Chapter 295: Covering Up the Truth

Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Covering Up the Truth

Zhu Baiqi led his people towards the front hall.

Watching Song An and the other person’s hurried retreating figures, he then entered.

"Senior Brother Changfeng, what are those two off to? They seemed in such a hurry," Zhu Baiqi asked.

Changfeng smiled, "Oh, nothing important. Junior Brother Baiqi, please take a seat."

Zhu Baiqi cupped his hands, then walked over and sat down.

Soon, a Taoist priest entered from outside the door.

"Li Yang of the Benevolence Hall greets True Person Changfeng."

True Person Changfeng looked at him and asked, "Are you the one responsible for the disciples’ daily lives and upkeep?"

"Indeed, True Person," he replied.

"The chores in the temple have always been handled by the junior disciples in rotation. Why have I heard that all the tasks in the back courtyard have fallen upon one young disciple?" True Person Changfeng inquired, getting straight to the point.

Li Yang glanced awkwardly at Zhu Haojie, who was standing behind Zhu Baiqi. "This..."

"I’m asking you. Just tell the truth, no need to look at anyone else."

Li Yang replied, "To True Person, our temple indeed has the junior disciples rotate tasks. But ever since Junior Brother Zhu brought back a young junior disciple three months ago, Senior Brother Zhu said that all these tasks should be given to that young junior disciple, and the young junior disciple also agreed."

True Person Changfeng frowned. "I recall disciples rotate duties every month. Which disciples should have been responsible for these past three months?"

Li Yang answered truthfully, "Originally, it should have been the disciples from the Disciplinary Hall who were responsible."

True Person Changfeng looked at Zhu Baiqi.

Zhu Baiqi said, "Senior Brother, if someone willingly helps their fellow disciples and fosters camaraderie, and the other is a willing recipient, then there’s no problem."

"That may be so, but if one person is doing the work of several, and has been doing it for so long, wouldn’t people say that our temple is mistreating its disciples?" True Person Changfeng said, looking at Dao Guang.

Dao Guang knew this was about his disciple.

Dao Guang chuckled, "My humble disciple spoke nonsense without understanding the full story. This old Taoist apologizes to your temple on his behalf."

Zhu Haojie said triumphantly, "You think a mere apology is enough? Is our temple’s reputation so worthless?"

True Person Changfeng sternly warned, "Haojie, do not be disrespectful to True Person Dao Guang."

Though he said this, there was no hint of genuine blame in his tone.

Zhu Haojie also realized this, and immediately said, "Exactly! That Ming Yang, not only does he not follow our temple’s rules, but he also acts so arrogantly. He slandered our temple, shouldn’t he be punished?"

"Right, he makes a mistake and then hides behind his master and senior brothers, what kind of behavior is that?"

"Who said I’d hide if I made a mistake?" A voice came from outside the door.

Everyone looked towards the entrance, seeing Song An and his Senior Brother enter, followed by a small, frail, and delicate-looking young Taoist.

Upon seeing the young Taoist, Zhu Haojie and the others, who had just been so smug, immediately fell silent.

Even Zhu Baiqi’s expression turned grave.

Seeing their reactions, Song An felt that the young Taoist behind him surely harbored a secret.

Song An walked in and said, "I’d hide behind my master and senior brothers if I made a mistake? What a joke! Besides, what mistake have I even made?"

"You slandered our temple without knowing the truth, and you still don’t realize your mistake?" Zhu Haojie couldn’t stand his attitude, and retorted defiantly.

"Truth? Slander? Whether I slandered or not, you know perfectly well in your heart!"

Song An glanced at Zhu Baiqi, then continued, "Are some people perhaps quite surprised to see this young junior disciple here?"

True Person Changfeng said coldly, "I was the one who sent someone to invite him. What’s so surprising about that?"

Song An chuckled, "Because if I had been a step slower, you wouldn’t have been able to see this young junior disciple at all."

True Person Changfeng frowned, "What do you mean by that?"

"It means that someone, in order to conceal certain matters, intended to murder to silence him," Song An suddenly declared with a serious and loud voice.

"What?!"

"How is that possible?" True Person Changfeng exclaimed in shock.

Taken to its worst, this was merely bullying among disciples, certainly not to the extent of murder to silence.

Ming Jue stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Reporting to Master and True Person Changfeng, Junior Brother is not lying. The assailant was a masked Taoist priest dressed in white robes.

He was very familiar with this temple, so much so that your disciple lost track of him during the chase. However, this person took a palm strike from Junior Brother. If all the temple disciples are thoroughly checked, this person can be found quickly!"

Just then, a Taoist priest rushed in. It was True Person Changfeng’s chief disciple.

"Master, when your disciple went to invite this junior disciple, someone diverted your disciple."

True Person Changfeng abruptly stood up, realizing only now that the matter was more complicated than he had imagined.

"But, this is just an outer disciple, why would anyone want to kill him?" True Person Changfeng asked, puzzled.

Zhu Baiqi stood up and said, "Senior Brother, let our Disciplinary Hall investigate this matter. Within a day, Baiqi guarantees a clear explanation for Senior Brother."

True Person Changfeng was about to speak, but Song An interrupted him.

"Hand it over to the Disciplinary Hall? To coerce a confession through torture, or to murder to silence?"

Zhu Baiqi roared angrily, "You impudent young brat! What is your intention in repeatedly offending our temple and its disciples?"

Song An pulled the young Taoist behind him forward and said, "You speak! Why did those people want to kill you? Don’t be afraid, explain it clearly in front of everyone."

True Person Changfeng looked over. "Raise your head."

Dao Guang saw the young disciple trembling slightly, clearly terrified, and said gently, "Child, don’t be afraid. It’s safe here. Tell us everything you know."

The young Taoist slowly raised his head, revealing a thin, delicate face.

Changfeng frowned. With such effeminate features, no wonder he was bullied.

"What is your name? When did you come to the temple?" Changfeng asked.

The young Taoist glanced at True Person Changfeng, then caught sight of Zhu Haojie behind Zhu Baiqi, and nervously lowered his head.

Song An stepped forward and patted his shoulder. "Don’t be afraid."

Only then did the young Taoist raise his head again. "My name is Wen Si, and I came to the temple three months ago." (Outer disciples do not have Taoist names; they use their secular birth names.)

"Wen Si, where do you live? Why did you come to the temple?"

"I live in Wen Family Village at the foot of this mountain. I came to the temple..."

"Why?" True Person Changfeng pressed.

The young Taoist looked at Zhu Haojie again.

Song An saw his hesitant manner and frowned. "They’re trying to murder you to silence you, what more could you possibly be afraid to say?"

The young Taoist gritted his teeth, as if having made a decision, and was about to speak.

🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance Chapters and 2 new Chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).