The Rules of the Wild!

Sect Prohibitions:

1. Disciples are forbidden from provoking anyone who meets any of the aforementioned conditions.

2. Disciples are forbidden from casually provoking others. Our principle is: if others do not offend us, we will not offend them.

3. If someone offends us, we must root out the evil completely, exterminating the entire family, sect, and close friends, leaving no one alive. Their bones should be crushed and the ashes scattered, ideally wiping out their entire clan and associates to leave no trace. Furthermore, the ashes should be scattered at a windy place to ensure they are blown far away.

4. If the third condition cannot be met, one must avoid making enemies and choose to endure instead. A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even if it takes ten years.

5. If for special reasons it is necessary to provoke someone who meets the 'admission criteria,' it must be a one-hit kill, and their family must be destroyed in the shortest time possible, especially their girlfriend! At least three realms higher than the opponent's strongest member must be sent to ensure no chance of retaliation. If the sect lacks such strength… No matter how special the reason, provocation is not allowed! Even if it means apologizing and making amends. Even if it involves a disciple being cuckolded.

6. ...

After reading through the new rules, the five elders were dumbfounded.

The new rules for recruiting disciples were still somewhat acceptable, though their purpose was unclear. But what was with the sect prohibitions!?

Not provoking those who meet the disciple admission criteria?

That could be overlooked.

But if we do act, we must exterminate entire families, even friends, leaving no one alive, and then crush and scatter their bones? Isn't this behavior likely to get us labeled as a demonic sect?

The Great Elder shivered and said, "Sect Master, aren't these prohibitions a bit too extreme?"

Lin Fan rolled his eyes and asked, "What's wrong with them?" 

"Wiping out entire families... It's too ruthless, against the natural order, and it might lead to backlash!"

"What backlash?" Lin Fan retorted, "If we wipe out their entire family, friends, and even scatter their bones, who would know it was us?"

"Even if someone found out, with no relatives or friends left, who would seek revenge?"

"Or do you think it's safe to only kill one person? Don't you think their family and friends would seek revenge?"

Su Xinghai was at a loss for words, his eyes wide open, not knowing how to refute.

Second Elder Wu Xingyun pondered and said, "Sect Master, with such rules, our Moon Grasping Sect currently doesn't have the strength to enforce them. Even if all of us elders acted together, we would barely be a third-rate sect in terms of power."

"That's why I made it clear, didn't I? If we don't have enough strength, we should endure! If we can't wipe out entire families, shouldn't we be afraid of being exterminated in return? Haven't we suffered enough?" Lin Fan spoke plainly, without giving any face to the elders.

He knew what he wanted and understood what it took to 'survive'!

Thus, these rules had to be enforced.

Wu Xingyun opened her mouth several times but remained silent in the end.

She wanted to argue, but Lin Fan's words made sense.

Though crude, his reasoning was solid.

The simplest truths are often the most effective.

"If you offend those who meet our admission criteria, you must kill them in one strike, along with their entire family! Not just people, even dogs must be slapped to death, eggs scrambled, and earthworms dug up and cut vertically!" As he spoke, Lin Fan looked at them, "Does anyone have any questions?"

Fifth Elder Duan Qingyao raised her hand lightly, "Sect Master, I have a question. What does 'cuckold' mean?"

"It means being made a fool of by having your wife taken by another man," Lin Fan replied casually.

The five elders all had the same bewildered expression, "What?"

"It's the hatred of having your wife taken, do you understand? When your wife is taken or runs away with someone else."

"..."

Hiss!

The five elders gasped in unison.

Good heavens.

Even such a grudge must be endured?!

Fourth Elder Chen Erzhu hastily said, "Sect Master, this is unwise. If such hatred festers in the heart, it will impede their mental clarity and cultivation, potentially leading to inner demons. At best, their progress will stagnate; at worst, their cultivation could regress, or they might even die from a backlash!"

"How can this cause inner demons?"

The other four elders nodded in agreement.

Lin Fan crossed his arms, "I understand your concerns, but why don't you think about it differently? If a woman, or a Dao companion, can be taken away, is she worthy of being your Dao companion?"

The five elders were stunned, then shook their heads in unison.

Clearly, she wouldn't be.

Even a good horse doesn't eat the grass behind it, let alone a person.

"So, what are you suppressing? Think of it this way: you got to enjoy someone else's Dao companion for a while, what are you suppressing? Even if you spent money, doesn't everything cost money? Visiting a brothel costs money too, right? Isn't a respectable woman more comfortable than a brothel?

"Suppression? Shouldn't you feel secretly pleased? And if you don't, you can work harder, cultivate, and then go beat up the person who took your woman. Strive for that goal!

"Sleep with someone else's Dao companion, and then beat them up afterwards—what's there to suppress?

"Even if you can't reconcile this, it at least helps you see what kind of person your Dao companion is, which is better than her betraying you at a critical moment and getting you killed, right?"

The five elders: "What?!"

(ΩДΩ)!!!

At this moment, they were all completely dumbfounded.

What kind of logic is this?!

It was a completely unexpected reasoning.

But you know what?

Damn it, you really know what!

Third Elder Li Changshou slapped his thigh furiously, his gaze towards Lin Fan ablaze with fervor. "Well said!"

In the end, even the most obstinate Great Elder found some sense in it, though he still felt uneasy. "What the Sect Master says does have some merit, but it seems somewhat undignified, doesn't it?"

"If these rules were to be spread, we might become a laughingstock."

"We elders might be able to accept it, but the disciples might not."

"Not acceptable?" Lin Fan sighed lightly. "Mocked? At a time like this, are we still concerned with dignity? What's more important: dignity or the survival of the sect and our lives? Great Elder, you have been in the Moon Grasping Sect much longer than I have. By seniority, I should call you an ancestor. So tell me, we've had some good recruits in the past few generations, yet why am I the one in this position now?"

The Great Elder's expression changed slightly, recalling many memories.

His fellow disciples, his own disciples, his martial nephews, his grand-disciples, even...

Too many of them.

Over the years, they had all become nothing but dust.

His voice grew hoarse. "Everyone else is dead. The Sect Master is our best hope now."

"Did any of them die of old age?"

His voice became even more hoarse. "No."

"Don't you get it?" Lin Fan sneered. "At a time like this, you still can't see the reality and talk to me about dignity? If we can barely survive, then let's do that. When we can't even do that, it's truly hopeless. Besides, I know why you chose me as the Sect Master."

He did not hide it.

"That night, by coincidence, I overheard your conversation. You didn't want to bear this responsibility, so you chose me. I'm not afraid. But since you chose me, you need to give me the power. Only then can I proceed boldly and decisively! Regardless of success or failure, at least I tried. I will have lived up to the sect and my own conscience! Don't make me the nominal Sect Master while you veto everything I do, even when you know there's some sense in my actions..."

Lin Fan chuckled self-mockingly.

"If that's the case, I'd rather not be the Sect Master. Whoever wants it can take it, or let one of my other senior brothers be the Sect Master." At this point, Lin Fan sighed deeply. "The Moon Grasping Sect is already sick, terminally ill. Change might not guarantee survival, but without it, death is certain. In times of chaos, heavy-handed measures are necessary; a loud drum requires a heavy hammer. Agree or not, it's up to you."

He stared directly at the five elders, with no trace of humility in his eyes. At this moment, he was the true Sect Master, not a puppet, and certainly not a scapegoat!

If they want him to be the Sect Master, then they must give him the power to do it properly.

If not, they could bear the responsibility themselves!

His words were blunt, even rebellious in this era.

But the five elders were left speechless.

Finally, the Great Elder lowered his head and sighed, "Let's follow the Sect Master's decision."

"I have no objections," Wu Xingyun nodded.

Following this, the other three elders also expressed their support.

Seeing this, Lin Fan finally smiled, "Elders, please do not blame this junior for being disrespectful. I had no other choice. After all, you are more aware of the current situation of the Moon Grasping Sect than I am. This is my only solution. And rest assured, I am not just playing around. I am determined to live and die with the Moon Grasping Sect!"

Hearing this, the five elders were taken aback and moved.

A sense of resonance spread among them.

Live and die together.

Isn't that what we old folks have always intended?

At this moment, they felt that perhaps, this young man who was reluctantly pushed into the position might actually bring some change...

"So, I ask for the assistance of all the elders!"

"Rest assured." Duan Qingyao smiled, shaking off her earlier awkwardness, and patted Lin Fan on the shoulder. "We all have the same goal. We will definitely support you fully."

"Right! This might be our last chance. We must give it our all!" Chen Erzhu also patted Lin Fan's shoulder.

Then, the Great Elder, Second Elder, and Third Elder did the same.

They all patted Lin Fan's shoulder, indicating their full support.

"Let's get to work then."

The five elders wore serious expressions. "Whether we can bring about change depends on what happens in three days..."

Lin Fan nodded. "Indeed, thank you for your hard work." 

Watching their departing figures, Lin Fan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "Fortunately, we didn't fall out with them. As long as they are willing to give their best support, there's still a chance. As for my senior brothers…"

Thinking of them, Lin Fan scratched his head.

They were all outer disciples with barely any talent.

Expecting them to achieve anything significant was unrealistic.

"I'll try to protect them. Even if they don't achieve much, they can serve as mascots and bolster our numbers."