappearance merely fuels suspicion; reasonable grounds for doubt indeed exist.