"I refuse to accept this!"
A sudden and excited voice echoed across the vast martial arts field, immediately drawing the attention of all the apprentices, attendants, and even the masters present.
Even the seven people seated on the stage’s seven chairs had their expressions change slightly.
The nomination and election process had always been the rule at Medicine King Hall for selecting its representatives. Whether one was elected or not was a settled matter, leaving no room for anyone to raise objections.
Rules, at times, represent authority.
To question the rules often meant questioning authority—that is, questioning the dignity of the seven people seated on the chairs.
Therefore, the entire place erupted in disbelief, looking towards the young man who had walked out loudly and indignantly.
"He’s gone mad!" Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by novelFɪre.net
Yang Shaoqi, looking at Zhang Renfeng moving towards the stage, whispered to Chen Ku, "In all these years, he is the first person to openly express dissent during the election process."
Even Huo Xiaoxia’s beautiful eyes widened slightly.
Lan Fuxi was even more incredulous. An ordinarily composed and mature person, he now simply closed his eyes, refusing to watch Zhang Renfeng make a spectacle of himself.
Chen Ku, however, seemed to be deep in thought.
"Zhang Renfeng! How dare you!"
As expected, as soon as Zhang Renfeng loudly voiced his dissent, the master overseeing the vote on the stage sternly shouted, "What grounds do you have to be dissatisfied? Step down at once."
Yet, Zhang Renfeng’s expression was one of rage. He glanced at the four great masters on the stage before speaking, "I just don’t accept it. Four great masters, everyone knows you were vying to take Chen Ku as a disciple. Now, during the election process, you all tacitly gave him your votes. As for me, I got none. Is that fair?"
The attending apprentices and attendants were greatly shaken. This Senior Brother Zhang truly feared neither heaven nor earth! To dare to directly confront the four great masters and question their fairness!
At this moment, everyone first looked towards the three shopkeepers.
The Store Manager had an unreadable expression and didn’t speak right away.
The Second Shopkeeper, however, was looking at his disciple with a trace of admiration. He could shout such words at this time! After all, if one didn’t fight for certain things, they would be utterly beyond reach once the final decisions were made.
Zhang Renfeng, a direct descendant of the Zhang family from Prefecture City, had come to Baojiao County for the sole purpose of becoming one of the future shopkeepers appointed by the Owner at Medicine King Hall.
Now, if he were edged out by the collusion of these four local masters from Baojiao County, their family, as one of the Owners, would see their influence in Medicine King Hall greatly diminished.
Therefore, the Second Shopkeeper not only had to approve of Zhang Renfeng fighting for himself, but he also needed to encourage it.
But Cao Shouxiong’s expression darkened, and he slammed the back of his chair fiercely, saying, "You think this election process is unfair? Are you questioning the century-old traditions of Medicine King Hall?"
"The disciple dares not; the disciple is only questioning the personal biases of the four great masters," Zhang Renfeng said, looking coldly at the four led by Yang Luochen. "There are so many witnesses today. The disciple’s reason for dissent is simple: how could the four great masters think that Junior Brother Chen is more suitable for the position than I am? Has the disciple made any mistakes as the Young Shopkeeper over the past four years?"
"Not at all," Yang Luochen said indifferently.
Zhang Renfeng persisted in his questioning, "Then the disciple would like to ask the great masters: since you think that as Young Shopkeeper, the disciple has handled matters satisfactorily over the past four years, why didn’t you give the disciple a single vote? In what way does the disciple fall short of Chen Ku, that you denied the disciple even one vote? In terms of Cultivation, the disciple is at the Second Layer of the Mystic Barrier! In terms of Martial Arts, the disciple has achieved Minor Achievement in our lineage’s Ultimate Skill! The disciple exceeds him in every aspect! Why didn’t you give the disciple your votes?"
Nong Baosen and Chai Bao both fell silent.
Everyone present heard these words and, seemingly convinced, began to look at the four great masters with a different light in their eyes.
Lan Fuxi sighed silently to himself. He had actually anticipated this year’s situation. When his master, Cao Shouxiong, had spoken to him previously, he guessed that this year’s representative would not be him. But coming from a humble background, even if he received no votes later, he wouldn’t dare to speak out. Zhang Renfeng was different. As a promising young man sent by the Owner from Prefecture City, even if he offended the four great masters, the worst that could happen was leaving Baojiao County to return and inherit his family’s vast wealth. That was why he dared to confront the four great masters at this moment.
"In what way do you fall short of my disciple?"
But Yang Luochen looked at Zhang Renfeng with a half-smile and said, "What if I said you don’t surpass my disciple in any way? Forget about Alchemy, pharmacology, and Talent for now. Even considering your so-called Cultivation Realm and Martial Arts realm, do you believe me?"
At these words, Nong Baosen and Chai Bao both looked at Yang Luochen in astonishment.
After all, they hadn’t personally taught Chen Ku, so they weren’t aware of the level he had reached in his Martial Arts Cultivation.
But if Yang Luochen spoke ...
Even Shang Yunfang let out a surprised "Eh?" and looked at Yang Luochen, as if he had guessed something.
Zhang Renfeng was further provoked by Yang Luochen’s words. His face showed even more disbelief, but he became more cold and stern as he gritted his teeth and asked, "I didn’t expect Elder Yang to have such great confidence in your disciple. Well then, right here, right now, I wonder if Junior Brother Chen dares to spar with me to compare our Martial Arts and Cultivation?"
With that, his words hung in the air.