Chapter 1761: Magnanimity
“Senior apprentice-brother Long Chen, you…”
Everyone, including the third commander, was startled . Long Chen actually said that he believed that the third commander was not a spy .
Considering the ancient races’ arrogance and viciousness, they usually did not get along with the Martial Heaven Alliance . There was constant friction between them . Although it hadn’t grown into a full-scale war, there was plenty of hostility between them .
The fact that the ancient races had failed despite trying so hard to prevent Long Chen’s first place ranking from counting was the most recent source of conflict . Hence, as soon as they saw the runes on the third commander’s legs, they thought that he had to be a spy from the ancient races .
For Long Chen to speak up for the third commander was something that they found inconceivable .
“Although I don’t like him and want to slap him, he truly isn’t a spy from the ancient races . Do you think the alliance head wouldn’t be able to tell if he was a spy? Aren’t you questioning the alliance head’s abilities? Do you think a spy from the ancient races would have the slightest chance of living?” said Long Chen indifferently .
“Yes, that’s true…”
“Furthermore, I’ve had to deal with the ancient races plenty of times . His aura is completely different from theirs . He might have the ancient races’ bone marks, but he doesn’t have their bloodline power . Based on that, his bone marks can no longer be classified as divine runes from the ancient races . Without the bloodline of the ancient races to nourish those bone marks, they would wither away . So he is still a human just a special variation . The ancient races are too stupid to do something like this . They don’t have the brains to send a spy here to sow dissension,” said Long Chen .
This explanation made quite a few people laugh . It was quite accurate . Although the ancient races had the blood of the human race, their heads weren’t that good .
They had inherited part of the essence of the Xuan Beasts when it came to brains and weren’t too good at thinking about long-term consequences . So despite having the blood of the human race, they were unable to control high level magical arts and were forced to rely on their inherited divine abilities .
“Long Chen… sorry, I… might have misjudged you . ” The third commander’s expression was complicated . However, he still apologized .
Even though he had mocked Long Chen before, challenging him arrogantly, Long Chen was actually coming to his defense . He was naturally ashamed .
“Although your words were ugly and your face is dislikable, I sensed that you were fearless . That’s why I didn’t fight you . Anger will only cloud a person’s judgment . To be able to remain calm within anger is a real skill . I often get angry, as it’s an instinct, but I always have to keep my calm so my anger doesn’t cloud my mind . Unlike you all, I did not have the Martial Heaven Alliance behind me, I did not have the alliance head supporting me . If I had let my judgment be clouded in the Eastern Wasteland, I would have already died . I had to use my brain to deduce what was true and what was false, because if I was wrong, I might not have had another chance to be right . Unlike you, I cannot blindly decide on something, nor can I let my anger bias my decision,” said Long Chen .
Long Chen’s words moved all the disciples . Cultivators often started a rain of blood when angered . How many people were truly able to be calm like him?
“Senior apprentice-brother Long Chen, please accept this kowtow as an apology . ”
The third commander actually knelt on the ground and kowtowed toward Long Chen, causing a clamor amongst the disciples .
The third commander Meng Fei was extremely powerful and also extremely stubborn . For him to kowtow to Long Chen as an apology was something they had never imagined .
“To kowtow with just a few words from me, don’t you think you’re a bit too impulsive?” laughed Long Chen . He was also surprised . He hadn’t wanted to kill Meng Fei because he hadn’t sensed that kind of sinister air around him . He was a straightforward man, not necessarily a bad person . The reason he was challenging him was most likely due to a misunderstanding .
Furthermore, he was one of the four commanders of the Martial Heaven Alliance . Could Long Chen really kill one of the top four geniuses that Qu Jianying had worked so hard to raise as soon as he arrived? That would be awkward .
“Ignoring whether those rumors are true or false, just this magnanimity is enough to win me over,” said the third commander, ashamed .
“Magnanimous people are those who have been wronged the most by others . It’s just a sad fact of reality,” said Long Chen .
“Senior apprentice-brother’s words are pearls of wisdom . Let me apologize again . ” Meng Fei lowered his head once more .
“Third commander, are you saying that those rumors… are they false?” The disciples that had been following Meng Fei were at a loss .
“Of course, they’re false! How could someone with senior apprentice-brother Long Chen’s character do something so shameless?!” raged Meng Fei .
This anger from the third commander caused the surrounding disciples to laugh, but the tense atmosphere relaxed a great deal .
“Whether they’re true or not isn’t important . What’s important is whether you have the ability to determine what’s true or not,” said Long Chen .
“Long Chen, if you were so wrongly accused, even by us, why didn’t you explain or argue?” asked one disciple .
“It’s beneath me . ”
Hearing that, the disciples nodded . This was a true expert . He disdained having to explain himself .
Long Chen continued, “Those who believe me don’t need me to explain, and those who don’t believe me won’t believe me no matter what I say . They slander me, accuse me, and frame me in order to pull me into their chaos . If I tried explaining myself, I would be falling into their trap . I only have one mouth, so how am I supposed to argue against the millions of mouths in this world? I don’t have the time to waste on such a thing, nor do I have time to gather proof that would convince them that I’m innocent . I can’t waste time, or my death will be very miserable . Since I don’t have the time, whether you’re an enemy or someone instigated by others to become my enemy, the only thing I can do is raise my butcher’s blade and kill you without hesitation . ”
The third commander shook at Long Chen’s final sentence . He felt a chill on his back . If Long Chen had accepted his challenge, he probably wouldn’t exist in this world any longer .
Fortunately, this misunderstanding had been resolved . Although Long Chen still hadn’t explained anything, he had won their loyal respect . They no longer suspected him of such crimes .
“Xin Li, let me also apologize to you for my past conduct . ” Meng Fei actually kowtowed to Xin Li .
“Third commander, you can’t!” Xin Li hastily stopped him .
However, Meng Fei was faster and stronger . Although Xin Li managed to grab him in time, he couldn’t stop him from kowtowing .
“To tell the truth, the reason I’ve always targeted you is because I’m jealous of you,” said Meng Fei after completing this rite .
“Jealous of me? Over what?” Xin Li was startled .
“Because… of your white face… it’s more handsome . ” Meng Fei’s dark face twisted with embarrassment .
“ . . . ”
“Amongst the four commanders, you’re the most handsome, and you’re also a sword cultivator! As for me… I’m just a monster . ” The third commander looked at his thick legs and sighed . “I always beat up whoever mocked me for my strange body . This gradually cultivated my temper . I only understand now with senior apprentice-brother Long Chen’s words that my brutality was to cover up my own flaws . I refused to be wronged by others, so I was never able to become someone magnanimous . But you, Xin Li, despite often being the target of my anger, are still willing to fight alongside me without harboring a grudge . So, that apology was necessary . You are more of a hero than I was . ”
“Third commander, you were willing to accept your mistakes . You are also a hero!” shouted the disciples beside Meng Fei emotionally .
“That’s right, the third commander is a hero, and the fourth commander is also a hero . As for senior apprentice-brother Long Chen, he’s an even bigger hero, and we’re heroes too! Yes, he’s just a bit bigger, and… cough, yes, just a bit bigger . ” One of the disciples began to ramble on, caught up in the flow . He actually began to spout nonsense, eliciting laughter from the crowd .
In the Martial Heaven Alliance, the fact that the third and fourth commanders didn’t get along was common knowledge . But today, these old enemies were laughing and talking together, becoming brothers . That excited the disciples, and the news spread .
More and more disciples were drawn over . There were hundreds of thousands of them, filling up the plaza .
Many disciples wanted to see Long Chen in person . After all, he was the strongest existence amongst the disciples of the Martial Heaven Alliance . He had dominated those in the same realm, taking first place on the Devil Slaughter Rankings . He had countless worshippers amongst the junior generation . It was unknown how many young maidens let out startled cries when they saw him .
The entire plaza became chaotic, and people were too excited . Long Chen had just arrived, but he had managed to make Xin Li and Meng Fei shake hands . In the eyes of these disciples, Long Chen was practically a god .
“Senior apprentice-brother Long Chen, fourth commander, I have a question I want to ask you,” said Meng Fei suddenly after a moment’s hesitation .