A San's expression turned grim. After a loud shout, he silenced the others. He cast a glance at the people behind Mo Di, then turned his gaze back to Mo Di and said in a deep voice.
"Junior Brother Mo Di, Lord Li is my friend. He has come to the Buddhist sect specifically to visit an elder. I vouch for him in my capacity as a Buddha Son. Do I still need your Law Enforcement Hall to question this? When did the authority of an outer sect's Law Enforcement Hall ever supersede that of a Buddha Son?"
After A San finished speaking, the eyes of the people behind Mo Di first showed surprise, then a hint of apprehension.
Everyone in the Buddhist sect knew about A San, the Buddha Son's temper. They had never seen him angry before, nor had they seen him use his Buddha Son status to pressure others. But today, A San was acting completely out of character, leaving the ordinary monks unsure how to react.
However, remembering that they were Mo Di's subordinates, they took comfort in the thought that the bigger figures would handle any trouble. A subtle sigh of relief escaped them as they all looked to Mo Di, awaiting his response.
To their surprise, Mo Di remained as steadfast as ever. Even though it was the first time he had seen A San angry, his composure was unshaken. Instead, he spoke righteously.
"What are you saying, Senior Brother? I am merely acting according to the sect rules. I never considered things as deeply as Senior Brother imagines. If Senior Brother feels I have caused him to lose face in front of his friend, then I shall not inquire further."
He then added in a low voice.
"With Senior Brother's status as a Buddha Son, whatever Senior Brother asks me to do, I will do. Even if it's just the rules of an outer sect's Law Enforcement Hall, if Senior Brother wishes to rewrite them, I am willing to do so."
"Junior Brother Mo Di!!!"
A San's face instantly turned crimson upon hearing this. When had he ever had such thoughts? He had simply been unable to bear seeing Li Xiaotian humiliated and had stepped forward to defend him. How had it turned into him using his Buddha Son status to bully others and act arrogantly?
"Buddha Son, please calm your anger!!! Elder Mo Di knows his mistake. Please do not blame Elder Mo Di!"
As soon as A San spoke, the people behind Mo Di, at Mo Di's signal, all began to speak.
"Buddha Son, our Law Enforcement Hall admits its mistake. We will never dare to interfere in the affairs of the Buddha Son again. Please forgive us."
"Buddha Son, Elder Mo Di was merely acting in accordance with justice. Please do not be angry with Elder Mo Di because of this. We offer our apologies to the Buddha Son on behalf of Elder Mo Di."
"You! You all!!!"
A San's face flushed, and his heart churned with anger. He wasn't foolish; how could he not see through Mo Di and the others' tactics? Yet, he couldn't find a way to deal with the situation. He had always been one to avoid conflict, and after becoming a Buddha Son, he had devoted himself entirely to studying Buddhist scriptures, never using his Buddha Son status for personal gain.
Yet, after only a few words today, these people were all acting this way. To outsiders, it would appear as though he was acting domineeringly and using his status to oppress others.
"Senior Brother, please calm down. Junior Brother knows his mistake!"
Unexpectedly, Mo Di escalated the situation further. He bowed deeply to A San, his face etched with apparent fear, though his eyes were filled with cold smiles and mockery.
"Buddha Son, please calm your anger. The Law Enforcement Hall knows its mistake!"
The people behind Mo Di also bowed in unison. They were currently above the outer sect, and many monks noticed the scene, expressing their astonishment.
"How did the Law Enforcement Hall offend the Buddha Son? To offer such a deep bow?"
"The Buddha Son is angry. I never imagined that the Buddha Son, who usually shows kindness to everyone, would be so overbearing when angered, making the elders of the Law Enforcement Hall apologize to him in front of tens of thousands of monks in the outer sect."
"Keep your voices down. What is the Buddha Son's status? His kindness to us usually is because we are insignificant figures, a pretense. But if you truly act foolishly and disrespect the Buddha Son, you will be close to death."
"Heh heh, aren't those people from the Law Enforcement Hall usually quite arrogant? Always talking about rules and regulations. Now look at them, they've offended the Buddha Son, they deserve it!"
"Perhaps the Law Enforcement Hall's authority in the outer sect will never be the same. After losing so much face, how will they have the nerve to discipline us anymore?"
"Stop talking, be careful you're heard. We insignificant people can't afford to offend the Law Enforcement Hall, and we certainly can't afford to offend the Buddha Son."
Countless monks on the ground were chattering, but they were unaware that with A San and the others' abilities, they could hear every word.
Mo Di's lips curled upwards, and he laughed heartily in his mind, wishing that everyone in the Buddhist sect could witness this scene. The Buddhist sect's Buddha Son, actually using his status to bully others! If this were to spread, A San's reputation as the Buddha Son would be ruined.
A San's body trembled slightly. The discussions of those people stabbed into his heart like knives, causing him immense pain. Being misunderstood and slandered by his fellow disciples, being feared by them – this was not what he wanted. He was not that kind of person at all.
Just as A San's composure began to falter, a hand rested on his shoulder, and Li Xiaotian's voice reached his ear.
"Let me handle this. Learn from this. You are a Buddha Son, one of the most esteemed individuals in the Buddhist sect. How can you let these scumbags manipulate you?"
Hearing Li Xiaotian's words, A San felt an inexplicable warmth in his heart and cast a grateful look at him. Li Xiaotian had initially not intended to intervene, but A San truly exasperated him. He was a Buddha Son, after all. What was wrong with using his status to bully others? With being arrogant and overbearing? A San had the status, he had the strength, yet he was being manipulated by a Law Enforcement Elder. This was too embarrassing.
Li Xiaotian stepped forward, positioning himself in front of A San, and looked at Mo Di with a playful expression, speaking in a condescending tone.
"If you admit your mistake, you should look like you admit your mistake. All of you are only half-bowing. Is this disrespecting the Buddha Son? Is the Buddha Son's honor that cheap?"
"Kneel down and admit your mistakes! Kneel here for three days and three nights, so the Buddha Son can see your sincere attitude of repentance!"
As soon as Li Xiaotian finished speaking, A San behind him immediately looked anxious. This was making matters even worse! But at this moment, Li Xiaotian squeezed A San's shoulder firmly, signaling him not to speak.
Mo Di and the others were even more taken aback, followed by their faces turning red with anger. Them kneeling down to admit their mistakes? This would not only disgrace A San, but it would truly disgrace their entire Law Enforcement Hall!
"Presumptuous! What right do you have to speak like that?! You're an outsider, what makes you qualified to interfere in the affairs of my Buddhist sect?"
A cold glint flashed in Mo Di's eyes. How dare this outsider interfere in the matters between himself and A San? Who gave him the audacity?
"You are the one who is presumptuous!!! Yelling at the Buddha Son, who gave you the courage? You're just an outer sect Law Enforcement Elder, and in the eyes of the Buddha Son, you are nothing!"
Li Xiaotian roared, his demeanor even more arrogant than Mo Di's.
"You, you're seeking death!!!"
Mo Di's face instantly turned a purplish-red. He gritted his teeth and growled, feeling both wronged and enraged. Those words had struck directly at his pride. He and A San had once been on equal footing. After failing to compete for the Buddha Son position, A San had become a Buddha Son and soared to prominence, while he had been assigned to the outer sect as a Law Enforcement Elder. One in heaven, the other on earth! Outsiders thought his position as a Law Enforcement Elder was glorious, but he knew how ridiculous he was compared to A San – a world of difference. He was unwilling! He was unconvinced! But who would have thought that today his scar would be exposed so openly, shattering his composure.
Mo Di clenched his teeth, his eyes bloodshot, staring fixedly at Li Xiaotian and growling.
"Do you know what you are doing? Do you know where you are? Insulting me like this, believe it or not, I will toy with you until you die!"
"You are threatening me?"
Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed in Li Xiaotian's eyes, and a terrifying aura erupted, pressing directly onto Mo Di and his men, causing their expressions to change dramatically.