After Fēng Lún left, Jiāng Yún let out a sigh of relief. While Fēng Lún might have a bad temper, he wasn't the type to hold grudges to the extreme. Otherwise, Jiāng Yún would have found himself in an awkward position in Tiān Jiàn Zōng, having offended both Luó Qí and Fēng Lún.
In the evening, as Jiāng Yún was practicing in his room, another person arrived – an inner disciple of Tiān Jiàn Zōng. This senior disciple knew Jiāng Yún's personality well and explained the purpose without even entering the room.
"Junior Brother Jiāng, the Sect Master wants you in the conference hall."
Jiāng Yún was puzzled. As an outer disciple, what qualifications did he have to participate in the sect's discussions?
"Junior Brother Jiāng, you'd better be prepared. The incident where you injured a disciple from the Yàn Yuè Sect has come to light. The reason you're called to the conference hall is likely because members of the Yàn Yuè Sect want to meet you. They probably want to question you about the matter."
This inner disciple, Liú Yì, was quite considerate. He noticed Jiāng Yún's confusion and kindly provided a heads-up.
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother," Jiāng Yún nodded and thanked Liú Yì, then asked, "By the way, how should I address you?"
"Liú Yì."
"Alright, thanks again for your warning, Senior Brother Liú. I'll keep that in mind."
As they chatted on the way, they soon arrived at the conference hall. Liú Yì cautioned Jiāng Yún once more, "Be careful. I've heard that Elder Hǎi from the Yàn Yuè Sect has a fiery temper. You'd better not clash with him."
After thanking Liú Yì once more, Jiāng Yún entered the conference hall. The previously noisy hall fell silent for a moment. The Sect Master of Tiān Jiàn Zōng was seated at the head, with several other elders by his side. On the right side sat three elders from the Yàn Yuè Sect, and Chén Sī stood behind them.
As Jiāng Yún walked in, the elder with sideburns on his face, Elder Yán Yù Mén, let out a disdainful snort upon seeing him.
"Elder Hú, while Tiān Jiàn Zōng and Yàn Yuè Sect are both esteemed righteous sects, we have maintained amicable relations for over a hundred years. It is unlikely that we would let minor conflicts among our disciples disrupt that. If it's true that a disciple of Tiān Jiàn Zōng was at fault, I, Hu Qīng, will not protect them. However, we can't simply believe the words of Yàn Yuè Sect without any evidence. What are your thoughts?"
Hu Qīng, the Sect Master of Tiān Jiàn Zōng, had a peaceful demeanor. Even in the face of the overbearing Sea Yù Lóng, there was no trace of annoyance on his face. He calmly said, "Jiāng Yún, Elder Hái's words have been heard by everyone. He claims you harmed Chén Sī without provocation. Is this true?"
Jiāng Yún's gaze swept across the room, and Fēng Lún kept signaling him discreetly. Jiāng Yún understood the situation well. If the Sect Master had truly intended to hold him accountable, he would have done so from the start. Jiāng Yún knew that Hu Qīng wasn't genuinely pursuing the matter, but rather, he was caught in a difficult position due to Sea Yù Lóng's aggression, and he needed Jiāng Yún to provide a reasonable explanation.
"Master, you have discerning judgment. It is indeed true that I had a confrontation with Chén Sī. However, the claim that I harmed him without cause is a slander. The circumstances were such that Chén Sī brought disgrace upon the sect. I could not tolerate it and challenged him to demonstrate that the disciples of Tiān Jiàn Zōng are all outstanding. There was no intention to harm him unjustly."
Jiāng Yún used this opportunity to indirectly criticize Chén Sī for disgracing the sect, presenting himself as someone defending the sect's honor. He reasoned that he had only acted against Chén Sī due to his provocation, thereby giving an explanation that not only provided a defense but also shifted some of the blame onto Chén Sī.
Upon hearing this, Sea Yù Lóng slammed the table and stood up, pointing his finger at Jiāng Yún, exclaiming, "Nonsense! Chén Sī has always been refined and respectful within our sect. How could he say such things?"
Jiāng Yún showed no sign of deference to Sea Yù Lóng and retorted, "Is it nonsense? Why don't you ask him yourself? There were more than forty of our outer disciples present at the time. They can all testify. Did he not claim that our Tiān Jiàn Zōng is devoid of talent?"
Jiāng Yún, playing the part of the aggrieved party, forced Chén Sī to join the debate. Chén Sī couldn't stand by any longer and stepped forward from behind Sea Yù Lóng, saying, "So you're saying we're all trash in the Yàn Yuè Sect?"
Chén Sī immediately regretted his words. By admitting this, he practically acknowledged that he had indeed said those words. This effectively shifted the blame back to him, as Jiāng Yún's actions seemed to be in defense of the sect.
Hearing Chén Sī's words, Jiāng Yún smiled, then bowed respectfully to Hu Qīng, saying, "Master, regarding the incident of injuring disciples from the Yàn Yuè Sect, I must admit that I mishandled it. At that time, due to Chén Sī's insinuation that he looked down on our sect, I was provoked into taking more severe action. I also said some words that were detrimental to the friendship between the two sects. I admit my mistake and accept any punishment."
With this statement, Jiāng Yún paused for a moment before continuing, "However, regarding injuring without cause, I do not feel that I am at fault. Nevertheless, I respect the Master's decision. If any punishment is warranted, I will accept it."
Jiāng Yún's words impressed Hu Qīng even more. On the surface, Jiāng Yún appeared to be admitting fault and accepting punishment willingly. However, he subtly portrayed himself as acting in defense of the sect's honor due to Chén Sī's provocation. This portrayal was grounded in truth, as Chén Sī had indeed disrespected the sect first.
If Hu Qīng were to punish Jiāng Yún now, it would cast the Yàn Yuè Sect in a bad light, making them appear petty and bullying a junior disciple. If news of this incident spread outside, it could damage the reputation of the Yàn Yuè Sect. To avoid this outcome, Hu Qīng needed to strike a balance in the punishment.
"Jiāng Yún, although you were acting in defense of the sect, injuring multiple disciples of the Yàn Yuè Sect still constitutes wrongdoing. I will have you clean the Scripture Repository for three months as your punishment. Do you accept?"
Hu Qīng's tone was stern. Cleaning the Scripture Repository might seem like a punishment, but in reality, it was a significant reward. Tiān Jiàn Zōng's Scripture Repository was a highly valued location, and even inner disciples needed authorization to access it.
Jiāng Yún understood Hu Qīng's intent. He knew that this punishment was not just punitive but also a recognition of his clever handling of the situation. He also recognized the hidden generosity in this seemingly harsh penalty. He couldn't possibly refuse.
"I accept the punishment," Jiāng Yún replied.
The members of the Yàn Yuè Sect watched the exchange between Jiāng Yún and Hu Qīng, although they were frustrated, they couldn't interject. Hu Qīng was the Sect Master of Tiān Jiàn Zōng, and it wasn't appropriate for them to interfere in his disciplinary decisions.
"Very well, you may leave now," Hu Qīng waved his hand, signaling Jiāng Yún to exit. The upcoming discussions would involve Tiān Jiàn Zōng seeking benefits from the Yàn Yuè Sect. If Hu Qīng were to spread the incident further, it would reflect negatively on the Yàn Yuè Sect. Jiāng Yún's presence might further aggravate the situation, and his rivals, especially Sea Yù Lóng, might hold a grudge against him.
Jiāng Yún understood the situation well. He was not yet at the level where he could participate in the affairs between the two sects. He respectfully followed Hu Qīng's orders and left the hall.