Free Web NovelChapter 199: Chapter 192: As Expected, Mob Treatment
At that moment, Dong Changsheng felt as if his body had come apart.
The world blurred into a smear of light and shadow.
His internal organs felt as if they had been dislodged, crushing against each other within his chest cavity.
His bones groaned as they ground against one another. The sound of snapping came from several places—his chest, his arms, his legs... Waves of excruciating pain, one after another, crashed against his fading consciousness.
SPURT—!
A gush of liquid surged up his throat, dyeing the world before him crimson.
But...
He was still breathing.
The end he had envisioned—his body slamming into the ground and turning into a puddle of gore—had not happened.
The surface beneath him was actually absorbing the force of the impact. It even had a bit of... give?
He struggled to pry open his eyelids, which were stuck together with blood.
In his blurry vision, a face slowly came into focus. It was Su Ling’er, her expression a mask of astonishment.
"Mr. Dong! Are you okay?!"
*PFFT—!*
Her shout rang in his ears, and Dong Changsheng was seized by another violent coughing fit, spewing out even more bloody foam.
"...Do... I look... okay... to you?"
Su Ling’er’s words caught in her throat.
She remembered the question Lin Qingfeng had asked when she herself had been gravely injured.
’Could it be... I misjudged the Senior Brother back then?’
’Is this kind of stupid question something anyone would blurt out in a panic?’
The thought flashed through her mind and was gone.
She immediately sprang into action, taking a medicinal pill from her storage pouch and preparing to put it in Dong Changsheng’s mouth.
...
At the other end of the path, Lin Qingfeng lowered his arm.
’Tsk. The [Strong Luck] trait really lives up to its name.’
’To hit a home run and have a human cushion just pop up to break the fall... His luck is really something else.’
Then he heard the fallen Dong Changsheng shouting something like, "I, Dong Changsheng... have always acted with integrity... and have a clear conscience."
"Tsk," he said, shaking his head. "Seriously? You’re in that state, and you’re still spouting that nonsense!"
He happened to spot the Cultivation Technique jade slip the Yin Spirit Institute had previously awarded him lying on the ground. It looked a little cracked, though...
’Since he dropped something, I might as well toss it back to him!’
...
Just then, several other undercover disciples who were on their way back to their quarters saw what was happening and gathered around. Someone pointed under Dong Changsheng and exclaimed:
"There’s... another person pinned under Mr. Dong!"
A jolt of joy went through Dong Changsheng upon hearing this.
Not only had he survived a seemingly fatal situation, but Heaven had even arranged a "human cushion" for him!
"*Cough, cough*... Men may... bully... the kind... but Heaven does not!"
He opened his mouth, about to continue preaching the "Great Dao" he had just verified, when a streak of light tore through the air, shot into his mouth, and choked back all his words!
"Even if... I am bullied... by the Senior Brother! Heaven... will not abandon me! This... is proof that I, Dong Changsheng... have acted with integrity... and have a clear cons—*PFFT*!!!"
Dong Changsheng’s eyes bulged. He felt his throat instantly seal shut.
He clawed desperately at his neck, his face turning the color of pig’s liver, unable to make a sound.
Lin Qingfeng nodded, pleased with his throwing accuracy.
’See? This is what happens when you talk with your mouth full. You’re bound to choke!’
’Still, I estimate the sect’s contribution points from NPCs will be maxed out in a couple of days.’
’When the [Guixi Secret Realm] opens, I can just toss this Dong Changsheng guy in to scout the path. With his luck, he won’t die even if he triggers some danger. He might even stumble upon some treasure, and if it’s useful, I can just help myself to it.’
’He’s a walking, talking minesweeper and treasure detector!’
And when he got a clear look at the "human cushion" pinned underneath, he couldn’t help but be amused.
’Isn’t that the new disciple, Ye Longtao?’
’I knew it. With a name like Longtao, he was destined for a bit part. And sure enough, that’s the treatment he gets.’
’Yep, not surprising at all. Par for the course.’
Thinking this, he waved down to them, his voice drifting over lazily:
"Mr. Dong! Are you okay? Your Cultivation Technique jade slip fell out, so I tossed it back to you!"
Witnessing this, the undercover disciples grew even more indignant at the Senior Brother’s cruelty.
’That demon! More of his demonic deeds!’
’How long is he going to torment Mr. Dong?!’
’You’ve already beaten him to this state, and you’re still going to humiliate him like this?!’
’Using the Cultivation Technique jade slip as a hidden weapon to shove down his throat—is that something a human being would do?!’
They recalled Mr. Dong’s teachings.
You must be grateful for every suppression, grateful for everyone who looks down on you!
Because those are all essential steps on the path to becoming one of the strong!
’So... so this is the trial that Mr. Dong always said the strong must endure on their path to success!’
’Mr. Dong... he’s personally demonstrating for us what it means to have the "heart of a strong person"!’
"Quick! Help Mr. Dong!"
Su Ling’er was also stunned.
’Wasn’t it enough to hit Mr. Dong away like a ball? Now he’s even humiliating him like this, not even letting him speak?!’
’What a despicable act!’
’Mr. Dong has it so rough...’
Several disciples scrambled to support Dong Changsheng, patting his back forcefully to try and make him spit out what was in his mouth.
With everyone’s help, Dong Changsheng suddenly arched his back and, with a *PFFT*, finally spat out the hard object along with a mouthful of blood.
It was a jade slip—the *Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Skill*!
Now, only a small fragment of the jade slip remained.
"This... this foundation stone..."
Dong Changsheng’s heart twitched as he stared at the fragment.
But on second thought, even if only a small piece remained, its value was still immeasurable!
He had to repay the Sect Leader for the kindness of taking him in!
He swore an oath in his heart once more.
He propped up his body, which felt like it was about to fall apart, ignoring the protests from his bones as he struggled to sit up.
He had to see what kind of "auspicious" cushion Heaven had provided for him.
And then, he saw it clearly.
He got a clear look at the unconscious face of the person he had crushed beneath him.
Most of the Outer Sect Disciples would have recognized this face, as he was one of the few Inner Sect Disciples who would verbally humiliate them to their faces.
A fairly talented figure among the Inner Sect Disciples of Qingxu Temple.
He possessed a dual Spirit Root!
Much purer than their own quad Spirit Roots.
And he was undoubtedly a key figure in this undercover mission—Ye Longtao!
...
The look of fervent gratitude on Dong Changsheng’s face instantly froze.
He... seemed to have knocked out... a stepping stone on his path to success.
And the jade slip he was going to use to prove his worth and repay his great debt was now just a fragment.
The other undercover disciples had also recognized Ye Longtao pinned underneath.
Seeing his unconscious face, they too remembered him well.
Because within the Qingxu Temple Inner Sect, he was one of the few who would periodically humiliate them, the Outer Sect Disciples, to their faces.
Seeing Ye Longtao in this state, they actually felt a sense of glee!
In an instant, a tacit understanding formed among the undercover disciples.
