Everyone was stunned, including Shangguan Haitang. She never dreamed that there was such an oddball in the martial arts world. Are you sure you’re not joking?

Ning Zhongze felt that Zhang Weihao’s words were a bit too harsh, and immediately switched to motherly mode, saying, “Lingyu, Chong’er is not that kind of person. Your words are too harsh. He already knows he was wrong.”

“He knows he’s wrong? What does he know? He’s not a child anymore. He’s the eldest disciple of the Huashan Sword Sect, and he’s already 22 years old (slightly younger to match Ning Zhongze’s age). Ximen Chuixue is two years younger than him and is already almost invincible, ranking in the top twenty of the martial arts rankings.”

Master’s wife, you can’t do this. A foolish mother spoils her son. It’s not that I, Zhang Lingyu, am unwilling to part with a good sword. These swords were meant to be given away anyway. It’s worth it to gamble Tian Boguang’s head.

But we can’t let this matter slide or downplay it. This isn’t just any Huashan Sword Sect disciple; he’s the eldest disciple who could inherit the sect. Can you imagine what it would be like to let someone who can’t distinguish right from wrong and is always indulging in drinking and causing trouble inherit the Huashan Sword Sect?

If this is your choice, then I’m sorry, but I, Zhang Lingyu, am leaving the Huashan Sword Sect today. I don’t want to be implicated by such scoundrels and ruin the reputation of my Zhang family, which has been built up over a hundred years. How can I, a fine man like Zhang Lingyu, associate with such a fool who can’t distinguish right from wrong and is prone to making mistakes due to excessive drinking?

Lin Pingzhi, having not experienced any major upheaval, was a genuinely passionate young man. Hearing this, he was filled with righteous indignation and his blood boiled. He immediately stood behind Zhang Weihao, cupped his fists to Ning Zhongze, his master’s wife, and said, “Master’s wife, I agree with Senior Brother Lingyu’s statement. Senior Brother went too far this time. He was the one who recited the sect rules to me back then, repeatedly telling me that I must never violate them. But now? If I, Lin Pingzhi, am not severely punished, I cannot accept it.”

“Master’s wife, we should stand up for what is right, not for our own. This time, as your junior brother, I must also stand up and say that we cannot tolerate this.”

Liang Fa and his other junior brothers quickly stood up to respond. It was fine if they liked to drink occasionally, but this time they went too far in defending Tian Boguang, a notorious lecher.

The scene before was utterly humiliating for them; they had completely lost all the face and dignity they had accumulated over this period.

Now, the thought that such a person would become the sect leader is unacceptable. The entire sect will become a laughing stock, and they will be pointed at and gossiped about wherever they go in the martial world. Even righteous female warriors will avoid them as far away as possible.

It’s not that we have to do anything to Linghu Chong, but we can’t just try to smooth things over and downplay the issue.

If everyone acts like this, then what rules are left?

Faced with this sudden coercion, Ning Zhongze was momentarily at a loss. After all, this was a disciple she had raised since childhood. Even though Ning Zhongze knew the rules, she couldn’t bring herself to do it, because strictly enforcing them would mean abolishing his martial arts and expelling him from the sect.

At this moment, Zhang Weihao looked at Linghu Chong and questioned, “Senior brother, do you think that this matter was me, Zhang Lingyu, targeting you and deliberately framing you?”

“No, Junior Brother, you are right. It was I, Linghu Chong, who was wrong. This is my just punishment, and I accept it.”

Ning Zhongze: “Lingyu, what do you think is the most appropriate punishment?”

“Forget about the Cliff of Repentance; that’s just treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Let’s just cancel Linghu Chong’s status as the top disciple of the Huashan Sword Sect, changing him from an inner disciple to an outer disciple, which means canceling his successor status. As for who will be chosen as master and mistress, you can decide that yourselves later. Anyway, don’t worry about me; I will not accept the Huashan Sect’s membership. That’s the best outcome.”

Ning Zhongze asked in surprise, “Is that all?”

“That’s enough. The trouble we might encounter later is only because Linghu Chong is the sect leader’s eldest disciple and the sect’s future heir. If he weren’t, or even considered a direct disciple of the inner sect, it wouldn’t matter. As for whether he will regain his status as the eldest disciple of the inner sect, we’ll see what he does in the future.”

Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important; judge by intention, not by action, for by action, there are no filial sons from poor families. Of all vices, lust is the worst; judge by action, not by intention, for by intention, no one is perfect.

Not only in the martial arts world, but also in the imperial court, many times it’s not about what you say, but what you do; just show your attitude.

This is the best punishment for Linghu Chong. If he continues to indulge in drinking and cause trouble without repentance, I advise his master and mistress to give up on him.

No matter how talented someone is, they’re destined to be just a henchman. Such a person is utterly incapable of shouldering the responsibility of leading a sect. Forcing them into that position would only harm both themselves and others. The current Huashan Sword Sect cannot withstand such turmoil.

“What great things can someone who can’t even quit drinking, who can’t control even the simplest desires, achieve? Their life will be just like that; no matter how high their martial arts skills, they’ll only end up as someone else’s pawn.”

Zhang Weihao’s summary is spot on. Linghu Chong in the original novel is just like that. Even if he becomes the best in the world in martial arts, he is still just another Feng Qingyang. In the end, he can only hide in the back of Mount Hua and cannot be seen by anyone. He is just a pawn of the leaders of Wudang and Shaolin.

Ning Zhongze had never considered such things before, but now she really takes them to heart.

At first, Ning Zhongze also thought that Zhang Weihao had ulterior motives, but now it seems that Zhang Weihao is the real mature and steady one, who is objective and not personal.

Laudenuo was stunned. What the hell? He had infiltrated the enemy’s leader. Did that mean he was now the head disciple of the sect leader and the most likely person to succeed him as the leader of the Huashan Sword Sect?

Laudenau, who had never thought of this before, was suddenly stunned by this unexpected gift. He wondered if he should perform well and show his true strength in the future, just in case it worked out.

If he were to become the leader of the Huashan Sword Sect, with a powerful backer like Zhang Lingyu, Lao Denuo suddenly felt that being an undercover agent might not be so bad, or he might find an opportunity to kill Zuo Lengchan.

This way, no one will know that I am actually an undercover agent sent by the Songshan Sword Sect, and I can peacefully be the leader of the Huashan Sword Sect.

Zhang Weihao had no idea what Lao Denuo, the traitor, was thinking. He had been observing Linghu Chong’s reaction and saw that he had indeed accepted the outcome, even looking at him with gratitude.

What can I say about Linghu Chong?

He’s not a bad person, he has his own kindness and bottom line, and he also has his own chivalrous spirit, but he’s just out of his mind. He has no shrewdness or emotional intelligence, and he’s too easily manipulated. He’s a natural tool, suitable to be a wandering knight-errant, a lone ranger. He’s completely unsuitable to be the leader of a sect and is incapable of shouldering heavy responsibilities.