While elder Ji was at it, he decided to drag elder Hong into it because elder Hong was the most significant proof that Han Cai was from his faction.
Sect master was going to thank the Zhou faction for giving him such a talented disciple. But now, not only the sect master but everyone else also frowned.
Elder Zhou had a vein popped up on his forehead. What's this old bastard doing? He had already given him Outer sect hall responsibility, so he still couldn't let this go. Elder Zhou couldn't let elder Ji ruin his plans so close to fruition.
He spoke up, "Sect Master, I must object to Elder Ji's claims. I did not act inappropriately and I find it offensive that I am being accused of being disrespectful. Han Cai was temporarily placed in the Ji faction's quarters due to the lack of heat in the Zhou faction's quarters during winter. I could not be careless with the health of an outer sect disciple, but when I sent Han Cai to the Ji faction, he was placed in a cold room instead of being given proper warmth. The Ji faction also took possession of 60 spirit stones that Han Cai's father had saved his whole life to acquire, leaving Han Cai with no choice but to earn them back through missions. This is why I decided not to allow any of my Zhou faction's disciples to stay in the Ji faction's quarters."
Hearing these two elders, Han Cai was flabbergasted. He did not leave his quarters in the last six months. He was not aware of the legendary brawl that happened in front of the outer sect hall. Finally, he understood why elder Zhou treated him so well. The faction from which disciples join the inner sect must receive some kind of support. Because of this, they both were passionately trying to tell the sect master that Han Cai is their faction's disciple. Han Cai decided not to speak up and watch how things panned out. Who was Han Cai? A man-boy who was very shallow. He liked being appreciated, and this scene where two elders squabbled over him made him feel very good. Besides that, he had to maintain his cold, aloof persona.
But the Sect master had a serious expression. It was one thing to bicker with each other. They were bickering in front of the whole sect, and One of them stole 60 spirit stones from one of the most talented disciples of the sect, who was now his personal disciple. Those Spirit stones were his father's life-saving? What would this new talented disciple think of the sect that steals spirit stones from him? If the sect wronged Han Cai, this would reflect poorly on the sect, as well as the Sect Master himself, who was responsible for managing the sect properly.
The Sect Master himself was an upright person and would never approve of bribes, but he couldn't control everything in the sect. Elder Zhou's statement implicated all the outer sect elders who took bribes, and the Sect Master's expression became unhappy.
While the sect master was frowning, all the outer sect elders facepalmed. With just this sentence, in a moment of anger, elder Zhou doomed all the elders who took bribes.
Elder Ji again felt like tearing elder Zhou into pieces. He was able to deal with this accusation in the past because all the outer sect elders knew each other and did not pursue it. But now it became a grave charge of stealing from the sect master's personal disciple. Now it will not be just outer sect elders reprimanding him. It became the sect master's problem, who was an upright person. He might ask the inner sect discipline hall to take action. If found guilty, this could lead to discipline hall punishing him. They might destroy his cultivation. Core disciples are not something an outer sect elder can mess around with.
After his brawl with elder Zhou, Elder Ji asked his faction disciples to go to cloud mountain city to get all details about Han Cai. He decided to bring everything to light. He spoke, shivering in anger, "Elder Zhou, your accusations are baseless and unjust. Han Cai's father had contributed 15,000 gold coins to the sect, which were then converted into spirit stones. It is not only false but also deeply insulting for you to suggest that my faction took Han Cai's spirit stones. In reality, it was you and Elder Hong who took the spirit stones from Han Cai's father and then gave my faction 80 spirit stones, not 60. I thought you were giving them to me for safekeeping for Han Cai until he was older. Those spirit stones are still kept safely in my quarters and we intended to give them to him after the tournament. No one in my faction took any spirit stones from Han Cai with any ill intentions. All we did was take care of him and provide him with food and shelter during his stay in our quarters. Your accusations are merely an attempt to shift the blame and tarnish my faction's reputation. I demand an immediate apology."
Sect master had a crease on his forehead. He turned and looked at elder Miao with an unhappy expression, and His Voice thundered, "THAT IS ENOUGH! Are we taking a gifted disciple's father's life savings in the name of contribution to the sect? Elder Miao, has our outer sect fallen this low? Is this the path of cultivation our sect follows? Is this what we are teaching our future generations? What face do you leave me with in front of my personal disciple?"
Han Cai thought, wow! Karma is a real bitch. These two greedy elders really got bitten by it.
Han Cai shivered. Will Karma bite him, too, because he owes them? Then he thought, no, these two were just too greedy. Only some people can be just temperate enough like Han Cai was. He praised himself in his mind.
Han Cai thought, not counting myself, I have already helped the Zhou faction to get the fourth position, and the old Zhou should have a constant flow of spirit stones. As for the Ji faction, my 80 spirit stones are with them anyways. I have paid my debt.
While Han Cai was taking inventory, so no karma came and bit him back.
By the side, elder Miao was sweating. A few breaths ago, there was a happy atmosphere. Everything went well. In the tournament, he organized the sect found a new core disciple. But these two greedy bastards couldn't find a better time to open their mouths and ruin it for everyone.
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