Chapter 47: Chapter 47: Harmony

The next morning, Chu Lingguang arrived at the Martial Arts Hall for training. As was his custom, he first went to the main hall to pay his respects to Guo Wei, only to find Hei Hu kneeling at the entrance.

“Senior Brother, what’s wrong?”

’He must have been found out,’ Chu Lingguang thought.

“Junior Brother, Master is waiting for you to eat with him.”

Hei Hu raised his head. His face wasn’t as swollen as it was yesterday, but his eyes were bloodshot. It looked like he hadn’t slept all night and had probably been kneeling until now.

“Oh.”

Chu Lingguang didn’t know what to say. After entering to pay his respects to Guo Wei, he went with him to the dining hall to eat. Hei Hu, meanwhile, continued to kneel at the entrance of the main hall.

They ate in silence.

Chu Lingguang ate his meal quietly without asking any questions. After finishing and clearing away his bowl and chopsticks, he went to the backyard to practice his Spear Technique. Guo Wei came by a short while later to guide his training, while Hei Hu was left kneeling in the main hall.

At noon, Guo Fang couldn’t bear it any longer. She came over and said, “Father, Hei Hu knows he was wrong. Just let him get up! If he keeps kneeling like this, he’ll ruin his body. How will he participate in the Martial Arts Examination in the future?”

“Hmph. He had just managed to produce a Sword Cry, and he already dared to run off and provoke the Big Saber Gang. He’s so impulsive and reckless. In the future, even if he manages to pass the exam, he’ll only bring me a world of trouble,” Guo Wei said angrily.

After Hei Hu was dealt with by the Big Saber Gang on Wine Street that night, the gang sent a message over the very same evening. They said it was just a “spar” with his disciple, that “fists and feet have no eyes,” and they hoped Master Guo wouldn’t mind.

The next day, he had wanted to hear Hei Hu’s explanation, but Hei Hu faked a toothache and had Master Hei come ask for leave, trying to fool him. This enraged him so much that he specially prepared a medicine and had Chu Lingguang deliver it for Hei Hu to take. After taking it, Hei Hu immediately suffered from side effects and ran over in the middle of the night for help, writhing in agony in front of him and confessing everything clearly.

Sure enough, he had been the one to provoke them. As a result, he’d been slapped a dozen times in the face with the flat of a blade, completely disgracing him.

Guo Fang also knew Hei Hu was in the wrong, so she could only pull him over and have him admit his mistake to Guo Wei personally.

“Silence!”

But Guo Wei didn’t even give Hei Hu a chance to speak.

Hei Hu could only lower his head and continue kneeling before Guo Wei.

Helpless, Guo Fang looked toward Chu Lingguang, hoping he would also help persuade her father.

Chu Lingguang placed his Long Spear back on the weapons rack. He knew he couldn’t avoid putting in a good word for Hei Hu. After all, they were martial brothers. If he ignored the situation completely, Guo Wei would think him too cold-hearted.

However, persuading Guo Wei to forgive Hei Hu was a delicate task.

Especially not while Guo Wei was still fuming.

If he accidentally angered Guo Wei further and drew his wrath upon himself, it wouldn’t be worth it.

So, he picked up the long saber he often trained with alongside Hei Hu and walked to the side to practice the Iron Mountain Saber Technique.

Guo Fang froze. ’Does Chu Lingguang intend to just stand by and watch?’

Hei Hu felt a pang of bitterness. ’After all the times I’ve treated him to meals…’

Guo Wei’s brow furrowed slightly. Although he wouldn’t easily forgive Hei Hu, he hoped to see his disciples living in harmony and working together.

If Chu Lingguang remained indifferent while Hei Hu was being punished, their bond as martial brothers wouldn’t last long. In the future, after he was gone, his disciples might turn against each other for the sake of his legacy.

This was the last thing he wanted to see as a master.

“HUPH!”

As if oblivious to the changing expressions of the other three, Chu Lingguang focused on practicing the Iron Mountain Saber Technique, running through its twelve forms from beginning to end.

His movements were fluid and steady, a pleasing sight to behold, but Guo Fang couldn’t appreciate it. She was even a little angry, feeling that Chu Lingguang was being unfeeling.

Guo Wei sighed inwardly.

He suddenly realized that he currently had only two disciples, Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu. If he expelled Hei Hu from the school, then Chu Lingguang would receive the entirety of his teachings and would have a better chance of becoming a Martial Arts Scholar in the future.

’Perhaps that’s why Chu Lingguang is unwilling to plead for Hei Hu.’

’Fame and fortune drive men to madness.’

Chu Lingguang came from a poor family, so it wouldn’t be strange for him to have such thoughts. Thinking this, Guo Wei sighed inwardly again and was about to tell Hei Hu to rise and give him one more chance.

“SHIIING!”

But just then, a clear and resonant Sword Cry rang out.

After running through the twelve forms, Chu Lingguang didn’t stop. Instead, he began performing the forms out of order, each move erupting with an astonishing Sword Cry. His Sword Momentum was powerful and unrestrained, like that of an old master who had practiced for many years. Each and every strike held devastating power.

He had clearly cultivated the Iron Mountain Saber Technique to the level of Perfection.

Otherwise, the Sword Cry wouldn’t be so powerful.

“SHIIING!”

Chu Lingguang executed a horizontal slash at waist-level. The edge of the blade seemed to ignite the air, and the Sword Cry was as piercing as a firecracker.

“Excellent!”

Guo Wei could see the power in that slash.

It was enough to earn an A Class grade in the Daoist Examination.

He couldn’t help but clap and exclaim.

“THUD!”

Chu Lingguang retracted his saber, stood firm, and then knelt before Guo Wei with a thud.

“Get up.”

Guo Wei moved to help Chu Lingguang up, thinking he was about to offer some words of thanks.

But instead, Chu Lingguang kowtowed and said, “Master, please forgive Senior Brother. He went to Wine Street to cause trouble, but it was to bring you fame and glory. He just didn’t expect the Big Saber Gang to be so numerous, and that’s why he suffered a loss. As the saying goes, shame can be a catalyst for courage. Senior Brother will remember this lesson.”

“Er…”

Guo Wei’s hand froze in mid-air, and he was completely stunned.

Guo Fang covered her mouth, unable to believe her ears. Thinking of how she had just misunderstood Chu Lingguang, her eyes reddened against her will.

Kneeling on the ground, Hei Hu felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. When he saw Chu Lingguang produce a Sword Cry even louder than his own, his heart had filled with despair, feeling that Guo Wei might not need him anymore.

He never expected that the first thing Chu Lingguang would do after his breakthrough in the Saber Technique was plead on his behalf.

’Moreover, looking at the situation now, it’s clear Chu Lingguang broke through long ago. The reason he didn’t show it was because he was afraid of spoiling my mood. He only revealed it now to lessen Master’s anger and to plead for me!’

At this thought, tears streamed uncontrollably from Hei Hu’s eyes. He would never forget this favor from Chu Lingguang.

“Come, get up, quickly!”

Guo Wei had also realized it. How could he not understand what Hei Hu had just figured out? If one listened closely, they could even hear the tremor in his voice.

“Master, have you forgiven Senior Brother?” Chu Lingguang asked, his face full of hope.

“Yes. I no longer blame him. Hei Hu, you may rise. Turn shame into courage. Remember what Lin Guang just said.”

Guo Wei nodded, patting Chu Lingguang’s shoulder uncontrollably.

Disciples in harmony, working together—this was the scene he, as their master, most wanted to see. Moreover, Chu Lingguang was so considerate.

“Master, I swear, I will never disappoint you again, and I will never cause trouble!”

Hei Hu kowtowed to Guo Wei, his voice choked with tears.

“Good. I will remember that. Get up!”

Guo Wei nodded.

“Thank you, Master.”

Hei Hu wiped away his tears, then cupped his fist to Chu Lingguang and said, “Junior Brother, turn shame into courage. I’ll remember this. Thank you.”

“Mhm.”

Chu Lingguang nodded.

“You two continue practicing. I’m going to Butcher Hu’s to buy a pork knuckle.”

Guo Fang’s voice was choked up. She turned her back to wipe away her tears, then quickly ran out.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep