Chapter 565 563: Kneel and Apologize

"Sir, our Vice President requests your presence on stage. He has something to say to you."

Jiang Chen was standing at the edge of the crowd when suddenly, someone from the Alchemy Master Guild walked over and invited him onto the stage.

Jiang Chen was instinctively taken aback, a flash of surprise on his face.

'They want me on stage?'

He thought he must have misheard. 'Why would they want me on stage? Does Venerable Black Water want to thank me?'

"Please," the man said, his face cold and stern.

His tone even held a hint of intimidation toward Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen immediately sensed that something was amiss.

However, he didn't refuse.

"Fine. I'll go up."

With that, he strode directly onto the stage. Mr. Qiu Shui hurriedly followed him.

A cold, menacing light flickered in his eyes.

When Jiang Chen arrived on stage, all eyes immediately gathered on him.

"That's the guy who spoke up just now."

"I bet he's finished. How dare he interrupt Venerable Black Water during his alchemy? He's practically asking for death."

"He's a dead man. The Alchemy Master Guild isn't a place where he can just run his mouth."

Many people had a strong impression of Jiang Chen. After all, it took incredible nerve to suddenly speak out while Venerable Black Water was performing alchemy.

Of course, now that Jiang Chen had been "invited" on stage, almost everyone guessed that he was about to be dealt with by the Alchemy Master Guild.

"Huh?"

Seeing Jiang Chen on stage, both Chang Mao and Wenzhu were somewhat surprised.

They stared at him in astonishment.

"Brat, it's you?"

They recognized Jiang Chen. Chang Mao and Wenzhu remembered encountering him on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain while they were hunting Mr. Qiu Shui. At that time, Jiang Chen had suddenly summoned all the Beast Kings of the mountain, scaring them into a hasty retreat.

Thus, their memory of Jiang Chen was crystal clear.

And Jiang Chen was the one who had saved Mr. Qiu Shui.

Jiang Chen looked at Chang Mao and Wenzhu and chuckled. "That's right. It's me."

"We meet again, you two. It must be fate."

Chang Mao and Wenzhu immediately gritted their teeth, wishing they could kill Jiang Chen on the spot.

Thinking about it, Jiang Chen hadn't just made them suffer a loss; he had also caused their apprentice, Wen Shixuan, to suffer greatly on several occasions. For that reason, they absolutely could not let Jiang Chen live.

However, besides Jiang Chen, Mr. Qiu Shui had also come on stage.

Chang Mao and Wenzhu looked at Mr. Qiu Shui with puzzlement.

The two of them clearly didn't recognize him.

However, Chang Mao and Wenzhu both had the same thought: 'This man looks very familiar.'

They immediately exchanged a glance, seeing the confusion in each other's eyes.

Although he looked familiar, they couldn't place him at all.

More importantly, they could clearly feel an intense hostility emanating from Mr. Qiu Shui.

"Sir, have we met before?"

Chang Mao finally asked.

He stared at Mr. Qiu Shui, sizing him up, his mind filled with questions.

Mr. Qiu Shui smiled. "I believe we have. I suppose you two have long since forgotten."

He didn't press the issue for the time being.

"Oh," Chang Mao murmured, still unable to recall who this person was.

Not dwelling on it, he turned his attention back to Jiang Chen.

Suddenly, he announced in a loud voice, "Everyone, I've asked this young man to come on stage, and I'm sure you all have an idea why."

"Just as Elder Black Water was performing alchemy, someone spoke out, disrupting his concentration and nearly causing the Elixir to explode!"

The crowd burst into an uproar.

'That doesn't seem to be what happened.'

Jiang Chen had spoken *after* Venerable Black Water's Pill was already on the verge of exploding.

But no one was thinking that deeply about it anymore.

Only Jiang Chen wore a cold sneer.

'He really knows how to spin a tale.'

His killing intent toward Chang Mao and Wenzhu was now set in stone.

'How could people like them be allowed to remain in the Alchemy Master Guild?'

However, he continued to watch their performance.

Venerable Black Water's expression shifted. He knew that Jiang Chen must be the one who had offered him guidance. If not for Jiang Chen's pointers, his Pill would have exploded long ago.

He hurriedly said to Chang Mao, "Vice President, you've misunderstood! It's not like you said..."

But Chang Mao once again waved his hand, cutting Venerable Black Water off.

"Elder Black Water, leave this matter to me."

"I will definitely give you a satisfactory resolution."

He then turned back to the crowd and declared, "We Alchemists have a rule when performing alchemy: we cannot be disturbed by outside influences!"

"Anyone who dares to disturb an Alchemist during their work is showing disrespect not just to that Alchemist, but is issuing a challenge to our entire Alchemy Realm!"

"This matter absolutely cannot be tolerated!"

"Therefore, today, in front of everyone, we will have this young man apologize to Elder Black Water, apologize to all Alchemists, and apologize to everyone present!"

"Otherwise, if more people like him appear, it would be a blasphemy and an insult to the Alchemy Realm!"

Many in the crowd immediately voiced their support for Chang Mao.

"Vice President Chang Mao is right!"

"Someone like him needs to be punished so he'll learn his lesson!"

"Kid, hurry up and apologize to everyone!"

"He should get on his knees and beg for forgiveness!"

"Damn it, I really want to go up there and beat him."

Public opinion, ignited by Chang Mao's words, turned into a torrent of accusations and attacks against Jiang Chen.

He was being treated like a criminal.

Venerable Black Water's face was turning ashen with rage.

He spoke again. "Vice President Chang Mao, please give me a chance to speak."

"This is a misunderstanding..."

But Wenzhu stepped in to block Venerable Black Water.

"Elder Black Water, don't get worked up. This brat was disrespectful to you. We must teach him a lesson."

"Just let my senior brother handle it."

Venerable Black Water grew anxious.

This was utterly absurd. He had received guidance from Jiang Chen, which prevented his Pill from exploding and even improved his Alchemy Skill.

Now, his benefactor was being subjected to all sorts of accusations. He was truly becoming furious.

"Vice President Wen, you've misunderstood him!"

"He didn't disturb me at all! In fact, he helped me! He is my benefactor!"

But no matter what he said, Wenzhu continued to block his way.

"Elder Black Water, say no more. This brat will not be forgiven today unless he kneels and apologizes."

Meanwhile, Chang Mao sneered at Jiang Chen.

"Brat, you heard them. We'll just go with the will of the people. Kneel on this stage, kowtow and apologize to Elder Black Water, to the Alchemists of the Alchemy Realm, and to everyone below the stage. Beg for their forgiveness."

"This is your punishment for speaking out of turn."

Jiang Chen was momentarily dumbfounded.

'Is this really happening?'

'Somehow, I've become the villain.'

This was completely unexpected.

He looked at Chang Mao, his expression calm. "It seems your ability to spout nonsense has truly reached a level of perfection."

"Why don't you ask Elder Black Water if I actually disturbed him?"

However, Chang Mao stated directly, "There's no need to ask. Everyone saw you disrespecting Elder Black Water."

"Brat, are you still not going to kneel and apologize?"

"Do you have to force my hand?"

"Let's allow everyone to save some face here. I, Chang Mao, am not an unreasonable person. As long as you kneel and apologize, I believe everyone will forgive your recklessness."