194: Chapter 194 This person spoke rudely; I merely gave him a minor punishment.

As soon as the other party finished speaking, Su Cheng took a half-step forward.

The powerful Divine Sense of a Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator suddenly pressed down on that Disciple. The Disciple had no time to react and knelt directly onto the bluestone floor, completely unable to resist.

He was stunned, and the Disciple next to him was also dazed. This was Xuanguang Peak; how did Su Cheng dare?

"Disregard for Elders, Insubordination." Su Cheng looked down at him, no longer bothering with pleasantries. "A Qi Refining Disciple dares to speak to a Personal Disciple Senior Brother like this? Is this how your Xuanguang Peak teaches its members?"

He usually avoided trouble, but if every random nobody felt they could climb over his head and bark, then the natural order would be inverted.

Since the other party was foolishly overstepping the rules, he naturally wouldn't indulge them in the slightest.

The Disciples passing by on the square had already begun to notice the commotion here.

First, three or five people gathered around. Someone recognized the standard robes of a Qingmu Peak Personal Disciple on Su Cheng.

This thunderous display of force actually left the surrounding Xuanguang Peak Disciples, who originally wanted to watch the spectacle, at a loss for what to do.

Rationally, no one dared to provoke a Personal Disciple Senior Brother at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

However, they were standing on the floor tiles of Xuanguang Peak after all. Seeing their own fellow Disciple being oppressed in public, their protective instincts eventually won out.

Then, the crowd began to grow. Soon, over a dozen people emboldened each other and closed in, their Faces filled with indignation as they pointed and whispered.

Su Cheng's gaze swept across the growing wall of people, his brow twitching as he felt a mounting headache.

He had come today to quell the rumors, but now things had taken a turn for the worse, and he had escalated the conflict instead.

"This person was disrespectful and showed no regard for his elders; I merely meted out a small punishment." He didn't bother beating around the bush and directly declared his intent. "I am Su Cheng of Qingmu Peak. I didn't come here today to cause trouble; I only wish to see Senior Brother Shen Qing."

But this explanation, when heard by the crowd, actually caused the Disciples who had only dared to whisper to start speaking up loudly.

"He's Su Cheng?"

"It's him, the one who said our Senior Brother can't compare to him."

"To come to our Xuanguang Peak and start a fight, and then dare to say such things..."

Recognizing the person before them as the "madman" from the rumors who belittled Xuanguang Peak, the surrounding whispers quickly fermented into loud condemnations.

However, the hierarchy within the Sect was strict. These Qi Refining Disciples lacked the cultivation and status; no matter how much they wanted to stand up for their fellow Disciple, they didn't dare to truly step forward and confront him directly.

"I think you all have misunderstood," Su Cheng said, his voice just loud enough for the surrounding people to hear clearly. "I have never said anything to belittle Senior Brother Shen or Xuanguang Peak. Whether this matter reflects Senior Brother Shen's intentions, please just let me ask him Face-to-Face."

"You still want to ask him Face-to-Face?" A Qi Refining Ninth Layer Disciple finally couldn't help but squeeze out from the crowd, saying with forced composure: "That day you refused Senior Brother Shen's invitation to duel, and after you went back, you told everyone that Senior Brother Shen wasn't worthy of competing with you. Who in the Sect doesn't know about this?

Now you've come to our Xuanguang Peak—do you feel that bullying people isn't enough, and you want to humiliate him once more to his Face?"

Su Cheng was fuming after hearing that. Only a day had passed, and it had already been twisted like this?

He hadn't done anything after going back, so how did it become 'telling everyone'? It was a good thing he came early this morning; otherwise, who knows what it would have turned into in a few more days!

Su Cheng didn't take the bait. Arguing with a group of Qi Refinement Stage Disciples about who said what would yield no results even if they argued until dark.

"I never said those words," Su Cheng repeated. "Whether it's true or not, Senior Brother Shen can clear it up with a single sentence. Please help me pass a message; that's not too much to ask, is it?"

The tall Disciple wanted to speak again, but someone behind him pulled him back. Saying a word or two was for the sake of Xuanguang Peak's Face, but continuing further would be seeking death.

By now, someone in the crowd had already slipped away toward the upper mountain. This matter had to be handled by Senior Brother Shen personally; otherwise, if things really escalated, it would be hard to settle.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea passed.

Shen Qing's figure appeared on the stone steps halfway up the mountain. He was wearing a plain-colored practice robe, and his hair was loosely tied; it seemed he had indeed been called away from his Cultivation.

However, it wasn't a secluded meditation, just normal practice.

Shen Qing's gaze swept over the circle of Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters on the square, then saw Su Cheng standing in the middle of the crowd. He uttered three words: "All of you, disperse."

No one moved. The Disciples were very angry and wanted their Senior Brother Shen Qing to stand up for them.

"Disperse," Shen Qing said again, his tone growing a bit heavier.

Seeing that Shen Qing was about to get angry, the onlookers finally retreated a few steps reluctantly. However, they didn't truly leave, standing about a dozen yards away to watch.

Shen Qing walked up to Su Cheng. The Disciple who had just sent him the message had already given him a brief overview. He spoke with a rather helpless expression: "Junior Brother Su, I merely mentioned our matter in passing to my fellow Disciples; I didn't expect it to be spread like this. The cause lies with me; I've caused you trouble, Junior Brother."

Su Cheng cupped his hands: "Senior Brother Shen, you're being too kind. No one can stop a message from being distorted; I don't blame you, Senior Brother. I came today because I wanted to make things clear in front of everyone. From start to finish, I never said anything about looking down on you or Xuanguang Peak. No matter how it's being spread outside, those words did not come from my mouth."

Shen Qing nodded and turned to look at the surrounding Junior Brothers who were all ears.

"Did you all hear that? Junior Brother Su never said those things; people outside distorted it. From now on, if anyone gossips about this again, don't blame me for enforcing the peak's regulations."

A commotion broke out on the square. Some looked embarrassed, while others looked unconvinced.

The Disciple who had been forced to kneel by Su Cheng's Divine Sense was especially regretful. He had tried to stand out only to be proven wrong; suffering this humiliation for nothing was truly a raw deal.

However, he didn't dare to resent Su Cheng. This happened because he hadn't understood the situation clearly; he just made a mental note never to stick his neck out again.

The tall Disciple emerged from the crowd again: "Senior Brother, even if he didn't say those words, regarding the assistant quota last time, he clearly had the ability to compete for it, yet he chose not to.

He made people from other peaks think that you only got the quota by taking advantage of someone else. What's the difference between that and a direct insult?"

Shen Qing frowned.

Su Cheng, standing nearby, almost laughed out loud.

Well, he knew this matter wouldn't be settled so easily.

Their resentment wasn't about whether he "said those things" at all, but rather about the "act of not competing itself."

Not competing equals charity, and charity equals insult. Although this logic was twisted, it was self-consistent in the minds of a group of hot-blooded young Disciples.

Shen Qing turned to look at Su Cheng, his eyes filled with a sense of being caught between laughter and tears.

Su Cheng sighed inwardly and looked at Shen Qing helplessly. If this wasn't cleared up, other versions would surely continue to spread later on.

During those few short breaths as they looked at each other, Su Cheng could see Shen Qing's mind working, perhaps thinking of how to end this.

Then, Shen Qing suddenly smiled.

"Junior Brother Su," Shen Qing's tone suddenly lightened quite a bit. "The duel I mentioned last time—you said 'some other day.' Does right now count as 'some other day'?"

Su Cheng was stunned. Well, would you look at that.