We Need to Keep Low-Profile! . . .
"Feng Zhiling, cease this affront!" another Sunlight Sect member vehemently reproached, their eyes filled with intensity. "Walking in borrowed plumage, who do you presume yourself to be?"
Cha Eun Xiao's lips twitched, and he responded with an air of indifference, "I hold no significant stature. However, I have never employed my influence to exploit others, nor have I contemplated seizing advantages through such ignoble means."
The Sunlight Sect member retorted with anger, "What advantages have we reaped today? It is you who are twisting the knife in our wounds. How can you lay claim to nobility?"
Cha Eun Xiao chuckled lightly. "Noble? So now, the Sunlight Sect aspires to nobility? When you sought to oppress Ling-Bao Hall earlier, did you do so in a noble fashion? Frankly, I found nothing noble about it. Perhaps now, as you find yourself incapable of contending with the House of the Chaotic Storm, you intend to adopt nobility and expect others to follow suit?"
With a cold, unwavering tone, he continued, "Does the Sunlight Sect truly comprehend the essence of nobility?"
His words struck a chord with the audience.
In recent years, the House of the Chaotic Storm had remained shrouded in silence, concealing itself in obscurity. During this period, the Sunlight Sect and the Starlight Sect had wielded unparalleled authority. Disobedience to them spelled doom, while obedience paved the path to prominence.
But what, precisely, constituted nobility?
The catchphrase often parroted by the Sunlight Sect was, "Absolute power begets absolute rule."
Yet now, the Sunlight Sect was confronting the same dilemma they had imposed on others.
They had sought to don the cloak of nobility, only to have it forcefully stripped away.
The irony did not go unnoticed.
Amid the Sunlight Sect members' furious glares, Cha Eun Xiao uttered, "Absolute power begets absolute rule," repeating the Sunlight Sect's very motto.
The men from the Sunlight Sect seethed with rage, their anger akin to an impending internal rupture.
In response, the elderly man spat out blood once more, his complexion turning as pallid as golden parchment. With a resolute shout, he commanded, "Let us depart!"
Remaining here was no longer an option.
For the Sunlight Sect, Ling-Bao Hall had transformed into an ominous and foreboding place.
The three Sunlight Sect representatives rose from their seats, their intention clear—to make a swift exit from this disheartening locale.
However, at that very moment, a voice resonated from Sky No. 1 Room, a voice that belonged to none other than Master Bai. "Oh dear, I seem to have been quite careless. I appear to have dropped the dan bead. Could someone kindly help me locate it? Do you think you could find it?"
Wan of the Clouds, with a touch of feigned distress, responded, "Oh my, I can't seem to find it anywhere. Where could it have disappeared to?"
Master Bai's voice grew laden with sorrow as he continued, "What shall we do now? It's worth five billion taels. Must we compensate the Sunlight Sect with such an exorbitant sum? Such an immense amount of money, how could we possibly afford it?"
In their hearts, the onlookers scoffed, dismissing the excuse as flimsy at best. They refused to accept the notion that a dan bead could vanish within such confined quarters. The explanation seemed nothing more than a feeble pretext.
Yet, despite their skepticism, none dared to voice their doubts aloud. Secretly, they reveled in the situation, hoping that Master Bai would exact retribution on the Sunlight Sect.
Their unspoken wish appeared to have been heard by Wan of the Clouds, who suggested, "Master, let's not dwell on it. It's merely a modest dan bead. The members of the Sunlight Sect wouldn't even recognize one if they saw it. We could fashion a counterfeit using mud and have them swallow it. This way, there'd be no evidence of any wrongdoing on our part."
Master Bai hesitated momentarily. "That... It doesn't seem quite right."
Wan of the Clouds persisted, her tone firm. "They've marred your peaceful respite, Master. You finally had the opportunity to take a break, only for them to disrupt it. If you were not so magnanimous, they would all meet their end swiftly. With a single word from you, the Sunlight Sect could be obliterated, as easily as blowing a breath. They would have no chance of survival. After all, you lost their dan bead. It should be a mercy to allow them to continue living."
Master Bai responded, his tone tinged with reluctance, "You're quite the audacious one, Wan-Er. I object to the idea because it would soil my hands. Wan-Er, you're suggesting I create a mud bead... I cannot bear to get my hands dirty."
The spectators in the room felt as though they might burst from frustration.
"You find it hard to bear that?" Cha Eun Xiao mused. "Imagine what the Sunlight Sect would have to endure."
Wan of the Clouds, a figure who had left an indelible mark on the entire Land of Han-Yang for millennia, had put forth an idea that seemed entirely incongruent with her esteemed reputation. It tarnished the grand image that people had held of her for so long.
She clarified, "Master, you need not worry. There will be no trace of mud on your person. I simply meant gathering some mud from the ground to create the bead myself. Rest assured, the Sunlight Sect's members might not even be able to discern the difference between a mud bead and a dan bead... It's the perfect solution for them."
The onlookers collectively rolled their eyes at the exchange. They couldn't fathom how Wan-Er and her master could perceive the Sunlight Sect as incapable of distinguishing between a mud bead and a dan bead. After all, the Sunlight Sect was a venerable institution with a thousand years of history.
Master Bai concurred, "That seems reasonable. However, we should maintain a low profile. We can't afford to be too conspicuous, as it might reveal my true identity. You should handle the matter personally..."
"Of course, Master," Wan of the Clouds replied with a suppressed laugh.
Within the room, everyone was rendered speechless by the conversation. The duo had caused a massive uproar and deeply humiliated the Sunlight Sect, yet they now spoke of "keeping a low profile" as if they could deceive anyone with such a claim.
As the three Sunlight Sect representatives approached the door, they overheard the conversation from Sky No. 1 Room. Their faces contorted with fury, and they nearly lost consciousness from the indignation.
The elderly man turned back, his lips trembling, and he fixed a fierce glare on Sky No. 1 Room, as if he wanted to voice his grievances. However, the other two quickly covered his mouth and forcibly escorted him out.
What words could he utter at this point? One more word, and he might meet his demise instantly. It wasn't just about their lives; it was also about the future of the entire Sunlight Sect.
Inside Sky No. 1 Room, Master Bai remarked, "That old man turned around. He appeared quite enraged... Wan-Er, what are your thoughts?"
Wan of the Clouds suggested, "How about... I catch up with them and inquire? I'll ask if he feels content with the situation."
Master Bai dismissed the idea, saying, "Let it be. We are people of virtue. We need not engage with such an ignorant individual. Let them go. If the Sunlight Sect is truly upset with me, perhaps their lives will become more eventful."
A faint smile played across Wan of the Clouds' lips as she covered her mouth with her hand. "Indeed, if they dare to cross us, their lives will certainly become more colorful..."
Master Bai chuckled heartily.