Chapter 22
If Meng Chao Ran were s.h.i.+ Qian Shan’s master, then how could he have stood there and watched as this situation unfolded? However, he was currently filled with disappointment. Meng Chao Ran had always taught his disciples to have principles that they should solve their own problems. When they fail, he would come and aid them. Today, if s.h.i.+ Qian Shan had at least some dignity to stand up and fight with his opponents, then Meng Chao Ran would have protected his disciple.
Even if he had to fight straight into Locking Clouds Peak, Meng Chao Ran would do it! When your kids get beaten up, then they have someone to lean on. Would it not be the same with his disciples?
Meng Chao Ran had already prepared everything carefully!
However, he saw s.h.i.+ Qian Shan’s cowardice in not fighting back and taking a beating just to preserve his life. This was no different from not having any conviction nor any manliness. What can such behavior achieve if one day a powerful enemy attacked? Would you kneel and kowtow to him?
Patience must also have its limits!
I can fight for you, but you have to show that you are worthy of my efforts. I can cover for you once, but not your whole life. Everything depends on you.
Such was the main principle taught by Meng Chao Ran. Though others might find it hard to understand, but this was a method to help his disciples survive in Jiang Hu.
Enthusiasm and courage! Even though these two qualities were often seen as the impulsiveness of youth and also the cause of tragedy, however it was undeniable that without these two virtues, then you could not become powerful even with a thousand years of cultivation.
Although enthusiasm and courage were considered defects, but in order to become powerful, you could not lack these two things.
Meng Chao Ran felt extremely disappointed with s.h.i.+ Qian Shan. He didn’t want to intercede anymore…
In the Purple Bamboo Forest, standing a far distance from Meng Chao Ran were two people lost in their own thoughts. They were also watching the comedy that was unfolding in the yard. These two were Sect Master of the Beyond the Heavens Sect, Wu Yun Liang, and Master of Dream Clouds Peak, Kong Jing Feng. It was not known why these two have come; moreover, they were even excited to watch these youths fighting with each other.
If Chu Yang were to see these two, he would surely be surprised.
When they saw s.h.i.+ Qian Shan lying curled up and unconscious on the ground, covered in dirt and blood, Qu Ping and Liu Yun Yan lost all interest and halted. They had previously thought that s.h.i.+ Qian Shan who was so arrogant and dared to fight with Li Jian Yin would at least put up a fight.
Much to their surprise, they encountered a sandbag who did not dare to move, letting others do as they pleased.
They worried that hitting him too hard might lead to murder and immediately prepared to leave.
Just as they were leaving, a voice spoke slowly, "Hey, are you guys just leaving like that?"
Liu Yun Yan and his group immediately stopped. (TLN: I wanted to say posse.)
The other person continued, "Eight elder martial brothers got into a fight with s.h.i.+ Qian Shan and suffered so much. It does not seem right that you leave like that."
Liu Yun Yan turned around and stared coldly at the speaker and said, "What do you have in mind?"
The seven others turned back as well, to see this surprising newcomer. When they were giving s.h.i.+ Qian Shan a beating, that guy didn’t say anything. Now that it was over, he showed his face.
Perhaps he wants a beating as well!
Chu Yang smiled peacefully and said, "Elder Martial Brother Qu have come to our Purple Bamboo Garden and suffered such a big grievance. Junior Martial Brother feels very guilty."
His face had always been cold. But now, he was smiling and talking so intimately, leaving Tan Tan’s mouth gaping like he had just seen the devil.
"Oh my G.o.d! I have known you for so long, today is the first time I have seen your smile. This life of mine has not been in vain!" Tan Tan was filled with a thousand feelings.
As for Liu Yun Yan’s people, they were very annoyed. Just then, the eight men were beating s.h.i.+ Qian Shan to the brink of death, while screaming that s.h.i.+ Qian Shan was beating them.
Chu Yang was a person from Purple Bamboo Garden, yet he was now following suit and also twisting the truth.
Somehow this made the eight people even more upset.
Chu Yang stood out not for s.h.i.+ Qian Shan’s sake, of course. If this
This was Master’s sanctuary, it was also his master’s face. (TLN: I bet you guys have never seen it used like that before.)
The disciples of Locking Clouds Peak came to beat up Meng Chao Ran’s disciple right at Purple Bamboo Garden and then calmly left; if such a thing were known, Meng Chao Ran’s reputation would suffer a tremendous blow.
Even though Meng Chao Ran never minded such things, Chu Yang could not help but care.
From the previous life to now, Meng Chao Ran has always been the person Chu Yang respected the most.
s.h.i.+ Qian Shan’s beating was exactly as he had planned, but those who dared to come to Purple Bamboo Garden to beat up people, they too should suffer the consequences!
As he saw it, these were two different things.
How should I kill with a borrowed knife? Chu Yang asked himself. Feeling a little dishonest, he unconsciously rubbed his nose. (TLN: Killing with a borrowed knife is a pretty common saying, here’s more info.)
Surely it is okay? Even though I’m throwing stones with a hidden hand, these idiots are just a bunch of donkeys.
Moreover, I can use s.h.i.+ Qian Shan to s.h.i.+eld from disaster. With the current situation, I must quickly gain the sword point fragment of the Nine Tribulations Sword, then I can truly trample them under my feet.
If it was a matter of eventuality, then why not a little earlier?
"In the end, what thoughts do you have?" Liu Yun Yan signaled for his junior martial brothers to stop. Looking haughtily at Chu Yang, he thought, This kid is at best a Martial Artist at second or third grade. What tricks can he possibly have? No need to bother!
"What I meant was, this is Purple Bamboo Garden, not Locking Clouds Peak." Chu Yang smiled peacefully but his gaze was as sharp as a knife.
"So what if it is Purple Bamboo Garden?" Liu Yun Yan said.
"You are from Locking Clouds Peak, even though we are from the same sect, but Locking Clouds Peak is Locking Clouds Peak and Purple Bamboo Garden is Purple Bamboo Garden." Chu Yang said blandly. "You guys dared to come to cause trouble in Purple Bamboo Garden, has any elder in the sect granted you permission?"
"Cause what trouble?" Qu Ping glared. "We were only here to have a friendly compet.i.tion with Junior Martial Brother s.h.i.+ Qian Shan. Aren’t such compet.i.tions common in the sect?"
"Right, only a friendly compet.i.tion!" The rest yelled out. They absolutely could not have the words ‘making trouble’.
"Oh? Friendly compet.i.tion? The rules of the Beyond the Heavens Sect states that friendly compet.i.tion amongst disciples must have an elder present. Can I ask where that elder is?" Chu Yang smiled coldly and continued, "Beyond the Heavens Sect rules state that friendly compet.i.tion can be used to encourage disciples to prove themselves, but there must be an elder to watch over. So I ask you, where is the elder? Beyond the Heavens Sect also has a rule that friendly compet.i.tions need an agreement, so can I ask you where that agreement is?"
"You…" Qu Ping was tongue-tied.
When they came there, they already knew that Meng Chao Ran was at Purple Bamboo Garden. They figured they only had to ask him for permission for a friendly compet.i.tion, then everything would pa.s.s smoothly.
Moreover, it also would have brought great reputation to Locking Clouds Peak. "You guys think about this, we come in the name of friendly compet.i.tion, but it is, in fact, to avenge junior martial brother. The place of our compet.i.tion is Purple Bamboo Garden, so we can have Junior Martial Uncle Meng preside over the compet.i.tion." Everything was open and upright conduct, the plan was perfect and without any flaws.
If Li Jian Yin had come home injured and Locking Clouds Peak did not react, that would be a strange thing.
However, they did not expect to come and find only three people. So they just said one or two sentences and immediately took action.
Surprisingly, after the beating, someone was asking about the rules.
Without an elder there, there was no way they could win this argument.
"Gibberis.h.!.+ Today, it was s.h.i.+ Qian Shan who provoked a fight and hit Elder Martial Brother Qu first. Elder Martial Brother Qu fought back in self-defense."
One of the youth’s eyes open wide as he spoke brazenly.
Chu Yang coldly looked at him and said, "If so, then Elder Martial Brother Qu’s injuries must be serious, huh?"
"Of course!" The youth’s face turned red, but he continued speaking firmly. "Look, Elder Martial Brother has a wound on his rib and in the front on his chest, there’s another wound. His whole body is covered with injuries!"
"Oh, then today was not a friendly compet.i.tion then?" Chu Yang delighted, tilted his head. "Why is your face so red? Did you do something against your conscience?"
"Of course… of course, it was not a compet.i.tion." Qu Ping persevered as he babbled on.
The eight of them had just said in unison that it was a friendly compet.i.tion. Now, under Chu Yang’s sharp questioning, they immediately changed their tune and said it was not a compet.i.tion.
"Then, when you get back, you will report that then?" Chu Yang smiled and asked.
"Of course, we have to be honest. The sect has bestowed upon us favor greater than mountains, how could we tell a lie?"
When everyone heard Qu Ping say these words, they could not help but turn a little red themselves.
"But this doesn’t seem to fit too well. Elder Martial Brother Qu, look, if you have suffered such great injustice, but your body shows little injuries, would it not be hard to convince the elders?" Chu Yang spoke sincerely. "Elder Martial Brother Qu, how about you let me help you? What do you think?"
"You, help me?" Qu Ping eyes narrowed as he spoke. "You help me with what?"
"I will help you create a few injuries on your body." Chu Yang said with an honest smile. "Elder Martial Brother Qu, I am only thinking of you! When you tell the elders about this incident, but they don’t see any injuries, they will think that you are lying. According to the traditional rules, surely you will be punished. Would it not be better if I give you a few cuts, some light punches, plus some kicks? Do you think that’s okay?"
"Ha, ha," Qu Ping laughed loudly and gave Chu Yang a condescending look. "So you are Chu Yang? Junior Martial Brother Li told us that we could deal with s.h.i.+ Qian Shan, but we must save you for him to deal with. Ha, ha… that was why we did not touch you. Surprisingly, you want to help us? Ha, ha, with your lame skills, how would you help us?"
"Let’s give it a try and see!" Chu Yang said intimately. "Perhaps Elder Martial Brother Qu will see that my words are true and will stand still and let me make a few wounds. Wouldn’t that be very comfortable?"
Qu Ping smiled and said casually, "Our Beyond the Heavens Sect, in the nine peaks and one garden, there are a total of 796 disciples, males and females. We are ranked annually. I, Qu Ping, am untalented, but still ranked nineteen. May I ask what rank you are, Chu Yang?" (TLN: the original Chinese said eight peaks, I can only a.s.sume author had a brain fart or typo. The sect was commonly referred to as nine peaks and one garden previously.)