Originally, Jiang Chen had no intention of going.
In his view, neither he nor Nan Xinyue was in the wrong. However, out of respect for Wang Daolin’s earnest efforts and to avoid rejecting the elder's kind intentions, he had no choice but to reluctantly agree.
After leaving the small courtyard, the two first returned to Tingxue Peak to fetch Nan Xinyue, and then set off for Kongming Peak.
Meanwhile, inside a pavilion on Kongming Peak, Peak Master Duan Mingyuan was conversing with Shen Xiaotian while Shen Jingbing stood quietly to one side.
"Peak Master, Elder Wang has already arrived at the foot of the mountain," a disciple reported respectfully as he entered.
"Very well, bring him to the Clear Moon Lake to wait for me," Duan Mingyuan instructed.
"Wang Daolin? What is he doing here?" Shen Xiaotian asked, puzzled.
Hearing this, Duan Mingyuan chuckled and said, "If I may say so without inviting Peak Master Shen's laughter, it's just some minor trouble caused by the poor skills of a disciple in my peak."
With that, he recounted the recent arena incident from beginning to end, along with Wang Daolin's intention to act as a peacemaker.
Upon learning the situation, Shen Xiaotian shook his head with a smile. "That Wang Daolin is as protective of Tingxue Peak as ever."
Hearing that Wang Daolin had brought Jiang Chen and his disciple to their doorstep, Shen Jingbing let out a cold snort. "To think that fellow Jiang Chen actually has the nerve to come to Kongming Peak! Just watch how I teach him a lesson later!"
"Stop this nonsense," Shen Xiaotian scolded. "It was bad enough when you arbitrarily stirred up trouble at Tingxue Peak last time; you are not allowed to act willfully this time. Although that Jiang Chen is good for nothing, there are quite a few old fellows in the sect who still remember Luo Tingxue's kindness. If you stir up trouble again, those old fellows will come to your father to grumble once more."
"Father, I simply can't stand that fellow's arrogance," Shen Jingbing protested. "He was the one who dared to contradict you in the first place—isn't it only right that he comes and apologizes to you?"
Seemingly seeing right through her thoughts, Shen Xiaotian replied with a meaningful look, "Bing'er, I know you still have lingering feelings for that Jiang Chen. But even if he were willing to kneel and kowtow in apology, after the sect trials, the Tianyuan Sect will still have no place for him. You had better give up that notion sooner rather than later."
"Father!"
Shen Jingbing was about to say more when she saw Shen Xiaotian wave his hand and stand up.
"You haven't been back to Yujian Peak for a few days. Come with me to see your mother."
Hearing that Shen Xiaotian was leaving, Duan Mingyuan couldn't help asking, "What? Is Peak Master Shen not coming along?"
"No, I don't get along with that old fellow Wang Daolin."
After seeing Shen Xiaotian and his daughter off, Duan Mingyuan finally summoned a few disciples and leisurely left the pavilion.
***
By the shore of Clear Moon Lake, Wang Daolin and Jiang Chen sat at the tables, while Nan Xinyue stood by Jiang Chen's side.
Seeing that two plates of tea and pastries had already been devoured by the two of them without any sign of Duan Mingyuan, Jiang Chen turned to look at Wang Daolin.
"See that? This is their way of trying to intimidate us."
Wang Daolin naturally understood this as well. He sighed softly and replied, "You should say less. When Duan Mingyuan arrives, follow my lead in everything. You must not stir up any more trouble."
"Ah, fine, fine. We'll see what their attitude is like when they get here. If they're sincere about resolving the matter, I'll certainly give you this face."
While the two were talking, a hearty laugh rang out.
"Haha, what a rare visitor! Sorry to keep you waiting, Elder Wang."
After a ripple of spiritual energy, Duan Mingyuan and several disciples slowly descended from the sky.
Seeing this, Wang Daolin also stood up with a smile to greet them. Noticing that Jiang Chen was still lounging lazily in his chair, he hurriedly shot him a glance.
Jiang Chen shrugged, had no choice but to stand up, and gave a casual cupped-fist salute.
"It has been a long time, Elder Wang. You are as spirited as ever—your cultivation must have advanced a step further."
"Peak Master Duan is joking. This old man has been stuck at the Spirit Venerable Realm for decades without being able to break through the barrier; I suppose I have no hope of breaking through in this lifetime."
Although he was inferior in strength to Duan Mingyuan, who was in the Spirit-Union Realm, Wang Daolin was, after all, an elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, so Duan Mingyuan still treated him with courtesy.
Listening to their back-and-forth exchange of polite pleasantries, Jiang Chen couldn't help yawning, only to suddenly sense that someone was staring at him.
Glancing sideways, he happened to see several disciples standing behind Duan Mingyuan. Li Ze was among them, glaring at him with hostile eyes.
He couldn't be bothered with such a small potato; he merely glanced at them once and withdrew his gaze.
Seeing his attitude, Li Ze sneered.
The disciples beside him also began to whisper among themselves.
"And here I thought Jiang Chen had some backbone. After acting so arrogant before, he's still coming here to docilely apologize."
"That's only natural. In front of our Kongming Peak, he and Tingxue Peak are worth less than a fart!"
"I'm afraid this fellow Jiang Chen will just dump all the responsibility onto his disciple and wash his hands completely clean."
While the disciples were murmuring among themselves, Duan Mingyuan and Wang Daolin finally broached the main topic.
"Bringing Jiang Chen over this time is also for the sake of resolving the conflict between Kongming Peak and Tingxue Peak. To be frank, it was just a minor dispute sparked by an arena match. If it isn't resolved in time, I'm afraid it might affect the camaraderie between fellow disciples."
"Elder Wang speaks with reason. If you hadn't sent me that voice transmission earlier, I truly wouldn't have known about such a matter."
At that, Duan Mingyuan's gaze shifted fixedly onto Nan Xinyue, a strange ripple passing through his eyes, followed by a look of profound surprise.
With his Spirit-Union Realm strength, he naturally discerned the extraordinary qualities about Nan Xinyue at this moment.
"Peak Master Duan, from your perspective, how should this matter be resolved?" Wang Daolin asked.
Withdrawing his gaze, Duan Mingyuan smiled and replied, "Since Elder Wang has personally stepped in, Kongming Peak naturally must grant you this face. We will simply have that girl from Tingxue Peak come and apologize to my disciple, and then hand her over to the Law Enforcement Hall for punishment. Then this matter can be considered settled. How does Elder Wang find that?"
The fists hidden beneath Wang Daolin's sleeves tightened slightly, and his brow furrowed imperceptibly.
He had thought that with him stepping in and having Nan Xinyue issue an apology, the matter would simply be put to rest.
He never expected that Duan Mingyuan would still want the Law Enforcement Hall to intervene. One had to know that handing Nan Xinyue over to the Law Enforcement Hall would mean facing extremely severe penalties.
Seeing that Wang Daolin remained silent, Duan Mingyuan smiled without answering, turned his gaze to Jiang Chen, and continued, "Jiang Chen, what do you think?"
"Ah? Oh, Peak Master Duan makes complete sense."
Jiang Chen nodded casually. Standing beside him, Nan Xinyue wore her usual cold and desolate expression, but if one looked closely, the slender fingers hanging by her sides could be seen trembling slightly.
Seeing that Jiang Chen had agreed without hesitation, the smile in Duan Mingyuan's eyes grew even brighter.
Not far away, Li Ze and the other Kongming Peak disciples all wore disdainful smiles at the corners of their mouths.
They had guessed right.
When it mattered most, this good-for-nothing Jiang Chen really did push all the responsibility onto his own disciple.
"Sigh..."
Wang Daolin let out a long sigh, turned to look at Nan Xinyue, and said, "Girl, do you have any objections?"
"I..."
Nan Xinyue was about to reply when Jiang Chen suddenly spoke up.
"Hold on. How should we settle the matter of your Kongming Peak disciples bringing people to block the entrance of my Tingxue Peak to pick a fight earlier?"
"Oh? Such a thing actually happened?"
Duan Mingyuan feigned surprise, then looked toward his disciples and asked indifferently, "Who did this?"
At those words, Li Ze felt his scalp go numb and his face turn pale, but he had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward.
"Reporting to the Peak Master, it... it was this disciple."