Amidst the uproar, the disciples of the Fang sect fell silent.
They could not accept, nor could they believe, that their master, their teacher, was a villain who repaid kindness with enmity, even going so far as to cruelly murder the benefactor who had treated him with utmost kindness.
Fang Jie’s eyes welled up with tears as she cried out, “Father, this, this isn’t true!”
Fang Baiyan’s face was etched with guilt, a flash of pain in his eyes, but he offered no further defense.
Old Master Rong waved his sleeve and declared, “I thought you had your reasons, but it turns out you are truly a heartless scoundrel. Fang Baiyan, attending your birthday banquet is an embarrassment to this old man!”
“Fang Baiyan, I never expected you to be this kind of person. You are a disgrace to the martial arts world of Beijing and Tianjin!” Zhao Baihe also thundered in anger. “If this were ancient times, I would personally execute a scum like you!”
Only Huo Baitao, who had acted earlier, refused to believe it. He shouted, “Brother Fang, if you have your difficulties, speak them. I, Huo, believe you are not this kind of person. There must be more to this!”
He was a close friend of Fang Baiyan and trusted his character.
The other guests remained silent, but their gazes towards Fang Baiyan had changed.
Luo Bin, impatient, bellowed, “Fang Baiyan, what are you waiting for? Your reputation is ruined today. If you end your own life, people might still respect your courage in facing death.”
“If I am forced to act, you will surely die, and your disciples will not escape unharmed!”
Fang Baiyan looked at Luo Bin, his expression dejected.
Luo Bin reached out, snatched a large saber meant for performance from a Fang disciple, and tossed it towards Fang Baiyan. The saber flew through the air and landed, quivering, before Fang Baiyan.
Fang Baiyan looked at the saber with a complex expression and picked up its hilt.
“I can end my own life. I hope my family and disciples will not be implicated…”
Holding the saber, he spoke slowly to Luo Bin.
“They will not be implicated by you!” Luo Bin sneered.
Fang Baiyan sighed mournfully and surveyed everyone.
“Father, no!”
Fang Jie rushed forward, attempting to snatch the saber from Fang Baiyan’s hand.
Fang Baiyan raised a hand and placed it on Fang Jie’s shoulder. He looked at his daughter with a complex expression and said, “Jie’er, take good care of your mother and your brother. Though he is not promising now, perhaps you can guide him, and he will mature in the future!”
“No, Dad, don’t do anything foolish!” Fang Jie shook her head desperately. “We can surrender ourselves, accept the punishment of the law, we can compensate, we can do anything! You can’t do anything foolish…”
“Silly girl, it’s not that simple,” Fang Baiyan shook his head and turned to his senior disciple. “Take her away!”
“Master!”
The senior disciple of the Fang sect was indignant and unwilling, but under Fang Baiyan’s insistent gaze, he pulled Fang Jie away.
Fang Jie struggled forcefully, and the two became entangled.
“Thank you all, my friends and guests, for attending my sixtieth birthday banquet. I intended to offer a modest feast, not to entertain everyone to the fullest, but at least to keep you from being bored and weary.”
“I never imagined such an incident would occur.”
With a sigh, Fang Baiyan said, “In the past, I made a wrong turn and have been unable to break free. Today’s outcome is my own doing. I will bear all the sins alone, and pay with my life!”
“Even with a thousand reasons, I ultimately took the life of my benefactor, Brother Zhongying. To repay life with life is only natural. I only hope that in consideration of my self-inflicted end, you will not trouble my wife and children!”
Many guests fell silent.
Looking at his disciples, Fang Baiyan spoke again, “All disciples!”
“Master!”
“Master!”
Many Fang sect disciples stepped forward, their expressions complicated.
Many were unwilling and wanted to stop Fang Baiyan, but lacking the strength, and because most were not traditional disciples but rather outside disciples of Fang Baiyan, they did not dare.
“From today onwards, you all have no further connection with the Fang sect. In the future, you must remember to be upright, speak and act cautiously, take me, Fang Baiyan, as a warning, and do not stray from the right path!”
“Master…” several of Fang Baiyan’s inner disciples, injured, were now in tears.
Some knelt and kowtowed to Fang Baiyan, saying, “Your disciple remembers Master’s teachings!”
Others said, “Master, Little Jie is right. We can surrender ourselves, and we can take responsibility for our mistakes. It doesn’t have to come to this!”
Fang Baiyan shook his head.
At this moment, Shang Wushuang stepped forward and advised, “Uncle-Master Fang, Wushuang believes you are not this kind of person. If you have difficulties, please speak them. The Shang family will not stand idly by!”
Fang Baiyan shook his head, “Wushuang, you may step back. In the future, please help me advise Jie’er!”
Then, he raised the large saber in his hand and brought it towards his own neck.
*Ding!*
A crisp sound suddenly rang out, and a wine cup shattered just below the blade.
Fang Baiyan’s wrist shook, his grip loosened, and his hand split open.
The saber fell to the ground with a *clanging* sound.
Fang Baiyan froze and looked in the direction from which the wine cup had flown.
There, Chen Zhuo calmly rose and walked towards him.
“Who dares to meddle?”
Luo Bin also turned, his gaze sharp, and let out a fierce roar.
Chen Fan ignored Luo Bin and said leisurely, “The greatest difficulty throughout history is facing death. Since you have the courage to face death, why fear the struggle for life?”
Fang Baiyan’s expression was shaken by these words. He looked at Chen Fan with disbelief.
“You, you cannot die!”
Looking at Fang Baiyan, Chen Fan said.
Fang Baiyan stared blankly at Chen Fan.
“Who are you, and what gives you the right to speak here?” Luo Bin was furious and shouted, “According to the rules of the martial arts world, those who forget favors and repay kindness with enmity are to be punished by all!”
“Whether one has forgotten favors and betrayed trust is still debatable.” Chen Fan then looked at Luo Bin, his hands behind his back, and said, “As for you, you came with a coffin, injured the innocent, and coerced someone to his death. Do you truly believe no one can stop you?”
“By chance, since I have encountered this, you will not be leaving either. Stay and explain exactly what happened!”
“I am very interested in today’s events!”
“Just you?” Luo Bin sneered dismissively.
Chen Fan’s expression was calm. He raised a hand and grasped towards Luo Bin from a distance.
As he grabbed, an invisible wave of energy erupted, transforming into an unseen hand pressing down on Luo Bin.
Luo Bin felt the pressure, his expression changed drastically. He spread his stance and pushed out a palm.
Sounds of wind and thunder rolled, accompanied by the roars of tigers and dragons. The energy tore through the air, intertwining.
With a loud explosion, those nearby felt their ears ringing. A terrifying pressure seemed to sweep towards them, and they quickly scattered to take cover.
Blocking Chen Fan’s aerial grasp, Luo Bin staggered, a look of disbelief on his face, and shouted, “Peak Huajin! Who are you? How dare you meddle like this! Do you know what immense trouble you will bring upon yourself?”
“I don’t know how much trouble I will bring upon myself, I only know that you are in a lot of trouble right now!”
Chen Fan replied indifferently, took a step, and closed in on Luo Bin, unleashing a punch.
Amidst a dragon’s roar, the energy erupted once more, like thunder in the nine heavens, its power soaring to the sky!