Chapter 35

With his mouth full of blood, Ma Yunyong supported himself on his knees, spat out a mouthful of blood foam, and glared fiercely at Zheng Biao, looking terrifying, but in fact, he was too upset to speak.

Zheng Biao felt relieved at this moment. Ma Yunyong was not a martial artist, and indeed, he was no match for him. He shook his wrists and said proudly, "How about it? Give up, you big fool... losing to a martial artist, what's there to be ashamed of?"

Ma Yunyong shook his head woodenly and said calmly, "Losing to a martial artist isn't shameful, but losing to a woman, how can I face anyone?"

"Are you f**king trying to make me angry? You're not even a martial artist, what are you being so arrogant about..." Zheng Biao's face turned ashen. He stood with his feet apart, stretched out his palms, fingers spread outward, and assumed the starting stance of "Swallow Spreads Its Wings," saying loudly, "Big fool, you've really made me angry today. Since you're not afraid to die, it's perfect, I'll use you to test my [Swift Swallow Piercing Cloud Palm]... with your size, it's much more interesting than hitting a punching bag."

"Damn, this is too much!" The Qingyun disciples around them were enraged and rolled up their sleeves, ready to rush forward.

"Hey, what's this, heroes of Qingyun, if you can't fight, you want to gang up on me? Fine, come on— if I'm afraid of you, I'll change my name to yours..."

At this moment, Zheng Biao was full of bloodlust. His tough character had erupted, and he was a reckless person.

"Stop!" Ma Yunyong propped himself up and shouted fiercely, "All seniors, stop— this is my personal matter, no one is allowed to interfere. If anyone interferes, they won't be my brother anymore..."

The disciples of this generation of Qingyun had grown up together. When one was in trouble, the others would never stand by. Even if there were minor conflicts in daily life, they were internal matters. When it came to outsiders, Qingyun was always united.

"No, Yunyong, we will definitely get involved in this matter..."

"Right, we've never seen such bullying. A martial artist is nothing, he can beat one of us, but can he beat all of us?"

"Right, let's take him on, what's there to be afraid of..."

The young Taoists around were agitated, ignoring any rules or natural laws... their brother was being bullied, and all their reservations were thrown to the wind...

"Stop—" Just as the Qingyun disciples were about to attack, a loud voice behind them, full of inner strength, instantly silenced the scene.

Everyone turned around and changed their expressions.

It turned out that the on-duty Qing Song had arrived and immediately stopped the conflict.

"You scoundrels, what are you doing? How can you fight at the gate of the temple? Have you all forgotten the rules? Stop now, go back to the temple, and each of you copy the 'Discipline Sutra' ten times— Yunyong, if you dare to fight, I'll put you in solitary confinement—"

"Third Uncle, I..."

"Shut up, get inside now—"

Qing Song was concerned for Ma Yunyong. When he heard that a martial artist had come to challenge the disciples and that Ma Yunyong was just an ordinary person, he knew this was a fight he would surely lose. Losing was one thing, but if a young person was injured by a martial artist without inner strength to protect him, it could leave hidden injuries, affecting his future martial path.

Qing Song rushed over just as the disciples were about to attack on Ma Yunyong's behalf. If this news spread, it would be bad for Qingyun. Even if the parties involved were just teenagers, it would still tarnish Qingyun's reputation. So Qing Song immediately stopped the disciples from acting.

Seeing the disciples return to the temple dejectedly, Qing Song sighed with relief. Passing by Ma Yunyong, who looked unhappy, Qing Song grunted sternly, ignoring his devastated expression, and then bowed to Zheng Biao, who was on guard, saying, "I am Qing Song, the guest master of Qingyun. May I ask the name of this young hero—"

"Third Senior Brother—"

Qing Song, who was thinking about what to say, suddenly heard a familiar voice calling from behind, which immediately interrupted his words.

Startled, he turned around and saw his little junior brother Qing Xuan standing at the gate, with a serious expression he had never seen before, staring at him intently.

"Little junior brother?" Qing Song suddenly felt that his little junior brother seemed very angry and aggressive. Qing Song felt a pang of sympathy, remembering that this little junior brother was closest to Yunyong. Now that Yunyong was humiliated, his little junior brother must be unwilling to see him suffer and wanted to stand up for him... but this was not the time to indulge your emotions. Qing Song sighed and said, "Little junior brother, calm down. If you have something to say, wait until I've entertained this young hero—"

"Third Senior Brother, what I want to say is about this—"

"Hmm?" Hearing the resentment and urgency in Qing Xuan's voice, Qing Song's brows furrowed, thinking: Oh no, the little junior brother's stubbornness is coming out.

Not only did Qing Song feel an ominous atmosphere, but even Zheng Biao, who had been silent, felt a sudden unease. The deep and unfathomable Qing Song was already putting him under pressure, but when the little Taoist at the gate appeared, his cold gaze made Zheng Biao feel even more chilled, even more nervous than the intimidating Qing Song. He dared not even breathe, waiting quietly like a little wife for the two Taoists to argue.

"Little junior brother, you know the rules of the temple—"

"Third Senior Brother, I know the rules... but I also know that if someone comes to challenge our disciples openly, and our disciples still dare not stand up, it would greatly disappoint the martial artists who visit us... Brother, do you think what I'm saying is right?"

Zheng Biao, feeling lost, agreed, "Of course—"

"Good! Nephew Yunyong—"

"Here!" Ma Yunyong was also confused.

"Are you willing to accept the challenge—"

"Nephew is willing—" Ma Yunyong immediately replied with joy.

"Good—"

"Nonsense, little junior brother, do you know who—"

"A martial artist, right? Ha, 'Second Heaven of Body Tempering,' for his age, he is quite accomplished—"

Qing Song looked at Qing Xuan in disbelief, "So you were watching the whole time— you knew... why didn't you stop it?" Qing Song's meaning was simple: since you, Qing Xuan, knew that Yunyong's opponent was a martial artist and Yunyong was just a strong ordinary person, with such a huge disparity in strength, why didn't you protect your own disciple and let him fight, clearly putting him at a disadvantage?

Qing Xuan, with his intelligence, of course, understood what his kind-hearted third senior brother was thinking. Even though the third senior brother was strict with the disciples, it was for their own good. If the brave Yunyong lost, it would be a huge blow to the other disciples who were even less capable. Moreover, if the situation had escalated to a group attack, Qingyun's reputation would have plummeted, not just in the martial world, but even in Qingyang Town, people would say that the disciples of Qingyun were not pious and disciplined, but a bunch of little hooligans and scoundrels.

The cautious third senior brother was indeed thinking of Qingyun's reputation, and it couldn't be said that he was wrong. However, he didn't realize that stopping this at this moment would actually be a small but significant blow to the disciples' fighting spirit. Qingyun bore a deep and bloody grudge. If these disciples couldn't cultivate a brave and determined spirit from a young age, how could they survive and even win against cruel enemies in the future? Always staying under the protection of their elders would not make them into soaring eagles.

Therefore, this fight, whether won or lost, had to be fought.

Ye Qingxuan took a deep breath, looked deeply into Qing Song's eyes, and said solemnly, "Third Senior Brother, I know what you're thinking, but... please trust me—"

Looking into those clear eyes, Qing Song was speechless. His little junior brother had never been this serious. Seeing the sincere eyes of his little junior brother, the determined expression of Ma Yunyong, and the many disciples eagerly waiting... the disciples of Qingyun were so spirited and united... Qing Song sighed inwardly. Fine, let the young people have their way.

Without even looking at Zheng Biao, Qing Song said solemnly, "Fine, since little junior brother is here, let him decide this matter..."

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