Chapter 293: Making Enemies

Chapter 293: Chapter 293: Making Enemies

The next day, as the Empress departed from the Daoist temple, Song An and his senior brother stood at the back of the crowd, watching the magnificent procession leave.

For these past three days, she had almost always been by his side during the day. With her departure now, he feared it would be difficult to ever see her again in this life.

At this moment, Song An didn’t yet know what the sorrow of parting or the ache of longing meant; he only felt a sense of wistful emptiness.

As the Empress and her entourage walked away, the Abbot and Daoist Master Daoguang were walking ahead, about to enter the temple, when they saw a stern-faced old Daoist leading a group of over a dozen younger disciples, marching grandly towards them.

The Abbot asked curiously, "Daoist Master Zhu, what is this about?"

Zhu Baiqi flicked his whisk, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Abbot, please take a look at these dozen or so disciples behind me."

The Abbot looked closely and saw that all of them were bruised and swollen, looking utterly battered.

"What happened?" The Abbot was greatly alarmed.

Zhu Baiqi looked at Song An, who was standing behind Daoguang, and said coldly, "This was all done by Daoist Master Daoguang’s esteemed disciple!"

Daoist Master Daoguang was greatly startled, turned sideways, and asked, "Mingyang, what’s going on?"

Song An stepped forward and generously admitted, "It was my doing, but..."

"Oh, good! It’s easier if you admit it! Daoist Master Daoguang, you must give an explanation for these disciples of mine!"

Song An retorted, "I did hit them, but they attacked first, I..."

"Mingyang! Kneel!" Daoguang interrupted him, saying in a deep voice.

Song An turned back, unwilling, "Master!"

"I told you to kneel!"

Song An gritted his teeth, glanced at Zhu Haojie, who was gloating next to Elder Zhu, and slowly knelt down.

Mingjue stepped forward and said, "Master, Junior Brother isn’t someone who acts rashly; there must be a reason! Junior Brother, quickly, tell us why you fought?"

Song An looked at Daoist Master Daoguang, "Master, do you really think your disciple is someone who casually bullies others?"

Daoguang averted his gaze and said, "Regardless, striking others is wrong."

"But they attacked first! They were just not as skilled! If your disciple hadn’t fought back, it’s hard to say if you’d even see him now!" Song An shouted.

As soon as Song An finished speaking, Zhu Haojie jumped out and said, "You’re talking nonsense! We didn’t even lay a hand on him! He ruined my clothes; I merely went to ask about it, and he started hitting me without a word. If the masters don’t believe me, ask my junior brothers."

"That’s right, Senior Brother Zhu is correct."

"Exactly, this person relies on his good martial arts and hits people at the slightest disagreement."

"He even said he’s not from our temple, and the masters have no right to discipline him."

...

"You, you’re slandering me!" Song An had never seen such shameless, truth-twisting people, and was so angry he wanted to get up and fight.

"Look, look! He’s going to hit someone again!"

"To want to strike someone in front of all the masters, he’s truly savage!"

Song An turned back to Daoguang, "Master, I really didn’t!"

Daoguang naturally knew his disciple’s temperament, but for him to be provoked into wanting to fight by just a few words wasn’t that exactly what the other party wanted? So, he looked at him with some disappointment.

This look, to Song An, meant that even his master didn’t believe him.

"Master! This temple looks glorious on the surface, but behind the scenes, it’s full of filth! Why did we come to Xicheng to discuss Dao with people like this?" Song An loudly questioned Daoguang.

Seeing him become increasingly unrestrained in his speech, Daoguang reprimanded, "Mingyang!"

Mingjue was also startled, stepped forward and pulled him, "Junior Brother, calm down!"

"You impudent child! You claim my temple is filthy behind the scenes. If you can’t provide specifics today, just see if my Disciplinary Hall dares to punish you!" Zhu Baiqi said coldly.

Song An turned back and looked at him coldly.

"All of you claim to be both talented and virtuous, esteemed Daoist masters, yet you make a child of just over ten years old bear all the temple chores alone: chopping wood, carrying water, sweeping.

He washes the clothes of hundreds of people by himself, and if he goes late, there isn’t even a mouthful of cold rice for him in the refectory. Is this what you call virtue?"

"And the incense money from pilgrims is for the Three Venerables and for the daily upkeep of the temple, not for the enjoyment of certain Daoist masters’ and elders’ descendants!" As Song An said this, he looked directly at the Zhu father and son.

Zhu Baiqi became furious and said, "Explain yourself clearly, what do you mean by that?"

Song An sneered, "Look at what your son is wearing. Is it the same as what the other junior and senior brothers wear? He claimed I ruined his clothes and demanded a hundred taels of silver. A hundred taels! What kind of clothes are worth a hundred taels! Your Disciplinary Hall is really wealthy!"

Zhu Baiqi immediately glared at his son and said, "But that’s still not a reason for you to hit people."

"They, a dozen of them, were going to gang up on me, and I’m not allowed to fight back? What kind of logic is that!"

Hearing this, Daoist Master Daoguang also understood the general course of events.

"Enough!" Daoguang said calmly, making everyone quiet down.

Daoguang stepped forward and said, "Daoist Master Zhu, while my disciple certainly made a mistake, your disciples aren’t entirely innocent either. To gang up on someone over a piece of clothing, Mingyang was forced to retaliate, which is understandable."

The Abbot also stepped forward to mediate, "Indeed, since both sides are at fault, it would be best to resolve a major issue into a minor one, and a minor issue into nothing at all. This would be for the best."

Zhu Baiqi said unwillingly, "So my disciples were beaten for nothing?"

Daoguang smiled, "We are all fellow Daoists; let’s not harm our harmony. Moreover, this was a friendly sparring match between the two sides; perhaps we shouldn’t intervene. Let my young disciple apologize to a few of your junior brothers, and let this matter pass."

"Mingyang, aren’t you going to apologize?"

Mingjue nudged him and whispered, "Junior Brother, go on."

Song An reluctantly stepped forward and mumbled indistinctly, "Sorry, alright."

Seeing him like that, Zhu Haojie was so angry his teeth ached.

But seeing that both the Abbot and Daoist Master Daoguang were protecting him, he could only endure it, and slowly settle the score with him later!

In any case, this Dao discussion would last at least half a year; he would have plenty of opportunities to "play" with him!

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