In a cafeteria at Heavenly Sword Peak, a disciple suddenly slammed the newspaper in his hand onto the table, causing the bowls and chopsticks on the table to bounce around.
"Xu Qing is nothing but a coward. She didn’t even dare to fight for her beloved man, letting him fall into the arms of another woman. She’s useless! This makes me so angry!"
Xu Qing is the main character in Yu Qing’s novel. This disciple clearly had just read Yu Qing’s novel and was hit hard by the green hat theme, leading him to curse out loud.
Another disciple beside him discontentedly retorted: "Shut up! Don’t you dare slander Xu Qing! She respected the decisions of the man she loved and chose to let go. Do you know how much pain she suffered inside?"
The first disciple didn’t expect to be rebutted and immediately glared angrily: "You shut up! The old master said that love should be about daring to love and hate, not about handing over your beloved to someone else. That’s a cowardly act."
The other disciple also glared back: "Your behavior is so direct and disrespectful to men, treating them like puppets without any self-worth. How are you different from those villains?"
"You talk nonsense! I’m clearly saying Xu Qing is a useless coward who can’t fight for love."
"You’re talking nonsense! You’re treating those men like your possessions, thinking only you can have them while others can’t!"
The two disciples argued more and more intensely, angrily shouting at each other with flushed faces.
In the cafeteria, the other people were used to such scenes and picked up their bowls to watch the show.
The arguing disciples eventually started fighting, prompting others to rush forward to separate them. However, the debate about Yu Qing’s novel didn’t end.
The third issue of Heavenly Sword Daily had already been released, and its popularity was only rising, exceeding that of Wangyue Daily.
Yu Qing’s novel was the most popular topic, garnering immense controversy, with many disciples feeling deeply tormented after reading it, especially due to the provocative green hat plot.
But where there’s opposition, there’s also support. Surprisingly, Yu Qing’s novel gathered a group of enthusiasts who thought the novel was excellently written, especially the green hat plot which they valued for its realism.
Initially, there were only scattered debates, but as the novel continued to be serialized, the debates became more heated, gradually evolving into arguments, with some even losing their rationality and starting physical fights.
By the third issue of the newspaper, readers of Yu Qing’s novel had already split into two groups: one opposed to the green hat theme and one supporting it.
Opponents of the green hat were numerous, but the supporters, calling themselves the Green Hat Party, were diehard fans with strong organizational capabilities.
The confrontation between the two groups escalated, leading to mutual insults and ridicule whenever they met, drawing clear lines between them.
Some respected disciples tried to organize a debate to resolve the tensions, but it almost turned into a brawl, intensifying the hostility between the two sides.
Yujian Peak, an unnamed hill.
A fierce battle was taking place.
The combatants were disciples of the Sword Control lineage, wielding wooden sticks, with red or green cloth strips wrapped around their foreheads, engaged in a chaotic skirmish.
Those with red cloth strips were members of the Anti-Green Hat Alliance, while those with green cloth strips were members of the Green Hat Party.
Indeed, this fight was an offline confrontation between the two groups.
Grievances had built up deep, but fighting on Yujian Peak would easily be stopped and punished.
Thus, they secretly agreed to meet on this deserted hill, intending to resolve their conflict with fists and completely crush the opposing heretical ideology.
As soon as they arrived, they started fighting without a word, using wooden sticks. After all, they were Qi Refining Realm disciples, so no one would be killed however fiercely they fought.
In the crowd, Li Yunlong was exceptionally valiant, swinging two wooden sticks and wreaking havoc.
Kong Jie, Zhao Gan, Ding Wei, and a girl nicknamed Monk closely followed Li Yunlong.
The five formed a sharp-pointed squad, launching a fierce attack on the Green Hat Party.
Li Yunlong firmly opposed the green hat theme. Although many disliked her crudeness, she quickly became the leader of the Anti-Green Hat Alliance with her daring to curse, spray, and fight.
The two groups fought for several hours. Although the Green Hat Party fought valiantly, their numbers were far fewer than the Anti-Green Hat Alliance, and they gradually retreated.
The Anti-Green Hat Alliance seized the victory to launch a major offensive, ultimately surrounding the remaining Green Hat Party members.
Green Hat Party members hid among rugged rocks, while the Anti-Green Hat Alliance, far more numerous, surrounded them below, unable to advance due to the terrain advantage held by the Green Hat Party.
Seeing their situation was hopeless, the Green Hat Party members shouted down: "We are fellow disciples, why should we kill each other over a minor conflict?"
Li Yunlong immediately cursed: "Bullshit! You weren’t this reasonable before, now that you can’t win, you want to surrender. No way!"
The Green Hat Party members shouted down again: "We have the terrain advantage, you can’t get up here. We can just keep this stalemate and see who lasts longer!"
Li Yunlong laughed loudly: "Do you think I didn’t consider that? Bring it out!"
Quickly, a wooden cannon was brought out from the crowd.
This was a replica of the world’s bronze cannon, essentially a slingshot, with newspaper and pepper powder as cannonballs. Orıginal content can be found at 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩
Li Yunlong patted the cannon and laughed: "See this? One shot and you’ll all be down, so you’d better surrender quickly."
The Green Hat Party members were in turmoil but quickly calmed down.
Their leader, Sugimoto, laughed: "Li Yunlong, don’t think you’re the only one prepared. Bring him out!"
Soon, a person tied up in five flowers was pushed out, revealing Chu Yunfei.
Sugimoto shouted down: "Li Yunlong, surrender immediately, or your little sister will suffer, hahaha."
Li Yunlong’s fury lit up, cursing: "Sugimoto, screw your ancestors!"
Before the fight, Chu Yunfei went out to scout and hadn’t returned, unbeknownst that she was captured by the Green Hat Party.
Sugimoto laughed: "Li Yunlong, don’t be so ruthless. If you leave here, I promise to release Chu Yunfei."
Li Yunlong shouted angrily: "Stop your tricks! I won’t waste all the effort of my anti-green hat sisters for one person!"
Chu Yunfei took the chance to break free from those grabbing her and shouted down: "Sister Yunlong, well said! Don’t worry about me; exchanging me for many Green Hat Party members is worth it. Fire the cannon!"
Sugimoto hurriedly tried to cover Chu Yunfei’s mouth, but Chu Yunfei kicked her away, only for more Green Hat Party members to swarm and subdue her.
Li Yunlong’s eyes were brimming with anger. She shouted: "Fire the cannon!"
The Anti-Green Hat Alliance quickly fired the loaded cannonball, which exploded upon reaching the rocks, spraying pepper powder everywhere, causing the Green Hat Party members to cough loudly.
Li Yunlong led the Anti-Green Hat Alliance to charge at the rocks.