Ruined Reputation

Wei He started with a handful of lime powder.

He made a show of trying to cripple Ye Fan to get justice for Wei Hong.

Yet Ye Fan was a Dark Force expert, and while that little lime trick could win the upper hand, it could not take him down because of it.

However, right beside them was the courtyard Wang Biao had given to Zhang Lingfeng, and the Warm Breeze Hall gang members were all gathered in that area; the two had only been fighting for a moment when Chen Sanshi rushed in with men.

Ye Fan worried things would blow up.

And reach Guo Wei's ears.

Besides, feeling guilty, he dared not strike with lethal force.

Thus, facing the fury of Wei He, Chen Sanshi, and the others, he hastily shouted, "Zhang Lingfeng and I are fellow martial brothers; you lot shouldn't be like this, listen to me explain properly."

"I was wrong, calm down."

"I want to see Senior Brother Zhang."

He returned at noon to eat.

Zhang Lingfeng's buttocks had barely warmed his seat when he heard the report, and he came over from the neighboring courtyard with Hei Hu and Sun Yan.

He saw that the courtyard where Wei Hong lived had several Warm Breeze Hall brothers guarding the entrance.

"Master Zhang!"

Seeing Zhang Lingfeng approach, several of the brothers greeted him.

"My Senior Brother Zhang has come."

Hearing the commotion, Ye Fan said excitedly.

"Squat down."

Wei He shouted angrily with a broadsword in hand.

Unwilling to escalate matters, Ye Fan had no choice but to keep squatting to one side.

Chen Sanshi ran out to whisper in Zhang Lingfeng's ear.

Zhang Lingfeng walked in with Chen Sanshi following behind, while Hei Hu and Sun Yan guarded the doorway.

As soon as he stepped inside.

He instantly saw that the things inside the room were smashed all over the floor.

Wei Hong was in disarray, sitting on the bed and weeping.

Ye Fan was squatting at the head of the bed.

Wei He held an executioner's blade, looking angrily at Ye Fan.

"This..."

Zhang Lingfeng froze.

"Master Zhang, you must make the decisions for me!"

Before Ye Fan could say anything, Wei Hong got down from the bed, dropped straight to her knees, and cried.

"Senior Brother Zhang, I..."

Ye Fan wanted to explain.

"Shut up."

But he met with Wei He's stern reprimand.

"Sister Hong, what on earth is going on here, get up quickly."

Zhang Lingfeng hurriedly helped Wei Hong to her feet.

"Last night, I ran into your junior brother at the entrance, and seeing that he was in low spirits, I invited him in for a drink. Who would have thought he would suddenly go wild with animalistic urges and do this to me... I originally thought he would take full responsibility, but I never expected he would try to run away after waking up. You tell me... what am I to do from now on?"

Wei Hong roughly outlined the situation.

Her tears fell continuously like broken pearls, and her aggrieved appearance evoked pity.

"What? Junior Brother Ye, you..."

Zhang Lingfeng was greatly shocked, trembling with anger.

"Senior Brother Zhang, it's not like that-"

Ye Fan tried to defend himself with a grievance.

"If you dare say another word, I'll kill you!"

Wei He flew into a rage.

Frightened into shrinking back into the corner, Ye Fan hastily said, "I will take full responsibility for what I've done, I only beg you to spare me first.

Senior Brother Zhang, for the sake of our fellow apprenticeship, put in a good word for me."

"I have no such junior brother. If Master finds out that you sullied Sister Hong's chastity and still wanted to kick Sister Hong aside, his old self will certainly not spare you."

Zhang Lingfeng wore an indignant expression.

"Senior Brother Zhang, I was wrong, help me, you can make me do anything!"

Ye Fan said hastily.

"Sister Hong, what do you think is best?"

Zhang Lingfeng looked toward Wei Hong.

"I am already his person now. I want him to take full responsibility and marry me formally with proper matchmakers, or else I'll end it all with death."

Wei Hong said resolutely.

"Sister, if this bastard dares to deny it, even with Master Guo protecting him, I'm going to butcher him."

Wei He exuded killing intent.

"Calm down, Ye Fan is right; he is my junior brother, and I will resolve this matter."

Zhang Lingfeng said.

"Senior Brother Zhang."

Ye Fan uttered that "Senior Brother" with absolute sincerity.

"You lot go wait outside first."

Zhang Lingfeng said to Wei He and Wei Hong.

Looking thoroughly displeased, Wei He still dragged Wei Hong outside while hauling the executioner's blade.

Chen Sanshi moved a chair and placed it behind Zhang Lingfeng.

Zhang Lingfeng slowly sat down.

Seeing Wei He and Wei Hong head out, Ye Fan tried to stand up from the corner, but at the lift of Zhang Lingfeng's eyelids-before a sound left his mouth-Ye Fan squatted back down, shrinking into the corner while looking up at Zhang Lingfeng.

"When Master got up today, he didn't see Junior Brother Ye and asked everyone where Junior Brother Ye had gone. If Master knew Junior Brother Ye had committed such a preposterous deed, what would Master think?"

With his right leg crossed over his left and his right hand gently patting his right thigh, Zhang Lingfeng spoke with a grave expression.

"I..."

"Master placed high hopes in Junior Brother, single-mindedly wanting to pass down all his skills to Junior Brother, and treated Junior Brother as his own flesh and blood. If his old self sees that Junior Brother sullied Sister Hong's chastity and also lost his primordial yang, I'm afraid his old self in a fit of rage would cripple all of Junior Brother's cultivation."

Ye Fan tried to speak, but Zhang Lingfeng cut him off.

"Senior Brother, I beg you to save me."

Hearing this, Ye Fan-who had previously only been squatting in the corner-dropped straight to his knees and spoke with tearful sobs.

"Depending on others is inferior to depending on yourself; right now, the only one who can save Junior Brother Ye is yourself."

Zhang Lingfeng sighed.

"Then what should I do?"

Ye Fan inquired.

"Master has poured so much painstaking effort into you; this matter cannot let his old self know, otherwise you will be expelled from the sect, and Master will be worried to death by you."

Zhang Lingfeng reminded him.

"Yes, yes, yes, Senior Brother speaks rightly; this matter cannot be let known to Master."

Deeming it entirely reasonable, Ye Fan felt full of gratitude toward Zhang Lingfeng and nodded incessantly.

"Yet this matter must also give Sister Hong an account, otherwise Sister Hong will not agree, and neither will Wei He and the brothers of Warm Breeze Hall let you off.

As the master of Warm Breeze Hall, I must give an even better account to the personnel under my command."

Zhang Lingfeng added.

"Senior Brother speaks the truth, Senior Brother says whatever should be done, we'll do."

Ye Fan replied.

"In that case, you and Sister Hong shall get engaged first. When you place high in the martial examinations later on and Master is fully satisfied, then you will carry Sister Hong home in a grand wedding sedan with eight bearers and marry her properly. From now on, you must treat her well and not fail her, otherwise I and the hundreds of brothers of Warm Breeze Hall will never agree!"

Zhang Lingfeng said solemnly.

"Yes, that couldn't be better. Once I place high in the martial examinations, I will definitely fulfill this promise."

Overjoyed, Ye Fan thought that this way he wouldn't suffer a ruined reputation, nor would he need to worry about angering Guo Wei, facing punishment, having his cultivation crippled, or being expelled from the sect.

"You must draw up a betrothal agreement!"

Zhang Lingfeng reminded him.

"Good, we'll draw up a betrothal agreement."

Ye Fan had no choice.

"And never call off the engagement!"

Zhang Lingfeng added.

"Naturally, never call it off."

Ye Fan nodded.

"In that case, Sister Hong's matter can be considered settled."

Zhang Lingfeng gently patted his thigh with his palm and spoke.

"Thank you, Senior Brother, Junior Brother will engrave it in his heart."

Ye Fan thought he could leave.

"But you lost your primordial yang; how are you going to account for it to Master? His old self's eyes are blazing like torches, do you think you can hide it from him if you go back like this?"

Zhang Lingfeng said.

"This..."

Ye Fan's expression stiffened.

Completely at his wits' end as he racked his brains in bitter thought, he could only continue asking Zhang Lingfeng, "What does Senior Brother think is best to do?"

PS: Begging for monthly votes!