At these words, the atmosphere instantly grew heavy.
Li Yan took a sip of tea without saying a word.
When it came to debating right and wrong, strength and momentum mattered, but what mattered most was the rules—reason.
With reason, one could travel anywhere under heaven; without it, one could scarcely take a single step.
And this "reason" meant both principle and justification.
If they acknowledged that your side had the accepted principle, then they would lose their justification for revenge. They would be reduced to quibbling without reason, while you would gain justification to strike.
Having justification to strike was important too.
As the saying went, "If one's cause was unjust, one's words would not ring true." Even bandits who robbed travelers knew to raise a banner proclaiming, "Uphold Heaven's justice."
Those who believed violence could solve everything never met a good end.
Li Yan's words sounded mild, but his heart was hard as iron.
That was because the emphasis of his words lay on a duel.
Not convinced? Wanted revenge? Fine—have another match!
That young man would have only one road left: death.
As for the Red-Head Dharma Master of the Lushan Sect, his words sounded impolite, but in truth he had directed attention toward the other side's mistake, tossing the problem back at them and, instead, throwing them a lifeline.
The Red-Head Dharma Master had not done this without reason.
He had come both to support Li Yan and display the strength of the Lushan Sect, while also avoiding offending the Sichuan martial world too deeply. That was why he had said those things.
Li Yan saw this clearly and did not mind.
He was still too fierce in his ways, unable to match these old foxes.
Whether the other side could accept it would depend on