Chapter 274 - 254: Gu Zhan’s Stance
Song Lingjun’s pupils narrowed slightly. He gritted his teeth and cupped his hands towards the Supreme Grandmasters, saying, "Respected elders, for now, let’s not discuss right or wrong regarding this matter. May I speak about the particulars of what happened?"
Wei Wuya, the Sect Leader of Sword King City, nodded and said, "You may."
Song Lingjun slowly said, "Some days ago, a friend of mine sought my help. After various inquiries, I found out that his family was framed for colluding with the Demon Dao. Using that as a pretext, they were massacred. The few surviving family members are being hunted across the Martial World.
Respected elders, even if they weren’t my friends, but just fellow martial artists facing such hardships, we in the Righteous Dao Martial Arts cannot sit idly by. How can we let people destroy entire families under broad daylight, committing acts of the Demon Dao?"
Wei Wuya asked in a deep voice, "What relevance does this have to today’s matter?"
Song Lingjun replied, "Because the one who massacred my friend’s family is Gu Zhan, the Squad Leader of Beidou Bang. Thinking that there might be a misunderstanding — given Beidou Bang’s position as the Righteous Dao’s leader — I personally came to visit Elder Mo, the Dragon King. Yet upon arrival, Beidou Bang surrounded and attacked me, giving me no opportunity to speak. The incidents that followed were witnessed by you all. Hundreds of my Lu Yuan Dao colleagues were killed without cause by Beidou Bang.
This is what transpired. I ask you elders to judge impartially. My Lu Yuan Dao factions actively responded to your call for alliance, initiated by Elder Mo, the Dragon King. But upon our arrival, we were humiliated like this. If no reasonable explanation is provided, won’t it dishearten the entire Righteous Dao Martial Arts?"
Wei Wuya nodded slightly, turned to Mo Jingzhou, and said, "Brother Mo, do you have anything else to say about this matter?"
Mo Jingzhou smiled, looked at Gu Zhan, and said, "Come, Gu Zhan, Sect Leader Song accuses you of framing and slaughtering an entire family. Why don’t you speak on it?"
Gu Zhan looked at Song Lingjun and said, "May I know which friend of Sect Leader Song’s did I massacre?"
Song Lingjun replied, "Liu Zuifeng of the Liu Family from Canglan Dao."
"Oh, the Liu Family? I destroyed them!" Gu Zhan muttered.
Song Lingjun raised an eyebrow, surprised at how easily Gu Zhan admitted to it. He quickly asked, "Is Squad Leader Gu admitting to framing the Liu Family and massacring them? A dignified Squad Leader of Beidou Bang commits such heartless acts akin to the Demon Dao. Shouldn’t you provide an explanation to the Righteous Martial Dao? Can I not inquire?"
Gu Zhan looked at Song Lingjun, coldly saying, "Are you qualified? Are you the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch? Does Beidou Bang need to answer to you for cleaning our house?"
Song Lingjun replied solemnly, "This concerns martial ethics. Squad Leader Gu should not distort the facts."
"Martial ethics?" Gu Zhan chuckled lightly, "I heard not long ago, Sect Leader Song recently took a new concubine. Bring her to my room tonight for inspection. I suspect Sect Leader Song of abducting women!"
Song Lingjun’s face darkened, "Gu Zhan, how dare you insult me like this?"
The Supreme Grandmasters also looked displeased. Wei Wuya quietly said, "Gu Zhan, Sect Leader Song is a respected figure in the martial arts world. How can you insult him in this manner? We’re discussing the matter of the Liu Family."
Gu Zhan turned to Wei Wuya, speaking solemnly, "Sect Leader Wei, are you trying to take sides? Are you attempting to insult Beidou Bang for Danyang Sect?"
Wei Wuya countered firmly, "When did I insult Beidou Bang?"
Gu Zhan retorted coldly, "The Liu Family is an affiliated Noble Family of Beidou Bang. When I clean house within Beidou Bang, you demand I explain to Danyang Sect. When I request to examine Sect Leader Song’s concubine, you claim I am insulting him? Sect Leader Wei, that’s not how you take sides. Sword King City might as well team up with Danyang Sect to annihilate Beidou Bang!"
Wei Wuya’s face turned sullen.
Song Lingjun solemnly insisted, "You’re equivocating. You fabricated accusations of the Liu Family colluding with the Demon Dao, leading to their massacre..."
"What are you supposed to be?" Gu Zhan shouted angrily, "Beidou Bang cleaning house is no business of Danyang Sect or your noise, Song Lingjun!"
Having spoken, Gu Zhan turned to the Supreme Grandmasters, speaking gravely, "If you truly wish to back Danyang Sect today and interfere in Beidou Bang’s internal affairs, then let’s fight. Either you eliminate Beidou Bang, eradicating us entirely, or you don’t meddle in Beidou Bang’s internal matters. As long as Beidou Bang exists, we never allow outsiders to intervene. If you insist on interfering in Beidou Bang’s affair, it will be to the death; I, Gu Zhan, will not retreat!"
"Clang!" "Clang! Clang!"
At that moment, hundreds of Death God Battalion members drew their blades simultaneously.
The expressions of the Supreme Grandmasters around turned grave.
Wei Wuya hurriedly tried to appease, "Squad Leader Gu jested. Given it’s an internal matter of Beidou Bang, indeed, Danyang Sect shouldn’t interfere. However, we are here today to mediate this fight. The current situation is extraordinary. I ask that everyone prioritize the larger picture to avoid internal conflict. Let’s not allow the Demon Dao to take advantage; it benefits no one!"
Gu Zhan said coldly, "It’s not Beidou Bang stirring trouble. Beidou Bang certainly cares for the greater picture. But if some no-name thinks they can stir up trouble at Beidou Bang just because of the larger picture, I don’t mind chopping off their head!"
Song Lingjun could no longer suppress his rage, gripping his sword hilt tightly.
At that moment, Wei Wuya suddenly placed a gentle hand on Song Lingjun’s shoulder and whispered, "Sect Leader Song, the matter has happened. Mo Jingzhou has clearly sided with Gu Zhan. For the sake of the bigger picture, let’s leave it for now. Continuing to fight benefits nobody!"
Song Lingjun tightly clenched his fists, saying gravely, "Very well, very well. Beidou Bang, with its vast influence, bullies others. My Danyang Sect, being small, cannot provoke. The battle with the Demon Dao is imminent. My Danyang Sect prioritizes the larger picture. We shall depart!"
With that, Song Lingjun beckoned his men to leave.
However, Gu Zhan suddenly sneered, saying, "Sect Leader Song, harboring my Beidou Bang traitor is unacceptable. You can leave but must surrender the traitor before doing so!"