Chapter 612 - Confrontation

Hearing what Xu Zimo said, Zhang Qian’s face turned red and pale with anger, but he couldn’t say a word.

Elder Green River frowned slightly and looked over at the Long brothers.

He suddenly slammed the table, his aura erupting as he pressured the two of them and sternly said, “You two still won’t confess? Speak up now, how did you attack him?”

“Elder, we’ve been wronged!” the Long brothers quickly knelt down and cried out.

“This Zhang Qian came to our young master’s courtyard acting arrogant, claiming Senior Brother Shen Lang will be taking away our young master’s maid. But our young master was generous. He didn’t argue, and even treated him with food and drink. When Zhang Qian left, we even sent him off from Grand Heaven Mountain. A friend from afar is always welcome. Please don’t wrong us like this.”

Hearing their words, Shen Lang’s face flushed with anger.

“Is this true?” Lin Beisheng narrowed his eyes and looked at the gold-robed elder. “Green River, do you really think Grand Heaven Mountain is so easy to push around?”

Green River frowned slightly and looked at Shen Lang. Clearly, Shen Lang had not told him about this.

“Mountain Lord Lin, please be fair. Qing’er and I are in love, it was mutual and not forced at all,” Shen Lang quickly explained.

“Whether it was mutual or not, she was still my Qiu’er’s maid. This isn’t something Jade Heaven Mountain should interfere with,” Lin Beisheng said.

Elder Green River fell into thought for a moment before saying, “Mountain Lord Lin, as for Zhang Qian’s case, while his testimony might not be completely reliable, we can’t fully trust Young Master Lin’s words either. How about this, your side drops the issue about the maid, and we’ll drop the matter with Zhang Qian. How’s that?”

After hearing that, Lin Beisheng turned to Xu Zimo and said, “It’s up to you, Qiu’er.”

Before Xu Zimo could reply, Shen Lang stepped forward and calmly said, “If Junior Brother Lin doesn’t want to settle things peacefully, then since this involves us both, why don’t we settle it ourselves?”

“How?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I, Shen Lang, challenge you to a duel. Winner takes all, even life or death,” Shen Lang said seriously, his blade aura fierce.

“You’ve got some nerve! You’ve already opened five meridian gates and stepped into the World Paragon Realm. You know our Senior Brother Lin can’t cultivate, yet you make this challenge? If you’re going to throw away your face, then toss it on the ground and let every Grand Heaven Mountain disciple stomp on it every day.”

Before Xu Zimo could speak, Jiang Changsheng had already shouted.

“You claim to be a top disciple of Jade Heaven Mountain. I thought you’d speak with wisdom among the senior ranks of both peaks. Yet I’ve never seen someone so shameless.”

Shen Lang’s eyes turned blood-red, and he roared, “You’re looking to die!”

“Angry now? Why, because I exposed what you were really thinking?” Jiang Changsheng shook his head slightly.

“Forget it. Kill me if you want. At least I, the handsome Changsheng, die with dignity after exposing your ugly face.”

“Enough! This is the main hall for discussions. We’re here to solve problems, not to argue,”

Elder Green River glared at everyone, then looked at Xu Zimo and said, “Young Master Lin, the choice is yours. If you want peace, everything ends here. If you insist on pushing for a fight between our peaks, we’ll go all the way.”

Xu Zimo looked at Lin Beisheng, then shook his head and said, “Let’s go with whatever Father says.”

“Let’s end it here,” Lin Beisheng said after a pause, sounding a bit weary.

“In that case, we’ll take our leave,” Elder Green River said coldly and left immediately.

He was clearly not in a good mood. He had come to accuse someone, but nearly ended up on the losing side.

Watching them leave, Lin Beisheng waved his hand and said, “Everyone else can go. Qiu’er, stay.”

Once everyone had left, Lin Beisheng looked at Xu Zimo and asked, “Qiu’er, do you blame your father for not standing up for you?”

“You must have your reasons,” Xu Zimo smiled.

“Several thousand years ago, this place was called the Nine Heavens Empyrean Sect, not just an Imperial Sect. Back then, the nine peaks helped and supported each other. Together, they grew strong and intimidated the entire Northern Region.”

Lin Beisheng spoke with some emotion.

“Later, the sect was split. The main sect left, and the branch sects like us were left with only internal strife. Everyone wanted to unite the nine peaks and become the true ruler of the Nine Heavens Imperial Sect. But after tens of thousands of years of fighting, the peaks still rule separately.”

“I know all that,” Xu Zimo nodded.

“Over those long years, our Grand Heaven Mountain has slowly declined. Whether in terms of powerful cultivators or outstanding talents, we’ve fallen behind,” Lin Beisheng sighed.

“Especially a hundred years ago, someone from Jade Heaven Mountain made a big impact in the main sect. That boosted their strength significantly. Now they’re close to dominating alone. That’s also why I’d rather keep the peace than start real conflict.”

After saying this, Lin Beisheng looked seriously at Xu Zimo and said, “Qiu’er, weakness is a sin. The weak have no freedom, no dignity, and no voice. They can’t even control their own lives or deaths.”

“I understand,” Xu Zimo nodded with a smile.

“I’m telling you all this so that you’ll seriously train with the Strange Meridian Manual. Even if I’m gone one day, you’ll still be able to survive,” Lin Beisheng said with a smile.

“I understand,” Xu Zimo nodded and said, “Father, I’d like to discuss something with you.”

“Go ahead,” Lin Beisheng replied.

“I want to leave the sect for a bit and visit the city at the foot of the mountain,” Xu Zimo said.

“No. Did you forget about the recent assassination attempt? The assassin still hasn’t been found,” Lin Beisheng immediately rejected the idea, his face changing.

“If we never find them, does that mean I can never go out again?” Xu Zimo asked.

Lin Beisheng thought for a moment, then said, “Wait a few more days. When Feng’er goes down the mountain, you can go with him.”

“That works too,” Xu Zimo nodded.

Lin Feng was his nominal older brother and also the Imperial Son of Grand Heaven Mountain.

Each of the nine peaks had one Imperial Son.

They were considered the elite of each peak, and were either future Mountain Lords or sent to the main sect.

Unlike Lin Qiu’s former self, Lin Feng had been extremely gifted since childhood and was one of the top talents of his generation.

Especially with Lin Beisheng secretly grooming him, Lin Feng had become the leader of Grand Heaven Mountain’s younger generation.

But based on past memories, Xu Zimo and Lin Feng had a very distant relationship.

They basically had no interaction.