Calming the Storm

"Boy, no matter how you try to argue, you cannot deny one fact: you defied your elders and crippled Ninth Elder right before our eyes. If we do not punish you, how will the clan's rules be upheld in the future?" the Third Elder said furiously, humiliated into rage.

Another clan elder added, "Exactly. The family will naturally investigate what truly happened that day. If you suspected Ninth Elder of deliberately attacking you, why did you not report it to the family instead of taking matters into your own hands and attacking a clan elder?"

Liang Bo knew these people could not swallow their pride. They were determined to make an example of him to preserve the so-called dignity of the clan elders. He immediately gave a cold laugh. "What, you want to fight? Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

"Outrageous! At a time like this, you still dare resist?"

"Boy, put down your weapon at once and do not resist. Otherwise, once we start fighting, blades and swords have no eyes!" several clan elders shouted in turn.

The Third Elder, Liang Ying, was even more direct. "What is there to say to such a wretch who has no respect for his elders? Let us attack together and take him down first!"

Seeing the situation worsen and knowing a great battle was hard to avoid, Liang Bo's heart sank. He hesitated over whether to invoke the name of the True Martial Sect.

Just then, a stern voice rang out from outside. "Stop! You are all family—waving blades and swords around, what kind of conduct is this?" Immediately afterward, a rather imposing middle-aged man strode into the courtyard.

At the sight of the newcomer, not only did the clan elders put away their weapons, but even Liang Bo did not dare act recklessly again.

This middle-aged man was Liang Wen, the current head of the Liang Clan. More importantly, he was an existence who had surpassed the ninth grade of the Martial Dao. Liang Bo might not respect his status as clan head, but he dared not disrespect his strength.

Moreover, in Liang Bo's memories, this clan head was a decent man who handled matters fairly. Since he had come, this matter presumably would not be allowed to spiral out of control.

Liang Wen glanced at Liang Cheng lying on the ground, then looked toward the clan elders. "Good. Very good indeed! I merely went into secluded cultivation for half a year, and the clan has already fallen into such chaos!"

"Clan Head!" Third Elder Liang Ying stepped forward, intending to explain.

But Liang Wen waved him off and said to the clan elders, "Last time, Ninth Elder deliberately beat Liang Bo so badly that he missed the clan tournament. That was already a grave offense. You knew full well he was in the wrong, yet you failed to uphold justice. Now that Liang Bo has come for revenge, you instead intend to attack him?"

"Clan Head, I did not deliberately injure Liang Bo! I merely lost control. Clan Head, please see the truth!" Liang Cheng, lying on the ground, shuddered and hurriedly defended himself.

Liang Wen sneered. "Enough! Even now, you still want to use such nonsense to fool me?"

At the side, Liang Bo froze. He knew Liang Wen was relatively fair in handling affairs, but he had not expected his attitude to be so completely in Liang Bo's favor.

That's right! He quickly realized that an hour had already passed since he joined the True Martial Sect, so the news had likely spread. Liang Wen must have learned that he had joined the True Martial Sect, which was why he favored him so strongly.

Liang Wen shouted sharply at Liang Cheng, "Speak! Who exactly ordered you to attack Liang Bo?"

That roar carried the formidable inner force of a Human Origin Realm martial artist. Like a thunderclap exploding beside them, it made their eardrums ache. Added to that was Liang Wen's long-standing authority as clan head, which had long since sunk deep into the hearts of these elders. Faced with his furious shout, the clan elders all shuddered.

Even Liang Bo muttered inwardly, The presence of a Human Origin Realm expert truly is formidable.

"I, I..." Liang Cheng's face turned deathly pale, but his eyes involuntarily shifted toward Third Elder Liang Ying.

This Third Elder happened to be the father of Sixth Young Master, who had placed among the top three in this clan tournament.

At once, everyone present understood. Sixth Young Master's strength had originally been insufficient for him to enter the top three. But for the sake of letting his own son enter Floating Cloud Pavilion, Third Elder Liang Ying had instructed Liang Cheng to attack Liang Bo and cut down this rival, allowing Sixth Young Master to successfully place among the top three.

After Liang Bo crippled Liang Cheng just now, it had also been this man who kept inciting the others to attack Liang Bo. Looking at it now, he must have been guilty and afraid.

"Clan Head, spare my life!" Liang Ying's face immediately went pale. He hurriedly dropped to his knees and begged loudly.

Liang Wen snorted coldly and struck out with his palm, hitting Liang Ying's dantian.

Pfft! Liang Ying spat out a mouthful of blood, and his whole body wilted. "Clan Head, you... you are so ruthless!"

Liang Wen waved his hand. Two servants immediately came over and dragged Liang Cheng and Liang Ying away.

"Liang Bo." Liang Wen turned his gaze toward Liang Bo.

"Clan Head."

"Now that the two masterminds who harmed you have both had their cultivation crippled, let this matter end here. Do not pursue it any further. What do you say?"

"Yes, Clan Head." Liang Bo nodded. It was not impossible to continue pursuing the matter—for example, whether Sixth Young Master had been involved was also worth questioning.

But since Liang Wen had already gone this far, there was no need for him to keep pressing the issue. That would only offend more people and might even embarrass Liang Wen. Why bother? It was better to give Liang Wen some face; that would benefit everyone.

Sure enough, seeing Liang Bo nod, Liang Wen revealed a faint smile. "Good, very good! I heard that at the martial academy tournament, you successfully challenged a fourth-grade demonic beast and have now been accepted by the True Martial Sect as a direct disciple?"

"What? He was accepted by the True Martial Sect as a true disciple?" The clan elders present were instantly shocked.

They had rushed over in haste and had not yet received the news.

But upon second thought, since Liang Bo could severely injure Liang Cheng, who possessed second-grade Martial Dao cultivation, joining the True Martial Sect would not be difficult for him. They had merely been too consumed by fury earlier and overlooked that point.

Only now, after Clan Head Liang Wen mentioned it, did they realize it. They also understood why Liang Wen had completely sided with Liang Bo just now and directly crippled Liang Ying's cultivation.

Liang Ying and Liang Cheng had been in the wrong to begin with. Compared with those two clan elders, whose potential had already run dry, Liang Bo—a gifted junior who had entered the True Martial Sect—was naturally far more worthy of winning over.

With that, Liang Wen's actions were no longer surprising.

Liang Bo nodded. "That's right. I have already joined the True Martial Sect!"

The moment he said this, the clan elders who had just been shouting to kill Liang Bo instantly changed their faces.

One clan elder immediately approached with a beaming smile, clasped his hands toward Liang Bo, and said, "Liang Bo, what happened just now was all a misunderstanding. We listened to the words of that traitor Liang Ying and nearly attacked you. We truly should not have."

"Yes, yes, it was all a misunderstanding! Liang Bo, as the saying goes, you cannot write two Liang characters with one stroke. No matter what, we are family. Do not take some matters to heart." Another clan elder hurriedly echoed him.