Chapter 68: Not Indulging Bad Habits |
Hearing this, Xiang Lan'er nodded slightly, understanding.
Not long after, another sound of footsteps came from outside, followed by a knock on the door.
The door opened, and the masked man in the cloak came again.
After closing the door and exchanging greetings, he immediately complained to Feng Chi without waiting, "Your Excellency, what's going on with those two on the mountain? If they frequently contact you like this, I'll be exposed sooner or later!"
He clearly couldn't hold back his frustration, and Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er were both curious.
"What happened?" Feng Chi asked.
"Those two fellows escaped, then were beaten like miserable wretches and dragged back…" The cloaked masked man rapidly recounted the situation of the incident, ending with a earnestly persuasive tone, "Your Excellency, are you sure those two will act according to the plan? Just because their feet were hurt from not wearing shoes, they could abandon the plan and escape.
Just because Wei Bian participated in the assassination, they publicly killed Wei Bian. What's the deal? Isn't that a bit too self-willed? What if they cause more incredible things later? We're all working with our lives on the line, this isn't how you play! Is their self-willed behavior appropriate? If this continues, no matter how great my capability, I won't be able to cover for them!"
When he reached the agitated part of his speech, he even forgot to disguise his hoarse voice, directly exposing his original voice.
Feng Chi and Xiang Lan'er were also truly startled.
They also really wanted to know what Shi Chun and the other were up to.
After a long while, Feng Chi asked the masked man, "What's your opinion?"
The cloaked masked man sighed, "These two really aren't suitable to work together.
They came from the Land of Exile and don't understand the rules. We should find a way to ask them to leave, otherwise, as long as they're here for one day, I'll live in fear for one day, and Young Lady might be implicated at any time once she's on the mountain."
Feng Chi thought about it.
Earlier, she might have considered it, but now that she had received new tasks, it was unlikely. She shook her head and said, "After experiencing some things before, I thought they were quite astute, but we didn't expect them to be so self-willed.
Things have come to this point; it's hard to get off the tiger. If they don't agree to withdraw themselves, we really can't force them to withdraw."
This could only be the pretext.
The truth of some matters, they would not tell the other party, even if the other party's cultivation level was higher than theirs, they still had to distinguish between intimates and strangers.
Xiang Lan'er, who had been silent, said, "After going up the mountain, try to arrange a meeting for me with them.
I'll talk to them."
The cloaked masked man paused slightly, then nodded, "Alright, if the talk doesn't work out, just keep them locked in prison."
Feng Chi chuckled, "That's a good idea."
Among the pavilions and towers, inside the Wukang Mountain Sect Master's study room, Bian Jixiong was reading transmitted messages from outside behind the desk.
In the lantern on the lamp stand nearby, a moth suddenly fluttered—it was a Spirit Moth.
Bian Jixiong looked up, immediately put down what he was holding, and rose to leave.
He walked all the way to the Forbidden Secret Chamber on the mountain, pushed the door open, and saw the white-robed figure sitting cross-legged on a Meditation Mat with his back turned in the Tanjin light. He went forward and knelt and sat on another Meditation Mat, "Father, why did you summon me?"
The white-robed figure said, "I heard those two kids escaped?"
Bian Jixiong, "They have already been captured and brought back."
The white-robed figure asked strangely, "Why did they run? Have they found the person they were looking for on the mountain?"
Bian Jixiong, "Father, judging by their actions both on and off the mountain, I really can't tell where they seem to be looking for someone."
The white-robed figure, "Yes, I have experienced in dealing with people my whole life, and the actions of these two are indeed baffling.
How did they crack the Immobilization Talisman? Have you found out?"
Bian Jixiong, "Didn't you crack it? They said someone in secret cracked it for them, and that's the only possibility. I thought it was you who secretly made a move."
The white-robed figure, "It wasn't me.
It's not surprising if they have a Master lying in ambush there. Otherwise, with their strength, they wouldn't dare to commit violence in public.
The situation is shifting and treacherous, and things have come to this point. You must rouse your spirit."
"Yes," Bian Jixiong agreed to.
"The Demonic Path came to Wukang Mountain to find someone, who could it be?" The white-robed figure muttered to oneself.
Unlike Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, who constantly encountered accidents, Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan'er's ascent to the mountain was very smooth and went as planned.
They were picked up and taken to the mountain that afternoon.
In fact, quite a few people had objections to Bian Weikang's return, not just ordinary objections, but considerable ones.
He had already been expelled from the Sect, so what was the meaning of bringing a Courtesan back? It was simply outrageous.
Even the Sect Master strongly opposed it.
However, the Former Sect Master had great face. Bian Weikang was the Former Sect Master's only grandson, and some people used the Former Sect Master's name to collectively petition the Sect Master.
What could those who were approached do?
So, under the joint petition of a group of Sect Elders, Sect Master Bian Jixiong reluctantly agreed.
Of course, there was a condition for this outcome: Bian Weikang could return, but Xiang Lan'er was not allowed to be his wife.
Xiang Lan'er's Brothel Background was a hurdle that Wukang Mountain High-ranking Officials could not overcome.
Everyone cared about their reputation.
They would still have to travel outside and meet people in the future; they couldn't become a big joke.
Before bringing Bian Weikang and Xiang Lan'er up the mountain, someone even specifically talked to Bian Weikang, asking him to give up Xiang Lan'er.
But Bian Weikang swore to defend their relationship to the death. The talker was helpless, and after their final efforts were fruitless, they brought the two up the mountain together.
The two were arranged in a small and cramped courtyard on the mountain. From today onwards, Xiang Lan'er's daily needs like food and clothing would be her own responsibility, and Bian Weikang would have to start anew from the lowest level Disciple status in the Sect, doing the dirtiest and hardest labor.
Even this was only because of the immense face given to the Former Sect Master.
Soon after arriving on the mountain, Xiang Lan'er proposed to see her Benefactors, and Bian Weikang also felt he couldn't ignore them.
So he sought help from others and finally got the chance for a prison visit.
However, before he even reached the prison, someone came to assign Bian Weikang a task, and it was non-negotiable.
Bian Weikang was helpless and could only let Xiang Lan'er go alone to visit them on his behalf.
The Jailer sent Xiang Lan'er into the Prison and quickly turned to leave.
In the dim prison cell, looking at the two injured men lying on the ground, Xiang Lan'er softly called out, "Benefactors, Benefactors, are you alright?"
The two, who had been regulating their breath and treating their injuries with closed eyes, heard someone arrive. They initially didn't want to respond, but hearing Xiang Lan'er's voice, they successively opened their eyes, then struggled to crawl up one after another, limping to the Iron Bars, wanting to speak but couldn't help carefully looking at the end of the Corridor.
Xiang Lan'er, "Rest assured, no one is eavesdropping. Just speak softly."
Shi Chun then curiously asked, "You're already on the mountain?"
Xiang Lan'er hummed, confused, "I already found a way to settle you on the mountain, why did you escape?"
Speaking of this, Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang were both a bit embarrassed, especially Shi Chun.
He realized he might have been too clever for his own good. It was only afterwards that the two realized they must have had a wire crossed.
Their original goal was to get onto the mountain, so why did they think that Elder Xia was helping them escape?
Things have come to this point, Shi Chun sighed, "Forget it. We can't afford to offend that City Lord.
We don't want to stay on this mountain anymore. You should find a way to send us out, to avoid constantly causing you trouble."
Wu Jinliang also nodded repeatedly, "Yes, we don't want to trouble you anymore."
Not playing anymore? Xiang Lan'er was stunned.
This rapid change in attitude was indeed a bit self-willed. The problem was, why didn't you say so earlier? Now that Higher-ups have given new tasks, do you think you can just say you're not playing anymore?
She naturally couldn't agree.
It was also impossible to easily let the two break away from control now. She directly refused, "If it weren't for this escape, I could have found a way to get you out.
Now that you've beaten the grass to startle the snake, no one can do anything in the short term."
The two, who were in the wrong, were speechless.
Seeing their miserable and pitiful speechless expressions, Xiang Lan'er comforted them, "You're already on the mountain, and your conflict with Bian Weiying has been made clear. On the contrary, nothing will happen.
Bian Jixiong's purpose for you hasn't been achieved, so he won't let his daughter act recklessly. I will also have people be on guard here; nothing will happen."
The two inside the prison cell looked at each other, thinking it made sense.
With Bian Jixiong watching over them from behind, there was no need to be so afraid. And things have come to this point, they might as well continue with the original plan.
After Xiang Lan'er comforted the two and left, the injured pair was detained in the prison for three more days before being released.
Shi Chun's recovery ability was indeed formidable; he was already like a normal person.
Wu Jinliang still walked with a slightly awkward limp.
Upon leaving the prison, they were provided with new clothes and shoes this time, still the "Laborer" Character Uniform.
The place they were sent to was, naturally, the Discipline Hall.
As soon as the handover was complete, Shi Chun and the other, waiting in the courtyard for arrangements, didn't receive any arrangements.
Instead, Pang Tiansheng approached closely, carrying a stick.
Windows in the courtyard opened one by one, revealing faces watching the excitement.
Pang Tiansheng, caressing the stick in his hand, circled the two, a sinister grin on his lips, ill-intentioned intent written all over his face. Shi Chun and the other turned their heads to look at each other, exchanging glances.
"Do you know what rules are?"
As Pang Tiansheng finished speaking from behind the two, the rod in his hand suddenly whistled out, striking directly at their legs.
This wasn't really a sneak attack; he was clearly going to cause trouble for them.
Shi Chun, who had been on guard, quickly jumped up, spinning his body for a swift and fierce kick that landed squarely on Pang Tiansheng's cheek.
The moment the foot connected with his face, Pang Tiansheng's eyes were filled with disbelief.
How dared he fight back?
The thought flashed, and he staggered outwards.
Wu Jinliang followed, kicking Pang Tiansheng down.
Shi Chun caught up, and the two immediately vented the beating they had received earlier on Pang Tiansheng, punching and kicking him.
What Sect Master's Disciple of Wukang Mountain? If his strength was lacking, it was lacking.
Other Wukang Mountain Disciples might be afraid, but these two would not indulge bad habits. Knowing that Bian Jixiong had an ulterior motive for them, why would they be afraid of this? To get beaten when they could win was foolish.
"Help! Help!" Pang Tiansheng wailed.
In the vast Discipline Hall, with so many people watching the excitement, not one of them offered help, showing how overpowering Pang Tiansheng's formidable presence usually was.
Some smiled, some closed their windows as if they hadn't seen anything.
However, the wailing for help eventually startled the Patrol Disciples outside.
Several High Martial Cultivators soared over. Seeing the Sect Master's Disciple being beaten, they immediately rushed to his rescue, joining in the group assault.
These were all High Martial Cultivators; Shi Chun and the other couldn't resist at all. They were beaten down to the ground again, and after another group assault, they ended up in mutual harm with Pang Tiansheng.
The thudding sound caused the closed windows in the courtyard to open again.
Ultimately, the two, who had just been released from prison, had new injuries, their new clothes were torn, and they were covered in blood.
They were pitifully carried back and detained in the prison.
(End of Chapter)