Douluo: A Century-old Legend I Am the Second Uncle Chenxin

Chapter 1900 The Pain of a Traitor
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This chapter was rewritten, hence the delay of one hour.

……

"Teacher Ying." A weak voice sounded.

Xiao Qing struggled to straighten his body (frowning as the wound aggravated his brow), his cold face showing a complex expression, and he said hoarsely, "It's alright, please don't worry... This old man... won't hurt me, I was just... talking to him."

Teacher Ying knew that Xiao Qing was proud and would not compromise easily, so there must be a reason for saying so.

After a moment's thought, he glanced warily at the man in blue (sensing no murderous intent), slowly withdrew his soul power, and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Qing, your injuries..."

"It's alright. You and your classmates go to the rest area first, I... I'll be back in a bit." Xiao Qing gestured for his assistant to let go, then staggered to his feet.

Seeing that he was determined, Teacher Ying suppressed her doubts and stared at the man in blue, saying sternly, "Who exactly are you? Leave your name! If anything happens to Xiao Qing, the entire Heaven Dou Academy will surely hold you accountable!"

The man in blue seemed to have no interest in saying more, leaving only his back view, his calm voice booming in Teacher Ying's ear: "Go back and ask Zhixing."

Before he finished speaking, he had already taken a step forward. His steps seemed slow but had a peculiar rhythm, and he quickly widened the distance between them.

Xiao Qing took a deep breath, enduring the excruciating pain and the stinging sensation of stagnant soul power, and took heavy steps to catch up.

Whenever the figure in blue seemed about to disappear into the darkness, his pace would quicken slightly, forcing Xiao Qing to grit his teeth and quicken his pace, groaning in pain as he stared intently at the figure in front of him.

The two walked one after the other through the quiet, cold passageway.

A few minutes later, the man in blue stopped in front of a private room and pushed the door open to enter.

Xiao Qing followed closely behind and closed the door behind him.

The private room offered an excellent view, but the man in blue stood with his back to the door, hands clasped behind his back, like a silent, solitary peak.

Xiao Qing stopped three steps behind him.

Without hesitation, he bowed deeply, almost at a ninety-degree angle, his body trembling slightly from the pain of his wound, and said respectfully:
"Old Zhuo!"

The old man was Zhuo Qianren, his former master.

Zhuo Qianren did not respond, neither turning around nor allowing him to get up.

Time seemed to stand still. Xiao Qing maintained his bow, sweat dripping onto the ground, his heavy breathing and pounding heartbeat clearly audible.

After a long time, so long that Xiao Qing could barely hold on, Zhuo Qianren slowly turned around.

His weathered eyes scanned him up and down, taking in his disheveled and bloodstained appearance. There was no anger or disappointment, only a deep scrutiny and a cold calm.

Zhuo Qianren remained silent and stepped very close to Xiao Qing.

Without warning, she reached out her hands and, with lightning speed, placed them on his arms, which were covered in dried blood and wounds!
"Ugh—!" Xiao Qing was caught off guard and felt two streams of soul power containing pure wind and thunder energy surge into him.

This ruthless erosion ignored his fragile and disordered meridians, forcibly barging in and rampaging through.

The pain was far beyond imagination, like a steel brush scraping against the bone marrow, or a red-hot iron rod stirring up the internal organs.

Xiao Qing's eyes bulged out instantly, he convulsed violently, and screamed in agony.

His legs went weak and he wanted to kneel, but Zhuo Qianren held his arms and forced him to endure it.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his tattered clothes, mingling with dried blood.

The pain lasted for several breaths, but for Xiao Qing it felt like an eternity. *Pfft...* A chilling, sharp, and turbid aura seemed to be forcibly "pulled" out of his body and dissipated.

Xiao Qing was breathing heavily as if he were exhausted. He was soaked in sweat but felt an unprecedented sense of ease. The stagnation and stinging sensation in his body, as if he were being pricked by needles, had disappeared!

Zhuo Qianren slowly withdrew his hand, looked at Xiao Qing, and finally spoke, his voice calm but less cold:
"I have expelled the sword energy scattered in your body by Chen Yanwu. I have also forcibly cleared the main meridians in your arms that were blocked by the sword energy. The remaining external injuries and soul power shock injuries can be recovered with conventional treatment and a period of rest, and will not leave any hidden dangers to your foundation."

He paused. "Remember this pain. Remember how you fell today."

Xiao Qing struggled to support his swaying body, looked up at Zhuo Qianren, and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside him. His eyes reddened uncontrollably, and his voice trembled with a barely perceptible sob.

"Thank you... thank you, Mr. Zhuo."

He had expected to be reprimanded or even punished, but to his utter surprise, Zhuo Qianren eliminated the most troublesome hidden danger in such a domineering, direct, and excruciating way.

This cold-blooded "treatment" stirred his emotions more than any blame or comfort.

……

Zhuo Qianren walked to a wooden chair on one side of the private room and sat down: "How have you been at Tiandou Academy these past four years?"

Xiao Qing stood still, and upon hearing this, he simply said in a low voice, "...It's alright."

"What I'm asking is," Zhuo Qianren said calmly, "how do the people of Tiandou Academy treat you?"

Xiao Qing pursed his dry, bleeding lips and remained silent for a moment before saying, "Everything is provided, and the teaching is done with utmost dedication."

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Qing felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.

This is true; Tiandou did indeed deliver on its promise, providing all the necessary resources and guidance.

After all, he was a genius they had painstakingly recruited and invested heavily in. If they couldn't even protect their reputation, how would they recruit others in the future?
However... despite doing his best, he ultimately lacked the comfort and generosity that comes from being a "closed-door disciple."

The problem lies in the phrase "closed-door disciple".

Ordinary students are one thing, but they are just passersby in the academy for a few years. Their teaching and learning are limited to the teaching relationship and the pursuit of interests.

But the closed-door disciples are different; they are the inheritors of the mantle, the hope for the continuation of the sect, and a lifelong bond.

He betrayed Chang'an and this heavy trust. Even though a few people like Zhixing valued him, the eyes of others always held scrutiny and alienation, keeping their distance and even showing a barely perceptible disdain.

Occasionally, when the night is quiet and all is quiet, gazing in the southwest direction of Chang'an, the loneliness and doubt that were temporarily suppressed by the light of the soul bone would surge up again. He could only tell himself again and again: He chose this path himself, and he did the right thing.

Zhuo Qianren, being a seasoned veteran, naturally understood the implied meaning.

He let out a soft snort, his tone unreadable: "I've been in Tiandou City for over a month, and you've kept your composure, not taking a single step. In the end, I have to condescend to come and find you, my 'disciple of Tiandou'."

"I... I dare not." Xiao Qing lowered his head even further, the shadows obscuring the turbulent emotions in his eyes.

"Dare not?" Zhuo Qianren glanced at him sideways. "Back then, you insisted on leaving, and I couldn't stop you, nor did I forcibly stop you! But when did I ever say that I would expel you from the sect?! Calling me 'Old Zhuo' all the time is grating!"

Xiao Qing's body trembled violently. He abruptly looked up, meeting Zhuo Qianren's icy gaze. His throat bobbed, and he managed to squeeze out two words with difficulty: "Disciple...I..."

"Hmph, forget it!" Zhuo Qianren waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible fatigue. "The Tian Dou family is so powerful and wealthy, it's good to be able to squeeze some wool out of them and bleed them dry."

Xiao Qing's lips moved, but he dared not reply, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

(End of this chapter)