I Don’T Want To Be This Master For A Day Anymore. Chapter 7
byFirst Encounter, Aching Heart
The beggar’s legs were not very nimble, so Qiu Yin’an and Yao Ye accommodated his pace, walking for quite a while before reaching Wanzong Mountain. The beggar didn’t lead them through the main entrance, but instead took them to a small side gate only wide enough for one person.
The beggar said, “The main entrance isn’t convenient for me to enter. Few people pass through here. Would you two kindly kick down this wooden door? We can enter this way. It will only take one kick from either of you.”
Having said this, he stepped back.
Qiu Yin’an stepped forward and kicked the wooden door down. He then saw a small maidservant staring at the three of them in terror.
The maid dropped the basin she was holding and screamed, “Thieves!”
“Didn’t you say there was no one here?” Yao Ye turned and glared at the beggar, then shouted at the young maid, “Thieves? What thieves? Take a good look at this young master’s attire. Anything I drop is enough for you to live on for a lifetime.”
The maid was so frightened her legs turned to jelly. She leaned against the rock garden and shuffled back two steps.
The beggar moved in front of Qiu Yin’an. He smoothed down his messy, grey hair and then spoke to the maid, “Xiao Ping, it’s me, Steward Jiang.”
“Steward Jiang?” The young maid peeked out her head and looked closely. Only after confirming his identity did she straighten up and quickly ask, “Why are you back? And these two are—”
“I met noble benefactors while begging for food. They are from Qingxuan Peak,” the beggar said, glancing at Qiu Yin’an with a smile. He then asked the maid, “Where is Young Master Wan?”
“Young Master Wan got a wild hawk from somewhere and scratched Young Master Biao’s arm. Now the Eldest Young Master has tied up Young Master Wan and is venting his anger on his behalf.”
“Those two brothers are ganging up to bully Young Master Wan again,” the beggar said, clenching his fists, agitated and unsure what to do. He said, “Ping’er, go about your business. Pretend you never saw me.”
The maid agreed and hurried away. The beggar turned and knelt before Qiu Yin’an, pleading, “Noble benefactor, please save Young Master Wan Qiongju. If he stays here in Wanzong Mountain, he will surely die sooner or later.”
“I’m already here, why bother kneeling?” Qiu Yin’an urged, “Hurry up and take us to Wan Qiongju.”
The beggar acknowledged him repeatedly, vigorously moving his two legs. Qiu Yin’an followed behind, his heart growing heavier.
Seeing his poor expression, Yao Ye comforted him, “Ultimately, this is Wanzong Mountain bringing trouble upon themselves. You coming to help him is already the utmost benevolence.”
Qiu Yin’an’s face was taut. “I know.”
“It’s right there, those two bullies.”
Qiu Yin’an looked in the direction the beggar pointed. In the pavilion, a boy so thin he was only skin and bones was being held down firmly on the bluestone slab by four servants.
Next to them, a stout man was squatting on the ground, holding a ball of white cotton thread, wrapping it around the boy’s calf.
The thread was pulled extremely tight. Each time he wrapped a loop, the man yanked it hard. The boy’s leg was already bright red.
Another burly man stood nearby, holding an exquisite jade bowl. He used a small spoon to scoop out some white, granular substance—most likely salt—and deliberately sprinkled it onto the raw, red areas.
Each time the salt fell, the boy’s body would twitch in pain. The two villains were having a great time.
The two bullies were engrossed and hadn’t noticed them. They only realized their presence when Qiu Yin’an and the others got closer.
The young master holding the spoon stood up with the help of a servant. “Who are you?” He slapped the servant next to him. “Who let them in?”
The beggar’s eyes widened, and he started cursing, “Wang Dazhuang, you occupy the Wan family’s assets and abuse the Master’s only bloodline! May you die a horrible death!”
“Oh, who do we have here? Isn’t this Steward Jiang? I didn’t recognize you at first glance.”
At this point, the man wrapping the thread also stood up, similarly slapping the servant beside him. “Go check who was guarding the gate.”
Wang Dazhuang stuck out his tongue and licked his fat lips. “Did you hire two helpers to come here?”
His gaze scrutinized Qiu Yin’an and Yao Ye. “They look quite respectable, don’t they?”
Qiu Yin’an felt extremely uncomfortable under that filthy gaze. His handsome face was cold, and his voice was icy. “Let him go.”
Qiu Yin’an’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an inherent oppressive aura. The two brothers paused, but having not yet witnessed Qiu Yin’an’s abilities, they were only momentarily stunned by his presence. Soon, their thuggish attitude returned.
“Let him go?” Wang Dazhuang tossed the porcelain spoon aside and then let out a laugh that sounded like a pig squealing. “Steward Jiang, how much silver did you spend hiring people who only know how to talk?”
His younger brother and the servants laughed along with him, completely failing to notice the killing intent in Qiu Yin’an’s beautiful eyes.
Putting aside Qiu Yin’an’s identity, just considering his current cultivation level, everyone in Wanzong Mountain was nothing more than ants to him. Qiu Yin’an could send these few individuals on their way with just a slight use of his Spiritual Energy and Techniques.
However, cultivators must always consider karmic retribution and blessings. Therefore, without sufficient reason, one should not engage in mass slaughter.
But it seemed that non-violence was impossible here.
Qiu Yin’an gathered Spiritual Energy in his palm and struck towards the two bullies. With a few muffled thuds, the two brothers, along with the servants, were all thrown ten meters away, rolling around disoriented and crying out in pain.
Qiu Yin’an said, “Yao Ye, make them suffer a bit.”
“As you command.” Yao Ye summoned his precious fan and flew into the crowd to fight.
Qiu Yin’an slowly walked toward the pavilion, approaching Wan Qiongju little by little.
Wan Qiongju’s body was frail, looking painfully thin at a glance. His face was now ashen white, which was heartbreaking to see.
Qiu Yin’an crouched beside Wan Qiongju. With Spiritual Energy held at his fingertip, he gently sliced across Wan Qiongju’s calf, and the cotton thread slowly snapped open.
Wan Qiongju let out a muffled groan, biting his lower lip hard, not uttering a single cry of pain.
Qiu Yin’an looked down at Wan Qiongju’s leg. New wounds were stacked upon old scars, and the old scars were covered with blue and purple bruises. These wounds crisscrossed, clearly accumulated over years.
Today, Qiu Yin’an was here and could teach these villains a lesson for the boy. But when he returned to Qingxuan Peak, the distance was vast. Even the most capable person couldn’t stretch their hand that far.
The suffering these bullies endured now would surely be repaid to Wan Qiongju in double measure later. Therefore, it seemed Qiu Yin’an had no retreat.
Qiu Yin’an stared at the heavily scarred leg for a long moment, then looked up at Wan Qiongju and asked solemnly, “Are you willing to come back to Qingxuan Peak with me?”
Wan Qiongju’s eyes instantly widened. He was like a startled fawn and dared not answer.
The old beggar rushed over. “Young Master Wan, speak quickly! Say yes! If you stay here, they will torture you to death sooner or later.”
Wan Qiongju swallowed hard and cautiously asked, “Steward Jiang, can he come too?”
Before Qiu Yin’an could answer, Steward Jiang was overwhelmed with emotion. Wiping his tears, he said, “Don’t worry about me. Just live well yourself. I won’t leave. Your wet nurse is buried in this land, and I don’t want to be too far from her.”
Qiu Yin’an infused some Spiritual Energy to stop the bleeding on Wan Qiongju’s leg. He asked, “Can you walk?”
“Yes.” Wan Qiongju gritted his teeth, supported himself with one hand on the ground, and slowly stood up.
Seeing his condition, Qiu Yin’an turned and squatted down, then said, “Get on.”
“No need.” Wan Qiongju stumbled two steps.
“Get on.” Qiu Yin’an’s voice brooked no argument. Wan Qiongju stopped refusing and obediently leaned forward, lying on Qiu Yin’an’s back.
Wan Qiongju’s body was as light as a leaf. His bones pressed against Qiu Yin’an’s shoulder, causing a slight ache. He supported Wan Qiongju’s knees and called out to Yao Ye, “Let’s go.”
The others had been beaten until blood flowed from their seven orifices and they were incoherent. Yao Ye fanned himself and walked cheerfully to Qiu Yin’an’s side. “How was that? Wasn’t I amazing?”
“Amazing, amazing,” Qiu Yin’an replied perfunctorily. “Let’s go, back to Qingxuan Peak.”
“Why are you taking him? And carrying him yourself?” Yao Ye scrutinized Wan Qiongju, muttering, “Just a bag of bones.”
Qiu Yin’an said, “West Mountain Hall is so large. I’ll take him in for company.”
Yao Ye closed his fan. “I knew it. You came here wanting to take someone back. Fine, let him pour tea and water for you, serving you alongside your spirit pet.”
Qiu Yin’an walked out. “We’ll see about that later.”
Yao Ye followed behind Qiu Yin’an and said to Wan Qiongju, “You can consider this a blessing in disguise. How many people wish to enter Qingxuan Peak but can’t their whole lives? Look at you, the master of West Mountain Hall is personally carrying you in.”
Qiu Yin’an frowned. “Why are you telling him all this?”
Wan Qiongju pursed his lips and whispered in Qiu Yin’an’s ear, “Thank you, Daoist.”
The warmth near his ear tickled Qiu Yin’an. He tilted his head and rubbed his shoulder, saying, “It’s nothing. Consider it fate between us.”