"Amitabha!"
Master Huixing smiled with a benevolent face and said, "Alliance Leader Fu, how can the Hero Alliance act without investigating clearly before making judgments?"
"I have also heard of the death of Sect Leader Gao. What are the inside details? Why not allow this almsgiver Chen to explain one or two things?"
"Moreover, even if Sect Leader Gao died at the hands of almsgiver Chen, who is to say it was not a fair duel?"
Fu Qinglei's expression turned uglier. "Master Huixing, this matter has nothing to do with you. Our Hero Alliance's sources of information are more accurate than yours. We would not wrongly accuse this Chen Tianjiao!"
He was determined to frame Chen Fan, insisting that Chen Fan had used firearms to kill Gao Hongchang.
Many people with access to information might harbor doubts, but what did it matter?
The Hero Alliance had dominated the north for over thirty years, with immense power. How many dared to offend them?
Furthermore, among the martial arts factions and grandmasters present, the majority belonged to the Hero Alliance.
"Chen Tianjiao will surely offer excuses for such matters. Why not apprehend him and interrogate him first!"
Fu Qinglei added.
"This child is wicked and acts with utter disregard, already embodying demonic practices. He is a scourge to the martial arts world. Only by eliminating him early can peace be restored to the martial arts community!"
A voice rang out. It was none other than Zuo Tiance.
In such a setting, Zuo Tiance, being from the younger generation, had little standing to speak. However, as the young alliance leader of the Hero Alliance, his words represented Zuo Lizhou's stance.
Zuo Lizhou remained seated, not uttering a sound to stop him.
His silence was meant to leave room for maneuver and observe the situation.
Chen Fan was indeed a great enemy of the Hero Alliance, but as an alliance of martial artists, the Hero Alliance had to maintain appearances.
By having Zuo Tiance speak first, Zuo Lizhou would have more flexibility in his subsequent statements.
He also wanted to take this opportunity to gauge everyone's positions and attitudes.
He truly had not targeted Chen Fan specifically for this Hero Gathering.
However, Fu Qinglei harbored deep hatred for Chen Fan, coupled with the provocation from the Misty Rain Sect. If they could use the momentum to kill Chen Fan here and now, he would have no reason to object.
Zuo Tiance continued, "This Chen Tianjiao, months ago in Hangjiang, killed Gongsun Zheng of the Gongsun family and annihilated over a hundred people of the Western Ridge Xu family. No one could stop him!"
"In addition, three years ago, he rampaged through the capital, destroying seven great aristocratic families, including the Liu family. These were matters of the secular world, unrelated to the martial arts world, but they clearly reveal his cruelty and ruthlessness!"
"As for the matter of Sect Leader Gao of the Six Harmonies Sect, it happened just a few days ago. He had a conflict with a local gang in Yuzhou, went up to Hawk Mountain, colluded with others to plant explosives, and took the opportunity during his duel with Sect Leader Gao to blow up Sect Leader Gao and a group of elite disciples of the Six Harmonies Sect."
"All these acts are extremely brutal!"
Zuo Tiance said coldly, "Oh, and there's one more thing. Half a month ago, at Minghu Villa, Miss Shang was present. Chen Tianjiao, at the slightest disagreement, killed two elders and three disciples of the Changbai Sect!"
Everyone suddenly understood why Fu Qinglei had targeted Chen Fan.
Eyes shifted towards Shang Wushuang.
Shang Wushuang's expression became anxious, and she was about to speak, but Shang Rulong placed a hand on her shoulder, signaling her to remain silent.
"Such lawless, insane acts require no further questioning. He should be killed!"
Zuo Tiance declared, "Master Huixing, you possess profound Buddhist wisdom and compassion. Such an evil individual is no longer worthy of your mercy!"
Master Huixing glanced at Chen Fan and said, "Amitabha. Everything has a cause and effect. Even those who practice demonic arts should not be executed without proper instruction. Let us hear what almsgiver Chen has to say!"
Zuo Tiance was about to speak again when another voice cut in, "Master Huixing speaks wisely. Buddhism emphasizes cause and effect, and our Xuanmen also emphasizes destiny."
"Martial disputes have existed since ancient times. If we condemn a person without understanding the reasons, it only breeds more resentment."
Everyone turned to look. The speaker was the Daoist priest.
The Daoist priest held an ancient sword, exuding an ethereal aura, and said loudly, "Wudang's Chongxuzi greets all fellow practitioners!"
Many expressions became subtle.
Zuo Tiance and Fu Qinglei's expressions sank.
Yan Siyu's gaze flickered, and she scoffed, "Wudang and Shaolin are both great sects of the martial arts world, the leaders of the righteous path. How can you stand up for this wicked brat?"
"Amitabha!" Master Huixing said, "Whether almsgiver Chen is a wicked brat is still undecided. Why is almsgiver Yan so aggressive?"
"Precisely. The Hero Alliance takes in heroes, yet it cannot accommodate Chen Tianjiao. How will the heroes of the world view this?"
Chongxuzi stated.
Chen Fan looked at the monk and the priest, not surprised, but feeling a sense of emotion within.
In fact, he had known of their existence for a long time.
Before receiving the Hero Invitation, he had received a call from Jun Ruowang, who had informed him of the existence of these two martial arts grandmasters.
Shaolin and Wudang were not as powerful as depicted in television, movies, or martial arts novels, but these two sects, situated on famous mountains and with long histories, indeed possessed profound martial arts inheritances.
And unlike ordinary martial arts sects, these two were deeply intertwined with the secular world.
From imperial enfeoffments in past dynasties to their warriors serving the country and making significant contributions to the establishment of the current dynasty, their involvement was extensive.
Moreover, these two sects were representatives of Buddhism and Xuanmen.
Their influence spread widely in the secular world.
Therefore, these two martial arts grandmasters were actually helpers invited by Jun Ruowang for Chen Fan.
Last time Chen Fan had complained to Jun Ruowang about a lack of high-level combat power, leading to these two martial arts grandmasters coming to the capital.
Coincidentally, during the Hero Gathering, they attended without meeting Chen Fan first.
When Fu Qinglei and Zuo Tiance made their move, they did not hesitate to come forward and support Chen Fan, precisely because they knew that Shaolin and Wudang were different from other martial arts sects.
They were not primarily rooted in the martial arts world, but rather in the secular world, managing all Daoist and Buddhist sects on behalf of the government.
Therefore, even though their stance greatly displeased Fu Qinglei, he could not ignore it.
Yan Siyu, on the other hand, might not have cared about these matters. The Misty Rain Sect was a reclusive sect and did not place much importance on the status of Shaolin and Wudang.
"You..." Yan Siyu scoffed, "Shielding a villain, are you not afraid of being slandered by the heroes of the world?"
"Haha, I wonder if the 'heroes of the world' almsgiver Yan speaks of includes our humble Feng family?"
Just then, another voice chimed in.
Everyone turned to look, their expressions becoming subtle.
Feng Chengmo announced loudly, "Regarding Chen Tianjiao's affairs, the Feng family does indeed know a thing or two!"
"Especially concerning the events in the capital three years ago, the Feng family was even involved!"
He said with his hands behind his back, "The people Chen Tianjiao killed were all individuals stained with sin. There was nothing improper about it!"
"The Feng family?" Yan Siyu's face darkened.
Fu Qinglei's expression also grew increasingly unpleasant.
Zuo Lizhou, seated at the head, remained impassive, but a look of apprehension appeared in his eyes.
"Elder Yan, the name of the Misty Rain Sect has long been admired."
Feng Chengmo nodded in greeting and said, "Chen Tianjiao killing Gongsun Zheng was because Gongsun Zheng challenged him. Life and death are matters of fate."
"We martial artists dedicate our lives to martial arts. If there are grievances, they are ultimately settled through combat. Each man's fate is his own."
"As long as it is a fair duel, then the loser's demise is merely due to his inferior skills!"