Free Web NovelChapter 13: Chapter 13: Apologize? My Ass
"Chen Xuan!"
Elder Ge’s voice suddenly came from outside.
Chen Xuan’s heart stirred. He quickly tidied up, opened the door, and said, "Greetings, Elder Ge. Please, come in and talk."
"There’s no need."
Elder Ge, his face expressionless, waved his hand dismissively. "I’ve already spoken with the Left Protector about your situation. Beating up Liu Zifeng and his men isn’t a big deal. Here are five hundred taels in silver notes. Take them, buy some gifts, and go apologize to Liu Zifeng and the others one by one. This matter will then be over!"
He casually took out a silver note and handed it over.
"Apologize?"
Chen Xuan was stunned.
"We’re all brothers in the same gang. There’s no need to make things so tense. The Left Protector is the one paying for the silver notes. Just make sure to repay the Left Protector properly later!"
Elder Ge stuffed the silver notes into Chen Xuan’s hand and patted his shoulder.
But Chen Xuan just laughed.
"What are you laughing at?"
Elder Ge frowned.
"Nothing."
Chen Xuan chuckled softly.
"If I go and apologize, wouldn’t that be admitting I was wrong? They were the ones at fault here!"
"Right or wrong doesn’t matter. What matters is that we put this behind us!"
Elder Ge’s expression darkened.
"But what if they use this as an excuse to humiliate me? What should I do then?"
Chen Xuan’s tone was flat.
’For instance, if they demand I get on my knees, should I do it or not?’
’Besides, it wasn’t my fault to begin with!’
’Why should I be the one to apologize?’
"Humiliate you?"
Elder Ge looked highly displeased. "I don’t care what you think. In short, you need to smooth this over. Don’t drag the Left Protector into it. I’ve given you the silver notes. You’re going to apologize whether you want to or not. If they don’t forgive you, then don’t bother coming back!"
His tone was unquestionable. He turned and left.
’Old dumbass!’
A chill went through Chen Xuan’s heart.
’And here I thought I’d found a powerful backer!’
’Turns out I latched onto an idiot!’
’Making me go and apologize?’
’Has he even considered what would happen to me if I went?’
’They could very well break one of my arms!’
’This isn’t an apology!’
’It’s a confession!’
Looking at the five hundred taels of silver, he tucked them away.
’Waste not, want not. I’ll just consider it a tribute from that old dumbass.’
He turned, walked back into his room, and closed the door again.
Name: Chen Xuan
Heart Method: None
Martial Arts: Black Evil Palm (Perfection), Thunderbolt Step (Minor Success), Tongbei Fist (Major Success)
Cultivation: Dark Force First Layer
Talent: Innate Divine Strength (For each level your renown increases, a new talent can be unlocked. Current Renown: Obscure)
Retribution Points: 15 (Can be used to deduce Martial Arts)
...
’Power. I desperately need to keep getting stronger!’
’I thought joining a gang meant I’d found a strong backer.’
’Who knew the internal struggles within the gang were even more vicious!’
’They promised to have my back.’
’But they sold me out in the blink of an eye.’
’Was everything they said before just bullshit?’
He suddenly recalled Liu Zifeng’s words.
The Left Protector had abandoned at least eight, if not ten, sect leaders over the past few years.
’It seems I’ve been abandoned just like all the others.’
’You show no loyalty, so I’ll show no duty. If that’s how it is, then from now on, we’ll go our separate ways,’
Chen Xuan thought.
[Your heart is at ease, your mind is open and clear, unmoved by external matters. Retribution Points +200!]
"Hm?"
’This gives points too?’
Chen Xuan’s eyes lit up.
’Anyone can let you down, but the system never will.’
...
「Two days later.」
Ge Xuan came looking for him again, his expression grim. "Chen Xuan, why didn’t you go apologize?"
"Ah, Elder Ge, I was planning to buy something and go apologize yesterday, but I didn’t know what to get, so I ended up delaying it,"
Chen Xuan immediately said with a smile.
"Enough!"
Ge Xuan’s face fell, and he barked, "Now! Go and apologize right now! If he doesn’t forgive you, then you will kneel and kowtow to him, begging for his forgiveness until he grants it!"
"Now?"
Chen Xuan’s expression shifted. "I’m afraid I can’t go right now."
"Hmph?"
Ge Xuan narrowed his eyes, staring at Chen Xuan. "Do you think you’ve grown wings? That I can’t do anything to you?"
"That’s not it at all."
Chen Xuan chuckled, took a token from his robes, and dangled it gently. "My appointment token has arrived. I’m about to set off for the Qingshui Sect to take up my post. Elder Ge, even if I were to apologize, I’d have to wait until I get back next time, wouldn’t I!"
He had received the token, sent by someone on the Gang Leader’s orders, just yesterday afternoon.
It ordered him to go take up his post first thing the next morning.
"An appointment token?"
Ge Xuan’s expression changed slightly.
"That’s right. The Gang Leader’s command is absolute. I must prioritize his orders!"
Chen Xuan smiled faintly.
"Fine, Chen Xuan. If you’re unwilling to apologize, then forget it. I’ll go do it. But remember, I’m apologizing on your behalf!"
Ge Xuan gave Chen Xuan a deep look, flicked his sleeves, and turned to leave.
’My ass, you are!’
’Old bastard!’
’Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to.’
Chen Xuan’s face was cold.
He took the token and headed straight out, making for the Qingshui Sect.
The Qingshui Sect was located in the southwest corner of Black Stone City.
As its name implied, it was built by the water.
Black Stone City had well-developed waterways, especially its canals, which connected to a great river. The trade traffic was extremely prosperous, with countless large ships passing through every day.
The profits were immense, but it was also incredibly dangerous.
River pirates, fishermen, wandering martial artists, all sorts of factions... it was a tangled mess.
Nearly everyone wanted a piece of the pie.
The Red Sand Gang was no exception.
This Qingshui Sect branch had only recently been established.
Just as Chen Xuan left the headquarters and was about to hire a carriage to head for the Qingshui Sect, his brow twitched. He noticed three figures.
It was none other than the trio of Liu Zifeng and his men, whom he had just severely injured the day before.
It looked like the three of them had been waiting here for some time.
"Chen Xuan, your Elder Ge told you to apologize to me. Why haven’t you come?" freewebnovёl.ƈom
Liu Zifeng revealed a vicious grin. His arm was wrapped in bandages, and he lacked the refined and elegant demeanor from their first encounter. He stepped forward and sneered, "Remember what I said? Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you latched onto the Left Protector. He’s abandoned so, so many people over the years. You won’t be an exception!"
"Kid, you even dare to disobey your Elder Ge’s words? You’ve got some nerve!"
The man in the blue robe, also covered in heavy bandages, looked at Chen Xuan with an expression of pure schadenfreude. "Now," he said, "get on your knees and apologize to me!"
"That’s right, get on your knees and apologize!"
the other man added with a vicious grin.
"This is strange. I beat the three of you so badly the day before yesterday, yet you’re not scared?"
Chen Xuan suddenly smiled, staring at them. "Or do you think I wouldn’t dare to beat you again today?"
"You!"
The hairs on the back of Liu Zifeng and his men’s necks stood on end, their hearts filled with shock and rage.
"You dare to defy your Elder Ge’s command? Chen Xuan, you’d better think this through!"
Liu Zifeng said hurriedly.
"Yeah! If you dare to make a move, not even your Elder Ge will be able to save you!"
the blue-robed man shouted.
Under their panicked gazes, Chen Xuan took a step forward. Power surged through his body as he swung his palm like the wind, his aura terrifying. He sent a palm strike blasting fiercely toward the blue-robed man’s abdomen.
BOOM!
PUH!
Amidst the muffled boom, the blue-robed man violently spewed blood. The whites of his eyes showed as his features twisted together, and his entire body flew backward like a kite with a snapped string, crashing more than ten meters away and instantly falling unconscious.
[Beautifully done, extremely satisfying! Retribution Points +400!]
Chen Xuan’s expression was calm as he turned to look at the terrified Liu Zifeng and the other man.
"You’re real gluttons for punishment. I beat you so badly, and yet you still came back for more. It would be rude of me not to beat you again."
He strode toward Liu Zifeng and the other man.
The two were utterly panicked and immediately turned to flee.
But a grim curve formed on Chen Xuan’s lips. His body shot forward without an ounce of courtesy, his large hand descending on them like a cattail fan.
’Apologize?’
’Apologize my fucking ass!’
BANG! BANG!
The air exploded. Figures flew through the air—a gruesome sight!
[...Retribution Points +400!]
[...+400]
