"No, I can't! I'm a Sage. I mustn't get angry!" Hongjun struggled to calm himself. "A Sage does not fly into a senseless rage or harbor resentment toward the world!"
Old Ancestor Hongjun finally managed to hold back. His expression settled somewhat.
But he still glared at Beichen with instinctive hostility, though he didn't lash out.
"Heh, Old Ancestor Hongjun, you say I stole the Seven Treasure Gourd, but that makes no sense!" Beichen waved a hand. "I was traveling through Kunlun Mountain when I saw the Seven Treasure Gourd had ripened, so I casually took it, vine, roots, and all. How does that make it yours to steal?"
"Dao Treasures of the primordial world are born innate, nurtured by heaven and earth. They bear no names and belong to no one. Whoever is fated to find one may claim it. If I take one, it isn't theft, but if you do, it is?"
"This..." Hongjun was momentarily at a loss for words.
Although he had once told Primordial Lord of Heaven to keep a close eye on the gourd, Beichen was right: the gourd had been nurtured by heaven and earth. They hadn't planted it themselves!
Hongjun thought that because he had discovered it first, it was his. But he had ultimately failed to claim it, so that counted for nothing!
"Such a sharp-tongued Mysterious Turtle! Fine, then. You're right!"
Hongjun swallowed his anger, outwardly pretending nothing had happened.
But inside, he was already seething, nearly flying into a rage.
"Hmph. If I weren't about to merge with the Heavenly Dao and didn't want to invite further trouble, I'd never let you get away with this, Mysterious Turtle!"
Old Ancestor Hongjun stopped handing out treasures. He stood coldly to the side, waiting to see what Beichen would do next.