Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Shang Jingming's face showed no sign of panic at being controlled. He chuckled cryptically, "Has Boss Xie considered that once I get your confession, the humiliation of the great scholar and the torment of the top scholar are insignificant matters? Even if word gets out, it's just a small price to pay to uncover the truth. What stain would that be? Besides, what use is such a good reputation to a mere martial artist like me?"

You can't have it.

Shang Jingming laughed: "It seems Boss Xie is very confident in his own abilities, thinking I can't get anything out of you?"

Xie Wumian stood still, his face calm, like a tree facing the wind and rain, with a firm and resolute determination that was not afraid of being broken. It was as if he wanted to use his trunk to build a city wall and his branches to create a barrier to protect the small plot of land behind him and the people he wanted to protect.

"Since that's the case..." Shang Jingming reached out and took a warrant: "Then let's start with your gathering of a crowd and causing a disturbance in front of the Five Cities Military Command, disrupting the court."

Shang Jingming, expressionless, ordered: "Guards, give him forty strokes of the cane."

The two soldiers who led Xie Wumian in and accompanied Shang Jingming grabbed Xie Wumian from the left and right, forcing him to kneel on the ground.

Two constables entered, one carrying a bench and the other holding a rod.

Xie Wumian was forced onto a bench. He struggled to lift his head and looked at Shang Jingming, reminding him, "Commander Shang, if you fail to get me to talk, and something happens to my teacher, what will become of you?"

He chuckled to himself, "Remember to hire several doctors to treat my teacher."

Shang Jingming glanced at the figure pacing back and forth outside, almost unable to contain himself, then calmly withdrew his gaze and tossed the order in his hand aside: "Attack."

The rod was raised high.

Xie Wumian's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he clenched his teeth.

With a loud "Bang!", the seventy-year-old man burst through the door in a fit of rage, yelling, "Stop!"

Xie Wumian turned around abruptly upon hearing the sound.

The renowned scholar, disregarding his status, shoved the bailiffs who were about to "inflict punishment," his beard twitching as he cursed and roared in the courtroom: "You surnamed Shang, if you bully my disciple again, you can go find whoever you want to help with this case. I'm not playing along!"

Upon seeing his teacher unharmed, Xie Wumian was initially relieved, but before any doubts could arise, he realized what his teacher had just said.

His pupils contracted slightly, a long-lost emotion surged in his chest, and a heat rose in his eyes.

After so many years, hearing the word "disciple" from his teacher again, Xie Wumian was momentarily at a loss for words and silently opened his mouth.

The two constables were also unsure of what to do and looked to Shang Jingming.

Having been demoted from a merchant to someone surnamed Shang, Shang Jingming awkwardly touched his nose. He raised his hand to signal the bailiffs to leave, then raised his long eyebrows and looked at Zhao Siye: "Apprentice? Aren't you just a merchant? Completely unrelated, aren't you?"

Zhao Siye's eyebrows shot up: "Whether someone I recognized in front of everyone is my disciple or your decision?"

"Of course it's your decision, don't get angry, don't get angry." Shang Jingming pressed his hands down in a soothing gesture, then his gaze swept over the person on the bench: "This kind of rebellious disciple who betrayed his master and even used his power to coerce his teacher, wouldn't it be good for me to teach him a lesson and vent my anger?"

Zhao Siye stood in front of Xie Wumian like a protective mother hen, puffing out his beard and glaring, saying, "This is my own disciple. If I need to discipline him, I will do it myself. Why should a mere brat like you overstep your bounds?"

...

I'll add more words to this chapter tomorrow.

I didn't meet my goal of posting for love today, so I'll post a separate update tomorrow.