348: Chapter 348 Even the disciples of the Taihu Clan couldn't stand the ugly faces of Mo Feng and his gang.

An exception? Of course not!

Mo Ran's status as a 'Core Disciple' was merely a title Mo Feng had privately bestowed upon him to bolster his prestige!

It had never even been reviewed by the Council of Elders!

Xu Ruyu looked at his changing expression and said calmly, "Elder Mo Feng, you aren't going to tell me that this 'Core Disciple' status is something you granted yourself, are you?"

"You—!"

Mo Feng trembled with rage, yet found himself speechless.

Xu Ruyu ignored him and turned to Li Fengxing, saying solemnly, "Hall Master Li, Mo Ran is not a Core Disciple in any true sense. I'm sure you are well aware of this in your heart."

“Furthermore, regarding today's events, the cause was his active provocation, the setting of a wager, and him striking first."

"I merely fought back in self-defense and won the wager."

"According to the rules of the Cultivation World, in a fair match, one is responsible for their own life or death."

"Mo Ran lost because his skills were inferior; what does that have to do with me?"

He paused, looking directly at Li Fengxing. "Hall Master Li, as the Hall Master of Law Enforcement, you should uphold the law impartially and without bias."

"If you were to forcibly condemn me today without distinguishing right from wrong, I'm afraid it would damage the prestige of the Law Enforcement Hall and the reputation of the Taihu Clan if word got out."

Li Fengxing fell silent.

He had to admit that Xu Ruyu's words made sense.

There was indeed an issue with Mo Ran's status.

The so-called 'Core Disciple' title was merely Mo Feng's claim; there was no evidence to back it up.

And in a fair match, being responsible for one's own life or death was a universal rule in the Cultivation World, beyond reproach.

If he were to forcibly arrest the man, he would indeed lack a leg to stand on.

Seeing him hesitate, Mo Feng said urgently, "Hall Master Li! Don't listen to his sophistry! It is a fact that Ran'er is injured like that!"

"He is an outsider; what right does he have to commit violence on our clan's territory? If he isn't severely punished today, where will our clan's dignity remain?"

Ku Mu also stepped forward and said, "Hall Master Li, that Xu Ruyu is silver-tongued; do not be deceived by him."

"Even if Ran'er isn't a Core Disciple, he is still a child of our clan!"

"Injuring a member of our clan is making an enemy of our clan!"

Hu Yong added with a beaming smile, "Hall Master Li, you must think clearly."

"If you let him go today, and other foreign clans follow suit tomorrow, bullying our clan's Disciples at will, how will our Taihu Clan maintain its footing in the Cultivation World?"

The three of them spoke one after another, their words piercing and heart-wrenching, pointing the spearhead directly at Xu Ruyu.

Li Fengxing's brow furrowed as he fell into a dilemma.

Just then, a voice suddenly came from the crowd:

"Hall Master Li, this Disciple has something to say!"

Everyone looked toward the sound and saw a young Disciple squeezing out. It was precisely the Fire Cloud Cave apprentice who had been mocked by Mo Ran on the mountain path earlier and had witnessed the entire event.

He walked up to Li Fengxing, cupped his hands, and said, "Hall Master Li, this Disciple was on the scene at the time and witnessed the whole process with my own eyes."

"Senior Brother Mo Ran... did indeed actively provoke Sect Master Xu and even set a wager, saying that if he lost, he would take a detour whenever he saw a Hehuan Sect Disciple in the future."

"Sect Master Xu originally didn't want to compete, but it was Senior Brother Mo Ran's repeated provocations that made him agree."

"During the match, it was also Senior Brother Mo Ran who struck first before Sect Master Xu fought back."

"Many people present saw this; it was by no means Sect Master Xu who initiated the violence."

As soon as these words were spoken, Mo Feng's face changed drastically. He pointed at the Disciple and roared, "You! You're talking nonsense! Have you been bribed by that Xu Ruyu?!"

The Disciple looked up and said, neither humble nor arrogant, "Every word I've said is true, and I am willing to swear upon my Dao Heart."

"If Elder Mo Feng doesn't believe me, you can ask the others present."

In the crowd, several Disciples who had also witnessed the whole thing looked at each other. Finally, a few more people stepped forward.

"This Disciple also saw it; it was indeed Senior Brother Mo Ran who provoked him first."

"This Disciple is willing to swear upon my Dao Heart that Sect Master Xu did not initiate the violence."

"Senior Brother Mo Ran also said he wanted to make Sect Master Xu look like a fool in front of everyone, which is why he proposed the match..."

As one witness after another stood up, Mo Feng's face grew uglier and uglier, finally turning ashen.

He never imagined that his carefully arranged plan would actually be ruined by his 'own people'!

Xu Ruyu looked at the Taihu Clan Disciples who had stood up to testify for him, and a surge of warmth rose in his heart.

He knew that not all of these people were acting out of a sense of justice; most simply couldn't stand Mo Feng's behavior.

But regardless, their willingness to stand up and speak the truth was a form of support for him.

Li Fengxing listened to these testimonies and remained silent for a long while.

Finally, he spoke slowly, "This Hall Master roughly understands today's events."

"Mo Ran was the first to provoke, followed by a fair match. Since his skills were inferior, his injuries are his own fault. Xu Ruyu..."

He looked at Xu Ruyu with a complex gaze. "Although your actions were justifiable, you did, after all, injure a Disciple of our clan."

"Considering you have just arrived and were unaware of our clan's rules, and that there was a cause for the incident, this Hall Master will not pursue the matter."

"But if there is a next time, there will be no leniency!"

Having said that, he turned and left with the Law Enforcement Hall Disciples.

Outside the valley entrance, Mo Feng, Ku Mu, and Hu Yong stood frozen, their expressions extremely unsightly.

They never expected that their carefully devised plan would be resolved so effortlessly.

Xu Ruyu looked at them and smiled slightly. "Elder Mo Feng, is there anything else?"

Mo Feng gritted his teeth, staring at him intently with eyes full of venomous resentment.

After a long while, he gave his sleeve a fierce flick and turned to leave.

Ku Mu and Hu Yong followed behind him dejectedly.

A low murmur of discussion broke out among the crowd.

There was surprise, reflection, schadenfreude, and even a hint of... an awe they hadn't even noticed themselves.

That youth had won once again.

Xu Ruyu stood at the valley entrance, watching those people depart, a faint smile always on his face.

But only he knew that this matter was far from over.

Mo Feng's venomous resentment would not disappear because of this one failure. On the contrary, he would retaliate even more crazily.

And he himself had to become stronger even faster to protect those around him.

He turned around, looked at Yue Ling and the Taihao Clan woman, then looked at the excited Hehuan Sect Disciples, and smiled slightly.

"Let's go, let's head back."

Behind him, the afterglow of the setting sun spilled down, stretching his shadow very, very long.

And in the distance, Mo Feng's departing figure vanished into the shadows, exuding an indescribable gloom.