It had been 5 months since last chapter, there is no way this was a snipe. So even if another tl, even the prior one, asks for you to stop they don't really have much of an argument to stand on (although there is no shortage of dropped series, accepting their will and moving to another is not a bad thing either). Similarly, rumors shouldn't make you desist doing what you want - it is one thing to stop and let someone else tl the series if they actually approach you about it (thats just being a nice being), but feeling anxious from or acting on hearsay from a third party seems like folly.
In short, you do you, dont feel down fearing you trampled someones toes and soured their mood by mistake.