Chapter 998: Different Thoughts

Ouyang Huajin left in a hurry, and even if Sun Sheng wanted to explain things to him properly, he had temporarily lost the opportunity.

For now, all he could do was to persuade Meng Zhang, preventing them from causing even bigger troubles.

Meng Zhang was displeased with the Spring Rain Inn and its innkeeper. He led Sun Sheng out of there.

He didn't go far, just casually found a tea house nearby.

Both he and Sun Sheng entered the tea house together, were guided to a private room, and then started discussing things gradually.

As soon as Sun Sheng sat down, he earnestly apologized to Meng Zhang, acknowledging that he bore a significant responsibility for Meng Zhang's trouble this time.

As it turned out, Ouyang Huajin had taken a liking to a female cultivator from the Gu Yue Family a long time ago, and he wanted to take her as a concubine.

Although the Gu Yue Family was an extended family of the imperial clan, their foundation in the court was shallow and not very substantial.

Having a chance to marry a disciple of Sword Lord Ouyang Jian, of course, was an incredibly favorable opportunity.

With Ouyang Jian's support, the Gu Yue Family would experience significant development in various aspects.

In fact, Gu Yue Duo had already visited Sword Lord Ouyang Jian a while ago and settled this matter.

According to Ouyang Jian's intentions, in another two years, after Ouyang Huajin's cultivation base had consolidated, he would allow this Gu Yue Family woman to enter Ouyang Huajin's household.

Then, just a couple of days ago, rumors spread in the circles of the capital's elites that the Gu Yue Family was interested in a marital alliance with Taiyi Sect's Sect Master, Meng Zhang. They were allegedly allowing Meng Zhang to freely choose his spouse from within the Gu Yue Family.

Coincidentally, the woman Meng Zhang had set his sights on happened to be a concubine that Ouyang Huajin had not yet officially taken.

Now, all sorts of unpleasant rumors began to circulate, quickly reaching the ears of Ouyang Huajin.

Seeing someone else eyeing his yet-to-be-official concubine was akin to stealing his future wife, causing a similar kind of resentment.

Early this morning, Ouyang Huajin stormed into the Spring Rain Inn with his men, intending to teach Meng Zhang a lesson.

If Sun Sheng hadn't arrived in time, clarifying the situation and mediating between both sides, who knows how this matter would have ended.

At this point, while recounting the events, Sun Sheng deeply regretted his actions.He was originally trying to mediate between Meng Zhang and the Gu Yue Family, which should have been a good thing.

If the two sides couldn't reconcile, that would have been fine. However, now that such rumors were circulating, he, as the intermediary, couldn't escape blame either.

According to Sun Sheng's explanation, it would be best for Meng Zhang to address the rumors publicly alongside Gu Yue Duo, so as to clear up any misunderstandings before they grew deeper.

Upon hearing Sun Sheng's words, Meng Zhang didn't immediately respond; he sank into contemplation.

Who could be behind spreading such rumors at this time?

One piece of gossip had entangled three parties: Meng Zhang, the Gu Yue Family, and Ouyang Huajin.

Although Ouyang Jian had confronted Meng Zhang today, the person behind spreading the rumors might not necessarily be targeting Meng Zhang.

Before this, due to Shang Jianqing's involvement, Meng Zhang had even suspected that Ouyang Huajin might have been acting on behalf of the same sect when he came to cause trouble.

Now, Meng Zhang began to wonder if Ouyang Huajin might have been manipulated by someone else, serving as a puppet.

Of course, regardless of the truth, Meng Zhang wouldn't easily let Ouyang Huajin off the hook after such a public challenge.

After all, due to Shang Jianqing's influence, it was destined that the two wouldn't become friends.

Today, Meng Zhang had a certain level of status. Being offended like this, he definitely wouldn't just swallow his pride and let it go.

Meng Zhang paid no attention to Sun Sheng's advice. Instead, he pondered over how he should take revenge.

It seemed unwise to openly take action in the capital.

While Sun Sheng and Meng Zhang were talking, their subject of discussion, Ouyang Huajin, had already flown to Sword Lord Ouyang Jian's residence with two companions.

These two middle-aged individuals were Ouyang Jian's trusted subordinates, cultivated by him over many years and deeply trusted by him.

After Ouyang Huajin reached the Primordial Spirit realm, Ouyang Jian attached even more importance to him, nearly treating him as an heir.

Knowing that this closed-door disciple had a somewhat unpredictable personality and lacked stability, Ouyang Jian had kept these two trusted subordinates with Ouyang Huajin to prevent him from causing any irreversible trouble.

"Young Master, that rural bumpkin called Meng Zhang, if he truly belongs to the Five Punishments Hall, it might not be wise for us to continue troubling him. That guy Han Yao has always been at odds with the Lord, and he's fiercely loyal to him," one of the bodyguards remarked.The other person added, "Young Master, perhaps this incident is really a misunderstanding, just as that guy Sun Sheng suggested. That Meng Zhang, no matter how daring he is, probably wouldn't dare to compete with you for a woman."

Ouyang Huajin understood the thoughts of his two subordinates. They were worried that he insisted on causing trouble for Meng Zhang in the capital, which might lead to a mess that would be hard to clean up later.

These two bodyguards were under Ouyang Jian, not Ouyang Huajin himself. He couldn't directly order them around, so he needed to explain his actions thoroughly.

"Of course, I know it's a misunderstanding. Maybe someone intentionally spread these rumors."

"I've heard Shang Jianqing Senior Brother mention that Taiyi Sect is a Primordial Spirit sect in Jiuqu Province. This Meng Zhang, as the Taiyi Sect Sect Master, must have some ability."

"If he truly intends to marry into the Gu Yue Family, they have plenty of female cultivators for him to choose from. Even if he's foolish and arrogant, he wouldn't dare to compete with me for a woman."

"However, this Meng Zhang has previously embarrassed Shang Jianqing Senior Brother. Now, with such rumors, if I don't react, others will think they can take advantage of me and that my Wang Family's reputation is just for show."

"Originally, I planned to give him a scare and help Shang Jianqing Senior Brother save face. However, since he's a member of Han Yao's Five Punishments Hall, this matter can't be simply dropped."

"Well, Han Yao and my Master have always been enemies. With this excuse, if I deal with his Five Punishments Hall subordinates a bit, it will show my influence."

Though Ouyang Huajin patiently explained his thoughts to his two subordinates, deep down he didn't hold Meng Zhang in high regard.

Even if Meng Zhang's cultivation base was a grade higher than his, he wasn't worried about not being a match.

After hearing Ouyang Huajin's explanation, the two bodyguards didn't say much.

Due to their positions, they couldn't forcefully stop Ouyang Huajin, so they had to report this matter to Ouyang Jian.

Meanwhile, on Meng Zhang and Sun Sheng's side, after Sun Sheng had advised Meng Zhang for a while and saw that Meng Zhang hadn't said much, he assumed that Meng Zhang had heeded his advice and wouldn't pursue the matter any further.

Once he had calmed Meng Zhang down, Sun Sheng left the teahouse and hurriedly went to find Gu Yue Duo.

Although both of them were in the early stages of the Primordial Spirit realm, their statuses were quite different.

After much effort, Sun Sheng finally managed to meet with Gu Yue Duo.

Without exchanging pleasantries, Sun Sheng immediately stated his purpose.

He hoped that Gu Yue Duo and Meng Zhang would address the rumors together, quickly quelling the turmoil caused by the rumors.

Listening to Sun Sheng's words, Gu Yue Duo didn't show any signs of urgency. It was as if he didn't take these rumors seriously at all.

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