(Extra update for 50 monthly votes...)
Who would have thought the villagers here would be so hostile to outsiders? the master thought. Aloud, he said, "My disciple and I are cultivators. We happened upon this Daoist Grounds and felt a connection to it..."
"Connection or not, you can't have it! Master Tang built it!"
"That's right. Master Tang paid us to build it... You two didn't see it standing empty and start getting crooked ideas, did you?"
"Exactly! One look at them tells you they're no good!"
The villagers were simple folk, and Tang Changsheng had done them many favors. Not only had he dealt with the Green King for them, he had also spent money freely. Naturally, the villagers took Tang Changsheng's side...
"You!" The master could still bear it, but his disciple cultivated the Sword Dao. How could he stand such insults? Furious, he put a hand on his sword hilt.
That made matters worse. The villagers were simple folk, true, but rugged mountains bred fierce people. Living so close to the mountain, with plenty of hunters among them, they had a hardy streak.
Seeing the disciple reach for his sword, the villagers were not frightened. Instead, they all began shouting, "What, you want to kill someone?"
"Come on, then! Let's see who's afraid!"
As they shouted, more and more people came running from the village at the news, surrounding master and disciple on every side.
The disciple froze, unsure what to do. However formidable his skills, however sharp his Sword Cultivator abilities, he could not slaughter every man, woman, and child in the village... That would be the demonic path!
With the entire village shouting for their blood, master and disciple could do nothing but flee in disgrace...
That night, in a guest room at the General's