In the morning of the next day Wu Long was called to the Main Hall of the Frozen Garden Palace, where he saw the Grand Elder and Prime Disciple of the Phoenix Sword Sect of the Piercing Cloud Continent, as well as an Elder of the Cloud Piercing Sect.

‘Hmm, it seems this is going to be a little tricky’

The latter thought as he remembered how the Grand Elder of his Sect behaved around Wu Long.

Xue Bing who stood to the side of the Palace Master, slightly nodded to Wu Long to which he responded in kind. This small exchange, however minute and fleeting did not escape the eyes of the Prime Disciple’s Master.

“… Daoist Wu, I apologize for calling you so early, but it seems there has been an incident…”

Qiu Yilao sat on the stone throne on the platform at the end of the hall, reclining a little to the side as she lightly massaged her temple, with a light frown from before which changed to a very well concealed surprise at what she just saw, while Wen Mei and Grand Elder Qu stood to the other side of her Disciple.

Grand Elder Hu of the Phoenix Sword Sect had a disgruntled look, quite apparently been venting his dissatisfaction the whole morning.

It would have not been a problem for Qiu Yilao to deal with the situation if the delegation involved was not one invited by the Piercing Cloud Sect. Which was why she looked so frustrated and tired as she likely was stuck with these people for quite a long time already.

“I understand, Palace Master Qiu. I do have to say I was not in the best mood yesterday so I handled it with a little less patience than was productive”

Wu Long chuckled at that sight, visibly in lighter mood than previously while Grand Elder Qu narrowed her eyes and her colleague beside her smiled at that sight.

“Haa~, so, do you have anything to add to the explanation given by Grand Elder Hu then?”

“Not much really, I can only say that, as I already told to Grand Elder Qu the day before, I do not believe there was any wrongdoing on my part”

He shrugged his shoulders while the nostrils of Grand Elder Hu to the side began to flare.

“Then how do you explain the face of that disciple over there?”

Grand Elder Qu then turned to the Prime Disciple of the Phoenix Sword Sect. 𝘪𝑎.𝘤𝑜𝘮

“Hmm, let’s see, he and his companions were inviting the disciples of my sect to an unsolicited ‘comparison of notes’, now that I remember it they were dirtying the courtyard generously provided to us by the Frozen Garden Palace with their feet…”

Wu Long touched his chin seemingly trying to remember the correct sequence of events, but pivoted which made the Grand Elder of the Phoenix Sword Sect flare up.

“D-dirtying? What are you implying exactly?!”

“I’m just saying, it is an insult to the Frozen Garden Palace to treat their facilities with such disrespect”

“Disre-…”

“Khm, to the point please, both of you”

Grand Elder Qu lightly coughed, interrupting the bewildered Grand Elder Hu as the others sensed something strange because Wu Long seemed quite serious when he was talking. As if discussing a major problem.

“Of course, as I was saying they were defiling the courtyard by their presence, hmm, and then…

Ah yes! After a quick verbal exchange his face attacked the palm of my hand”

Wu Long continued in a solemn tone while both members of the Phoenix Sword Sect had slightly shaking shoulders from anger and frustration, at the end having an epiphany of what happened.

“…!”

The Prime Disciple whose face was better than it was yesterday thanks to good medicine, but still badly swollen, almost spit out a mouthful of blood from the frustration as he heard his explanation.

“…Sorry… did you not mispronounce? You attacked his face with the palm of your hand?”

Grand Elder Qu spoke after a slight pause.

“I did not mispronounce. The mere fact his face touched my hand is an insult and a grievous offense that I would count as an attack”

Wu Long shook his head with a straight expression as the eyes of both members of the Phoenix Sword Sect became so round they nearly popped out while their faces began reddening. At this time the expressions of some Elders of the Frozen Garden Palace and even Qiu Yilao began to tense up.

“Nonsense!!! See this, Palace Master Qiu?! This scoundrel is not taking any of it seriously-…!”

“On the contrary, I am taking it very seriously. I even used one sword-cleaning cloth to wipe the hand, naturally throwing it away after, so I incurred a financial loss as well”

Wu Long’s dead-serious face and the obvious indignation of someone who has been wronged as he proclaimed his ‘financial loss’ finally made the Palace Master and Wen Mei, as well as the Elders who previously held back quietly chuckle, and even Xue Bing covered her mouth with a long sleeve of her robe to the shock of almost everyone who knew her.

“What financial loss?! You are making this into a farce!!!”

“And you don’t think it is?”

“Wha-…?!”

Wu Long asked with a smile this time rendering the Grand Elder at a loss for words. He turned to look at the Elder of the Cloud Piercing Sect who struggled to come up with anything to say as well as he was still gauging his approach to the situation from the reactions of the others.

“Let’s be honest, this discussion is not going to produce anything except some mean words we say to each other. What do you honestly expect the outcome of this meeting to be?”

Wu Long sighed, shrugging his shoulders as he finished having some fun since he was participating in a farce anyway.

“Daoist Wu! I would appreciate a little more decorum!”

Grand Elder Qu narrowed her eyes.

“Even your Palace Master believes it is a farce, don’t you see her expression? Seriously, all of this useless talk is taking up so much time that even all the philosophical explanations as to how time could be viewed is not helping it seem like it is worth something”

Wu Long’s words made Qiu Yilao cover up her mouth as Grand Elder Qu’s eyes turned to her.

“What is the effective way to deal with this situation if you think this is not it then?”

The woman turned back to Wu Long with an icy expression and tone of voice.

“Simple, get to the end results”

“How can we get to them if we did not establish what transpired in clear detail?”

“And how do you propose to establish that? Hearing lies and exaggerations from both sides like you have so far?”

Wu Long asked as the Grand Elder first opened her mouth but then stopped, unable to utter the words she was going to.

“See, it comes down to what happens if you can’t establish truth. You can only deal with the consequences and come to an arbitrary decision. Why play this long game of pretense?”

His words resounded in the hall that turned silent as there was no denying them.

“Khm… Daoist Wu, I appreciate your honesty but there is an established order in this Sect, I want to remind you of it.

But that said we cannot deny that testimonies cannot be the basis of our decision due to the fact there were no third party who witnessed the incident, and even if there was it would only amount to inconclusive evidence.

Thus, we would have to deal with the consequences. Since there is no effective way to punish any side, and this matter does not warrant exclusion of any party from the Winter Forest Hunt, I believe we can only issue a strong warning to both sides that conflicts within the confines of this Sect are prohibited”

Qiu Yilao lightly cleared her throat and resuming a serene expression spoke in a clear and calm voice, ultimately giving both parties a metaphorical slap on the wrist.

“But-!”

“I understand that the Phoenix Sword Sect might feel the need to protect its dignity, but the Yin Yang Unity Palace is a guest of our Sect as much as you are, and we cannot allow any physical confrontation between our guests.

That would be true regardless if a party which was wrong was clearly established, as we would be the ones to administer any consequences. Please do understand our position as the hosts of the event”

Qiu Yilao added as soon as there was any sign of objection, anticipating a request for at least a personal challenge to ‘defend the honor’.

Grand Elder Qu bowed to the decision of her Sect’s leader but still had a slightly unresolved expression while Wen Mei smiled at Wu Long.

As the frustrated Grand Elder Fu turned to look at the Elder of the Cloud Piercing Sect again, the latter shrugged his shoulders signaling that it was the end of the matter, causing the former to clench his teeth and fists, and send an incinerating look to Wu Long.

“All that said, I do have to issue a stronger warning to Daoist Wu, as your behavior did not make the resolution of this conflict any easier and shows a disregard to your hosts”

“But, Palace Master…” .

“That would be all, Grand Elder Wen”

Qiu Yilao added, causing a smirk to appear on the face of the finally slightly vindicated Grand Elder Fu who took another look at Wu Long, victorious this time, before bowing to Qiu Yilao and turning to leave.

“Everything has consequences”

He whispered as he passed Wu Long’s side.

Wu Long shrugged once more, as this was how it was always going to end, since a ‘stronger warning’, was in the end the same slap on the wrist, explaining his disregard for the whole ordeal preceding this moment. Though there was one thing he agreed on with the middle-aged looking Grand Elder Hu.

‘Indeed, everything has consequences’, he thought with a smile.

Xue Bing’s icy turquoise eyes reflected his silhouette, the thoughts swirling deep within a mystery.

𝑖𝘦𝑎.𝗇t