Chapter 43#

Taking Down That Gentleman (6)#

Suddenly, a hand reached out from the side and firmly grabbed Yu Ci’s arm.

Yu Ci was slightly startled. Turning his head, he saw the person on the bed had already woken up.

Sang Xinghe was a traditional handsome man: eyebrows like the shore of an autumn lake, eyes like April peach blossoms, nose like a mountain ridge, lips like silk threads. Though his features were flawless, they betrayed not a hint of femininity. Even with a pale, bloodless face, he still commanded attention.

When Sang Xinghe first entered the martial world, he made a name for himself not only because of his martial arts but also half because of his appearance.

That face stirred countless hearts, both male and female. But though Sang Xinghe was gentle, he treated everyone much the same. If someone confessed passionately to him, he would only politely decline. Little did he expect to encounter a devil like Yu Ci, who ignored all reason.

“My injury has nothing to do with him. Don’t punish him.” Sang Xinghe, unaware when exactly he had woken, spoke his first words pleading for Shen Jue.

Yu Ci’s face first showed surprise upon seeing Sang Xinghe awake, but then darkened at his words. Already naturally delicate-featured, his scowl was even more unnerving than an ordinary person’s.

“You’re pleading for him?” Yu Ci let out a cold laugh. “He’s a man of my Ten Deadly Isles. What does my punishment have to do with you?”

Sang Xinghe didn’t back down. “If you’re going to punish an innocent person in front of me, then it does concern me.” He paused. “Of course, Island Master Yu wants to punish someone—how could a useless cripple like me stop you? I only ask that you, Island Master Yu, have some consideration for a cripple who can no longer bear the sight of blood.”

This struck Yu Ci right where it hurt. Back then, in a fit of rage, Yu Ci had crippled Sang Xinghe’s martial arts, and he had regretted it immediately. He couldn’t just abandon the powerless Sang Xinghe, who had made many enemies during his years roaming the jianghu. So Yu Ci had brought Sang Xinghe back to the Ten Deadly Isles—though, of course, there was also his own selfish motive.

At Sang Xinghe’s words, Yu Ci’s face grew even more unpleasant. After a moment, he curled his lips into a smile. “Fine. Since you say I shouldn’t punish him, I won’t. Let go of my hand now.”

Sang Xinghe released Yu Ci’s hand. The moment he did, a sharp crack sounded.

“Yu Ci!” Sang Xinghe’s gaze turned cold. He glanced at Shen Jue, who had collapsed to the ground in pain, and looked indignantly at Yu Ci. “Why did you break your word?”

Yu Ci slowly pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped his hands with deliberate calm. “One thing I hate most is when someone stops me from doing what I want. The more you plead for him, the more severely I’ll punish him. But don’t worry—this is your first time pleading for him, so I only broke his hand. It can still be set. If you plead for him again next time, I’ll cripple that hand entirely.”

He tossed the handkerchief lightly, letting it flutter down and land in front of Shen Jue.

Shen Jue, cradling his broken hand, let a flicker of murderous intent flash in his eyes. But by the time Yu Ci tilted his chin up with the tip of his boot, his eyes were filled only with a watery sheen.

Yu Ci looked at the tearful Shen Jue and asked languidly, “Does it hurt?”

Shen Jue thought for a moment, then shook his head.

Yu Ci smiled in satisfaction. “Good boy. Go see the Left Protector—he’ll tend to your hand.”

Shen Jue nodded and slowly rose to his feet. Without a single glance toward Sang Xinghe, he turned and withdrew.

The Left Protector and the rest were all waiting outside the Yi Water Pavilion. When the Left Protector saw Shen Jue emerge cradling his hand, a knowing look crossed his face. He gestured to the physician, who happened to still be around, saving a lot of trouble.

Since treating the hand was urgent, Shen Jue sat on the steps outside the Yi Water Pavilion, holding his arm out for the physician to tend to.

The Left Protector stood beside Shen Jue, watching the other sit there obediently with his hand cupped. He found it somewhat amusing.

This Celestial Vessel appeared harmless on the surface, docile and well-behaved, but in truth, he was full of sly tricks. The funniest part was that he thought no one saw through his schemes—truly interesting.

“Next time you lie, you’d better come up with a better one,” the Left Protector said. “Today, the Island Master was lenient. If you’re caught lying again, whether this little life of yours survives is another matter.”

Shen Jue lowered his head slightly, as if unwilling to listen.

The Left Protector gave a helpless smile, clasped his hands behind his back, and looked up at the distant bright moon.

The moonlight was so fine tonight, yet he still had to run up and down, all because of this disobedient Celestial Vessel. If only he’d stayed in line, there wouldn’t have been so much trouble tonight. Thinking this, the Left Protector couldn’t help but cast another glance at Shen Jue.

Now, he was playing the obedient one.

After examining him, the physician said, “Not a big problem. I’ll just set your hand back in place. It’ll hurt a bit—bear with it.”

The tears in Shen Jue’s eyes had already dried. He nodded at the physician.

The next moment, Shen Jue’s face crumpled into a steamed bun from the pain.

A bun full of wrinkles, at that.

He couldn’t cry out; he just clenched his teeth hard, but he couldn’t control his physiological reaction. Tears streamed down his face.

This body was much more delicate than the one in the previous realm. Although it knew martial arts, its tolerance for pain was extremely low. Simply having a broken bone realigned had him crying from the pain.

Now, Shen Jue was almost glad he was mute. Otherwise, he had no idea what embarrassing sounds he might have made.

After finishing, the physician released Shen Jue’s hand. He was used to seeing all kinds of reactions to pain, so the silent tears of Shen Jue didn’t surprise him. To be honest, he preferred patients like this. Patients like the Island Master or Sang Xinghe, who remained expressionless even when in extreme pain, were utterly dull.

He treated people without taking payment, but he couldn’t even see the patient’s expected reaction—how frustrating.

The Left Protector also noticed Shen Jue was crying. He paused for a moment, then grabbed Shen Jue by the collar and lifted him up. “Crying now is too late. You’ll sleep in the woodshed tonight. We’ll see if you can be let out tomorrow.”

He signaled to someone nearby, and Shen Jue was once again tied up and tossed into the woodshed.

Shen Jue was locked in the woodshed for a full day and night before being released.

The Yi Water Pavilion was already cold, and lying on the freezing stone floor for a whole day and night gave him a fever by nightfall. By the time he was let out, his body was burning hot.

When Yu Ci heard the man was ill, he raised an eyebrow. “Is he dead?”

The Left Protector thought for a moment. “Not yet. But if he were locked up a few more days, he probably wouldn’t survive.”

Yu Ci made a face of disgust. “Such a weak Celestial Vessel—who accepted him in the first place? Keeping him is just a waste of food; he hasn’t contributed a thing.” He gave a cold snort. “Have the physician treat him. If he can’t be cured, then so be it.”

The Left Protector nodded, then asked, “And the Yi Water Pavilion situation?”

Yu Ci touched his nose, lost in thought for a moment. “No rush there yet. He’s making a big fuss right now. Let’s coax him a bit first.”

After seeing Yu Ci punish someone last time, Sang Xinghe had refused to even look at him for days. Drugging Sang Xinghe again at this point might really provoke his anger. Besides, Sang Xinghe’s body hadn’t fully recovered yet—better to let him recuperate a while longer.

Thus, half a month passed.

By the time the Left Protector brought up the matter again, Yu Ci had almost forgotten about Shen Jue entirely.

“Island Master, should we arrange another session at the Yi Water Pavilion soon?” the Left Protector asked.

Yu Ci hummed in acknowledgment. “You handle it.”

The Left Protector hesitated, then cautiously glanced at Yu Ci. “Last time, Shen Jue served. Should we change the person this time?”

Yu Ci thought about it, then dismissed the idea. “No need to change him. Wasn’t he all protective last time? I want to see whether Sang Xinghe can finally see through that little liar.” He looked at the Left Protector. “Tie him to the bed and feed him some muscle relaxant.”

The Left Protector said, “Oh,” and was about to leave, then came back. “Island Master, who gets the muscle relaxant?”

Yu Ci’s gaze turned sinister. “You idiot. Get out.”

The Left Protector took the hint and rolled out. After he left, he realized he had been foolish to ask.

If they gave the muscle relaxant to Sang Daxia, how would he be able to act?

That night, the Left Protector fed Shen Jue the muscle relaxant and tied him to the bed with soft silk. Since the last mask had been broken, this time he specially switched to a copper mask, with a small lock on the back that required a key to open.

Before leaving, he also untied the acupressure points of Sang Xinghe, who had been restrained.

“Enjoy yourself, Sang Daxia.” With a slight smile, the Left Protector whisked out of the room and locked the door behind him.

After doing all this, the Left Protector let out a sigh.

He, the Left Protector of the Ten Deadly Isles, had been reduced to a madam—truly pathetic.

…

Sang Xinghe had already been drugged, and the effects were gradually setting in. After his acupoints were freed, he wanted to leave the room, but not only were the doors locked, even the windows were sealed tight. He paced anxiously around the room, but his gaze kept drifting involuntarily toward the inner chamber.

There was someone in there.

Sang Xinghe knew.

But he couldn’t commit such a beastly act.

His master had once said: A real man does what is right and refrains from what is wrong. Acting like this would be taking advantage of someone’s weakness.

Sang Xinghe clenched his fists, wanting to drink some cold water, but found that there wasn’t even any cold water in the room—the water in the kettle was scalding hot, just like his own breath at this moment.

His hand trembled slightly, and he set the cup down abruptly.

Sang Xinghe took several deep breaths, but in the end, he still stepped toward the inner chamber.