Chapter 191: Chapter 143: Humiliation

But this time was different.

Chen Jin, Emperor Yue Xuan, and the others were all there to back up Chu Lingguang. It was as if his own child had brought friends home to help. As the elder in this situation, Guo Wei knew he had to be a gracious host. He couldn’t let Chu Lingguang lose face, nor could he allow these friends to feel unappreciated.

So when Chu Lingguang explained that Chen Jin, Emperor Yue Xuan, and the others had come to lend their support, Guo Wei personally hosted them and offered his guidance.

He had cultivated for many years and was worldly and wise. His guidance was sincere. He would consider every question from Chen Jin, Emperor Yue Xuan, and the others at length before slowly offering his answer.

Chen Jin, Emperor Yue Xuan, and the others treasured every word, silently committing them to memory.

Just like that, Guo Wei spoke with them for a full two hours.

During those two hours, Chu Lingguang stayed with Yang Shaorong, Feng Junyi, and Yan Zhen.

Feng Junyi sighed with admiration. “Master Guo is so sincere and earnest. It’s no wonder you are all willing to risk life and limb for him.”

“Is Master’s shoulder alright?”

Chu Lingguang was still worried about Guo Wei.

“It wasn’t his shoulder that was wounded,” Yang Shaorong sighed. “It was his dignity.”

“Master’s Flying Leaf Lotus Spear has reached the pinnacle of perfection. Inside or outside the Imperial City, very few can break through it. Eunuch Liu’s Celestial Maiden Scattering Flowers technique shouldn’t have been able to touch him at all,” Li Murong said.

His talent was not lacking, nor was his cultivation level low. He had also been able to tell that Guo Wei’s spear had deliberately gone astray.

“Third Brother, you mean…?”

Chu Lingguang was startled.

“Master Guo knew Eunuch Liu’s visit was just a matter of face. To let Eunuch Liu vent his anger, he deliberately lost by a single move. Eunuch Liu, in turn, saw that Master Guo had no real intention of clashing with him and was actively yielding, so he didn’t press the matter. That’s more or less what happened,” Feng Junyi explained.

As the Chief Examiner of South City, his power was astonishing. While Chu Lingguang, Emperor Yue Xuan, and the others couldn’t see the exchange between Guo Wei and Eunuch Liu clearly, he had seen it with perfect clarity.

“Master Guo is truly righteous,” Yan Zhen remarked with feeling.

Even with his level of power, while he had noticed the wound on Guo Wei’s shoulder the moment they clashed, he hadn’t been certain that Master Guo had intentionally held back on that final spear thrust.

Now, with Feng Junyi’s explanation, it all clicked into place for him. He then looked over at Guo Wei, who—all for the sake of smoothing Chu Lingguang’s future path and earning the goodwill of Chen Jin’s group—was personally guiding their cultivation. Seeing the master sitting around a wine table with his juniors, patiently answering their questions, moved Yan Zhen deeply.

He felt that Guo Wei possessed a righteousness that soared to the heavens.

“This…”

Understanding the real reason, Chu Lingguang felt as if he’d been struck by lightning.

He and Yang Shaorong had gone head-to-head with Eunuch Liu at the academy. While it seemed to have boosted Guo Wei’s reputation, they lacked the strength to handle the subsequent fallout. In the end, it was Guo Wei who had to endure the humiliation and bear the burden, successfully placating Eunuch Liu’s anger and stopping the situation from getting worse.

Chu Lingguang once again recalled what Liu Wan and Li Dayao had told him back at the academy. At the time, he had a vague understanding, but not a deep one. Only now did he truly awaken to the truth.

His eyes met Yang Shaorong’s, and he finally understood why his martial brother’s expression had been so dejected.

So their actions at the academy, which seemed to have defended Master Guo’s honor, had actually—due to their lack of absolute power to prevent the consequences—resulted in his humiliation instead.

Liu Wan and Li Dayao had tried so earnestly to advise them because they had clearly foreseen the potential consequences. But perhaps even they hadn’t expected Guo Wei to be so willing to disregard his own dignity, to intentionally throw the fight and let Eunuch Liu vent his frustrations on him. Thankfully, Eunuch Liu knew when to stop and didn’t take it too far. Otherwise, Chu Lingguang and Yang Shaorong would have been so ashamed they’d have nowhere to hide.

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep