169: Chapter 49 Qiu Chuji Walks Away in Embarrassment

"Could it be that this humble Daoist was wrong to eliminate a traitor for the country?"

Seeing Meng Li trace the root cause back to his killing of Wang Daoqian, Qiu Chuji couldn't help but retort.

Meng Li said, "Eliminating a traitor is naturally not wrong, but you are too conceited!"

"After you killed Wang Daoqian, you took his head. Wanyan Honglie led men to recover it, but you severely wounded him without killing him. Later, he fled to Niu Family Village and was saved by Auntie Yang, who was completely unaware of the situation. During that time, he developed wicked intentions toward her."

"Afterward, you happened to pass by the doors of the Guo and Yang families and stopped there."

"Wanyan Honglie then colluded with the officials, using that as an excuse to attack the Guo and Yang families, leading to the destruction of their homes and lives."

"Although there were many coincidences, it indeed started because of you."

"If you hadn't been so conceited and had checked back then, giving Wanyan Honglie a finishing blow, how could all these subsequent events have happened?"

"The Guo and Yang families might be living a peaceful life in Niu Family Village right now."

"As for the contest with Wanyan Honglie, you will lose, also due to your conceit."

"Knowing clearly he is an enemy, he had someone call you over to his mansion, his home ground, for a contest he proposed."

"You actually agreed without the slightest hesitation. If that isn't conceit, what is?"

"Not to mention the claim that things could be resolved eleven years later; that was entirely your self-righteousness and wishful thinking!"

At this point, Meng Li paused and then asked, "Besides that, let me ask one more thing: do you truly consider Yang Kang your Disciple?"

"Of course," Qiu Chuji replied, but his voice lacked conviction.

Meng Li smiled. "Then let me ask you: as a teacher, one must propagate the Dao, impart knowledge, and resolve doubts. Which of these three have you achieved?"

"As the ancients said, 'To teach without strictness is the teacher's laziness.'"

"Why don't you ask Guo Jing later and see how the Jiangnan Seven Heroes taught him?"

"Then look at how you taught Yang Kang."

"In my view, from beginning to end, you never truly considered Yang Kang your Disciple!"

"The only reason you taught him Martial Arts was out of competitiveness, for the sake of your own reputation!"

"Nonsense!" Hearing this, Qiu Chuji couldn't help but shout a rebuke.

The fact that he had implicated the Guo and Yang families was true; he felt guilty and regretful. Even if he felt stifled by Qi, he couldn't refute it and had to let it be.

But regarding the teaching of his apprentice, he believed he was not in the wrong, and it involved the contest with the Jiangnan Seven Monsters.

Meng Li didn't back down. "Whether I'm talking nonsense, you know in your heart. Everyone present isn't a fool; they can distinguish for themselves. If you considered him a Disciple, did you stay with him in the Prince's Mansion for half a year or a year, or take him with you to teach him by word and example?"

Qiu Chuji argued with a flushed face, "That Prince's Mansion is in enemy territory, and this humble Daoist had duties to attend to. How could I stay for long?"

"As for taking Kanger with me, I wanted to, but Wanyan Honglie would never have agreed."

"Enemy territory? Burdened by duties?"

Meng Li laughed and then countered with an example, "Is the Great Desert Song Territory? Is Daoist Master Ma Yu an idle person in Your Sect?"

Qiu Chuji was puzzled. "What does this have to do with Senior Brother Ma?"

Zhu Cong sighed and explained, "Daoist Master Ma heard about the matter between you and the seven of us. To avoid any unfairness, he personally went to the Great Desert to teach Jinger Internal Skill for two years."

After saying this, he suddenly felt it was pointless.

The seven of them had stayed in the Great Desert for over ten years for the sake of the promise, and they had even lost one of their own.

While there were moral factors, it was also because they valued the promise and wanted to win some respect.

But as for Qiu Chuji...

Despite the complex circumstances, Qiu Chuji's performance was truly hard to evaluate.

To say he didn't value it, he had gone through the trouble of finding Yang Kang and taught him Martial Arts.

To say he valued it, how could a Master teach a Disciple with so little heart?

Especially with the example of Ma Yu teaching Guo Jing.

The two had no formal Master-Disciple relationship, and although Ma Yu didn't teach every day, he spent a solid two years in the Great Desert.

Qiu Chuji understood now and was instantly ashamed and annoyed, his face turning red, then white, then pale.

Finally, he bowed deeply to Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo. "Brother Yang, Sister-in-law Yang, this matter is indeed Qiu Chuji's fault. This humble Daoist no longer has the face to stay here. We shall meet again another day."

"If there is a need in the future, just say the word, and this humble Daoist will go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Then, he said to the Jiangnan Six Monsters, "Regarding the Eighteen-Year Promise, this humble Daoist has lost."

"Let us part ways here."

Having said his piece, he covered his face with his sleeve and turned to leave.

Iron Foot Master sighed, cupped his fists to everyone, and followed.

Afterward, the Jiangnan Six Monsters also prepared to leave.

Their main purpose in coming was to set the rules for the Martial Arts contest, but they didn't expect the situation to take so many twists and turns and end this way.

It was true they had won, but there was nothing to be happy about; instead, they felt somewhat emotional.

At that moment, Guo Jing and Yang Kang returned, but both were injured.

Everyone present was instantly startled.

Huang Rong, Han Xiaoying, and Bao Xiruo hurriedly went to meet them.

Soon, the two were helped into the main house.

Huang Rong took out the leftover ointment from last time and asked while applying it to Guo Jing, "Did you run into that strange man with the crutch?"

Guo Jing nodded. "We met him at the tavern."

The most hot-tempered one, Ke Zhene, flew into a rage on the spot. "This is going too far!"

Han Baoju, Quan Jinfa, Nan Xiren, and Han Xiaoying also looked displeased.

Yang Kang aside, his previous beating was his own fault.

But they knew Guo Jing; he was an honest person who would swallow his grievances and would never actively cause trouble.

Zhu Cong was relatively more rational. He was also angry but didn't show it, instead asking Guo Jing, "Why did he hit you this time?"

Guo Jing replied honestly, "After we met him, he still thought Younger Brother Kang was a Jin person, saying he was lucky last time and that he must kill him this time. When I saw that, I went up to explain, but in my haste, I didn't make it clear, so he beat me as well."

"Fortunately, some officials passed by and scared him away."

"Kanger, is that so?" Yang Tiexin asked Yang Kang.

Yang Kang glanced at Guo Jing and nodded with a complex expression. "The matter is indeed as Big Brother Guo said."

Hearing the words "Big Brother Guo," Guo Jing was stunned for a moment, then said in pleasant surprise, "Younger Brother Kang, you called me 'Big Brother'!"

The others were somewhat surprised.

Yang Kang turned his head away, his gaze lowering. "You protected me with your life; isn't it only right for me to call you 'Big Brother'?"

Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo were startled, then looked at Guo Jing with gratitude.

The Jiangnan Six Monsters looked at each other, deeply gratified.

Huang Rong curled her lips, feeling both pained for Guo Jing and helpless, secretly calling him a "silly brother."

Meng Li secretly sighed that he was indeed Guo Jing, then exchanged a look and a smile with Mu Nianci.

Guo Jing chuckled foolishly. "I am your Big Brother; protecting you is only natural."

Yang Kang secretly curled his lip and said nothing.

Seeing this, Zhu Cong returned to the main topic. "What is the background of that strange man?"

Among the Seven Monsters, Han Baoju was the most combative.

Hearing this, he said directly, "Whatever his background, since he injured Jinger, we must go and demand an explanation."

Yang Tiexin followed, "Indeed. Although this matter started because of Kanger, he has been relentless time and again. As his father, I must go and have a word."

As his father?

Still feeling awkward, Yang Kang was instantly stunned.

...