Chu Xinghe Cares for His Fellow Villager

All eyes were focused on the outer disciples at the edge of the room.

The outer disciples were moved to tears. For so many years, they had been notoriously invisible at the annual banquets.

I never dreamed I'd become the center of attention one day.

But the problem is, isn't today's focus somewhat uncomfortable?

Everyone is frantically searching for Chu Cheng —who is this shameless person?!

The Grand Elder's face darkened. As a long-time behind-the-scenes manipulator of the Vast Heaven Sect, this time the Grand Elder hadn't actually done anything underhanded.

There's no way around it; don't I know my own disciple well enough?

The eldest elder was characterized by self-confidence.

Even so, when Xinghe received a unanimous vote and became the first disciple in the history of the Vast Heaven Sect to receive a unanimous vote as the most outstanding disciple of this year, the Grand Elder was still somewhat shocked.

The Grand Elder couldn't help but have higher expectations for this most popular disciple; what if Xinghe could also get a unanimous vote?

Isn't that a beautiful story?

And the result... was that Chu Cheng!

What does it mean to have one bad apple spoil the whole bunch?

The Grand Elder was almost in tears.

Chu Cheng essentially ruined Chu Xinghe's chance to win by a unanimous vote all by himself.

Thinking of Chu Cheng, the Grand Elder remembered that this guy seemed to have come from Kaoshan Village with Xinghe, and wasn't he the one he had banished to the outer sect?

You've already been relegated to the outer sect, and you still won't behave? Are you asking for expulsion? You won't rest until you're expelled from the sect, will you Chu Cheng?

However, the Grand Elder remained calm. He knew he couldn't simply expel Chu Cheng from the sect based on a vote, could he?

"Why didn't Chu Cheng attend the banquet today?" Feng Fei asked, walking among the many outer disciples.

"Reporting to Senior Brother Feng Fei, Chu Cheng is a naturally fierce and belligerent person. He spends all his time fighting in the outer sect. He was injured in a fight a couple of days ago and is recuperating in the outer sect, which is why he hasn't come."

"Yes, yes, Senior Brother Feng Fei, this Chu Cheng is despicable and shameless. He likes to insult Senior Brother Xinghe in the outer sect. He is a disgrace to our outer sect."

"That's right, Chu Cheng is narrow-minded and extremely vicious. You see, I almost got a scar under my bangs because of Liu Hai last time." Liu Bo said with a look of grief and indignation.

The outer disciples chimed in with their opinions, but while Feng Fei remained relatively calm, the Grand Elder's blood pressure spiked.

"Very well... very well... Chu Cheng, indeed. I remember now, this man was once an inner disciple, but he was expelled from the inner sect and sent to the outer sect for his lack of responsibility. I never expected that he would not only fail to repent, but would become even worse. He is utterly despicable. Such a vile person should be expelled..."

"Third Brother!"

There was only one person in the Vast Heaven Sect who dared to interrupt the Grand Elder in his rage, and that was Chu Xinghe.

To expel Chu Cheng from the sect? How can that be allowed?

You haven't even managed to get such a good thing yourself, Chu Cheng shouldn't even think about it!

The elder, who had been interrupted, was slightly taken aback when he saw Chu Xinghe standing up anxiously, but then a look of relief appeared on his face.

Good boy!

Xinghe is truly a kind and righteous child. Chu Cheng had just ruined Xinghe's path to the top, yet Xinghe was not angry at all. Instead, he pleaded for Chu Cheng because they were from the same hometown.

Why is there such a huge difference in how two people, both from the Kaoshan Village, behave?

The Grand Elder had heard Feng Fei say that Xinghe had been bullied by Chu Cheng a lot when he was young, and had basically grown up being bullied. However, Xinghe was too kind and righteous, and did not hold a grudge against the past. Instead, he protected Chu Cheng in every way. Compared to him, Chu Cheng was simply a beast!

The Grand Elder really wanted to expel Chu Cheng from the sect, but seeing Chu Xinghe's anxious look, he ultimately softened.

So be it... Xinghe is such a kind and righteous child, how could I not grant his wish?

"Chu Cheng of despicable character and lacks ambition. He violated sect rules by fighting in the outer sect and should have been expelled as a warning to others. However, considering... well, let's just Chu Cheng six months' worth of resources from him as punishment!"

"Thank you, Elder!" Chu Xinghe bowed deeply in gratitude.

At this moment, the way both inner and outer disciples looked at Chu Xinghe changed.

As expected of Senior Brother Xinghe, even though Chu Cheng is such a despicable person, Senior Brother Xinghe still pleaded for him out of consideration for their shared hometown.

The outer disciples all shook their heads and sighed.

Chu Cheng, you're not even human!

Look at this! Is this the despicable and shameless Senior Brother Xinghe you spoke of?

Despite this, they still pleaded for you, their fellow townsman, to stay in the outer sect, yet you spend your days insulting Senior Brother Xinghe.

You beast!

Liu Bo's eyes were filled with tears. This year, he had relied on gaining experience from Chu Cheng and had received a lot of pills from the Spirit Crane Palace. But this time, Liu Bo was also moved by Senior Brother Xinghe.

Senior Brother Xinghe, rest assured, this time I, Liu Bo, am furiously attacking Chu Cheng not for any pills. I, Liu Bo, am a man of integrity and cannot tolerate those despicable people!

Although the sect leader and many elders remained silent, the smiles on their faces said it all.

A disciple's talent is important, but his character is even more important. Look at him, this is Chu Xinghe of our Vast Heaven Sect!

After pausing for a moment, the Grand Elder continued with the third round of voting.

The elders of each palace voted for the most promising disciple.

The moment the list was opened, the Grand Elder's face, which had been almost frozen, suddenly thawed.

"Haha..." There was no need to say anything more; the elder's unrestrained laughter and the list he displayed already told the whole audience the answer.

The sect's most promising disciple: Chu Xinghe: 18 votes!

Although everyone had some suspicions, they were still shocked when they saw the 18 votes in person.

Since the inception of this poll, the most promising disciple has never truly been chosen.

After all, each elder in the palace believes that their own disciple has the most potential, so every year the result is the same: eighteen people, one vote each, which can only be considered invalid.

But this year, Chu Xinghe garnered eighteen votes all by himself!

All the elders in the palace were smiling, which meant that the eighteen votes above were a result of their collective vote.

But at that moment Gu Mingchao spoke up, "There's something wrong with these votes, isn't there? How come there are only eighteen votes? I also voted for Xinghe this year!"

The sect leader's words caused an uproar among the crowd!

Sect Master, he voted too?

The sect leader has always abstained from voting. After all, if the sect leader votes for a disciple from any palace, it's tantamount to indirectly offending the other palaces. As the sect leader, Gu Mingchao knows how to handle these things.

But this year, even the sect leader voted for Chu Xinghe?

That doesn't seem quite right. The eighteen palaces should have eighteen votes, and with the sect leader's vote, that's nineteen.

Why are there only eighteen votes now?

Could it be that elders from other palaces abstained from voting?

Just as the elders of each palace were looking around in bewilderment at who had abstained from voting, the Grand Elder spoke up.

"Sect Master, there's no problem with the vote count. It wasn't that the elders from other palaces abstained; it was me who abstained. After all, Xinghe is a disciple of my Spirit Crane Palace, and if I were to vote as well... it would seem unfair."

The Grand Elder spoke casually, but everyone was stunned!

As expected of the Grand Elder!

Who would have thought that he would be the one abstaining from voting?

But everyone understood that the Grand Elder was truly full of confidence.

Even if my Spirit Crane Palace abstains from voting, Xinghe will still get a full vote!

That's what arrogance and domineering are all about!

Today, the Grand Elder has shown everyone the truth through facts.

Even Gu Mingchao couldn't help but smile wryly at the Grand Elder's nonchalant expression; the Grand Elder truly had him firmly under his control today!

Chu Xinghe was also shocked.

As expected of the Grand Elder... When it comes to showing off, I'm miles behind you.

Even though I abstained from voting, my disciple still managed to get a unanimous vote. Who else can do that?!

The Grand Elder walked down from the stage without saying a word. At this moment, the Grand Elder knew that what he had to do was maintain his composure. He felt that if he said even one more word, it would be a sign of his lack of confidence!

The three most important votes were over, and the Grand Elder stepped down. Together with the Sect Master, the elders of all the palaces raised their glasses to toast the Grand Elder, praising him for being truly fair and just!

The First Elder's face, beaming with smiles, frequently glanced at Chu Xinghe, his satisfaction practically written all over his face.

After the three most important votes concluded, the atmosphere finally became lively, and all sorts of bizarre votes began.

The most unlucky person in the sect...

The funniest person in the sect...

Various lists have been released, and Chu Xinghe's name appears almost the most frequently.

It's one thing to top these lists, but what's even more outrageous is that Chu Xinghe, the most hated person in the sect during the final vote, still won by a large margin.

Chu Xinghe was speechless. Do you guys like me or hate me?

"Oh dear... I misread it. I also filled in Senior Brother Xinghe as the person I hate the most. I hope Senior Brother Xinghe won't be angry!" Wan Lin jumped out with a laugh.

"Hahaha... I also filled in Senior Brother Xinghe. Senior Sister Wan Lin, you're overthinking it. Senior Brother Xinghe has such a magnanimous spirit, how could he possibly get angry over such a joke?"

"Me too! Me too! I want to see Senior Brother Xinghe selected on every list!"

"It's not wrong to say that Senior Brother Xinghe is the most annoying person. He rarely even visits us senior and Senior Brother Xinghe sisters. Isn't that annoying!"

Good heavens... A senior sister flirted with Chu Xinghe on the spot, causing the whole room to burst into laughter, and even the sect leader's table laughed along.

In previous years, whoever received the title of "most hated person" would be so angry their face would turn as black as the bottom of a pot. But today... the most hated person has changed to Chu Xinghe, and everyone bursts into laughter.

This might be the first time in the history of the Vast Heaven Sect that the person voted the most hated isn't actually hated by anyone.

Amidst the jeers of his fellow disciples, Chu Xinghe was forced to go on stage and give his acceptance speech.

The acceptance speech is a bit tricky because I've won so many awards.

"Thank you all for your kind words, fellow disciples. Xinghe am honored to be chosen as the most hated person in the sect."

Goodness, as soon as Chu Xinghe opened his mouth, the audience burst into laughter again. After all, Chu Xinghe had won so many awards, and everyone thought he would say something else. No one expected that Chu Xinghe would directly mention the award for the most hated person.

"Over the past year, Xinghe has accomplished a great deal, but it is all thanks to the support of the sect, the sect leader, elders, and all the brothers and sisters that Xinghe has achieved what it is today. Today, I am honored to be chosen as the sect's most hated person. I won't say any more words of thanks. Next year, Xinghe will definitely continue to work hard and strive to retain the title of the sect's most hated person!"

As Chu Xinghe finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall, with countless disciples shouting "Senior Brother Xinghe, you're so domineering!"

Sect Gu Mingchao drank too much for the first time today, because he was truly happy, even happier than the day he became the master of the Vast Heaven Sect...