Chapter 187

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 187: Why?

The Five Elements Sect, the entrance gate

Zhang Wanjing and Lin Jiang’s group returned, successfully completing the sect’s mission. At the same time, they also brought back gossip about what happened in Yunzhong City.

News spread about Lin Jiang’s extravagant spending at the auction, causing a stir among the lower-level disciples. They couldn’t imagine a Building Foundation Period cultivator spending two million spirit stones to buy a Spirit Integrating Pill.

"There must be some hidden plot."

"Zhang Wanjing Martial Uncle always pretended to care about the public, but it was all fake. How much money did his disciples actually embezzle?"

"The character setting has fallen apart. They claim it’s for reform and the sect, but it’s really all about their own interests."

In just a few days, Black Clothes Hall received a large number of reports, with 90% of them targeting Lin Jiang. But Lin Jiang wasn’t worried, as he knew they wouldn’t find any evidence to catch him.

They couldn’t find any clues, so they started talking again. They said it was a conspiracy and that this is called protecting each other. The firepower was very strong, but Lin Jiang couldn’t be bothered with them.

Lin Jiang had known for a long time that no matter what you do, you can’t please everyone. There will always be someone criticizing you from a different perspective. This applies to change and writing books as well.

Lin Jiang was busy with his own affairs. He bought some supplementary pills and it wasn’t enough, so he asked someone to refine them. He only needed Lin Die’s Spirit Integrating Pill and then everything would be ready. He went to Zhang Wanjing’s residence to go into seclusion. Everything was prepared, only waiting for the right moment.

But not long after, Zhang Shuhua brought Lin Jiang some bad news. Zhang Shuhua said. The group led by Jin Yu has returned.

"Wasn’t he sent to the Wilderness as a punishment?"

"It’s been twenty years, junior brother, and there are people protecting him in the Wilderness. He managed to accomplish a small feat within a year or two. There’s no problem with the rules."

Zhang Shuhua said that initially there were more than ten people with golden cores who were demoted to the Wilderness, and a large number of people in the Building Foundation Period. Over the course of twenty years, two golden core cultivators died and at least twenty Building Foundation Period cultivators.

Jin Yu didn’t die. He had people protecting him and he never got assigned to dangerous missions. Instead, he would receive news of his achievements every year or two. It’s normal for him to return after twenty years.

"He must really hate us, right?"

"Isn’t that nonsense? Those who have been banished to the Wilderness, formed their own group and have a strong hostility towards us. Half of the recent reports against you were from them."

"Is senior brother worried?"

"Can’t you worry? I was previously betrayed by someone, and I suspect it was them who did it."

"Senior brother, don’t worry. We are not the same as before. We are not weaker than them."

Lin Jiang said. They are not just a group of scattered soldiers anymore. They are also a group. Zhang Shuhua is in the golden core stage, and Wei Yunshen and the others are also in the golden core stage. Their strength is not much weaker than theirs.

······

"Why? Why, after five generations of hard work from my family, should you surpass me with just twenty years of cultivation?"

Jin Man was being stopped by a few disciples at the Internal Affairs Hall, but he still roared, questioning their souls. On the opposite side of him stood a steward named He Lianshan from the Internal Affairs Hall.

Jin Man is Jin Yu’s son and used to be He Lianshan’s superior. He Lianshan was just a runner and a low-ranking disciple of the Internal Affairs Hall at that time. The Internal Affairs Hall has numerous disciples like grains of rice.

Jin Yu was sent to Wilderness, and Jin Man too. They both spent twenty years in Wilderness, enduring hardships. Finally, when they returned, they went to Internal Affairs Hall and saw that their former little brother had become a steward. This surprised Jin Man greatly.

"Steward, Jin Man didn’t mean it. Please don’t be like him."

"Steward…"

The people nearby tried to persuade He Lianshan to leave first and not pay attention to Jin Man, who they thought was crazy.

"He Lianshan, don’t run away. Come back here!"

Jin Man continued to shout loudly. He had truly been surprised. In the past, he had been very successful. He himself was a steward in Internal Affairs Hall, and his father was the Deputy Master of the Internal Affairs Hall. Later, he even became the Hall Master for a period of time. Other members of his family held important positions too. Everyone wanted to please them, and they were always surrounded by admirers.

"He Lianshan, why are you leaving?"

Just as He Lianshan was preparing to avoid the situation, Lin Jiang appeared. Yu Wanke and other high-ranking members of Internal Affairs Hall were with him.

"Senior Brother Xiao, Hall Master Yu…"

When He Lianshan and the others saw, they quickly bowed.

"He Lianshan, I ask you, where are you going?"

"Senior Brother Xiao, I…"

"Are you afraid of him?"

"Senior Brother Xiao, I’m not afraid, it’s because…"

"Since you’re not afraid, then where are you going?"

Lin Jiang kept getting closer, and He Lianshan timidly lowered his head, not daring to meet Lin Jiang’s gaze.

Lin Jiang walked up to him, reached out his hand and put it around He Lianshan’s shoulder. He exerted force and shouted at him, "Stand up straight, remember, you are a steward of the Internal Affairs Hall, not anyone’s servant, not anyone’s little brother."

"Yes, Senior Brother Xiao."

"Your position as an Internal Affairs Hall steward is given to you by the sect, not by anyone else."

"Yes."

"Now you tell him why your twenty years of cultivation can surpass the efforts of his family’s five generations."

"Senior Brother Xiao, I, I…"

"You can’t say it, let me say it for you."

Lin Jiang saw that he was nervous and nodded at him. He was quite familiar with He Lianshan, having dealt with him multiple times. He Lianshan was efficient in handling tasks but not good with words, so Lin Jiang decided to help him out.

"Jin Man, didn’t you ask He Lianshan why his twenty years of cultivation can surpass the efforts of your family’s five generations? Well, today I’ll tell you, it’s because your family, the Jin family, is useless and worthless."

"Xiao Yi, how dare you insult my Jin family!"

"How did I insult your Jin family? Did I speak the truth?"

"Don’t stop me, I’ll fight him."

"Don’t stop him, let him do it."

Jin Man made a determined pose, and Lin Jiang quickly shouted. Hey, there’s a good opportunity, come on, give it a try.

"You guys…"

The people around Jin Man instantly let go, but Jin Man was confused. Why didn’t you stop me? How come you’re not stopping me?

Why are you called the useless Golden family? Because in your five generations, not a single talented person has appeared. I won’t even mention Nascent Soul, Dan, Talisman, Device, Array, Spiritual Farmer, Puppet Technique, or Immortal Cultivation. Have you produced a master in your five generations?

You all lie on your past accomplishments, form factions and indulge in corrupt practices in the Internal Affairs Hall, embezzling and amassing spiritual stones for extravagant desires, keeping singing girls and servants. What qualifications do you have to compare with others?

He Lianshan, let me ask you, how many hours do you sleep each day since the Building Foundation stage?

"Senior, less than two hours, sometimes only two hours of sleep every three to five days."

"What are you doing?"

"During the day, I work in Internal Affairs Hall, and at night, I practice and learn formations. My junior brother is a second-level Formation Master."

"Do you have a wife and concubines? Is there a singer in your house? Do you drink and make merry every day?"

"My junior brother only has one wife, no concubines, no singing maidens or servants, and he doesn’t like drinking."

"Did you hear that? This is the confidence that comes from surpassing your family’s five generations in just twenty years, Jin Man. I ask you, how many hours do you practice every day? How much have you done for the sect? What skills do you have to show?"

Lin Jiang turned around and said to Jin Man, but Jin Man was tongue-tied and couldn’t say a word.

Brothers and sisters, many of you here probably come from backgrounds without any support. You were either ordinary people before or disciples at the bottom of the sect. But now, you have surpassed the achievements of your ancestors.

But please remember, your achievements are the result of your hard work and the changes the sect made under our master, Zhang Wanjing. In the past, every sect hall was filled with people like Jin Man. Would you have had this opportunity if you had worked your fingers to the bone?

Now, Jin Man has returned, and his father, Jin Yu, has also come back. If they want you to live like you did before, would you agree? Would you accept it? Are you willing to bow down?

Lin Jiang looked at everyone and continued speaking. Yu Wanke and the others immediately looked shocked. What is Lin Jiang going to do? Are they going to fight against Jin Yu and the others?

"I don’t want to."

He Lianshan said quietly.

"Speak louder, I can’t hear you."

"I don’t want to, senior brother."

"Why don’t you want to?"

"The position of steward is something I worked hard for the sect. I have been in the Internal Affairs Hall for sixty years, forty years as an executive. I did all the work and they took all the credit. I refuse to accept it. Now that I’ve come up here, I won’t go back."

"Well said. What about you? What about all of you?"

Lin Jiang pointed at the others in the Internal Affairs Hall.

"I don’t want to either."

"I don’t want to either."

"·····"

The emotions of everyone in the room were stirred up, shouting in excitement. They didn’t want it, they didn’t want to live as second-class citizens anymore.

"You, you····"

Jin Man looked around in shock, and the looks of the crowd changed. There was no more fear, only hatred.

"Get out, if you don’t leave, I’ll kill you."

Lin Jiang shouted angrily at Jin Man. If he instigated anything else, Jin Man would have to face the consequences today.

Jin Man ran away, rolling and crawling.

"Brothers and sisters, don’t worry, do your best with your work. The sect won’t lose because of you, and Uncle Zhang WanjingMartial won’t let you down. No one can take away your positions and achievements unless you make mistakes yourselves."

Lin Jiang continued speaking to everyone, and after finishing, he looked into the distance.

In the distance, Jin Yu and his companions watched all of this coldly.