But at this moment she could not help but step forward. If she did not, and Xue Liping succeeded in pinning the charge of a traitor disciple on Lenglen, then Lenglen truly would have no place left to die in the days to come—not even she, her own master, could hope to preserve the girl's life.

"Deputy Sect Master Xue, those words are mistaken," Chi Qianqiu said with a frown. "Since Xu Xiaoshuang is a member of the Council of Elders, she naturally has the right to take part in deliberations. It has always been so in our Xuejian Sect. Surely the Deputy Sect Master does not intend to arbitrarily rewrite the rules handed down by our ancestors?"

Seeing everyone eyeing him with varying expressions, Xue Liping could not help but curse inwardly at the old bastard, and had no choice but to force a sheepish smile. "Heh, Elder Chi, you exaggerate. I merely noticed that the other great elders had not yet spoken, and that she, ranked last of all, was rushing to be heard first. Not knowing proper order, I simply offered a reminder."

Chi Qianqiu swept his gaze over the assembly and smiled faintly. "The other great elders, it seems, have no intention of declaring their stance just yet. That being so, what harm is there in letting Xu Xiaoshuang say a few words first? After all, she is Lenglen's master, and in this matter she still has no small right to speak."

"Thank you, Elder Chi." Hearing this, Xu Xiaoshuang nodded gratefully to Chi Qianqiu. She was not one of Chi Qianqiu's faction, and she knew full well that his words were not entirely spoken on her behalf—his greater aim was to thwart Xue Liping's satisfaction. But be that as it may, the man had extricated her from her predicament, and it was a debt of gratitude she owed him, however small.

"No need. I merely speak for what is right," Chi Qianqiu said with a wave of his hand, then added, "The Council of Elders has always valued open counsel. If you have something to say, speak freely before everyone."

Xu Xiaoshuang nodded, drew a deep breath, and said, "Good. I would like to ask Deputy Sect Master Xue one question: whom did you just call a traitor disciple? Could it be you meant Lenglen?"

"Of course. Given all her prior conduct—colluding with outsiders against our sect's lead senior brother, openly defying the sect's orders—how is that not treachery?" Xue Liping said as though it were self-evident.

"As for what actually happened to them in the mortal realm, a single letter from your son can hardly be convincing. It was said at the last deliberation as well—everything must wait until Lenglen returns before it can be properly investigated. Even you, Deputy Sect Master Xue, cannot casually slap the label of traitor disciple on someone's head, can you? And besides, when all is said and done, how Lenglen is ultimately dealt with is for the Sect Master to decide. What gives you, a mere deputy sect master, the right to overstep your authority?" To protect Lenglen, Xu Xiaoshuang had resolved to risk everything.

These words were utterly merciless. Even Chi Qianqiu, hearing them out, could not help but show a trace of surprise, while the members of Xue Liping's faction were each and every one purple with fury. "What did you say?!"

Xue Liping, by contrast, showed not the slightest sign of anger; instead he laughed with keen interest. "Interesting. Truly most interesting. In all my years as deputy sect master, no one has ever spoken to me like that. Xu Xiaoshuang, you are the first."

The more he behaved so, the more chilling it was. Meeting his cold, sinister gaze, Xu Xiaoshuang's heart clenched, but she steeled herself and pressed on. "Am I wrong, then?"

"Since you speak with such confidence, then this deputy sect master would be glad to hear your esteemed opinion. Why not tell us: how should we respond to this affair? Or is it that no response is needed at all, and we should simply swallow our grievances like a pack of cowards—as though Bing Wushuang and my son Xue Jianming were beaten for nothing?" Xue Liping said, his expression unreadable.

Xu Xiaoshuang choked on her words. His remark was plainly ill-intentioned. That she should speak up for justice on behalf of her own disciple Lenglen was only human nature, and no one would think much of it—but this affair was clearly beyond the reach of a candidate elder ranked last of all. However she put it, she was overreaching herself, and she could not escape being laughed to scorn.

But having come this far, Xu Xiaoshuang could only continue. "I never said that. This affair was a matter for disciples on trial to begin with. If the sect itself must personally intervene whenever the slightest thing goes wrong, then what is the point of a trial? Moreover, our Xuejian Sect sending out Bing Wushuang alone was already a breach of the rules to begin with. If we now send other high-ranking figures as well, how will the other ancient sects see it?"

"How will they see it? If we truly cared about the sect's image, this affair would absolutely not be about showing weakness. If we lower our heads before the Cangwu Sect of North Island this time, then in the future not only the four great sect families and the ten lesser sect families—perhaps even any stray cat or mongrel dog will think it can trample over the Xuejian Sect. To bring disgrace upon the sect—can you bear the weight of that crime?" Xue Liping gave a disdainful snort.

"The Deputy Sect Master speaks boldly, but you seem to have forgotten one thing: the Cangwu Sect of North Island is not a single sect standing alone. It is of one breath and one branch with the Chongtian Sect of North Island and the Xuanji Sect of North Island—offend it, and you offend the entire North Island Alliance!" Chi Qianqiu spoke up again at this moment, saying mildly, "Though our Xuejian Sect belongs to the Central Island Alliance, our voice there is not great. The Central Island Pavilion is the one that truly holds sway over the whole Central Island Alliance, and we are nothing but a vassal sect. With what are we to contend against the North Island Alliance?"

"Elder Chi, to utter words that swell others' ambition and snuff out our own prestige—I say you have grown doting in your old age!" Xue Liping said, jiggling his crossed leg and gazing up at the sky.

"Is that so?" Chi Qianqiu, not the least bit angered, said at his leisure, "True enough, this old man is indeed old, and the world hereafter belongs to the young. The Deputy Sect Master is in the prime of vigor. Should a conflict with the North Island Alliance arise in the future, why not let you take full charge of it?"

"Uh..." Xue Liping was struck speechless. Fanning the flames and stirring up conflict here was no problem for him, but if he were truly called upon to stand forth and contend against the entire North Island Alliance—he did not have the mettle for that. And not only he; likely no one in the whole Xuejian Sect, high or low, would have it.

"That is not necessarily so," the Fifth Elder suddenly stepped forward to support Xue Liping. "True, this time it was our people who came to grief on the Cangwu Sect's territory, but they harbored Lenglen first. Every side has its own story. In a matter like this, they may not be able to drag in the entire North Island Alliance. Besides, our Xuejian Sect is not without allies. So long as someone works the channels at the Central Island Pavilion, we need not necessarily fear the North Island Alliance!"

"Always fighting and killing at the slightest provocation—do you all take this for children playing house? In my view, there is no need at all to elevate this trifling matter to the level of a sect conflict. It is a small thing that costs no more than a few words. Why treat it as though we faced a mighty foe?" the Fourth Elder said with a curl of his lip.