As he spoke, Wang Buyao glanced at Cai Buli and Yao Buzhou, his disdain plain as day.
Li Mu smiled calmly, not at all bothered by the fury brewing on Cai Buli and Yao Buzhou's faces. He continued, "Brother Wang, don't take it to heart.
"We martial artists aren't rice weevils in a jar. Only by striving ceaselessly can we climb to the peak of the martial path."
This wasn't a joke. In Li Mu's eyes, Wang Buyao, whose cultivation was temporarily lagging behind, truly had greater potential for future growth than Cai Buli and Yao Buzhou.
It had nothing to do with talent. The main difference lay in their temperament, resolve, experience, and other such qualities.
The Sword and Qi Factions both wanted to outdo the other. By placing too much emphasis on Cai Buli and Yao Buzhou, whom they had groomed from childhood, they had kept the two on the mountain for too long, depriving them of sufficient experience and leaving their temperaments wanting.
Potential was one thing, but in the coming contest for the position of successor, Cai Buli and Yao Buzhou were still the greater threats. As for Wang Buyao, he seemed more like an outsider there to make up the numbers, with no real stake in this game of power.
If someone wasn't a rival, then they were a friend. Even if they hadn't been before, they could be now.
"Junior Brother, well said."
Watching the two trade barbs in every manner imaginable, Cai Buli finally couldn't sit still. He slammed his palm down, shattering the tea table in front of him, and scolded them sharply:
"That's enough! The two of you sit down and immediately start making veiled insults. Is there not a shred of dignity befitting Mount Hua disciples?
"The elders gave you those resources. If you're dissatisfied, you can tell them directly. How can you criticize them behind their backs?"
Seeing this, Li Mu shook his head. This was the Sword Qi Soaring Hall, where the Mount Hua Sect discussed important matters. Daring to pound the table and glare at others here showed just how poor Cai Buli's temperament was.
Still, Li Mu could understand. As a top-tier second-generation disciple, Cai Buli had grown up under the loving care of his senior and junior uncles. When had he ever suffered such a grievance?
"Junior Brother Cai, calm down. Whatever it is, just talk it out. Why take it out on the tea table? You'll only harm your health—and give certain people exactly what they want."
As he spoke, Yao Buzhou shot a provocative glare at Li Mu and Wang Buyao, as if to say: This little trick of yours might fool Cai Buli, but that's all.
Realizing he'd lost his composure, Cai Buli sneered. "Spare me the sham act. A hypocrite is a hypocrite. You never forget to—put on an act!"
With their sharp tongues and attempts to sow discord, the four senior disciples of the Bu generation had split into three camps in no time.
Li Mu was very pleased with the result. It didn't matter what his relationship with Wang Buyao was. It was enough that Yao Buzhou and Cai Buli thought the two of them were on the same side.
After all that commotion, the dispute over seating was settled. As long as the three couldn't join forces, they would have to follow the martial world's rule that the strong came first. Anyone with objections could settle them in the ring.
Whether or not they could win was one thing. Challenging a junior as a senior brother would earn them enough scorn from the sect, and they also had to consider how the elders would feel.
Interests were one thing, but the others weren't their parents; they wouldn't support them unconditionally. They weren't the only choices, either. If someone really was beyond saving, they could simply be abandoned.
It was just a question of whether the people next door, who were watching the show, would accept this outcome. They probably would. After all, they were all Mount Hua disciples, and this was part of the test for the position of sect leader.
That's right. Li Mu had deliberately stoked the flames just now. The moment he noticed someone eavesdropping in the next room, he'd decided to stir up trouble.
To become the sect leader of Mount Hua, one couldn't be just a martial brute. Political scheming, management skills, magnanimity, bearing—none of those could be lacking.
"Well, aren't you having a lively time? You've only smashed a tea table. Why not tear down the Sword Qi Soaring Hall while you're at it?"
A voice full of authority rang out. Apart from Li Mu, who remained composed, the other three seemed to have been frightened out of their wits, their faces ashen.
The sect leader had caught them red-handed. They couldn't even come up with an excuse, and Cai Buli, who had smashed the tea table, was especially terrified.
Li Mu had already been prepared. He rose at once and pretended to panic. "This disciple... wouldn't dare!"
The other three belatedly followed suit. But before they could finish speaking, Ning Qingyu started tearing into them.
"Is there anything you wouldn't dare do? From the looks of it, if I'd arrived any later, this place would have turned into a free-for-all.
"It seems that in your eyes, the rules of Mount Hua count for nothing. Yao Buzhou, you're the senior brother. You should set an example for your junior brothers. Do you still remember the Seven Precepts of Mount Hua?"
Yao Buzhou answered in trepidation, "This disciple remembers. The seven major precepts of the Mount Hua Sect are:
"First, do not betray your master or ancestors, or disrespect your elders. Second, do not bully the weak with strength or harm the innocent. Third, do not lust after women or harass them. Fourth, do not be jealous of your fellow disciples..."
It was clear that Ning Qingyu still cared for his eldest disciple. Though it seemed he was the first one Ning Qingyu was singling out, in truth, he was also trying to help him out.
Unfortunately, Yao Buzhou seemed so afraid of his master that he hadn't picked up on the unspoken meaning at all. He immediately began reciting the Seven Precepts of Mount Hua.
Now that the sect rules had been brought up, none of the four could escape. Wang Buyao, who had voiced his dissatisfaction, and Li Mu, who had fanned the flames, could both be accused of violating the fourth precept, "Do not be jealous of your fellow disciples."
Cai Buli, who had smashed the tea table, was in even worse trouble. This was the Sword Qi Soaring Hall, the most sacred place in the Mount Hua Sect.
At the very least, he'd shown contempt for others and a lack of manners. At worst, he'd disrespected his elders, making him guilty of betraying his master and ancestors.
As the senior brother, Yao Buzhou seemed to have done nothing wrong, but that wasn't the case. As the sect's senior brother, he had failed to stop the dispute among his juniors in time. That was the greatest fault of all.
Ning Qingyu had made the hint obvious: "set an example." If Yao Buzhou had immediately admitted his guilt and taken the blame upon himself, he would have earned everyone's respect. Even if he were punished, the rod would only be raised high and brought down lightly.
Now, the four of them were all grasshoppers tied to the same string. If they were punished, they would have to be punished together; none of them could escape.
After glaring fiercely at the four, Feng Qinglin steeled himself and stepped forward to advise, "Sect Leader, the Demonic Cult is advancing fiercely. Our urgent priority is to find a way to aid the Heng Mountain and Mount Tai sects. The other matters can be dealt with later.
"The sect needs every hand it can get right now. Why not let the four of them atone for their offenses through service?"
He had to speak up. Even when it came to taking a beating, the severity of the offense mattered.
Yao Buzhou had mainly failed to consider the bigger picture and had lost face before his elders, but he hadn't actually violated any of the Seven Precepts.
Wang Buyao and Li Mu had only grumbled a few times. If anyone tried to pin the charge of jealousy among fellow disciples on them, there would be plenty of senior and junior brothers who felt the same way and would speak up for them.
No matter how severe the punishment, at most they would be sent to the Cliff of Repentance to meditate in seclusion for a year or two.
Cai Buli was the one in real trouble. Whether the charges were treated as serious or minor, any accusation would knock him straight out of the running.
Before you continue