Chapter 86

Master Chen stormed in, and all the disciples dared not even breathe.

"Why aren't you speaking?"

They glanced at each other, silently resenting: "Didn't you walk in and start hitting us right away, not even letting us speak?"

Everyone turned to Dazhu, who had no choice but to force himself to speak:

"Master, it's not our fault."

"If not you, then who? Me? Did I start this fight?"

"They started bullying first!" Dazhu whispered.

"Yes, Master, they went too far!" the disciples chorused.

Master Chen sneered. "Oh, they bullied first, so you have zero fault? Even if they were wrong, did you have to beat them to this state? If the Dao Ting Si had detained you, would I have to beg on my knees with this old face to get you released? If someone had been seriously injured, would I have to pay them spirit stones as compensation?"

Master Chen grew angrier as he spoke. "Forget the rest—do you think spirit stones are easy to earn? How did I raise such wastrels? You've learned barely any metallurgy and only ever bring me trouble!"

"We only acted because Mo Hua was bullied!"

"So what if Mo Hua was bullied? Who hasn't been bullied? If everyone who was bullied had to fight back, how many cultivators would die every day? I tell you, unless you get beaten today, you won't learn…"

Master Chen raised his staff as if to strike, then suddenly stopped, frowning.

"Who was bullied?"

"Mo Hua…" Dazhu shrank back, eyeing the staff in his master's hand.

"Mo Hua?"

Master Chen pictured Mo Hua's face—a boy of ten or so, gentle, adorable, utterly harmless—and frowned in confusion.

"Who's gone mad, bullying that little kid?"

Dazhu hurried to add: "It wasn't just bullying—they were clearly trying to kill him! That's why I stepped in!"

"Trying to kill him?" Master Chen roared. "This is lawless!"

"Exactly! Exactly!"

"Too much!"

"No shame left!"

"..."

"Shut up!" Master Chen barked.

Master Chen didn't know the full story. He'd just finished work, had a drink to relax, barely sat down, when he heard Dazhu had fought again—not just him, but all the apprentices had joined in. Not only had they fought, but the commotion was loud: people were injured, and even the Dao Ting Si had been alerted.

He'd immediately stormed back, blood boiling, to settle accounts with these disciples.

Master Chen turned to Dazhu. "Who bullied Mo Hua?"

"Qian Xing."

"Qian Xing? That little brat from the Qian family?"

"Yes."

"Do you know why?"

Dazhu shook his head.

Master Chen frowned. What possible conflict could the Qian family have with Mo Hua? They had nothing to do with each other…

But Qian Xing…

He'd heard the boy was always a scoundrel, prone to bullying others just to show off his power.

Dazhu continued: "When I got there, Qian Xing and his group had already surrounded Mo Hua. Someone was about to strike—hard—aiming straight for the third eye. I panicked and intervened."

Master Chen grew furious, certain his suspicion was right. "That little Wang Ba…"

Probably used to bullying people daily, seeing everyone as a target to crush, just to prove his strength. Anyone who didn't obey him would send him into a rage.

Qian Hong, head of the Qian family, wasn't a good man, but at least he knew limits. How could he have produced such a thing…

Could it really be… a bastard?

Master Chen couldn't help but doubt it.

Seeing his master calm down, Dazhu dared to whisper:

"Master, are you still going to hit us?"

Master Chen glared at him. "What? You're not comfortable unless you get beaten?"

Dazhu shook his head frantically. "No no no!"

Master Chen tossed the staff aside but still said: "Helping others is good, but you wouldn't have ended up like this just by intervening. You must've gotten carried away, lost all restraint, and just kept fighting."

Master Chen knew these disciples too well. If they'd truly wanted to save someone, they'd have done it and left. This was clearly a brawl sparked by some conflict—young men, tempers flaring, and then they couldn't stop.

Fortunately, none of the disciples suffered serious injuries. Otherwise, the cost of healing pills alone would've been a heavy burden of spirit stones—more than most cultivator families could afford.

Once a cultivator fell into debt, it felt like an iron weight pressed on his chest—he could barely breathe.

It's good that young people have spirit, but their backgrounds and family means can't support such recklessness.

Master Chen sighed. Still, right and wrong must be clear.

Looking at the boys before him, he felt both worry and pride:

"Since there was cause, I won't punish you further. Helping others is right, but avoid casualties when you can. Don't act on impulse, and don't make your parents worry. Today you won't be beaten—kneel here for an hour, reflect deeply, then go home."

Dazhu and the others exhaled in relief. Kneeling for an hour was nothing—as long as they weren't beaten. More importantly, it was clear their master wasn't truly angry—he clearly believed they hadn't done wrong, and this was just symbolic punishment.

Thinking this, their hearts lightened. Even while kneeling, they sat up straight.

Dazhu suddenly remembered something and said to Master Chen: "Master, Mo Hua said that since we helped him, if we ever need any array drawn, we can just come to him—he'll draw it as long as it's not too difficult…"

"Oh."

Master Chen turned to leave, hands behind his back. After a few steps, he turned back. "What did you say?"

Dazhu felt something strange about his master and repeated: "Mo Hua said…"

Dazhu repeated what Mo Hua had said.

"Mo Hua really said that?" Master Chen asked.

Dazhu nodded, and the apprentices chimed in together: "That's exactly what he said."

Master Chen calmed himself several times over, but still couldn't help rubbing his hands together. He thought it over, hesitated a moment, then said:

"You lot helped him, and he's helping us draw some formations — that shouldn't count as taking advantage of him, right…"

Dazhu thought back for a moment and said: "Mo Hua said this is called scattered cultivators helping each other out — it doesn't count as taking advantage!"

"Fair enough!"

Master Chen finally couldn't hold back a laugh, but then remembered he was in front of his apprentices and forcibly stiffened his face — though the smile on his face wouldn't quite stay suppressed.

From now on the weapon-forging shop's formations had a place to land; even if it was only saving the cost of paying an array master to draw them, that was still a big chunk of expenses saved.

With spirit stones to spare, the things that needed fixing in the shop could be fixed, the things that needed buying could be bought, the fine iron for forging could be used a little better, and these little rascals under him could get a few extra bowls of rice at every meal.

Master Chen felt the burden on his shoulders suddenly lighten quite a bit, and his whole body felt limber and alive.

"What a good kid…" Master Chen was in high spirits. Turning to his apprentices, he said: "Mo Hua may be young, but he has talent, and he's hardworking too. He's willing to help us draw formations — we're the ones getting the better deal. From now on, if his family runs into any trouble, you help out however you can. Remember that!"

"Yes, Master!" Dazhu and the others hurriedly nodded.

"Alright, all of you, get back." Master Chen waved his hand.

"Yes." Dazhu had just answered when he suddenly thought of something and asked in a small voice: "No kneeling then?"

Master Chen was both annoyed and amused. "Kneel for what? Get lost, quick!"

"Yes!"

The disciples answered loudly, and as if a great weight had been lifted, they bolted off in a rush.

Master Chen watched them and shook his head. "A bunch of silly boys — wonder when they'll ever grow up…"

He had originally come back in a fury, but now, looking at this group of apprentices, his mood was much better. He thought about finding somewhere to have a few drinks, took a few steps, then suddenly stopped again.

Master Chen slapped his forehead: "Forgot to ask — how did things go over at the Qian family?"

Although Qian Xing was no good, if something really had happened to him, that would be troublesome too.

But on second thought, the Qian family had plenty of people and power, plus a whole bunch of guards — no matter how you looked at it, they wouldn't be the ones to suffer. Besides, it was just a fight between kids at Qi Refining mid-stage; even if they got a little hurt, it shouldn't be anything serious. If something had really happened, these kids couldn't have come back safe and sound either.

Thinking this way, Master Chen set his mind at ease and went off to drink in peace.