Free Web NovelChapter 407: Chapter 194: To Teach Without Discrimination, A Fulfilling Betrayal
"Master, Chu Lingguang was just lucky to be chosen as the best candidate in the Northern Territory. I don’t think he’s all that impressive."
Xuanyuan Jinkang said cheerfully as he followed him out, beaming with pride.
SLAP!
However, the moment the words left his mouth, Eunuch Liu casually waved his hand, creating a palm of rushing air that slapped Xuanyuan Jinkang viciously across the face.
Xuanyuan Jinkang was not weak, but there was no way he could have defended against Eunuch Liu’s sudden strike, especially since the palm was formed from a wave of air.
The slap left Xuanyuan Jinkang dizzy and disoriented, nearly knocking him to the ground.
"You fool! How could I have ever taken someone like you as my disciple?"
Eunuch Liu said, his face filled with resentment.
"Master, was it because I wasn’t harsh enough when I taught Chu Lingguang his lesson? If you’re still not satisfied, I’ll go find him again."
Xuanyuan Jinkang said, clutching his cheek.
He turned, about to head back to the General’s Mansion.
"Utterly foolish."
Eunuch Liu roared in anger. He channeled his Soft and Flexible Technique, forming a hand like a giant cattail fan that sent Xuanyuan Jinkang flying.
"Master, what did I do wrong?"
Xuanyuan Jinkang landed in the middle of the street, his face twisted and contorted.
"If Chu Lingguang hadn’t held back, you’d have been wailing on the ground inside just like you are now."
Eunuch Liu said, his voice full of disappointment.
"That... That’s impossible."
Xuanyuan Jinkang refused to believe it.
"Are you saying my judgment is flawed?"
Eunuch Liu said angrily.
He then immediately spat on the ground and cursed, "Then again, my judgment must be flawed! I paid a hefty price to find you, and all I got was an arrogant little fool who doesn’t know his own limits!"
"Master, I was wrong. Please, tell me what’s going on."
Seeing Eunuch Liu’s fury, Xuanyuan Jinkang didn’t dare talk back anymore.
"Chu Lingguang has already awakened his Divine Abilities and can integrate them into his Spear Technique. If he hadn’t pointed his Long Spear elsewhere at the critical moment, you would have suffered a crushing defeat. He was intentionally losing to you because he didn’t want to put Guo Wei in an awkward position with me. But you, you blind fool! Knocking away Chu Lingguang’s Long Spear would have been enough, but then you had to go and viciously kick him in the chest. You truly have a death wish."
Eunuch Liu said, his face a mask of disappointment.
’If Xuanyuan Jinkang had just knocked away Chu Lingguang’s Long Spear and left it at that, Chu Lingguang’s loss wouldn’t have been so humiliating. Guo Wei wouldn’t have become enraged over Chu Lingguang’s injuries, and I could have accepted Chu Lingguang’s gesture of goodwill. Then, I could have maintained a good relationship with the master and disciple pair in the future.’
’Unfortunately, Xuanyuan Jinkang’s excessive competitiveness and viciousness ruined everything, leaving me in an impossible situation.’
Eunuch Liu knew that while status and background could intimidate people, they couldn’t suppress a heart dedicated to Martial Arts. If he had continued to clash with Guo Wei just now instead of backing down, he was afraid Guo Wei might have truly challenged him to a "spar." frёeωebɳovel.com
Even if he had defeated Guo Wei then, once word got out, others would say he was a poor teacher who used his power to bully others.
Conversely, they would praise Guo Wei and his disciple for their unity and for not fearing the powerful.
"But... I... I didn’t know!"
Xuanyuan Jinkang was on the verge of tears but couldn’t cry.
"You haven’t even formally become my disciple yet. Let’s go our separate ways. Leave!"
Eunuch Liu hoped to find someone to inherit his legacy and carry forward the Soft and Flexible Technique. More than that, he wanted a disciple who, like Chu Lingguang, would be completely loyal to him, sharing his burdens and solving his problems.
Even if Chu Lingguang was not as strong as Xuanyuan Jinkang, Eunuch Liu approved of him far more.
"Master, I was wrong! I beg you to forgive me!"
Xuanyuan Jinkang felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. He hurriedly kowtowed to Eunuch Liu, begging him.
But Eunuch Liu just turned and walked away, ignoring Xuanyuan Jinkang. He decided to find Yue Yuanshan and have Emperor Yue Xuan become his disciple instead.
"Master, I was wrong!"
Seeing Eunuch Liu start to leave, Xuanyuan Jinkang shuffled forward on his knees.
Eunuch Liu stopped, turned his head to look at Xuanyuan Jinkang, then glanced back at Yang Shaorong’s General’s Mansion. He thought to himself, ’If I abandon him just like this, with his temperament, he’ll definitely try to get revenge on Chu Lingguang in the future. If anything bad happens, the blame will fall on my head.’
’Guo Wei was able to raise a disciple like Chu Lingguang, so why can’t I, Liu Xun? Besides, I went to great expense to snatch Xuanyuan Jinkang from the Southern Domain. If I just give up on him, not only would my previous efforts be wasted, but if he holds a grudge in the future, I fear even I would have to be wary of him.’
’Forget it, forget it. A teacher shouldn’t discriminate among students. He’s already called me Master, so I’ll just consider this a fateful, troublesome bond. If I teach him carefully from now on, I should be able to correct his bad temperament.’
A thousand thoughts raced through Eunuch Liu’s mind.
He deeply envied the bond between Chu Lingguang and Guo Wei.
He considered that good disciples need good masters. If he fulfilled his role as master well, perhaps Xuanyuan Jinkang could still become a good disciple.
So, he sighed and said, "Your biggest problem is your excessive desire to win. I hope you will learn from Chu Lingguang, focus on improving your Mental Realm, and understand the importance of enduring humiliation to achieve a greater goal."
"Yes, Master. I will take your teachings to heart."
THUD, THUD, THUD!
Tears streamed down Xuanyuan Jinkang’s face as he repeatedly kowtowed to Eunuch Liu.
"Let’s go. We’re returning to the Imperial City."
Eunuch Liu led Xuanyuan Jinkang away from the Qiling Governor’s Mansion. Just as Chu Lingguang had suspected, he hadn’t merely been passing through. After finding Xuanyuan Jinkang in the Southern Domain, he had heard that Chu Lingguang had become the top candidate in the Northern Territory, and that the master and disciple duo had even fought a great battle on the National Border.
He had expected Chu Lingguang and Guo Wei to stay at Yang Shaorong’s mansion for a few days while passing through the Qiling Governor’s Mansion, so he had brought Xuanyuan Jinkang over. What he hadn’t anticipated was that Guo Wei and Chu Lingguang had first stopped in Yunchuan City for some time. It was only in the last two days that he learned they had finally arrived at the Qiling Governor’s Mansion, which led to today’s confrontation.
His original intention was to let Guo Wei know that he had found a disciple even more outstanding than Chu Lingguang. Who would have thought that Xuanyuan Jinkang, in his desperate need to win, would fail to see that Chu Lingguang was intentionally throwing the match, and even go so far as to gravely injure him, leaving Eunuch Liu utterly humiliated.
