Sophistry? This is called going on a rant!

"Hmph, who are you? Everyone here is an important figure in Dongjiang City. Where do you get off speaking?"

Someone in the crowd shouted angrily. Li Yan sneered, "What, as the source of disaster you speak of, I'm not allowed to participate?"

"Oh? You are Wan Sanhuo?"

Wang Jin's gaze shifted over, his eyes full of displeasure.

"Nonsense?"

"You!"

In Dongjiang City, even the City Lord would show some respect when meeting him. Li Yan's blatant disrespect only intensified Wang Jin's dissatisfaction.

On the other hand, Xu San, standing nearby, cupped his fists towards Li Yan and said, "So it's the heroic Wan himself. This old man pays his respects."

"My pleasure. I saved Miss Shangguan in a time of crisis, protected hundreds of miles, and killed over a hundred vicious bandits. This title of hero is well-deserved."

As soon as he said this, the others who had been about to speak were all choked into silence.

The two Shangguan brothers exchanged a look, their eyes holding different glints.

"Hmph, you're sharp-tongued, kid. Don't think saving Shangguan Xiyun means everything is fine. Do you know the trouble you've brought to Dongjiang City?"

Wang Jin already disliked Li Yan's violent methods, and coupled with his rudeness, he spoke without reservation.

"The 100,000 people of Dongjiang City only wish for peace. In the past, we had no conflict with the Fierce Wind Bandits, but because of you today, the Fierce Wind Bandits have set their sights on Dongjiang City. In the future, the city's residents will likely suffer more. Don't you feel any guilt?"

Hearing this, Li Yan sneered inwardly. This method of shifting concepts and transferring blame was a bit crude. In a later era, it would have been much smoother and more elegant.

Wang Jin's move? 30 points, not even half of passing.

"Heh, I heard Senior Wang opened a martial arts school called Wei Wu?"

"Hmph, what do you intend to do?"

"Nothing much. It's just that listening to Senior Wang just now, I thought I had remembered incorrectly. Your martial arts school should be called Scum."

"You! How dare you insult me, you brat?!"

"Brother Wan!"

Shangguan Liuyun pulled Li Yan to his side just as Wang Jin was about to lash out. "Senior Wang's reputation is known throughout Dongjiang City. Brother Wan, you mustn't be rash."

Li Yan subtly gave Shangguan Liuyun a reassuring look, pushed his hand away, and continued, "Brother Shangguan, I don't think what I said was wrong."

"The Fierce Wind Bandits are cunning villains, the kind that righteous individuals should eliminate."

"Yet today, I, Wan, saved an innocent young girl from their hands, only to become the target of everyone's condemnation. You tell me, has the world degenerated, have people lost their way, and is there no longer a distinction between good and evil in the martial world..."

"Or is it that I, Wan, am just unlucky and have encountered accomplices of the Fierce Wind Bandits, and someone wants to vent their anger on behalf of their companions?"

As soon as Li Yan spoke, everyone's gaze immediately shifted to Wang Jin, their eyes showing varying degrees of suspicion.

"You scoundrel, a mere child spewing slander!"

Wang Jin roared, his imposing aura erupting as he prepared to attack, but someone blocked him.

Although Shangguan Feiyun was still injured, Wang Jin also had old wounds. Despite being at a higher cultivation level than Shangguan Feiyun, in a real fight, even the strong fear the young.

"Shangguan Feiyun, what are you doing?" Wang Jin stared intently at Shangguan Feiyun.

"I'm not doing anything. But Brother Wan is my sister's savior. If you intend to make a move against him within the Shangguan family, Senior, do you want the Shangguan family to lose face?"

"Alas~"

Suddenly, a long sigh echoed, and everyone's gaze turned to Xu San.

At this moment, the old man exuded a strong sense of weariness, his face filled with worry and pain.

"You martial artists, always fighting and killing, all for fame and profit, yet you speak of righteousness and morality. Do you know what ordinary people's lives are like?"

"The widow in the south of the city sold herself to a brothel a few days ago. Do you know why? Because her husband was accidentally killed two years ago by two martial artists fighting in the street."

"The pillar of their family collapsed, leaving her and two children. The three of them lived a miserable life."

"And there's Granny Liu. She had three sons. Her family could have lived well, but all three sons wanted to become martial artists and learned martial arts. As a result, they all died in martial world feuds. Now, only this lonely old woman is left waiting for death every day."

"Why must your martial world feuds involve the common people of this city?"

Xu San's words, though seemingly directed at the martial artists present, still pointed directly at Li Yan.

Everyone else was also looking at Li Yan, their eyes filled with fierce glints.

The things Xu San spoke of had happened since ancient times. The strong in the martial world often broke the law, and innocent bystanders were inevitably caught in the crossfire. However, martial arts masters held the power of discourse, while the common people were like fish and meat, forced to endure in silence.

Today, this topic was brought to the forefront. The martial artists, knowing they were in the wrong, had no words to retort. However, what did this have to do with Li Yan?

"Old Xu speaks the truth. Martial world feuds have nothing to do with ordinary people. But what does it have to do with me?"

"You still say it has nothing to do with you? If it weren't for you, why would the Fierce Wind Bandits target Dongjiang City?"

"Do you know that the Fierce Wind Bandits have already spread word that they will specifically 'take care' of Dongjiang City residents who leave the city from now on!"

Li Yan shrugged his shoulders. "So what? The Fierce Wind Bandits, they are bandits~"

"Bandits rob people. What does that have to do with me? Weren't they robbing before I came?"

"If they are targeting Dongjiang City, go find the Prefectural Office. If that doesn't work, find the City Lord and organize manpower to eliminate them. Why are you looking for me?"

"Nonsense, that's sophistry! You're the one who provoked the Fierce Wind Bandits!" someone shouted from the crowd.

Li Yan scoffed, "Sophistry? I provoked them? That's hilarious!"

With that, Li Yan drew the saber from his hand. Its sharp edge glinted coldly under the scorching sun.

"This saber was taken from those bandits. It's been in my possession for a few days, and it's only tasted the blood of the Fierce Wind Bandits. But before that?"

"Before me, it harvested ordinary citizens, passing merchants, and you lot who are defenseless."

"I am eliminating evil for the people. Instead of solving the problem, you're hindering the person who is solving it for you?"

"Do you really think that without me, the Fierce Wind Bandits wouldn't have targeted Dongjiang City?"

"Why did they capture Shangguan Xiyun? Wasn't it because they had their sights set on Dongjiang City?"

"The Shangguan Family is the foremost martial arts family in Dongjiang City. If they use Shangguan Xiyun, the Shangguan Family will surely be hesitant to act. When the bandits then wreak havoc on Dongjiang City, the Shangguan Family won't be able to help, and you'll die even faster."

"You're all short-sighted, taking benefits while complaining, like ostriches burying their heads in the sand, completely clueless!"

With that, Li Yan sheathed his saber and sneered, "Fine. Since everyone in Dongjiang City is as foolish as you, I have nothing more to say. I will leave Dongjiang tomorrow. I want to see what kind of faces you'll all put on when the Fierce Wind Bandits trample Dongjiang."

"No! You can't leave!" someone in the crowd suddenly yelled. "You started this mess, so you have to fix it!"

But as soon as the person finished speaking, a sharp clang echoed in response.

Li Yan drew his saber and pointed it at the speaker from a distance, "If I want to leave, you can try to stop me. I can kill the Fierce Wind Bandits, so I can naturally kill you too."

As soon as these words were spoken, the martial artists present couldn't sit still. The Fierce Wind Bandits were numerous and extremely brutal. If they truly became enemies with them, who knew how many people would die.

But the young man before them was alone. Handing him over would resolve the crisis. Why wouldn't they do that?

Instantly, these individuals drew their weapons, and the scene became tense.

"Hmph!"

A cold snort sounded again, and a powerful oppressive aura swept through the area.

Shangguan Liuyun stepped forward, his Ninth Level of Meridian Opening aura fully unleashed, forcing everyone present to retreat step by step.

"Everyone, this is the Shangguan Family's territory. If you intend to cause trouble here, you are making an enemy of me, Shangguan Liuyun. You had best consider the consequences carefully!"