Inside the Punishment Hall, Pang Tiansheng was urgently placed on a stone slab for treatment, having already fainted.
The patrolling disciples helping with the treatment were puzzled.
With so many underlings, how did a follower of the Sect Master's disciple end up getting beaten by two in the Initial Martial Realm? Glancing at the empty surroundings and the faces behind the window, they had a vague understanding of the situation.
Behind the window, Duan You and Zou Xingbao exchanged relieved pats on their arms.
Last time, they suffered punishment because of Shi Chun and his companion; initially, they intended to settle the score.
However, witnessing this scene changed their minds.
After all, when you dare to hit the manager of the Punishment Hall and even a Sect Master's disciple, there's no point in picking a fight with those two fools.
Outside the Punishment Hall, Bian Weiying arrived.
She was there to find Shi Chun, having learned they would be released from prison today.
It seemed like her timing was impeccable, or as they say, luck favored the prepared.
She had arrived just after the fight ended and watched Shi Chun and his companion being carried away.
The first time she left her position as the City Lord to try and meet him resulted in these two getting caught while escaping.
No contact was made.
The second attempt coincided with them getting captured for fighting, leaving her at a loss.
She considered going inside to visit, but the sect was wary of her intentions towards Shi Chun and his companion, and would not allow her to visit.
Unable to comprehend the situation at first glance, her inquiry inside provided the details of the incident, which she found somewhat baffling.
When she asked why no one helped Pang Tiansheng, someone responded, "It's not that we didn't want to; Manager Pang instructed us not to leave the room without permission."
Hearing this, Bian Weiying understood Pang Tiansheng was not well-liked.
A half-day later, those beaten inside the jail gradually recovered with the effects of the medicine.
Wu Jinliang moved his body slightly and groaned, "Chun, weren't we too reckless?"
Shi Chun, recovering faster, had already regained his ability to speak, "Are you scared?"
Wu Jinliang chuckled, "Scared of him? If he didn't have so many helpers, I could take on ten of him by myself."
Shi Chun replied, "Remember, when we get out, return to the Punishment Hall. Seize the chance to beat him again. If you find a reason, strike; if not, create a reason to strike."
"Isn't that inappropriate?" Wu Jinliang laughed bitterly, feeling it was absurd.
Shi Chun continued, "Didn't you see he's trying to get back at us? In such matters, as long as we're tolerant, he'll keep finding ways to make us suffer. Falling into their hands will be miserable. But if we refuse to endure, then it's he who must endure. Better to suffer a bit now than later. It’s worth getting beaten a few more times. They won’t dare to kill us."
"That's true, but I wish I healed as quickly as you do," Wu Jinliang sighed.
Constantly being beaten took a toll; even getting up was difficult with one eye swollen shut.
A few more days in confinement, and when they were released, clad in new clothes, they were yet again sent to the Punishment Hall.
There seemed no other suitable place for them on this mountain.
Fate has its ways.
Pang Tiansheng was still the manager at the Punishment Hall; Wukang Mountain wouldn’t dismiss him over a minor issue.
You could see the gloominess in Pang Tiansheng's eyes, yet he had learned to gather more people around him.
However, once he began speaking, trouble ensued again.
“First, carry thirty loads of water by noon…”
Before he could finish, Wu Jinliang lunged forward, throwing a punch.
That intense? Shi Chun was momentarily stunned, not expecting Wu Jinliang to attack right after the first words.
What could he do? He quickly joined in.
Pang Tiansheng dodged one blow, not the other, and fell with a thud, surrounded by Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, receiving another beating.
The onlookers were startled.
Were these two crazy? Should they help? When Pang Tiansheng called them, he hadn't mentioned helping in a fight.
They knew Pang didn’t want to appear weak before them – a student of the Sect Master, after all.
One of them leaped back, prompting the rest to disperse.
“Thirty loads, your grandfather! Others carry twenty; picking on us…” Wu Jinliang cursed and punched, venting his anger from the previous beating.
The spectators realized why the fight broke out.
Indeed a violent temper these two had.
Shi Chun, who had unwittingly joined in, finally understood why Wu Jinliang didn’t let the man finish his sentence.
It was the first time he saw the big guy so sensitive about numbers.
“Help! Help me…” Pang Tiansheng wailed, crying for rescue.
And so, the patrolling disciples were once again alarmed.
Though not on duty last time, they had been verbally instructed on such matters.
They rushed in to rescue, yet again knocking Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang to the ground in a flurry of blows.
Another set of clothes was torn, old wounds not healed, and new ones were added as the two were once more bloodied and carried away, heading back to jail.
“Every time I see you, I'll beat you...” The bruised Wu Jinliang continued to shout towards the Punishment Hall as he was taken away.
His fierce spirit indeed garnered attention within the Punishment Hall.
A sharp slap silenced him.
Outside the Punishment Hall, the just-arrived Bian Weiying was stunned.
Again? Knowing the two were released today, she arrived, only to find the fight finished yet again?
Could it be any more absurd?
She genuinely began questioning her decision.
Was working with such people really wise?
She stood at the entrance, silently composing her thoughts for a long while.
When the patrolling disciples came out after settling Pang Tiansheng down, she finally gathered herself and nodded in greeting with them.
Turning to look towards the jail, she knew she wouldn’t enter, as if they guarded those two from her like thieves.
After pondering for a while, she realized this couldn’t continue.
So, she walked into the Punishment Hall and entered Pang Tiansheng's room, waving away those who had abandoned him during the incident and were now pretending to be on his side.
Seeing her, Pang Tiansheng, sitting on his bed, whimpered, “Sister.”
“Brother Pang, don't get agitated.” Bian Weiying quickly reassured him.
After inquiring about the incident, she learned the fight started with just a word, rendering her speechless.
Did Wukang Mountain truly think it was above doing what had to be done?
She too was puzzled by the guts of those two foreigners, repeatedly causing trouble on Wukang Mountain.
She wondered if her father, who wanted to incite Bian Weikang through those two, witnessed these events, what reaction he would have? The thought almost made her laugh.
After finishing her inquiries, she offered Pang Tiansheng a suggestion, “Brother, now that I'm living back on the mountain, could you arrange for them to carry water to my place when they’re released?”
Pang Tiansheng, who had been sulking, suddenly brightened up.
With a wide grin, baring his bloody teeth, he said, “Sister, you’re too kind. Thank you, I will arrange it!”
Bian Weiying felt a bit speechless, knowing he misunderstood her intentions, but she didn’t elaborate, just offering some words for him to recover well before leaving.
Not long after, Elder Xia Fuli was informed and paid a visit, as the Sect Master had sent him.
The Sect Master wouldn’t personally intervene for such a trivial issue, and it was Elder Xia Fuli who proposed using Shi Chun to motivate Bian Weikang.
Thus, sending someone who understood the background to resolve the situation was the best course to ensure proper handling.
Seeing the pitiful state of Pang Tiansheng, Xia Fuli was at a loss.
How could one be repeatedly beaten like this under their own roof? What could he say to this?
Yet, he understood.
This was Pang’s level of competence and cultivation aptitude.
Under normal circumstances, he wasn't fit for cultivation.
However, the Sect Master owed a life debt to his father.
Due to the Sect Master’s involvement, Pang lost his family and became an orphan brought to the mountain.
Recalling when he first arrived, no one wanted to take him as a disciple due to his lack of aptitude, so the Sect Master took him under his own wing.
Time proved everyone’s judgment right.
Some things are simply beyond certain people, no matter the effort.
Even with ample cultivation resources, his cultivation stagnated, unable to break through to the Advanced Martial Realm.
His current managerial position was due to special favor from the Sect Master.
After questioning Pang Tiansheng and other witnesses, Elder Xia Fuli swiftly went to the jail to ask those two what was going on.
Bruised and swollen Wu Jinliang mumbled incoherently, “Everyone else carries twenty loads of water in the morning, and he made us carry thirty. Isn’t that deliberately targeting us?”
Elder Xia Fuli scolded, “That’s because you caused trouble last time; it was the sect’s decision to increase your punishment. He didn’t mean to target you!”
Was it a misunderstanding? Shi Chun and his partner fell silent.
Then Elder Xia Fuli unleashed a torrent of threats, not bothering with reasoning with such people.
He delivered a clear warning — make trouble again, and you’re as good as dead!
Because of this, Xiang Lan'er, residing in the secluded courtyard, was also troubled.
Their insider within Wukang Mountain expressed frustration to her, claiming Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang clearly acted unruly because they believed the Demonic Path would bail them out.
If things continued this way, everyone would be dragged down, and he confessed his helplessness, implying that if Xiang Lan'er couldn’t handle the situation, he would have to report to higher-ups.
In certain situations, he had the authority to report to higher authorities, and Xiang Lan'er couldn’t stop him.
She too was at a loss how to deal with those two.
Since arriving at Wukang Mountain, they had been in and out of jail, as if living there every day, often beaten to a pulp, but for what?
A few days later, Xiang Lan'er received a message to come down the mountain, disguised under the pretext of shopping.
Reaching Skyward Gaze City, she entered a clothing store where she met with Madame Fengchi.
Inside the fitting room, Xiang Lan'er asked, “What couldn’t be conveyed through a message that required meeting in person?”
Madame Fengchi’s expression was grave, “Miss, Nightingale utilized their original channels to report the mountain’s situation to higher authorities.”
Xiang Lan'er nodded, "I'm aware; he notified me beforehand. I told him to do as he sees fit. Why, is there a problem?"
Madame Fengchi continued, “He’s blown it up. By reporting Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang’s repeated disturbances, he concluded they might be deliberate plants by other factions knowing our plans — deliberately disrupting us. This issue has drawn serious attention from above.”
Xiang Lan'er scoffed, “Do those above lack brains? If they wanted to disrupt, why go through such lengths?”
Madame Fengchi replied, “That’s not the point. The point is their antics on the mountain have indeed been excessive, even I find it absurd. From escaping to fighting, for two newcomers to continually pummel a disciple of the Sect Master — it’s too much.
Nightingale no longer dares to release them from jail and indeed sees them as a threat to our plans. Nightingale has clearly reached the breaking point and plans to remove the obstacle, claiming it’s the most significant threat he’s faced since going undercover! Given Nightingale’s years of undercover work in Wukang Mountain, those above must respect his opinion and feelings.
Hence, they’ve instructed me to inform you that soon, there will be a grand event in Shengshen Prefecture through which they plan to temporarily transfer you and those two troublemakers away from Wukang Mountain. During this period, they’ll deal with some issues before allowing you to return!"