The Great Protector's retreating footsteps suddenly halted.
But he didn't turn back, merely replying in a low voice, "Alright, Group Leader Xue, I've heard your words! I will definitely deliver them to our Pavilion Master!"
With that, he didn't linger for another second, quickly departing.
"Qiao'er, I'll be leaving too then. If you wish to continue recruiting Qin Yi in Haicheng, I wish you success soon!"
Gong Xuan clapped his knees, stood up, and said.
Xue Qiao'er looked surprised, "Senior Gong, you're leaving tonight?"
"Yes, there's nothing more for me to do by staying in Haicheng. It's better to find a place to go into seclusion and improve myself!" Gong Xuan sighed, "You young people nowadays are becoming more and more monstrous. If I don't work harder, I'll truly be washed up on the beach by you!"
"Senior Gong, you jest. I'm still far behind you!" Xue Qiao'er replied.
Gong Xuan waved his hand with a smile, saying no more, and left.
That same evening, in the northwest region, within a village characterized by its bamboo houses and structures, a distinctive settlement.
Several elders, clad in traditional attire, sat cross-legged on a bamboo building within the village.
The elder at the forefront wore a black cloth headband and held a skull-headed walking stick.
He sat in the central position above the bamboo building, while the other elders were seated on either side below him.
This was the Miao Village!
The elder holding the skull-headed walking stick was the leader of the Miao Village, Miao Wang Jin Xiuxian!
The elders seated below him on both sides were all highly respected elders of the Miao Village.
Jin Xiuxian surveyed the elders on his left and right and spoke calmly, "It's late at night, and I've called you all here. Does anyone know why?"
The elders on both sides exchanged glances, their faces filled with confusion, not understanding.
After a moment, the elder in the first position to Jin Xiuxian's right spoke, "Miao Wang, has something major happened in our Miao Village again?"
"But it shouldn't be! Our Miao Village has been doing well recently, and I haven't heard of anything wrong!"
He was Mo Fa, the Grand Elder of the Miao Village, second only to Jin Xiuxian in status.
"Heh heh..." Jin Xiuxian chuckled and said, "Nothing has happened. Then why did Li Changsheng from the Order Hall call me just now, issuing a stern warning to our Miao Village!"
"Li Changsheng called you!"
The elder in the first position to Jin Xiuxian's left subconsciously said, "Our Miao Village hasn't committed any offenses recently! What is Li Changsheng warning us about?"
"Li Changsheng said that in the past two days, in Haicheng, our Miao Village's cultivated gu worms have been harming people! He believes we did it!"
"He's slandering us!"
Mo Fa exclaimed indignantly, "For years, the Order Hall has kept us Miao villagers under tight surveillance, treating us like criminals! We rarely even leave the village, so how could we possibly go to Haicheng to harm people!"
"I believe the Order Hall is framing us deliberately to eradicate the Miao Village completely!"
"In the eyes of the Order Hall, we Miao Village are an unstable element. They've always seen us as a thorn in their side and have wanted to get rid of us for a long time!"
"Exactly!"
"The Grand Elder is right! They're deliberately falsely accusing us!"
"The Order Hall is going too far!"
"..."
Instantly, several Miao Village elders present, filled with righteous indignation, spoke out one after another.
The bamboo building was filled with angry curses.
Jin Xiuxian sat above, remaining silent. After they had cursed for several minutes, he raised his hands and gestured downwards.
The elders then fell silent, ceasing their curses!
Jin Xiuxian spoke slowly, "I know you all have deep grievances against the Order Hall, but when you're under someone else's roof, you have to be humble! The Order Hall represents the authorities, and they possess the strongest fighting power. Even if we are unhappy, there's nothing we can do!"
"Now, Li Changsheng has given me twenty-four hours to provide him with an explanation regarding the appearance of gu worms in Haicheng! Everyone, quickly think of a solution. How should I provide him with an explanation!"
"What does the appearance of gu worms in Haicheng have to do with us?" Mo Fa scoffed. "In this world, we're not the only ones who cultivate gu worms; others do too!"
"Yes, explain what! It wasn't us, so why should we explain?"
"Perhaps this is just a staged play by the Order Hall!"
"..."
They all began to grumble indignantly again. Some of the more hot-tempered elders even resorted to curses.
Jin Xiuxian raised his hands again, signaling them to stop.
"I called you all here so late not to listen to your complaints and grumbling, but to brainstorm solutions!"
Jin Xiuxian said, "What's the use of you all cursing here so fiercely? Can Li Changsheng hear you, or can others in the Order Hall hear you?"
Mo Fa and the other elders fell silent. Everyone furrowed their brows, looking displeased.
After a while, Third Elder Bidal, seated beside Mo Fa, spoke, "Miao Wang, I have something to say, I don't know if I should..."
Jin Xiuxian waved his hand directly, "Third Elder, speak your mind. We are all family here, no outsiders."
"Yes, Old Third, just say what you have to say. Don't dither like a woman!" Mo Fa said impatiently.
"Alright, then I'll speak directly..."
Bidal organized his thoughts and said, "Miao Wang, esteemed elders, the Order Hall has always looked down on us, treating us like criminals. We've lived under this constant surveillance for over a decade! I wonder, how much longer do we have to live like this?"
"Do you all want to live your entire lives being monitored like this, without any freedom?"
"Therefore, my suggestion is, we should resist!"
As he spoke these words, especially the last sentence, everyone present, whether Jin Xiuxian or Mo Fa and the other elders, stiffened in their seats.
Then, different expressions appeared on each of their faces.
There was astonishment, interest, apprehension, and fear...
Jin Xiuxian asked, "Resist? What do you mean by resist, Third Elder?"
"The Order Hall is the foremost power in our martial arts world. For so many years, their position has never been shaken. With just our Miao Village, to resist the Order Hall, isn't that like throwing an egg against a rock, inviting our own demise!"
Mo Fa nodded in agreement, "The Order Hall has established many rules and governs various factions in the martial arts world. I don't know how many factions dislike the Order Hall, yet for so many years, no faction has dared to resist! Our Miao Village cannot be the first to stick its neck out!"
"Miao Wang and Grand Elder are right! Third Elder, don't be foolish. Give up this idea soon!"
Second Elder Gu Xuelou, seated in the first position to Jin Xiuxian's left, advised.