However, Wang Ping's state of mind was much calmer than before. He picked up his wine cup, took a slow sip, then set the cup down and said indifferently:
"A Prodigy like Brother Han, how would he have time to play around with you all?"
These words were spoken without any courtesy. The few Cultivators who had gathered around looked at each other, but did not dare to retort.
The current Han Xuanji was someone who had reached the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder; his momentum was at its peak. These playboys were truly not qualified to have him come out specifically to socialize with them.
"Brother Wang Ping is right, you are right... It was our rashness."
That Cultivator gave a sheepish smile and retreated back to his own seat.
Wang Ping did not pay any more attention to them and continued to drink slowly, his expression indifferent.
However, only he himself knew that beneath this indifferent appearance, he was hiding a bit of a guilty conscience. It was true that he knew Han Xuanji, and it was true that he had always spoken up for Han Xuanji, but to say they had a deep friendship... that didn't really count.
At the very least, he was not confident that he could get Han Xuanji to come out specifically to meet these people.
"However..."
Wang Ping set down his wine cup, his gaze flickering slightly, as the Sword Intent that Han Xuanji had given him surfaced in his mind.
After returning, he had tried to follow Han Xuanji's advice, spending quite a lot of time studying Artifact Refining and the maneuvering techniques for Combat Secret Treasure, and even secretly collected many relevant classics.
But after his father found out, he was scolded severely:
"Neglecting your proper work! How can a direct descendant of my Wang Family mess around with those heterodox paths? Focusing on Cultivating is the right path!"
He was scolded so badly that he felt ashamed and had no choice but to give up.
Now... Wang Ping gripped his wine cup tightly, a strange impulse welling up in his heart.
Han Xuanji being able to reach the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder showed that he truly had real ability.
His judgment shouldn't be wrong, right?
"I'll go back and reason with Father again..."
Wang Ping secretly made up his mind, stood up, drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, and cupped his hands toward Hun Mingyuan:
"Brother Mingyuan, I still have matters to attend to, I will take my leave first."
"Hey? We haven't finished chatting yet..."
Just as Hun Mingyuan was about to ask him to stay, Wang Ping had already strode out of the restaurant.
Behind him, the discussions in the main hall were still noisy, but Wang Ping no longer cared.
...
On the other side.
Many high-level Elders of the Hun Family began to hold urgent consultations, all expressing regret over their past actions.
Although most of them had not clearly taken a side at the Family council, among their younger generation descendants, many had publicly made negative comments about Han Xuanji.
Now it seemed that this was not just as simple as offending Han Xuanji, but also offending the faction of Hun Qianxue behind Han Xuanji.
Everyone knew clearly that when Han Xuanji returned to the Family, the Family Head would definitely carry out a reckoning.
For a time, the clan was in a state of panic; many began to find ways to distance themselves, and some even took the initiative to contact Hun Qianling, wanting to send messages to curry favor.
Deep within the Hun Family, inside a quiet grand hall.
Ling Feng sat restlessly with a livid expression, holding a message Jade Slip in his hand. He had read the contents over and over again many times, but he still refused to believe it.
"How is it possible... How is it possible..."
He had originally thought that Han Xuanji was just a lucky piece of trash, who would at most climb a hundred steps before having to retreat in embarrassment.
Yet he didn't expect that this young man, who seemed to have ordinary Qi, was actually hiding so much.
"He clearly has such strength, why did he insist on hiding his true ability?"
Ling Feng became more and more irritated the more he thought about it, an inexplicable fire rising in his heart. He did not reflect on his own problems at all; instead, he felt that Han Xuanji had deliberately hidden his strength, waiting for him to take the bait.
"Damn it!"
Ling Feng gritted his teeth, finally stood up, and hurried out of the hall.
He had to find help as soon as possible.
Now the spearhead of public opinion outside was all pointed at him, believing that he was jealous of Han Xuanji, which was why he had initiated the questioning.
If he didn't find a way to turn the situation around, his situation would be even more difficult when Han Xuanji returned.
Before long, Ling Feng arrived in front of an Immortal Cave.
A moment later, the Immortal Cave door opened, and Ling Feng walked in quickly.
Inside the grand hall, Hun Cangfeng was sitting at the head, and beside him sat Third Young Master Hun Qianchen.
The two were clearly discussing something as well, with several Jade Slips placed on the table in front of them.
Ling Feng's heart sank; he knew they were most likely also discussing Han Xuanji's matter.
"Ling Feng, you have come."
Hun Cangfeng lifted his eyelids, his tone indifferent.
Ling Feng hurriedly bowed to salute, then paid his respects to Third Young Master Hun Qianchen, and then said anxiously:
"Elder Cangfeng, Third Young Master Hun Qianchen, you must uphold justice for me!"
Hun Cangfeng looked at him indifferently:
"What matter are you so anxious about?"
Ling Feng said with a bitter face:
"Elder, you must have heard the public opinion outside. Now everyone is pointing their finger at me, saying that I am jealous of Han Xuanji and deliberately suppressing him.
But I swear to heaven, at the time at the Family council, I was just discussing the matter based on facts, and absolutely had no selfish motives!"
He paused and added:
"Moreover, who could have expected that Han Xuanji was hiding so deeply? If he had shown this kind of talent earlier, how would I have questioned him? I ask the Elder and the Young Master to judge clearly!"
Hun Cangfeng sneered inwardly.
Discussing the matter based on facts? No selfish motives? This fellow was clearly jealous of Han Xuanji, which was why he jumped out to cause trouble.
Now that things had happened, he started crying injustice.
However, although he thought this in his heart, he did not show it on his face; he just stroked his beard, noncommittal.
Third Young Master Hun Qianchen spoke first, his voice slow and steady:
"Ling Feng, you should understand the principle that the general trend cannot be reversed."
He glanced at Ling Feng and said indifferently:
"Han Xuanji reached the top of the Five Elements Heavenly Ladder; this is a solid achievement. Now, whoever targets him again is setting themselves against the majority of the Family."
"If you are a smart person, you should know what to do at this time."
Ling Feng's face turned pale, and he hurriedly said:
"Young Master, I..."
Third Young Master Hun Qianchen waved his hand, interrupting him:
"If you were wrong, then you were wrong. Won't it be over if you apologize when the time comes? It's not some life-or-death enmity.
I don't see Han Xuanji as a narrow-minded person either. If your attitude is sincere, this matter can just be considered over."
Ling Feng's expression was extremely ugly. His lips trembled for a long time before he squeezed out a sentence:
"I... what did I do wrong? If it weren't for him deliberately hiding, would I have done that?"
Upon hearing this, Hun Cangfeng's face immediately sank, and he said straightforwardly:
"Ling Feng, if you still have this attitude, then I cannot help you. Let this matter end here. If you apologize, Third Young Master Hun Qianchen and I can still speak up for you.
If you do not apologize, then there is nothing I can do to help."
His tone was stern, leaving no room for negotiation. Ling Feng's expression changed several times, sometimes livid, sometimes flushed, his eyes full of unwillingness and anger. But he also knew clearly that Hun Cangfeng was right.