Chapter 296: Some Are Not Worth It

Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Some Are Not Worth It

"Senior Brother, you are busy with important matters. Just leave these small things to your Junior Brother. Otherwise, what’s the point of having my Disciplinary Hall?" Zhu Baiqi said to True Person Changfeng.

Changfeng saw his repeated obstruction, and connected it with the talk of murder to silence. This matter, he feared, was inextricably linked to him.

He glanced at Dao Guang and his disciples. Family scandals should not be aired publicly.

"Alright then..."

Seeing his intention to shield, Song An immediately said, "He’s about to speak, why not listen to what he has to say? Or does the Grand Overseer intend to shield his own junior brother? This is a Royal Taoist Temple. If, due to the Grand Overseer’s protection, there are any injustices, and this were to get out later, the Grand Overseer’s and the temple’s reputation..."

Zhu Haojie said, "This is our temple’s business, what does it have to do with you, an outsider?"

True Person Changfeng’s face darkened. "Let him speak!"

Then he looked at Wen Si and said, "You speak, tell us everything you know!"

"Reporting to the True Person, this disciple has no grievances."

Song An frowned. "What are you saying? This is your last chance!"

Wen Si looked at Song An, and said earnestly, "Senior Brother Ming Yang, I’m sorry. But I truly have no grievances."

Zhu Haojie immediately jumped out and said, "Ming Yang, he himself said he has no grievances, what more do you have to say? You repeatedly slandered our temple, and repeatedly offended my father and my Senior Master Changfeng. Do you really think our temple has no one?"

Song An merely looked at Wen Si, but Wen Si dared not meet his gaze, keeping his head down.

True Person Changfeng looked at Dao Guang and said, "True Person, what do you make of this...?"

Dao Guang looked at Wen Si and said coldly, "No grievances? Then why did someone in the temple, in broad daylight, become so agitated they wanted to kill you to silence you?"

Wen Si shook his head, biting his lip and whispering, "This disciple doesn’t know."

Dao Guang looked at him and sighed, "Forget it, if you don’t want to say, no one can force you."

Then he looked at Song An and said, "Ming Yang, although you have good intentions, others don’t appreciate it. It’s not that I forbid you from being enthusiastic, it’s just that some people are not worth it."

Wen Si trembled, looked up at Song An, and hesitated to speak.

Song An no longer looked at him, cupped his hands, and said, "Master is right. This time, it was my own wishful thinking. This disciple is willing to accept punishment."

"Go kneel before the Three Sages statues. You are not allowed to get up until I say so!"

"Yes, this disciple accepts the punishment."

With that, he turned and walked out.

Wen Si watched his retreating figure, feeling a pang in his heart, as if he had missed something important.

Zhu Baiqi said, "Is that all? He’s not being punished for slandering our temple or being disrespectful to me and Senior Brother, but for recklessly helping someone?"

Dao Guang said coldly, "This matter remains doubtful. If True Person Zhu insists on pursuing it, then this Taoist wouldn’t mind investigating personally. Or, we could invite the imperial court to intervene and investigate why there’s a rogue in the temple in broad daylight."

"Speaking of a rogue, that person is clearly hiding in the temple and took a palm strike from my junior disciple. Shouldn’t True Person Changfeng investigate?"

True Person Changfeng chuckled a few times and said, "Of course it must be investigated. Junior Brother Zhu, I’ll leave this matter to you."

Zhu Baiqi smiled, "Yes!"

Dao Guang scoffed, flicked his sleeves, and left.

Seeing his master and disciple leave, True Person Changfeng looked at Zhu Baiqi and said, "Come with me."

The two entered the inner room. Zhu Baiqi asked, "Senior Brother, you asked me to come in alone, what is the matter?"

"Speak, what exactly is going on?"

Zhu Baiqi replied, "Senior Brother, there’s really nothing to it, that brat slandered us. As for silencing, I think that young disciple got into trouble outside."

True Person Changfeng said coldly, "There were outsiders today, and I protected you out of consideration for our fellow disciples. This was also for the sake of our temple. Don’t cause trouble for me."

"Senior Brother, rest assured, Junior Brother will handle it properly."

"Also, send Haojie and your disciples from your hall to the back courtyard. The rules that have been set must be followed. You are still in charge of the Disciplinary Hall, how can you command respect otherwise?"

"Yes, Senior Brother is right. I will go back and personally order them to the back courtyard."

"As for the masked Taoist, that must also be handled properly, whether you put on a show or investigate seriously, do you understand?"

"Understood."

"You may leave."

"Senior Brother, Baiqi takes his leave."

Meanwhile, Dao Guang brought Ming Jue back to their wing room.

Ming Jue asked, "Master, how long do you plan to have Junior Brother kneel? This matter truly isn’t Junior Brother’s fault. Any clear-sighted person can see there’s something fishy here, it’s the temple people protecting each other, and that little Taoist too. Junior Brother helped him so much, yet he ended up betraying him at the last minute."

Dao Guang sighed, "Ming Jue, you’ve also been made a bit too impetuous by Ming Yang."

"Master, how can one not be angry about this?"

Dao Guang said, "Then have you considered why that young Taoist remained tight-lipped?"

"Why?"

Dao Guang looked at his somewhat dull eldest disciple and sighed.

His youngest disciple was clever but impetuous.

Both disciples had their shortcomings.

"He wasn’t willing to tell the truth even when his life was threatened. This indicates that he has something more important than his life held as leverage by the other party."

Ming Jue slapped his forehead. "You’re right! How could I not have thought of that?"

"These next few days, secretly protect that young Taoist. Leave the rest to me."

Ming Jue’s eyes lit up. "Master, is this...?"

"Hmph! I punished your junior brother not because he did something wrong, but to make him understand not to act rashly in the future! But with this punishment, those who don’t know the truth will truly think my disciple was in the wrong. So, I will personally uncover the truth of this matter!"

Ming Jue looked at him, feeling somewhat moved.

Although Master didn’t speak much, he was fiercely protective of his own.

Especially when it concerned Senior Brother Ming Yang, whom Master cherished most.

"Master, don’t worry, your disciple will certainly look after that ungrateful little Taoist!"

That night, Song An was kneeling in the main hall, hungry and cold.

The cold in Xichen was no joke, especially at night.

Just then, a sound came from the doorway.

Song An thought it was his Senior Brother secretly bringing him food.

He turned around, only to see Wen Si.

Song An’s face darkened. "What are you doing here?"

Wen Si walked up and squatted beside him, silently placing down the food, then taking out a small cotton quilt.

"I’m sorry, I caused you to have to kneel here on such a cold day."

"You didn’t do anything wrong, I was just meddling," Song An said coldly, not looking at him.

Wen Si’s hand stiffened. "Please eat some food."

Seeing that he didn’t move, Wen Si continued, "I don’t have to do those arduous chores anymore. Now I only need to be responsible for sweeping. This is all thanks to you, Senior Brother, I’m truly grateful. But there are some things I really can’t say, Senior Brother, please forgive me, okay?"

Song An turned to look at him. "What exactly is your difficulty? Tell me, I can help you."

Wen Si paused, then smiled. "Senior Brother’s heart is always so warm, even at this point, you’re still thinking of helping me. But truly, it’s not necessary."

Song An felt suffocated with frustration; this person was truly unyielding.

Wen Si said softly, "Senior Brother, please eat quickly. I’ll be leaving now."

Song An didn’t respond, and Wen Si sighed, stood up, and left.

Song An smelled the aroma of the food.

Sigh, well, wasting food isn’t a good habit.

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