Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

The commotion was quite significant and was quickly discovered by the patrolling disciples. The news was reported up the chain of command and soon reached the Flowing Cloud Palace.

Inside the hall, Shen Mo was listening to Han Lin report on the placement of new disciples and the allocation of resources. Su Xiao was also there; she had just received a message from the Shadow Guards at the border that border clashes between the Blazing Sun Sect and the Heavenly Sword Sect had increased recently, and the atmosphere was somewhat tense.

A disciple from the Enforcement Hall rushed in and knelt on one knee: "Sect Leader, Elder Han, Elder Su! Over at the martial arts arena, Senior Brother Wang Ergou from the Battle Hall got into a conflict with the new disciple Zhao Ming, and they almost came to blows. They have now been brought under control. Please give your instructions, Elders!"

Upon hearing this, Han Lin's gray eyebrows furrowed, and he sighed, "Sigh, here we go again! This is the third time this month! These new lads are all arrogant and conceited, and some of the more talented ones are even more haughty. Old Wang's Er Gou is the same; he takes advantage of being an elder and has a terrible temper!"

Su Xiao frowned and said, "Sect Leader, this trend cannot be allowed to continue. The sect is expanding rapidly now, and the disciples come from diverse backgrounds. If we cannot rectify the atmosphere and unite the people as soon as possible, we fear internal troubles may arise. Especially now that the external situation is delicate, we must not allow internal chaos."

Shen Mo put down the jade slip in his hand, his face expressionless. He tapped his fingers lightly on the table and asked the enforcement disciple, "What caused the conflict?"

The disciple truthfully reported what he had heard about the argument.

After listening, Shen Mo remained silent for a moment, then said to Han Lin, "Elder Han, go and bring all the parties involved to the lecture hall. Notify all disciples who have been disciples for less than three years to assemble at the lecture hall."

Han Lin was taken aback: "Sect Leader, are you going to... punish them in public as a warning to others?"

Shen Mo shook his head, a subtle, enigmatic smile playing on his lips: "Punishment? No. It's a lesson. Go and prepare to tell the children how our Qingyun Sect grew from a small hill to what it is today."

Han Lin seemed to understand, but still accepted the order and went to do it.

Shen Mo then said to Su Xiao, "Junior Sister Xiao, go and invite Elder Shi Tie to the lecture hall."

A knowing glint flashed in Su Xiao's eyes, and she nodded before leaving.

The news spread quickly. The sect leader was going to give a speech to the new disciples! And Elder Shi Tie was going to be there too! This was quite a novelty! Many of the older disciples also curiously went to see what was going on.

The lecture hall was packed with young faces, numbering five or six hundred. Wang Ergou and Zhao Ming stood at the very front with their heads drooping, flanked by their law enforcement disciples.

The disciples below whispered among themselves, speculating about how the two would be dealt with. Some said they would be made to reflect on their mistakes in seclusion, others said they would have their contribution points deducted, and still others said they might be expelled from the sect as a warning to others.

Zhao Ming's face turned pale; he hadn't expected things to escalate this much. Wang Ergou, on the other hand, remained defiant, but he was also a little apprehensive.

Just then, heavy footsteps approached. The crowd parted to make way, and Shi Tie, shirtless and revealing his muscular, bronze-colored upper body, strode over, carrying his massive, door-like axe.

He stood on the stage without saying a word, his bull-like eyes scanning the entire audience. A fierce aura of a battlefield general swept over them, and the noisy square instantly fell silent.

The new disciples had never seen anything like this before. They didn't dare to breathe loudly, and when those gazes swept over them, they felt as if they were being scraped by a knife.

Shi Tie was very satisfied with the effect. He grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "Everyone's here? Great! Today, I, Old Shi, am here on the sect leader's orders to have a chat with you new little brats!"

His voice was booming, making everyone's ears ring: "I heard that some people think our Qingyun Sect is rich now and can act arrogantly? And some people think they are geniuses, that they are great, and look down on this and that?"

His gaze fell on Wang Ergou and Zhao Ming: "You two, right? One of you relied on eating from the sect for a few more years, and the other relied on your family having some money, and you almost got into a fight in the martial arts arena? You're quite something!"

Wang Ergou blushed and lowered his head. Zhao Ming wished he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

"I, Old Shi, am a rough man; I don't understand all that fuss." Shi Tie slammed his giant axe on the ground with a dull thud. "I only believe in one thing! Let's see what they're made of! What good is all that talk!"

He pointed at Wang Ergou: "You, Wang Ergou! Don't you think you're so great just because you're a senior disciple? Come on, I'll suppress my cultivation to the seventh level of Qi Refining and spar with you! I'll give you three moves! If you can even touch the hem of my clothes, you win! From now on, you can walk around the Battle Hall as you please, I won't care!"

He then pointed at Zhao Ming: "You brat, don't you think you're a genius? Come on! I'll suppress my cultivation to the fifth level of Qi Refining! I'll still give you three moves! You'll be able to walk sideways when you meet me!"

The entire arena fell silent. To spar with Elder Shi Tie? What a joke! Even if he suppressed his cultivation to the same level, could these rookies compare to his combat experience, his murderous aura, and his power?

Wang Ergou's face turned green, and he waved his hands repeatedly, "Uncle-Master Shi! I was wrong! I'll never dare to do it again!"

Zhao Ming's legs went weak and he almost knelt down.

"You don't dare? Now you know you don't dare?" Shi Tie glared. "Where's your bravado in front of your own brothers? I'm telling you two, and you all!"

He pointed to all the new disciples below the stage, "Our Qingyun Sect's rules are: be ruthless to enemies! Be as cruel as winter! Be warm to your own brothers! Be as warm as spring!"

"If you're so capable, go and do it abroad! What kind of coward are you, bullying only your own kind! I, Old Shi, will despise you the most!"

His voice boomed like thunder: "Today, I'm making this clear! From now on, if anyone dares to bully the weak or mistreat their own people within the sect, without the Enforcement Hall even lifting a finger, I, Shi Tie, will personally 'spar' with them! I guarantee they'll never forget how comfortable they are for the rest of their lives!"

These words made the group of new disciples blush with embarrassment, feeling both fear and shame. Even some of the older disciples who had been watching the spectacle stopped laughing and their faces turned solemn.

At this moment, Han Lin walked to the front of the stage. He had changed into an old, faded Taoist robe and looked solemn.

"Elder Shi's words, though rough, are not without merit." Han Lin's voice was old but clear, carrying a sense of the weight of time. "Children, do you know that my Qingyun Sect was not born with such a grand presence?"

He gazed at the young faces below the stage, his eyes distant, and began to speak.

The story begins decades ago when Qingyun Sect was a dilapidated little sect, with its mountain gate in ruins and its disciples dwindling; it recounts how Sect Leader Shen led his first three junior brothers and sisters, scrimping and saving to train his disciples.

They talked about how these elders would personally descend the mountain to take on dangerous missions for a few low-grade spirit stones; they talked about how they endured humiliation and silently accumulated strength when oppressed by major sects...

There were no flowery words, only simple memories. When he got to the emotional part, Han Lin's voice choked up, and tears streamed down his face.

Many disciples in the audience, especially those from humble backgrounds who had experienced hardship, couldn't help but wipe away tears.

"...Our Qingyun Sect has no illustrious ancestors to rely on, nor endless resources to squander."

Han Lin wiped his face, his voice becoming firm, "What we have achieved today is thanks to the disciples' diligent cultivation! It is thanks to the sect leader's strategic planning! It is thanks to the unity of everyone, working together as one! It is thanks to our adherence to the 'Dao' and our protection of 'Yi'!"

"Today, the sect is stronger, and resources are more abundant. But this is absolutely not a means for you to indulge in extravagance, debauchery, and internal strife!"

Han Lin's gaze sharpened. "This family fortune was hard-won! Maintaining it will be even more difficult! We are surrounded by wolves and tigers, and harbor hidden dangers within. If we forget our roots and the path we came from because of temporary success, today's prosperity will be the beginning of tomorrow's decline!"

He concluded in a deep voice, "The sect leader asked me to ask you a question: What do you seek when you join my Qingyun Sect? Is it for temporary glory, or for the elusive path to immortality? If it is the former, you may leave the mountain now. The sect will provide you with travel expenses, and we can part amicably."

"If you fall into the latter category, you must remember the sect rules, cultivate your character, respect your teachers, and unite with your fellow disciples! Our Qingyun Sect doesn't want 'geniuses' who are only good at fighting amongst themselves; we only want brothers who can fight alongside us!"

"Gou Zai Fei Men Bian Shenhua" is full of classic quotes, come and find resonance.