Free Web NovelChapter 409: Chapter 194: Teaching Without Distinction, Betrayal and Fulfillment
Later, after he had trained for a month at the Qiling Governor’s Mansion Academy, Guo Wei had traveled from afar to stay at Yang Shaorong’s mansion. When faced with provocations from Eunuch Liu, Yang Shaorong had stood up for Guo Wei. At the time, Chu Lingguang realized that the bond between his senior brother and Guo Wei had never been broken.
He and Hei Hu had been too young, unable to see the full picture.
Now, after hearing what Yang Shaorong’s wife had to say, Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu finally realized that the root of the problem lay with Senior Sister Guo.
For a moment, neither of them knew what to do. They wondered if they should follow Wang Chao’s example and kneel to plead with Guo Wei.
But Guo Wei had always been an enlightened and righteous man; there had to be more to the story. Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu exchanged a look, and both decided to watch and see what would happen.
Guo Wei turned to face the woman. "Your Wei Family is overwhelmingly powerful. Your uncle, Wei Yongguang, is the Commander of the Imperial Guard in the Imperial City. You could have set your sights on anyone, so why did it have to be Shaorong?"
"Shaorong is not only handsome, but you also taught him to be a master of Martial Arts—brave and resourceful. What woman under heaven wouldn’t admire a man like that? I’m envious that Miss Guo was able to grow up with him, but Shaorong has always treated her like a sister. Shaorong and I are deeply in love. I beg you to give us your blessing."
Wei Fanghua said, kneeling.
Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu were stunned.
’Yang Shaorong’s wife is from the Wei Family? Wei Yongguang’s niece?’
’They were both his junior brothers, yet they had no idea.’
"Master."
Yang Shaorong’s eyes were bloodshot. He lifted his head to look at Guo Wei, tears streaming down his face. He seemed to have so much to say, but in the end, he simply pressed his forehead to the ground again. "I have failed you, Master!" fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
His words made Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu realize that when it came to Guo Fang, Yang Shaorong had indeed wronged her and disappointed Guo Wei.
’Still, Chu Lingguang didn’t believe that Yang Shaorong was with Wei Yongguang’s niece out of a desire for power and prestige. If his senior brother were that kind of person, Guo Wei would never have stayed at his General’s Mansion.’
"Master Guo, the fault is not Shaorong’s. I’m the one who seduced him. I bewitched him and made him forget his promise to you. Over the years, his trips back to Baiyang County have become rarer, and so have his smiles. I couldn’t bear to see him continue on like this, so today I finally worked up the courage to bring Ning to see you. I want to explain everything clearly, and even... reach a final resolution."
Wei Fanghua said through sobs.
"Mama, don’t cry. Daddy, get up, quick."
Yang Xiaoning wailed in a child’s lisping voice.
The only sound in the room was Yang Xiaoning’s crying. Wu Feihong, Li Murong, and Wang Chao didn’t even dare to breathe.
Chu Lingguang also watched Guo Wei, his face tense.
From Wei Fanghua’s words, he and Hei Hu had pieced together the general story. Guo Wei had placed great hopes in Yang Shaorong, teaching him everything he knew of Martial Arts and intending to marry his daughter, Guo Fang, to him. It seemed Yang Shaorong had been aware of Guo Wei’s and Guo Fang’s wishes, and had even promised to marry her. But in the end, he married Wei Fanghua instead.
’To Guo Wei, it was nothing short of a betrayal.’
’And Yang Shaorong knew he was at fault.’
’But the bond between master and first disciple was far deeper than the one Guo Wei shared with him or Hei Hu. Though Guo Wei was furious, he couldn’t truly cast Yang Shaorong from his heart. He might have even been holding out hope that Yang Shaorong would return to marry Guo Fang.’
’But clearly, there was no longer any turning back.’
’Wei Fanghua’s visit today with Yang Xiaoning was a bid for Guo Wei’s acceptance, but it was also meant to force him to abandon that hope.’
’Chu Lingguang didn’t know what to think.’
’He instinctively wondered what he would do in that situation. Would he honor his promise and marry Guo Fang? Or would he commit the ultimate transgression and be with the one he truly loved?’
’Clearly, Yang Shaorong had chosen the latter.’
’There was nothing wrong with being with the person you love, but what about Guo Fang, who had been waiting for him all this time? And how could Guo Wei ever find peace with it?’
Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu remained silent. The complex history of debts and grievances between Guo Wei and Yang Shaorong was something only they could understand. The two junior brothers couldn’t help.
All they could do was carefully watch for any change in Guo Wei’s mood and perhaps offer a gentle nudge at the right moment.
"Shaorong."
Guo Wei spoke again after a long silence.
"Master, I am here."
Yang Shaorong quickly looked up, shuffling forward a few steps on his knees.
Guo Wei asked, "Do you choose your master, or your wife and son?"
"This..."
Yang Shaorong froze.
Chu Lingguang, Wu Feihong, and the others were also stunned. They never expected Guo Wei to force such a choice upon him.
"Master Guo."
Wei Fanghua clutched desperately at Yang Shaorong’s robes, terrified that he would cave to Guo Wei’s overwhelming presence and abandon her and their child.
At that moment, Yang Shaorong possessed none of the imposing bearing of a General Du Wei. He simply knelt there, lost and unsure of what to do.
Chu Lingguang and the others found it hard to watch.
"If I have to tear your family apart just to hear you call me ’Master,’ then I would have no peace in being your master."
Just as everyone was at a loss, Guo Wei spoke again.
Yang Shaorong and Wei Fanghua both shuddered.
"My heart has been unburdened. Write a letter and give it to me. I’ll take it back for Fang’Er to read, so she can forget you and move on."
It was painful for Guo Wei to say these words.
Ever since taking on Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu as disciples, he had been able to let go of many things.
But Guo Fang and Guo Xiaotian remained a constant weight on his mind.
Guo Xiaotian was suffering at Wolf Valley Pass and couldn’t be rescued anytime soon. But Guo Fang remained unmarried in her chambers. Over the years, he had tried to arrange matches for her, but she had refused them all.
Years ago, after Yang Shaorong had distinguished himself in the Provincial Martial Arts Examination and was leaving for the Imperial Examination, he had knelt before him. He had promised to return and marry Guo Fang after passing. Instead, Yang Shaorong had returned with Wei Fanghua.
If Guo Fang hadn’t stopped him then, he might have struck Yang Shaorong dead in a fit of rage.
Afterwards, Yang Shaorong sent letters frequently. Guo Wei burned every one of them, only to feel a pang of regret each time. It was Guo Fang who started opening the later letters, reading them aloud to him one by one.
That was how the relationship between master and disciple began to thaw, but Wei Fanghua remained a forbidden topic between them.
Now, Guo Wei chose to forgive and understand Yang Shaorong. But he knew that by pardoning his disciple, he was, in a way, betraying his own daughter.
It was he who had arranged the match between Guo Fang and Yang Shaorong, leading his daughter to believe Yang Shaorong was the one destined for her.
That was why he could never accept Yang Shaorong being with Wei Fanghua. If not for the companionship of Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu these past two years, which had brought some joy back into his life, and the budding hope of Guo Xiaotian’s early release from Wolf Valley Pass, Guo Wei might have held onto his grudge forever, perhaps even to the point of a complete and irreparable break with Yang Shaorong.
"Master."
Yang Shaorong kowtowed once more.
"Thank you for your blessing, Master Guo."
Wei Fanghua also kowtowed to Guo Wei, and the couple wept with joy.
"The morning after next, Lin Guang, Hei Hu, and I will set off on our return journey. Tomorrow, bring Ning to me. I will teach him the Iron Mountain Fist."
Guo Wei added.
"Thank you, Master!"
"Quick, call him Grandmaster."
Yang Shaorong was overjoyed, and the couple kowtowed once more.
"Grandmaster,"
Yang Xiaoning chirped in his small voice.
Guo Wei managed to force a smile.
He could accept Yang Shaorong and Wei Fanghua being together, and he couldn’t bear to see their family torn apart. He just didn’t know if Guo Fang would be able to endure it all.
It was he who had arranged the betrothal between Guo Fang and Yang Shaorong, and now it was he who was breaking it. He had destroyed all of his daughter’s hopes and dreams.
’As a master, I am adequate,’ he thought. ’But as a father, I’m a complete failure.’
But Yang Shaorong had already built a family and a life for himself. Guo Wei knew he couldn’t let this drag on any longer. Today was merely a fitting opportunity to resolve it. As a father, he couldn’t watch Guo Fang spend the rest of her life alone.
Everyone was happy for Yang Shaorong and his wife.
Chu Lingguang felt the same and went with Hei Hu to offer a toast to his senior brother’s wife.
But what was truly going through Guo Wei’s mind? How much pain was he in? Neither Chu Lingguang nor Yang Shaorong could ever truly know.
They simply assumed that time had eased his heart, allowing him to finally grant the couple his blessing today. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓
That night, the General’s Mansion was filled with laughter, but Guo Wei retired to his room early.
「The next morning.」
Guo Wei taught Yang Xiaoning the forms of the Iron Mountain Fist. To any outsider, it would have simply looked like a grandfather playing with his grandson.
That evening, Yang Shaorong handed Guo Wei a letter. After tucking it away safely, Guo Wei left the Governor’s Mansion the next morning with Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu, riding toward South City.
