Chapter 297: Beating and Humiliation

Chapter 297: Chapter 297: Beating and Humiliation

The next morning, Ming Jue arrived outside Master Dao Guang’s room, carrying a basin of clear water.

"Master, are you awake?"

"Come in."

Ming Jue pushed the door open, set down the water, and served Master Dao Guang as he washed.

"Master, Junior Brother has been kneeling all night. Can he get up now? Xi Chen is bitterly cold; I hope he doesn’t fall ill."

Dao Guang snorted coldly. "Didn’t you go there last night? He had food and a quilt; what illness could he catch?"

Ming Jue was momentarily speechless. He had been secretly protecting that ungrateful wretch all night. He had originally planned to bring Junior Brother some food later, but who knew that the wretch had some conscience, bringing things to Junior Brother himself, so Ming Jue hadn’t bothered.

"Master, I didn’t send those."

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. "Master, you’re still soft-hearted; you went to see Junior Brother yourself, didn’t you?"

Otherwise, how would he know Junior Brother had food and a quilt?

Dao Guang snorted coldly again.

"Today, you will secretly watch that Wen Si. As for your Junior Brother, leave him be for now; let him stay there and keep up appearances. I am going down the mountain today. If anyone asks, just make up an excuse."

"Master, are you going to investigate the truth? This disciple will come with you!"

Dao Guang refused. "No, too many people would make it inconvenient to act. You keep a close eye on Wen Si, and also on your Junior Brother; don’t let him cause any trouble."

"Yes, Master."

After breakfast, Master Dao Guang quickly left the Daoist temple.

Seeing his master descend the mountain, Ming Jue headed towards the outer sect disciples’ living quarters.

Perhaps it was because Wen Si’s personality wasn’t particularly endearing, or for some other reason, but while other outer sect disciples shared rooms, Wen Si had a room to himself.

Although his dwelling was simple, it was somewhat secluded from the others, with a small courtyard of its own.

Ming Jue entered the courtyard and saw that it was quite messy, with wooden frames lying haphazardly on the ground.

At that moment, a shrill scream came from inside the house.

Ming Jue kicked open the wooden door and saw a masked figure about to strike.

In the nick of time, Ming Jue immediately stepped forward, blocked the sword, and saved Wen Si.

Seeing someone arrive, the masked figure turned and fled. Ming Jue did not pursue.

"Senior Brother Ming Jue, thank you."

Ming Jue said coldly, "Don’t thank me. Until you tell the truth, these assassination attempts will be endless, and your life could be lost at any moment."

Wen Si lowered his head and said nothing more.

Ming Jue rolled his eyes. "I can handle one opponent, but if another comes, I’ll be powerless. Let’s go to the Three Sages Hall. With my Junior Brother there, your safety will be more assured."

Wen Si nodded and followed him out.

Upon arriving at the Three Sages Hall, they saw Song An wrapped in a quilt, sound asleep.

The door was pushed open, and the glaring sunlight made him spring up into a sitting position with a "carp jump," looking towards the doorway.

"Senior Brother, is Master letting me out?" Song An asked happily.

Ming Jue entered, with Wen Si following behind him.

Song An looked puzzled. "What’s going on with you two?"

Ming Jue sat down on a meditation cushion nearby and said, "Master said to let you keep up appearances for the Daoist temple folk for another day. Just now, Wen Si was almost assassinated again. I was afraid I couldn’t handle it alone, so I brought him here to you."

Song An glanced at Wen Si and said, "What secret do you carry that they are so relentlessly after you?"

Ming Jue shot Wen Si a look, a hint of reproach in his eyes. "Don’t ask. He won’t tell."

Song An looked at Ming Jue. "Senior Brother, you didn’t even bring me anything to eat. I’m hungry."

Ming Jue rolled his eyes mentally. This was hardly a scene of reflection and repentance.

Helpless, he stood up and said, "You keep an eye on him. I’ll go get you some food."

Song An nodded. "Go, go!"

Ming Jue quickly returned with a bowl of plain porridge and two large steamed buns.

"This is all that’s left. Eat up."

Song An wasn’t picky. He sat on the meditation cushion, one hand holding the porridge, the other a bun, devouring them.

As he was eating, the door was forcefully kicked open from outside.

"Well, well! Still eating, are we?"

Zhu Haojie swaggered in with a group of people.

Ming Jue stood up, pulling Wen Si behind him. Song An merely glanced at Zhu Haojie and continued to sit and eat his meal.

"You’re here to reflect on your misdeeds and receive punishment, yet you have a quilt and food? What do you take this Three Sages Hall for?"

Zhu Haojie stepped forward a few paces and kicked over Song An’s bowl.

Song An’s chopsticks, halfway to his mouth, hung in mid-air. He looked up, meeting Zhu Haojie’s provocative, pig-like face.

Song An put down his chopsticks and slowly rose.

Song An was very tall, a full head taller than Zhu Haojie.

The oppressive feeling of his height forced Zhu Haojie to retreat a few steps.

"Wh-what? Am I wrong?"

Song An sneered. "You’re right, but I’ve already done it. What do you intend to do?"

Zhu Haojie looked up and said, "Go to the Discipline Hall and receive a hundred lashes with the disciplinary whip!"

Song An laughed. "I’m not one of your Daoist temple’s people; why should I go to the Discipline Hall? If I made a mistake, my Master will discipline me. Who do you think you are?"

Zhu Haojie’s face darkened. He waved his hand. "Go, tie him up and take him to the Discipline Hall! And these two accomplices, tie them up too!"

A group of people swarmed forward. Song An and Ming Jue’s faces hardened.

A short while later, the ground was littered with groaning figures.

"A bunch of rabble, and you think you can catch us?" Song An looked at Zhu Haojie with disdain.

Zhu Haojie roared, "Song An! How dare you lay hands on someone in front of the Three Sages! Useless! Get up, all of you! Keep going!"

Song An snorted coldly and, in an instant, moved in front of Zhu Haojie, grabbing the front of his robe.

"You, what do you want to do? Don’t mess around!" Zhu Haojie tried to pry Song An’s hand away, a hint of fear in his eyes.

"Not only am I going to lay hands, I’m going to lay hands on you. I’ve disliked that pig-face of yours for a long time!"

With that, he delivered a punch. Zhu Haojie felt as if his nose bridge was about to break.

Two red streams flowed down.

"Junior Brother, stop!"

Amidst Ming Jue’s shout of warning, Song An landed another two powerful punches. The sound of wailing echoed throughout the great hall.

Looking at Zhu Haojie again, Ming Jue felt both worried and somewhat pleased. That miserable sight made one want to laugh.

Zhu Haojie’s eyes were both bruised black and blue, with two red trails beneath his nose.

Song An threw him aside, clapping his hands. "Ah, that’s better, much more pleasing to the eye."

Zhu Haojie clutched his face, pointing at Song An. "You’re dead! Just you wait! My father won’t let you get away with this."

Song An crossed his arms and said, "I’ll be waiting."

Zhu Haojie fled in disarray.

Ming Jue stepped forward, worried. "Junior Brother, you’ve caused trouble again."

How was he going to explain this to Master?

In just this short time, Junior Brother had beaten someone up.

He had thought that confining him to the Three Sages Hall would prevent trouble, but it seemed he still managed to stir things up.

Song An said nonchalantly, "Senior Brother, it’s fine. I originally wanted to be a refined and otherworldly Daoist, but Junior Brother just couldn’t stand looking at that pig-face."

Ming Jue sighed. "Junior Brother, that pig-face... Senior Brother Zhu went to fetch reinforcements."

Wen Si also looked at Song An with concern. "True Man Zhu dotes on this son the most, Senior Brother Ming Yang. This time, by hitting him, you’ve really caused trouble."

"So what if I caused trouble? Later, neither of you should step forward. Each must bear the consequences of his own actions. Let’s see what he can do to me!"

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