"Is Master also interested in Princess Yuqi?" Meng Fan asked curiously.
Logically speaking, Elder Lin, at his age, shouldn't be interested in Princess Yuqi.
But such an idea was too absolute, and not necessarily true!
After all, it's often said that a man is a boy until death.
Moreover, whether or not a man remains a boy until death is debatable, but it seems that men of all ages like young and beautiful women.
"As a princess of the empire, her visit to the Shu Mountain Sword Sect certainly warrants my attention," Elder Lin said indifferently.
Meng Fan asked, "Then why does Master mention Princess Yuqi? What is your intention?"
He felt that Elder Lin wouldn't bring up Princess Yuqi without reason; there must be some thought behind it.
Indeed, Elder Lin's next words did not disappoint Meng Fan.
"Princess Yuqi, although a princess of the nation, has been acting recklessly within our Shu Mountain Sword Sect, a bit too ostentatiously," Elder Lin remarked.
Meng Fan's brow furrowed; the beginning of Elder Lin's statement was somewhat unexpected.
Because if the conversation continued in this vein, it seemed it would echo what Liu Yanping had said earlier.
Could it be that Elder Lin also wanted him to take action and teach Princess Yuqi a lesson?
That shouldn't be the case!
What status did Elder Lin hold, and how could he stoop to the level of quarreling with a young lady like Princess Yuqi?
Not one to let his concerns fester overnight, Meng Fan directly ventured to ask, "Master, you surely don't intend for me to discipline Princess Yuqi and curb her arrogance, do you?"
Although he felt it was unlikely, Meng Fan still took the initiative to ask.
In front of Elder Lin, he always spoke his mind without hesitation, asking whatever he wanted to ask, saying whatever he wanted to say.
"If the opportunity arises, you could try sparring with her," Elder Lin said calmly.
Though the words were spoken diplomatically, Meng Fan had already discerned that Elder Lin indeed hoped he would teach Princess Yuqi a lesson.
With this thought, Meng Fan's frown deepened.
He hesitated, then continued, "Master, with your status, you shouldn't really be bothered by a young lady, should you?"
This wasn't a challenge to Elder Lin, but Meng Fan felt there must be some unknown history between Elder Lin and Princess Yuqi!
Given what he knew of Elder Lin, he was aware that Elder Lin wouldn't send him to "spar" with Princess Yuqi over the minor disturbance she had caused in the Training Hall.
"You brat, always so keen on getting to the bottom of things," Elder Lin rolled his eyes.
Meng Fan replied with a wry smile, "It's just my straightforward nature, Master."
Elder Lin sighed and said, "It's nothing much, really. Princess Yuqi's father, when he was young, once bullied me, and I've never forgotten it.
Now that his daughter has come to the Shu Mountain Sword Sect and is behaving so arrogantly, as an elder, it's not appropriate for me to stoop to her level.
But you, as my disciple, are of the same generation as her. To discipline her should be no issue, right?"
Hearing Elder Lin's words, Meng Fan looked at him in surprise.
Knowing Elder Lin, he was aware that the elder was not one to hold petty grudges and was generally magnanimous.
What exactly had the emperor of the Great Dragon Empire, Princess Yuqi's father, done to bully Master to the point where it still bothered him to this day?
So much so that he wanted Meng Fan to step in and settle the score on his behalf.
Meng Fan couldn't imagine what it could have been!
But without a doubt, it must have been something egregious.
In that case, as a disciple, it was naturally his duty to help Master vent his frustration.
However… He was genuinely curious, how exactly had the emperor of the Great Dragon Empire bullied Master?
"Master, how exactly did Princess Yuqi's father bully you?"
Meng Fan was a straightforward person, and he asked directly without considering Elder Lin's feelings.
Elder Lin gave Meng Fan a cold look: "Are you so eager to hear about your Master's misfortunes?"
Indeed, he was curious.
Meng Fan nodded inwardly.
He knew very well that if he continued to "provoke" Master like this, Elder Lin might lose his temper.
After some thought, Meng Fan tactfully said, "Master, Princess Yuqi is still a woman, and without sufficient reason, I can't convince myself to take action against her."
"Are you bargaining with me?" Elder Lin's expression began to show a hint of anger.
Clearly, the recent conversation had brought back some particularly unpleasant memories for him, recalling how the emperor of the Great Dragon Empire had bullied him.
As a result, his mood was naturally not good!
Sensing the danger, Meng Fan quickly took his leave.
"Master, Princess Yuqi is arrogant and presumptuous, belittling our Shu Mountain Sword Sect as if it's without capable people. I will go teach her a lesson, to show her there are always greater powers out there!"
After speaking, he immediately left the second floor of the Sword Pavilion.
He had a keen sense that if he stayed even a minute longer, he might end up getting hit!
Elder Lin watched Meng Fan's hasty retreat with a wry smile on his face.
That kid was cunning.
He had indeed been itching to discipline the brat.
While he was too embarrassed to discipline Princess Yuqi, he had no such reservations about his own disciple.
At the same time, his mind replayed memories of how the emperor of the Great Dragon Empire had bullied him when he was just fifteen years old.
That scoundrel had been peeping at Widow Wang bathing, and Lin had happened to be looking for him.
When the scoundrel was discovered, he pushed Lin in and ran away.
Innocent Lin, having been pushed in, experienced something that would become a lifelong shadow!
Ever since then, he had been afraid of women, and it had turned into a kind of illness.
The incurable kind!
Thinking about this, Elder Lin clenched his fists tightly.
Anger!
If Meng Fan knew Elder Lin's thoughts, he would be utterly baffled.
This? Is this considered bullying?
It sounded more like something a good brother would do!
Blissfully unaware of his good fortune…
To not only be ungrateful but also to hold a grudge?
***
Just as Meng Fan returned to the first floor of the Sword Pavilion, he noticed someone standing at the entrance. Senior Disciple Luo was greeting her.
Princess Yuqi!
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
However, Meng Fan was not surprised, for Princess Yuqi's purpose in coming to Shu Mountain was to seek a sword at the Sword Pavilion.
So her appearance at the Sword Pavilion was to be expected.
In fact, she had arrived even later than he had anticipated!
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan