Chapter 2708: Chapter 2700: Stubborn to the End (First Release, Seeking Double Guaranteed Monthly Votes)
The old man at the Nascent Soul Eighth Layer should be called Xiong Youshan; anyway, others all call him Youshan True Immortal.
He knew what Feng Jun was thinking and could only smile wryly, saying, "We really don’t intend to retreat the deposit, just wish to delay for a while. We’ll first go capture the suspect; if we can’t manage that, then we’ll collect fifteen spirit stones to bring."
Feng Jun initially thought they were playing tricks, but listening to this logic, it didn’t seem like it. If they wanted tricks, they’d either plead for a discount or request to return the spirit stones, but what they were asking was merely to postpone the crafting.
So after pondering for a moment, he asked solemnly, "How did your spirit stones... get lost?"
"This... please don’t ask any further," Youshan True Immortal looked constipated, "The Xiong Family will handle it themselves."
"What do you mean the Xiong Family will handle it themselves!" Feng Jun frowned, speaking with power without anger. Though the other party surpassed him by a whole great realm, and was an elder of a secretive clan, he still spoke this way.
This wasn’t merely because he had strong connections and influence, nor because he was arrogant, "The alternation of sequence affects my rules; I even rejected the exchange application of the Rui Family and the Formation Path, didn’t you know?"
Youshan True Immortal certainly knew this. Nowadays, at White Pebble Beach, dragons and snakes mixed, and one could receive a huge amount of information every day.
Especially as apart from local practitioners, all those coming here belonged to major forces. All sorts of bizarre news emerged endlessly, faintly turning into an "intelligence center," something even the commercially advanced Mountain-Sea Plate couldn’t achieve.
He heard rumors about the Rui Family and the Formation Path, but the truth was hard to discern, nor could he ask the Rui Family. However, he believed his situation was different, "We are only asking for a delay due to circumstances, permitting others to cut in line, shouldn’t be too much of an issue?"
"Hehe," Feng Jun sneered, I’ve set the rules, and yet you feel it ’should’... Is it for you to interpret?
He was considering how to express himself more tactfully when Xuanyuan Buqi asked curiously, "Did the Xiong Family... have an internal traitor?"
Seeing his eager expression, he was evidently somewhat intrigued.
"Lord Buqi," Youshan True Immortal turned his head solemnly, "You should possess the dignity of a lord... The Xiong Family’s disciples have always been reliable."
"Hehe," Xuanyuan Buqi laughed heartily, "I didn’t doubt the Xiong Family’s disciples, just curious... why must you insist on handling it yourself?"
Youshan True Immortal stiffened his neck, spoke coldly, "The Xiong Family is far inferior to the Xuanyuan Family where the lord resides, but the disgrace encountered by our family will be washed away by our own disciples, without outsiders’ involvement."
Xuanyuan Buqi was slightly taken aback for a moment, then smiled and nodded, "It was my mistake, Feng Xiaoyou, grant his family your permission."
His words were pleading for the Xiong Family. Don’t be fooled by his previous seemingly frivolous remarks; yet the other party adhering to the ancient clan norms made him involuntarily appreciate them slightly.
Clan forces are very complex groups, with many rules to pay attention to—not too few and not too many. One of them is "Don’t air family dirty laundry."
Family disgrace doesn’t necessarily mean sordid affairs at home, embarrassing matters within the clan, and speaking out would only invite laughter from others.
The Xiong Family losing the spirit stones is certainly embarrassing, and the outcome must be told to Feng Jun, but the process of losing the spirit stones... should not be mentioned!
Who it was, what kind of mistake was made, Xiong Family people won’t say, and they’re not planning to seek outside help either, only relying on their family’s disciples to fight hard and use their blood to wash away their shame.
This mindset is actually a very old tradition, and now it seems a bit out of place; these days when fighting, who wouldn’t call for friends and gather a large bunch of helpers?
Just relying on their own family’s disciples to fight hard for the clan’s honor, this behavior... is really rare.
But at the same time, this behavior that seems a bit foolish shows a rare sense of courage.
So even Xuanyuan Buqi opened his mouth to plead—it might be silly, but it’s worthy of some respect.
Actually, similar things have been done by the Xuanyuan Family too, which clan doesn’t have their own pride?
Feng Jun indeed understood this logic; he was originally from a small place, compared to those big cities, the strength of clan forces was somewhat stronger, and there were clans with similar attitudes.
Speaking of no others, just Dou Jiahui, who had a very close relationship with him, had ancestors over four generations who were fearless lunatics, if the father died, the son continued; if the elder brother died, the younger brother continued, acting was to exterminating the entire family of the opponent, they weren’t part of society, but those who were avoided the Dou Family.
Even after several deaths in the Dou Family, their reputation was established, but they still couldn’t gather a group of lackeys as their thugs? Yet, they didn’t do that.
Even Dou Jiahui’s reluctance to follow Feng Jun to cultivate was influenced by some of the clan mindset.
I consider you a brother, and you want to outgrow me by a generation? Absolutely not!
Do you think cultivating immortality can give longevity? So what! I’d rather not live long than let you surpass me. Makes it sound like one can live forever.
Feng Jun understood this mindset. However, even if Buqi Zhenjun pleaded, he still had no plans to back down. So, he waved his hand, "Queue-jumping is impossible; my rules don’t allow it... But since Buqi Dajun spoke, I can wait. You go find Xianxiong first."
Xiong Youshan was caught off guard by Feng Mountain Master’s reaction; it was a bit unexpected. Then, he suddenly realized the key point, "So, who will refine the next Magical Treasure?"
"It will be the Xiong Family," Feng Jun casually replied. "If you have matters, I can wait... unless you want a refund on the deposit."
Even if the sky falls, my rules can’t be broken, and the order absolutely must not be disrupted.
A refund on the deposit is impossible! Judging from Xiong Youshan’s words, it wasn’t hard to tell that he was a stickler for principles to the point of insanity. The honor of the Xiong Family outweighed everything, but imagining the consequences made him panic, "Then those lining up will all certainly complain about my family?"
The ones in line behind were dozens of major forces, each of them imposing. The Xiong Family might hold off one or two, but if they added up... terrifying!
"That’s for them to complain about your family; it has nothing to do with me," Feng Jun smiled indifferently, as if saying, "Who has no principles?" "Your Xiong Family wants face and to follow rules. Even though my cultivation level is low... do I have no right to want face or follow rules?"
Xiong Youshan was stunned for a long time this time. Then he slapped his thigh, "Feng Xiaoyou, isn’t this just arguing for the sake of it?"
"It’s really not arguing," Feng Jun waved his hand, speaking calmly, "How about I refund your deposit? Others won’t complain about you then."
Xiong Youshan considered the possible rumor: The Xiong Family was robbed of their Spirit Stone, so they requested White Pebble Beach to refund the deposit. Once this news spreads... I might as well be dead.
Being robbed of the Spirit Stone was already humiliating. He told Feng Jun this because he couldn’t provide the Spirit Stone, so he had to give an explanation; otherwise, he wouldn’t want to make it public. Even if everyone knew Feng Jun didn’t refine the family’s Magical Treasure first, it was just a joke about being robbed.
If the deposit was refunded, it would mean the Xiong Family thought they couldn’t recover the Spirit Stone. Who could bear this disgrace?
Xiong Youshan felt a tingle in his scalp and after some thought, he spoke, "How about you wait a bit, Feng Xiaoyou? I’ll return to my clan to gather more Spirit Stones, and we can quickly start refining?"
"Sure," Feng Jun nodded straightforwardly. He understood his role well: I only uphold my own rules. If your family’s Spirit Stones were lost, I wouldn’t change the order. As long as you can replenish the Spirit Stones, we will naturally refine the Magical Treasure for your family.
"It doesn’t seem quite right." A weak voice sounded from behind him.
"Hmm?" Feng Jun turned around to find it was Yu Qingzhu. "Why are you here?"
As soon as he asked, he realized this was the territory "bought" by the disciples of White Pebble Beach. Though it was a barehanded deal, that wasn’t important since it complied with the norms. What was important was business had been good lately... so someone had to collect fees.
So he coughed lightly, "Qingzhu, these are elders above the Golden Core chatting, don’t interrupt willy-nilly."
Yu Qingzhu actually had a strong personal standpoint, but on Earth Huaxia, the Yu Family was also a notable clan, naturally with its own rules. Although not so strict, Feng Jun said, "You’re not qualified," so she could only shut up and say nothing.
Xiong Youshan was an old-fashioned person who paid great attention to seniority and rank and felt Feng Jun’s scolding was appropriate.
However, thinking about it again, was the little girl planning to voice injustice for my family?
It was feasible for the Xiong Family to take out another fifteen Spirit Stones for a Magical Treasure. The Mi Xiong Family was slightly weaker than the Youxiong Family but was still ancient with ancestors who left behind considerable benefits.
However, if fifteen more Spirit Stones were taken out, could the future days continue? Would he become the family’s sinner?
Old-fashioned doesn’t mean inflexible; it’s just the thoughts and cognition are old-fashioned, intelligence is still fine.
So he turned his head to glance at Yu Qingzhu and then smiled, "Is she under the White Pebble Beach? She seems to have good potential. You can speak your thoughts; kids have no taboo... Mountain Master Feng, give a face and listen to what your own says, okay?"
God damn "kids have no taboo." At her age, many of my classmates were already mothers, Feng Jun couldn’t help but retort inwardly.
However, on the Tianqin, such etiquette was standard. Xiong Youshan couldn’t possibly be negligent in manners. Even if he wanted Yu Qingzhu to speak, it must pass Feng Jun’s approval.
Feng Jun gave Yu Qingzhu a glance and slightly nodded, "Alright, since Elder Xiong spoke, you continue... why is it not quite right?"
He was trying to integrate into the rules of the Tianqin Plane, but during integration, he would also be influenced by his own civilization, willing to listen to his own people’s suggestions — identity and cultivation level aren’t that important, I just want to hear where I did poorly.
Yu Qingzhu’s earlier words were impulsive, as she had done this many times in Huaxia years ago without considering the consequences. Being scolded by Feng Jun also startled her — too many High-Rank Practitioners were present; the leader was still young.
(First update in May, requesting double votes for guaranteed monthly ticket.)