Chapter 33: Shi Wengong: The Atmosphere Has Reached This Point
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“Smack! Smack! Smack!”
Shi Wengong knelt on the ground bare-chested while Lu Junyi swung the leather whip and lashed him mercilessly.
Even a man of iron like Shi Wengong could not withstand it. His back was torn open, the flesh bloody and mangled.
Yet Shi Wengong clenched his teeth so hard that his gums began to bleed, stubbornly enduring in silence.
Zhou Tong sat in an armchair facing him, both eyes tightly shut. He appeared expressionless, but in truth he could not bear to look.
He had raised Shi Wengong from childhood. Like Lu Junyi and Lin Chong, Shi Wengong was as dear to him as a son.
Yue Fei was different. He was both Zhou Tong’s last disciple and his adopted son—in every sense, a true son.
That was why Zhou Tong could not bear to beat Shi Wengong himself. But Shi Wengong had done wrong, and the family discipline had to be carried out.
Hoping to win Zhou Tong’s forgiveness for Shi Wengong, Lu Junyi held nothing back and struck him a full hundred times.
When the hundred lashes were over, Shi Wengong lay sprawled on the ground, drenched in blood like a bloody gourd, bitterly pleading with Zhou Tong:
“Master, please let me stay…”
Zhou Tong hardened his heart.
“A nation has its laws, and a family has its rules!
“You committed a grave offense and must receive one hundred lashes!
“You are expelled from the school as a warning to all!”
“No—”
Tears streamed down Shi Wengong’s face as he repeatedly knocked his head against the ground.
“Master, please punish me with another hundred lashes—two hundred, three hundred…
“I could endure a thousand!
“I only beg you to let me stay. Please don’t drive me away…”
Zhou Tong was old and easily moved to tears. Before he knew it, his eyes were brimming over. But rules were rules…
“Master…”
Lu Junyi knelt beside Shi Wengong.
“Third Junior Brother already knows his mistake. I beg you to show mercy…”
“Father…”
Yue Fei knelt on Shi Wengong’s other side.
“It was an unintentional mistake, Father. Please give Third Senior Brother another chance…”
Not enough.
It still was not enough.
In truth, Zhou Tong wanted to keep Shi Wengong. But Shi Wengong had committed a grave offense; how could he simply be allowed to stay?
Thus Zhou Tong could only sneak furtive glances at Cai Fu from the corners of his eyes.
Cai Fu had once saved his life. If Cai Fu spoke up, Zhou Tong would have no choice but to make an exception and let Shi Wengong stay…
Originally, Cai Fu had not wanted to say anything. After all, one should not urge others to be virtuous without knowing the suffering they had endured.
He could not possibly persuade Zhou Tong to be generous merely because Shi Wengong had been beaten so badly.
But after the old man cast two glances his way, Cai Fu understood. He inserted a remark:
“Sir, there is something I do not know whether I ought to say.”
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Zhou Tong quickly gave him permission.
“My worthy nephew, you are not only my savior, but also the savior of my eldest disciple. You even saved the lives of every villager in Qilin Village!
“We are family. What could you possibly be unable to say?”
Could this really be true?
Shi Wengong lifted his head in surprise and glanced at Cai Fu. He truly had not known that Cai Fu possessed such standing.
Cai Fu cleared his throat.
“You know me, sir.
“I, Cai Fu, known as ‘Sai Xuande,’ always put righteousness first. Whenever I see injustice, I draw my blade to help!
“That was only what anyone should have done, so please do not keep bringing it up.
“As the ancients said, ‘No one is a sage; who can be without fault?’
“And they also said, ‘To recognize one’s mistake and mend it is the greatest virtue.’
“Shi Wengong merely took a wrong step in a moment of weakness. He has already been punished and has sincerely repented.
“I have one humble request, sir. Why not give him a chance to reform and begin anew?”
“Yes, Master!”
Shi Wengong hurriedly seized the opportunity.
“I have truly repented. I would never again dare to show you the slightest disobedience!
“If I ever break my word, may I die a horrible death—may Heaven strike me with five thunderbolts!”
“Do not speak such nonsense!”
Zhou Tong glared at Shi Wengong, then let out a long sigh.
“Very well. Since my worthy nephew Cai has pleaded for you, I shall give you one chance to reform and begin anew.”
Shi Wengong was wild with joy and hurriedly kowtowed.
“Thank you, Master!”
“There is no need to thank me!”
Zhou Tong snorted.
“If you want to thank someone, thank my worthy nephew Cai!”
“Thank you, Big Brother!”
Shi Wengong immediately changed direction and kowtowed toward Cai Fu like a pestle pounding garlic.
“Thank you, Big Brother, for pleading on my behalf!
“Thank you for saving my master! Thank you for saving my eldest senior brother! Thank you for saving Qilin Village…”
“Brother, please rise.”
Cai Fu helped Shi Wengong to his feet with both hands.
“Now that you have returned to Sir’s school, we are all family.
“Although Sir and I have no formal teacher-disciple relationship, we possess one in all but name.
“Your eldest senior brother and your youngest junior brother are both my sworn brothers.
“They call me Big Brother. If you do not mind, you may call me that as well.”
“I, your younger brother Shi Wengong, pay my respects to Big Brother!”
Shi Wengong was deeply grateful to Cai Fu. With the atmosphere having reached this point, inspiration suddenly struck him, and he knelt down once more.
“Since my eldest senior brother and youngest junior brother are both Big Brother’s sworn brothers, if Big Brother does not reject me, I too would like to become sworn brothers with you!”
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Well, the atmosphere had already been built up this far. It would be difficult to bring matters to a close without becoming sworn brothers with Shi Wengong…
As everyone involved happened to be present, Cai Fu once again became sworn brothers with Lu Junyi, Shi Wengong, and Yue Fei.
Since Cai Fu had saved Zhou Tong’s life, Lu Junyi’s life, and the lives of everyone in Qilin Village…
Although Cai Fu was younger than Lu Junyi and Shi Wengong, he naturally became the eldest brother without dispute.
The order among Lu Junyi, Shi Wengong, and Yue Fei was simple: they followed the order of seniority within the school.
Yue Fei: “Big Brother! Second Brother! Third Brother!”
Shi Wengong: “Big Brother! Second Brother! Fourth Brother!”
Lu Junyi: “Big Brother! Third Brother! Fourth Brother!”
Cai Fu: “Second Brother! Third Brother! Fourth Brother!”
Watching the four brothers affectionately change the way they addressed one another, Zhou Tong was delighted. Stroking his beard, he laughed so heartily that his legs nearly gave way.
…
“Cai Fu, you scoundrel!”
Cai Fu was embracing Guli Reba and practicing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when Dilraba suddenly descended from the heavens.
“Last night you said you loved only me, and tonight you are already getting intimate with this shameless woman!”
Nestled in Cai Fu’s arms, Guli Reba asked him coyly:
“Husband, who is she?”
“Uh…”
Cai Fu was rendered speechless. Suddenly, he felt that he could no longer hold it in and hurriedly pushed Guli Reba and Dilraba away.
“I need to use the bathroom first. I’ll tell you both when I get back!”
But the house was enormous. Cai Fu ran through several floors and still could not find the bathroom.
Fortunately, just as he was about to wet himself, he woke up. Cai Fu quickly climbed down from Lu Junyi’s bed.
Tiptoeing out of the room, Cai Fu went to an empty corner and had just undone his belt when—
“My worthy nephew!”
Zhou Tong pushed open the window and spoke to the utterly bewildered Cai Fu.
“Many thanks for what you did today!”
Oh, for heaven’s sake…
Holding up his trousers, Cai Fu forced a smile.
“Sir, a gentleman should help others fulfill their wishes…”
Cai Fu thought his hint had been perfectly clear. Unfortunately, Zhou Tong had also drunk too much and failed to notice anything.
“My worthy nephew, to express my gratitude, I shall teach you the secret art I have kept hidden all these years—the Returning-Together Saber Technique!”
Cai Fu was overjoyed and clasped his fists.
“Thank you for your generosity, Sir!”
Zhou Tong: Σ(⊙▽⊙“a
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