Better to Resolve a Grievance Than Let It Fester

"Old Xiao, that was a rotten thing to do! We've been friends for twenty years, and I asked you to look after my disciple. Is this how you looked after him?!" Mr. Mengfei supported Su Ziyang as he raised an eyebrow and demanded an answer from Old Daoist Master Xiao, who stood in the doorway.

Old Daoist Master Xiao was still a little dizzy from the deafening noise just now. When he saw that the newcomer was Mr. Mengfei, a trace of embarrassment immediately appeared on his face. "Mengfei, what brought you here?"

"Hmph! What if I hadn't come? If I hadn't, my disciple would have been crippled in your care!" Mr. Mengfei's voice still boomed, echoing through the courtyard. Even the windowpanes began to vibrate rapidly, as if they might shatter at any moment.

Seeing Mr. Mengfei come at him, Old Daoist Master Xiao hurriedly cupped his hands in embarrassment. "Mengfei, there's been a misunderstanding. Stop using Lion's Roar first, and let's talk this over!"

"What misunderstanding? Let's hear it!" Mr. Mengfei was genuinely angry. Old Daoist Master Xiao's words did nothing to cool his temper, and his voice continued to boom loud enough to shake the heavens. Several faint cracks appeared in the glass behind Old Daoist Master Xiao.

Daoist Jin, who had fallen and had yet to get up, fared even worse. Under the force of Mr. Mengfei's Lion's Roar, he felt his organs churn and his blood surge, as though he were about to vomit up his stomach. He tried to struggle to his feet, only to find his whole body had already gone numb, leaving him unable to move.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Old Daoist Master Xiao somehow temporarily counteracted the power of Lion's Roar. "Can't we talk this over? Will it help if these old bones of mine apologize to you?"

With that, Old Daoist Master Xiao cupped his hands to Mr. Mengfei again and bowed in apology. Seeing him do so, Mr. Mengfei stopped using the technique and lowered his voice. "Then tell me. What misunderstanding?"

When Daoist Jin found the sound waves pinning him down had disappeared, he hurriedly picked up his little golden knife, got to his feet, and quickly retreated.

"Let's talk inside, inside!" Old Daoist Master Xiao invited Mr. Mengfei into the room and brought out a tea cake he had treasured for years. He pried off a pinch with a tea pick and brewed a pot, and the fragrance immediately filled the room.

Mr. Mengfei kept Su Ziyang at his side. Strangely enough, the moment he grasped Su Ziyang's arm, the bleeding from the cut on it had begun to slow. Now, smelling the tea's wonderfully unusual fragrance, Su Ziyang felt half his discomfort melt away.

"Old Xiao, don't think you can fob me off with your fine tea. If you can't give me a full accounting today, from one to three and back again, then I, Mengfei, will have lived in vain if I don't tear down your Daoist medicine clinic!" Though Mr. Mengfei had come inside, he hadn't sat down. Instead, he angrily demanded answers from Old Daoist Master Xiao.

Old Daoist Master Xiao went about performing the tea ceremony without speaking. Daoist Jin, who had recovered somewhat, spoke up. "Your disciple used the Blood-Blocking Technique to strike people's acupoints and harm them, increasing his own patient count to make money and using it to deceive the world and steal a reputation. I was only cleaning house on your behalf. I never imagined you'd be so protective of your own!"

Mr. Mengfei gave Daoist Jin a cold look. "My disciple hasn't done anything wrong, but even if he had, I'd discipline him myself. It's not your place as an outsider to interfere!"

Standing behind Mr. Mengfei and listening to his master's words, Su Ziyang suddenly felt that this unreliable master of his, who was always setting him up, seemed so towering and mighty. For a moment, Su Ziyang felt like a child returning home after years away. Two words-safe and secure!

Daoist Jin was taken aback by Mr. Mengfei's overbearing manner and didn't know what to say. "You... you..."

"What about me? Let me ask you! You say my disciple did those sneaky, underhanded things. What proof do you have? Bring it out! You say he swindled people out of money. Do you have any proof? Where's the money? Where are the people you say he harmed? You must have either a witness or physical evidence! Well? Speak!"

Mr. Mengfei used Lion's Roar again on those last two words, and the teacups on the tea table shattered instantly!

"...My teacups..." Old Daoist Master Xiao's heart bled as he looked at the shattered cups. He had deliberately brought out his best cups and tea leaves to calm Mengfei down so they could discuss the matter peacefully. Who would have thought Mengfei wouldn't buy it? He had even used Lion's Roar to shatter his teacups... Old Daoist Master Xiao wept...

"Mengfei..." Seeing that the situation couldn't possibly be explained in a sentence or two, Old Daoist Master Xiao gently set the only intact teacup aside. "Don't be angry. Here, let me say a few words."

Old Daoist Master Xiao then recounted the whole affair from the beginning. Daoist Jin nodded repeatedly as he listened. The look he gave Mr. Mengfei conveyed a very clear message: let's see what you have to say now.

"Is what he said true?" Mr. Mengfei turned and asked his young disciple, Su Ziyang, who was standing behind him.

"It's true, Master!" Su Ziyang didn't dare act up and answered obediently.

"Didn't you say you could contact those people? Call them here! Make the call!" Mr. Mengfei patted Su Ziyang on the shoulder, urging him to hurry.

Su Ziyang pulled his phone from his pants pocket. Its screen had cracked when he was thrown earlier. He dialed Bai Pengyu's number.

Loud music came from the other end, but it soon stopped. "What's up, brother? Off work? Come hang out for a while!"

"Brother Bai, could you come over? To the place where I work!" Su Ziyang said softly.

"What's wrong?" Bai Pengyu could tell something was off from Su Ziyang's voice. "What happened to you? Why do you sound like that? You all right, brother? Still not sober? It's fine, it's fine. Wait till tonight, and I'll set you up with a girl!"

Su Ziyang wasn't in the mood to joke with Bai Pengyu. "Brother Bai, hurry over. We'll talk when you get here. I really need you for something!"

"All right! I'll be right there!" Hearing that Su Ziyang didn't sound like he was joking, Bai Pengyu agreed and hung up.

In less than half an hour, Daoist Master Xiao Yang led five big, burly men into the guestroom tea room. As soon as the five entered, the room seemed smaller.

Bai Pengyu spotted Su Ziyang at once, covered in dirt, with blood on his arm and clothes. He strode over to him. "What happened, brother? This... fuck, how'd this happen?!"

Zhang Xian and the others also hurried over, immediately shielding Su Ziyang behind them. Bai Pengyu narrowed his eyes and quickly scanned the room, spotting Daoist Jin. That morning, he had pointed right at the man's nose and cursed him out.

Looking at Daoist Jin's expression and then at Su Ziyang's condition, Bai Pengyu understood. "Fuck, Ziyang. That old man beat you up? Hey, you old bastard! Fuck! Get him!"

Bai Pengyu and his friends were always getting into fights anyway. Seeing their good brother Su Ziyang hurt, they threw caution to the wind and, at the command, headed straight for Daoist Jin.

"None of you move!"

It was Mr. Mengfei who spoke. Bai Pengyu had a quick temper. When someone told him to stop, he frowned and turned around. "Who the fuck are you? You're with them, aren't you?!"

Su Ziyang had only meant to call the men over to clear things up. He hadn't expected Bai Pengyu and the others to be so loyal, reacting so strongly when they saw he had been beaten.

"Brother Bai, this is my master!" Su Ziyang hurriedly explained.

Hearing that Mr. Mengfei was Su Ziyang's master, Bai Pengyu quickly put on a smile. "Oh! I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. I've got a habit of cussing when I talk, so please don't mind me! Greetings, Senior. Hello, hello!"

Seeing that the men wanted to stand up for Su Ziyang, Mr. Mengfei smiled. Naturally, he didn't take offense at Bai Pengyu's tone. "Haha, no need for formalities. Young people really do have fire in their blood!"

With that, he walked up to the men and pointed at Daoist Jin. "Are these the people you saw this morning?"

In fact, Mr. Mengfei didn't need to ask. Ever since the men came in and saw Su Ziyang's reaction, everyone in the room had basically understood that things hadn't happened as Daoist Jin had described. Su Ziyang hadn't done anything immoral, and the whole matter was purely Daoist Jin's own misunderstanding.

Daoist Jin knew he had really gotten it wrong this time and made a huge blunder. His face immediately darkened and reddened. Without saying a word, he merely nodded.

"Good, as long as you admit it!" From Daoist Jin's reaction, Mr. Mengfei understood everything and wanted to make a few more cutting remarks.

But unexpectedly, Daoist Jin suddenly bowed deeply to Su Ziyang. "I'm sorry. I misunderstood you! My deepest apologies!"

This left Su Ziyang at a loss. After all, having someone who looked to be in his sixties bow deeply to apologize to him was rather embarrassing.

Mr. Mengfei, who had wanted to press his advantage, was also at a loss after that.

After apologizing to Su Ziyang, Daoist Jin cupped his hands to Old Daoist Master Xiao. "Daoist Master Xiao, I'm sorry. Sorry for the trouble I caused you today! I judged a gentleman's heart by a petty man's measure and misunderstood Doctor Su! I know I no longer have the face to stay here. Once again, I apologize, and thank you for looking after me all these years. I'm leaving! I'll give Young Doctor Su all my consultation fees for this month as compensation!"

With that, he turned to leave. Seeing him go, Old Daoist Master Xiao hurriedly tried to stop him. "Don't go! Wait a moment!"

"Ah, Daoist Jin had his reasons, Mengfei, Xiao Su!" Old Daoist Master Xiao sighed and spoke to Mr. Mengfei.

Hearing Old Daoist Master Xiao's words, Daoist Jin turned back. "Daoist Master Xiao, there's no need to say any more. I did wrong, and I'll bear the consequences myself!"

Daoist Master Xiao ignored him and continued speaking to Mr. Mengfei. "Back then, Daoist Jin's wife died of severe bleeding during a difficult childbirth, leaving him with just a son. Daoist Jin was both father and mother to him, cleaning up his pee and poop as he raised him. One year, when Daoist Jin was traveling south with his thirteen-year-old son, they encountered an expert who knew how to strike acupoints and block blood flow. That man struck Daoist Jin's son's acupoints and injured him for no reason, then demanded a huge sum from Daoist Jin before he would undo it. But Daoist Jin didn't have that much money, and could only watch helplessly as his son died! That's why he got so worked up when he saw Xiao Su knew that kind of technique. I hope you can understand!"

When he finished, Daoist Jin turned and stared blankly at Old Daoist Master Xiao, his eyes empty, as though he had remembered his son, who had long since departed this world.

Su Ziyang was also stunned. No wonder Daoist Jin had treated him that way after seeing him undo the acupoint strike that morning.

Mr. Mengfei, who had been so indignant and sure of himself just moments ago, fell silent too. He looked at Su Ziyang, while Su Ziyang looked at the dazed Daoist Jin.

Bai Pengyu and his four brothers stared at everyone in the room, utterly baffled, with no idea what had happened.

"Ah! A grievance is better resolved than allowed to fester!" After thinking for a moment, Su Ziyang said, "Daoist Jin, we were both a little hot-tempered. If I'd spoken calmly at the time, things wouldn't have come to this! Please don't leave. If you do, there are still so many children who come to you for treatment! What will they do? Isn't that right? Really! And please don't say I'm just glib and twisting right and wrong. I'm really not a bad person!"

As Su Ziyang spoke, clarity returned to Daoist Jin's dazed eyes. Looking at Su Ziyang, he gritted his teeth. "I really am sorry about today!"

Leaving would indeed spare him the embarrassment and self-reproach, but many patients were still waiting for him. Su Ziyang's words moved Daoist Jin.

"Exactly. If you leave, who's going to compensate my disciple for his injuries?" Mr. Mengfei curled his lip, speaking in a very peculiar and dissatisfied tone.

Mr. Mengfei's words made Daoist Jin laugh, and Old Daoist Master Xiao couldn't hold back either. Daoist Jin cupped his hands to Mr. Mengfei. "Rest assured! I'll take care of your beloved disciple's bruises and injuries, and I'll cover his meals for the month too!"

"You said it!" Su Ziyang knew that if he didn't accept some compensation, Daoist Jin surely wouldn't be able to put the matter behind him easily, so he said loudly, "Then I'll need four dishes and a soup at every meal, with meat and vegetables!"

"Haha, all right! We'll eat whatever you say!" Daoist Jin laughed heartily.

Seeing that the misunderstanding between the two had been resolved, Old Daoist Master Xiao breathed a sigh of relief. Beaming, he said, "All right, now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, everyone sit down and have some tea!"

"Daoist Master Xiao, let's have tea tomorrow! I still have appointments with more than ten patients this afternoon!" Daoist Jin cupped his hands to everyone and hurried away.

"Old Daoist Master Xiao, I won't have any tea looking like this. I'm going home to change!" Su Ziyang pointed to the dust and bloodstains on his clothes.

Mr. Mengfei rolled his eyes at Old Daoist Master Xiao. "Who wants your lousy tea? My disciple and I still have things to do!!!"

With Su Ziyang leaving, there was no way Bai Pengyu and the others would sit there drinking tea, so they followed him out of the Daoist temple.

"Ziyang, what happened?" Bai Pengyu asked.

"Ah, I can't explain it in a few words. Let's wait until tonight. I'll treat you all to dinner, and we can talk then! Master and I still have something to do," Su Ziyang explained with a sigh.

Bai Pengyu didn't waste any more words. He agreed, and the group drove off.

Su Ziyang and his master strolled toward home.

"Master, you were so cool today! If you hadn't come, I'd have been finished!" Su Ziyang felt as though he had survived a disaster. If the tendons in his hands and feet had been severed, his life would have been over. Never mind treating patients; even getting by would have been a problem!

"I was already coming to see you when Xiao Yang called and said something had happened to you! I hurried over as fast as I could. Luckily, I wasn't too late!" Mr. Mengfei said with a smile.

"Daoist Master Xiao Yang?" Su Ziyang was surprised. "Why did she call you?"

"I asked her to look after you, of course. You're a magnanimous kid. You did well today and deserve praise! Actually, you can't blame him for misunderstanding you today. People his age have seen plenty of things used to harm others, and on top of that, his own son died because of something like this. He didn't know what had really happened, so he took you for a bad person!" Mr. Mengfei explained, afraid Su Ziyang was still upset.

"I understand him! Master, your technique was so cool today. Just speaking had that much power! You shattered the teacups in an instant!" Feeling at ease, Su Ziyang recalled Mr. Mengfei's Lion's Roar.

"Haha, actually, I did it on purpose!"

"What did you do on purpose?!"

"I shattered Old Xiao's teacups on purpose!!!"

"Why?!"

"Last time, I took a fancy to that set of teacups, but he hemmed and hawed and couldn't bear to give them to me. This time I made sure he couldn't use them either!!! Hehehe!"

Mr. Mengfei laughed smugly. Watching his master grin like a child who had successfully stolen some candy, Su Ziyang saw the towering, mighty image he had formed of him today come crashing down.

Sure enough... an unreliable person would always be unreliable...