Huang Fugui crunched on the delicious nuts, turned his head slightly, and glanced at Lin Fan with utter indifference. "What do you want?"
The disciples around them hurriedly stepped aside when they saw this.
They felt that a little conflict was probably about to break out.
One of the Third-Grade Outer Sect Disciples attending Huang Fugui reacted quickly, pointing at Lin Fan as he threw his weight around. "Senior Brother Huang asked you what you want."
Lin Fan walked to one side and seemingly casually tapped the token at his waist before lifting his foot. "See that? You spat on me."
The Third-Grade Outer Sect Disciple had been about to say that being spat on was an honor, but his sharp eyes suddenly caught sight of the token, and he swallowed the words that had risen to his throat.
"Senior Brother Huang, this fellow is a First-Grade Outer Sect Disciple too."
Huang Fugui could not have cared less. "So what if he's first-grade? Am I, Huang Fugui, not first-grade myself?" Then he looked at Lin Fan. "So I spat on you. Just brush it off, won't you?"
Lin Fan felt that this fellow was getting a little too presumptuous, acting so smug. He really would have to teach him a proper lesson today.
"As a First-Grade Outer Sect Disciple, you're supposed to be a model for all the outer sect disciples, but you've been a disappointment. You're no good." Lin Fan shook his head, his face full of regret and a little disdain.
Huang Fugui immediately flew into a rage at those words. He cared about his image more than anything. "What do you mean?" he roared. "How am I, Huang Fugui, not a model for the outer sect disciples? If you don't explain yourself today, believe me, I'll beat you up!"
With that, he rolled up his sleeves and waved his large fist in front of Lin Fan.
He was very confident in his strength. At the Body Tempering Seventh Stage, he was a notable figure among the outer sect disciples.
Although the other man was also a First-Grade Outer Sect Disciple, he really was not afraid.
Lin Fan had the spectators clear a path. "Fellow senior and junior brothers, take a look. What do you see on this path?"
The surrounding disciples exchanged glances, then looked at the path, but they could not see anything wrong with it.
Then they shook their heads one after another, indicating that they did not understand.
Lin Fan looked heartbroken. "Could it be that none of you saw all these fruit pits spoiling the appearance of this clean path?"
With Senior Brother Lin's guidance, the disciples caught on.
Then Lin Fan continued, "You must remember: the sect is our home, and its upkeep depends on everyone. This fellow is completely disregarding our home, ruining the path until it's unbearable to look at. Tell me, has a senior brother like him set a proper example?"
Hearing this, Huang Fugui felt that something was wrong. What was this fellow talking about?
He immediately glared at Lin Fan. "Stop bewitching everyone with your lies! How have I ruined the sect?"
Buzz, buzz!
Just then, a flying insect beat its wings with a buzzing sound, then kept circling the fruit pits on the ground.
"And you still say you haven't? Did you hear that insect? Isn't that sound annoying?" Lin Fan asked the disciples around him.
The disciples nodded.
"Yes, it's annoying. Really annoying."
"Sometimes when I'm resting at night, those sounds keep me awake."
"After cultivating, our senses grow sharper. We can hear even the faintest sounds clearly."
Lin Fan nodded in satisfaction, then pointed at Huang Fugui. "Look what you've done. What if, one night, a junior brother is at a critical point in his cultivation, and this fruit pit you spat out attracts a flying insect? That buzzing could affect his cultivation. At that point, he'd be seriously injured at best and croak at worst. Tell me, as a senior brother, wouldn't you have indirectly murdered a junior brother?"
"That's fucking bullshit!" Huang Fugui's face flushed with anger. He had never expected this fellow to be so good at spouting nonsense, with one polished argument after another.
Untroubled, Lin Fan waved his hand. "Don't call it bullshit. As a senior brother, you should have the courage to admit your mistakes. None of the senior and junior brothers here are petty people. They'll certainly forgive you. Yet you're still making excuses. Don't you think you're going too far?"
"Now, I'll give you a chance. Say you're sorry, and I'll forgive you."
The surrounding disciples began discussing it in hushed voices.
"Senior Brother is right. The more I think about it, the scarier it gets. It's clearly just a fruit pit, but something like that really could happen."
"Yes, those flying insects love landing on things like that. Every time I go out, they get me all irritated."
"Senior Brother Huang was a little out of line here. I agree with this senior brother."
"I never used to think there was anything wrong with Senior Brother Huang spitting fruit pits everywhere, but thinking about it now, it really is a big problem."
"This senior brother is right. The sect is our home, and its upkeep depends on everyone. As members of the sect, we naturally ought to protect its surroundings."
Huang Fugui's expression grew darker and darker. He felt that someone had played him.
As a First-Grade Outer Sect Disciple with decent strength and a little wealth, he was a senior brother these disciples all looked up to.
But now, this fellow had actually ruined the reputation he had built over the years.
How could he not be angry?
Suddenly, Lin Fan stepped forward, snatched the nuts from Huang Fugui's hand, and declared with righteous severity, "I thoroughly disapprove of this behavior of yours. On behalf of all our senior and junior brothers, I'm confiscating these nuts. Do you have anything to say?"
"Fine. I'll remember you. Just you wait." Huang Fugui's face was livid with anger, but he knew he could not outargue the other man. Besides, if he started a fight, it would probably have a bad impact.
But this was not over.
Then he flicked his sleeve and stormed off.
Yet before he had gone far, he heard Lin Fan's words and was so furious that he wanted to turn around and kill the hateful fellow in retaliation.
He had no idea what sort of person he had encountered today. All I did was spit out a fruit pit! Why did he have to pick a fight with me?
Damn it, I'll remember this grudge. You'd better not fucking give me an opening, or I'll make you pay.
"Forget it. If he won't apologize, so be it. I only hope he'll reflect on his behavior. At the same time, I hope all the senior and junior brothers here will take this as a warning and never follow his example."
The disciples nodded, feeling that this senior brother's words made perfect sense.
At the same time, they sighed inwardly. They absolutely must not follow Senior Brother Huang's example.
"All right, back to collecting scrap iron! Any other senior or junior brothers with scrap iron? I'll buy it at a high price!"
Seeing that things were more or less settled, Lin Fan called out, then popped a nut into his mouth and smacked his lips as he tasted it.
His eyes immediately lit up.
Goodness!
This tastes pretty good.
He chuckled inwardly too.
You little punk!
You dared to provoke me? See if I don't talk you to death.
At that moment, the scene bustled again. The disciples who had scrap iron were delighted, feeling that they could make another tidy sum.
Those who had previously thrown their scrap iron away, however, were filled with regret. An idiot willing to spend money buying scrap iron had finally come along, and they had actually failed to seize the opportunity.
Still, if Lin Fan found out that someone had called him an idiot, he would definitely hack them to death.