Jin Qiao's mind was not as sharp as Wang Han's, so despite Wang Han saying so much, Jin Qiao could only agree, yet still bore a bewildered expression.
Wang Han's actions at Xiao Yue's place spread like a gust of wind, and soon Tang Rao knew every detail, including the complete conversation between Wang Han and Xiao Yue.
Unfortunately, those who liked Wang Han in the Kao Shan Sect were not as many as those who liked Xiao Yue. Rumors, embellished with exaggerations, were full of protection for Xiao Yue and slander against her.
"Leader, you have to stand up for the Vice Sect Leader. The Vice Sect Leader was bullied so badly by the Mada that if she doesn't think straight and sothing happens to her, our Kao Shan Sect would lose a useful talent!"
Tang Rao was at the desk handling affairs when Cha Xiangzi had already notified him about the trouble caused by the Mada. He hadn't yet digested the magnitude of the problem when people gathered outside, demanding Tang Rao to render justice.
"What justice should be done for the Vice Sect Leader?"
Tang Rao was adept at playing ignorant. He placed his things on the desk and looked around, puzzled, noticing the hatred-filled stares directed at him, which was quite bewildering.
"The Vice Sect Leader is still recovering, and I didn't expect the Mada from the Wang Family to visit the Vice Sect Leader, stressing her to the point of aggravating her condition. I'm afraid... she might not have long to live!"
Xiao Yue doesn't have long to live?
Who made such a diagnosis?
Tang Rao's gaze fixed on the speaker. From his every move, it was evident he had done his howork before coming, knowing how to speak and negotiate with Tang Rao.
"Not long to live? Just because she got upset? If her life can't withstand that, it wouldn't be of much use on the battlefield. In that sense, my Mada has done a good deed."
Fortunately, Xiao Yue wasn't present; otherwise, upon hearing Tang Rao's words, she might have died from anger right there.
"Leader, but the Vice Sect Leader didn't do anything wrong. The Mada has been causing trouble for our Kao Shan Sect over and over. This ti it's soone else; next ti it might be us. The wheel of fortune turns, and one day the Mada will cause us trouble. By that ti..."
The man who started speaking initiated anger in everyone present. Initially, they were just organized to be there with no other intent, but upon hearing his words and understanding the impending crisis brought on by Wang Han, they began to panic, quickly forming cliques and building alliances, all to leave a bad impression of Wang Han on Tang Rao. Then when they encounter trouble from Wang Han, they would imdiately turn to Tang Rao for an explanation.
"Leader, you must stand up for us. If the Mada can trouble the Vice Sect Leader today, she could trouble us tomorrow. The Vice Sect Leader is so strong but was still injured this badly. When it's our turn, we wouldn't even know how we died."
Isn't this act over the top?
Tang Rao believed Wang Han was soone who would look for trouble, but he didn't believe Wang Han had so much ti to spare to look for trouble, especially not targeting Xiao Yue specifically, as though Xiao Yue was easy to bully.
"This is a dostic matter. It's too early to say who's right and wrong and to whom I should reason. Instead of wasting ti, you might as well help identify the remaining Seven Great Vajra. Soone wants to kill your Leader, and you don't care; soone wants to kill your Vice Sect Leader, and you're eager to find and dismber the other party. Does this an the Leader is now even less important than the Vice Sect Leader?"
Tang Rao let out a frustrated humph. What he aid to do was to ring an alarm bell for those present, letting them know to whose hands the Kao Shan Sect and Zijing City belonged, and under whom they were fighting.
Those who could stand before Tang Rao held significant status, none of them fools. Especially when Tang Rao cast a glance, they all bowed their heads, pretending to reflect on whether their previous words carried any errors.
"Leader, I don't dare."
"In the Kao Shan Sect, we must obey everything the Leader says."
"Leader, we were just impulsive earlier and didn't think it through. After your guidance, we understand it fully now, and we won't bring this matter up again."
Those kneeling below were lined up neatly. Yet, amidst the pleasing formation, there always seed to be so rotten apples whose words were unpalatable, causing distress just by looking at them.
Sotis he also wanted to ask himself about the standards for entrance into the Kao Shan Sect, who assessed these individuals, and whose hand the selection task fell into this ti, given the appalling quality of the people selected.
"Yue Er, compared to Wang Han, whom should I trust?"
Tang Rao couldn't make up his mind and, having no one else to consult, reluctantly decided to seek Yue Er's opinion first.
"It depends on whether you want to hear comforting words that can accommodate the larger picture, or the truth."
Right from the start of the conversation, Yue Er had been listening quietly, thinking quickly. She hadn't considered Tang Rao would suddenly ask her, a maid, for her thoughts.
Upon hearing there were two answers, Tang Rao beca intrigued. "Alright, since you already have thoughts, share both of them. There are many people here, and since I've nad you to speak, it saves anyone from gossiping behind our backs, saying we're colluding."
The people below felt wronged. Out of everything they could do, why would they gossip? Even if they did gossip, gossiping about Tang Rao was just asking for trouble, wasn't it?
Despite keeping their complaints to themselves, they didn't recognize the maid beside Tang Rao and were curious to see if a woman serving by Tang Rao had any real skills.
"Actually, this is simply a spat between two won wrapped up in so big-picture talk. We're all outsiders here. Since it's a woman's spat, Yue Er thinks won's hearts are petty, but not beyond adjustnt. The Mada and the Vice Sect Leader haven't known each other long. It's normal for them to not understand one another. If given more opportunities to understand each other, who knows, they might soon shake hands and make up."
This was a big-picture comnt, subtly expressed by Yue Er, and at the end of it, whether she spoke or not made little difference.
"And the truth?"
This was the main event and the part Tang Rao most wanted to hear.
Yue Er then approached gracefully, bowing to the elders kneeling on the ground. "I don't fear offending anyone. Since my master asked Yue Er to share her humble thoughts, Yue Er personally thinks it's strange that the Mada seeks out no one but the Vice Sect Leader. Have you never thought there might be sothing odd about that?"
They didn't find it odd, but they certainly heard many rumors.
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