134: Chapter 133: A Man’s Dignity 134: Chapter 133: A Man’s Dignity “Xie Xing and I were really shocked back then, we even forgot some of the martial skills Master taught us,” he said.
“And that’s not all, after beating us up, he actually went back and complained to the Great Elder, claiming we had been bullying him for six months and, as a newcomer, he couldn’t fight back or retaliate.”
“He really painted himself as a pitiful character, and the Great Elder, who always protects his own, went straight to my master and Xie Xing’s master.
I don’t know what was discussed, but the result was painful, Xie Xing and I had to train with Song Yun every day.”
“This was supposed to be a simple process, just running every day or something, but this kid doubled his training regimen every day.
Initially, Xie Xing and I just watched him like he was a fool, but then he got unhappy and told the elders we were slacking off.
The elders saw it their way, after all, while Song Yun was still training, we were resting.” Hua Manlou sighed.
“That was the second time he tricked us.
That night I went back and was beaten by my master, and he didn’t even give me dinner.”
“That kid was a bad seed from the start.” Hua Qingcheng only learned that the Great Elder had taken a disciple after returning to the sect.
By that time, Song Yun had already bonded with his brother and Cheng Xiexing.
She had thought they had always been good friends before, unaware of such a humiliating history.
“Yes, that bastard was just a bad seed, but we were young back then, who wanted to spend all day listening to our master go on and on about how great and amazing the Great Elder’s new disciple was, while he had taken in a good-for-nothing.
Xie Xing and I decided then that we had to outperform Song Yun in training to show our master that we weren’t weak,” said Hua Manlou, pausing and falling silent.
“What happened next?
Don’t stop talking there!” Hua Qingcheng urged, hating the suspense.
“Then, Xie Xing and I completely failed.
We barely kept up with Brother Song Yun’s training like dead dogs, but then two days later he doubled his training routine again.
We couldn’t fall behind, or we would be beaten when we got back, and so we fell for his third trick, stuck in a pit we couldn’t climb out of,” Hua Manlou said flatly.
“But later, something happened that made us start to truly admire Song Yun.
One day, Xie Xing and I, feeling playful, ran into the woods; you know what’s in there.
Foolishly, we got targeted by a wolf.
At the crucial moment, Song Yun stepped forward, facing the old wolf alone.
I won’t lie, we were so scared we peed ourselves, no one dared to help him, but he fought the wolf with his life at stake.”
“A child exchanging his life with a wolf, if the wolf swiped at him, he would go crazy biting the wolf.
Probably even the wolf was confused, thinking, ‘I’m a wolf and haven’t attacked, yet this kid is fighting like a wild animal.’ It was because of this spirit that Brother Song Yun finally bit through the wolf’s neck.
Covered in blood, when he stood in front of us he spoke a sentence before fainting, ‘Life is exchanged with life, if you want to survive, you have to risk your life.'”
“Eventually, it was the elders in the sect who realized something was wrong and came to get us.
After that, Xie Xing and I never underestimated Song Yun, and he didn’t care about the little things with us anymore.
Over time, through frequent training, a friendship among men began to grow, and that was when the three of us really started having fun.”
“So your journey of friendship was also full of struggles,” laughed Hua Qingcheng.
“Then what?
Did you two start worshipping Song Yun?”
“Yes,” Hua Manlou said unabashedly.
“Back then, we were just kids, naturally inclined to admire the strong.”
“Brother Song Yun never mentioned what happened on the mountain that day, but Xie Xing and I both knew we owed him our lives, and we’d have to give them if he ever asked.
It’s not about credibility, but about a person’s character,” Hua Manlou said earnestly.
“After that incident with you and Brother Song Yun, he was really bothered.
After all, when he apologized, you wouldn’t accept it, and when he asked you to hit him to vent, you really went through with it.
He really was at a loss on how to deal with you.”
“But ever since then, Xie Xing and I, whenever we saw you coming, would consciously make space for you two to be together.
We hoped you’d speak your mind, but you’re just as tongue-tied, only able to express yourself through actions.
Don’t you know what kind of person Brother Song Yun is?
Because of his childhood experiences, he’s emotionally a bit like a block of wood; if you don’t spell it out, how could he understand what you want to say?
But since we’d always see you storming out, it was clear that you two probably wouldn’t work out.”
“That’s because he’s dim-witted, unlike the smart male leads in comics, who get it from the slightest hint,” Hua Qingcheng pouted, like a child who had her candy stolen.
“Sis, that’s only in comics, but if Brother Song Yun was really that slick, would you still like him?
Isn’t part of his appeal that he’s steadfast and bold from his heart?
If he lacked these qualities, would he still be Song Yun?”
“No matter what, it’s his fault; why did he have to watch me bathe of all things?” Hua Qingcheng grumbled, chewing on pearls.
“That’s your fault, actually.
Brother Song Yun watched all of his junior brothers and sisters bathe without issues; why did it become a problem when it came to you?
Remember when Brother Song Yun was caught watching Sister Xia Tian?
She downplayed it, and in the end, they even ended up together.
If you really liked Brother Song Yun, you shouldn’t have blown the incident up so that the whole sect knew about it, putting him in such an awkward position.”
“Is that what you men call ‘face’?” Hua Qingcheng asked cautiously.
“Yes, it’s about a man’s face.
By doing this, you would make Brother Song Yun lose face.
If you could have handled this privately, I believe he’s not a person who can’t be reasoned with.
You could’ve let it simmer gradually, and by now, you two would probably be together,” Hua Manlou shrugged.
“But what he said was too heartless.
I’m a girl, how could he say something like ‘one sword stroke should kill me’?” Hua Qingcheng complained.
“Didn’t you realize you also misspoke?
You should never have brought up what happened between him and Sister Xia Tian.
He already feels guilty about not giving Sister Xia Tian a proper status; your comment hit exactly where it hurts.
Although he always looks happy hanging out and joking with others, I know he’s actually lonely inside.
You never noticed this, but whenever we have meals or fun with our family, Brother Song Yun always has a look of envy in his eyes.”
“I really hadn’t noticed.”