CHAPTER 1168: CHAPTER 1164: REAPING WHAT YOU SOW

Originally, Dao Hong forced a smile to explain, trying to clarify the matter as a misunderstanding, and Hong Yang’s expression did somewhat soften after hearing it.

However, with Dai Annie’s cutting remark, Hong Yang’s face immediately turned pale with anger.

In these temple practices, they are most particular about hierarchy and respect.

Though one is from the Taoist Sect and the other from the Buddhist school, no matter what, the elder was still his senior.

Now his senior was offended by his disciple and even called a wild monk; this matter cannot just end like this—it must be addressed.

"Dao Hong, is this true? Did you really insult Master De Rui as a wild monk?" Hong Yang asked coldly, staring at Dao Hong.

Dao Hong was sweating profusely on his back, unwilling to admit it, but he had no choice in front of so many people.

"Yes, Master, at the time I thought this Master was a monk without a temple, so I insulted him in a fit of rage..." Dao Hong gritted his teeth and admitted.

Hearing this, Hong Yang responded immediately, "Then kneel down and apologize to the Master. Our Qingfeng Temple has always been very particular about respect and hierarchy."

Hong Yang was decisive, which surprised not only Dao Hong.

The villagers present, as well as Chen Yang, Wu Kexin, and Dai Annie, were all astonished.

Only the old man and his disciple were unfazed, as if they had expected it.

"Master... this."

Dao Hong realized the situation and wanted to plead but did not want to kneel and apologize.

With so many people around, kneeling would indeed be a huge loss of face. How could he continue in his profession afterward?

But Hong Yang did not care about so much, stating bluntly, "There’s nothing to say. Your conduct has tarnished the reputation of our Qingfeng Temple. Master De Rui is your elder; isn’t he worthy of this bow from you?"

The tone of his words suddenly intensified towards the end.

Dao Hong no longer hesitated and directly knelt in front of the old man, gritting his teeth.

"I’m sorry, Master. It was my rudeness and disturbance." Dao Hong apologized.

The old man remained silent, merely watching coldly.

Seeing this, Hong Yang immediately understood what the old man meant and continued to instruct Dao Hong, "And also to that young monk. In terms of hierarchy, he is of the same generation as me. You offended him too and should apologize."

Upon hearing this, Dao Hong was completely at a loss.

Apologizing to the old man was one thing. After all, whatever the age or status, kneeling to him wasn’t that disgraceful.

But his disciple looked like a young man in his twenties or thirties. For someone of his age to kneel and apologize to them?

What kind of situation is this?

Dao Hong’s face flushed red, unable to kneel for a long time.

Seeing this, Hong Yang immediately got angry, too.

"Didn’t you hear me tell you to kneel? Do I need to emphasize it again?" Hong Yang shouted.

Dao Hong had no choice but to grit his teeth once more, forcing himself to kneel to the old man’s disciple and even kowtowed for forgiveness.

"This Master, I was impudent and disturbed you. Please forgive me." Dao Hong said, using almost all his strength.

His words were filled with a lot of resentment.

But no one cared about that. What mattered was that he kneeled and apologized.

Seeing Dao Hong apologize to his disciple, the old man finally showed a smile and spoke.

"Your Qingfeng Temple still maintains some rules. I thought after your master passed, all the rules would be gone!" The old man spoke in a tone of a senior scolding the junior.

Though Hong Yang himself was quite old, he did not dare act presumptuously in front of the old man.

Hearing these words, he immediately gave a forced smile.

"Haha, Master De Rui, today’s matter was simply a misunderstanding. Please don’t mind. The junior was disrespectful; I will surely discipline him strictly after we return," Hong Yang said with a forced smile.

Being of advanced age, the old man naturally wouldn’t be persistent about this matter.

Seeing the other party’s attitude wasn’t bad, he did not pursue it further.

After scolding them briefly, he let them go.

Seeing the matter resolved, Hong Yang immediately bowed in thanks, "Master De Rui, this junior will take his leave now, so as not to disturb your practice."

The old man gave a slight nod.

Without saying much, Hong Yang led his disciples away in disgrace.

Dao Hong was even more embarrassed, his originally glamorous clothes now a mess, and his disciple was still unconscious from the beating, yet to wake up.

With his master gone, he did not dare linger there anymore.

He quickly shouldered his unconscious disciple and fled in embarrassment.

The villagers were quite shocked by this scene.

Originally, they thought Dao Hong was already very powerful, but did not expect the mage invited by Chen Yang to be even more formidable.

He’s of a level equivalent to Dao Hong’s master!

"Haha, with such a master improving the feng shui of our Liuhe Village, we will surely have good days ahead."

"Exactly, the master is incredible; Dao Hong is just a mere disciple in front of him."

"I said it before, Yang Zi is reliable. Either he doesn’t do something, or he does it in the best possible way."

...

After Hong Yang and his group of over twenty left Liuhe Village, people at the village entrance began discussing the events again.

They were talking all about what just happened.

The series of shocks that had just occurred left them no time to discuss before.

Now that it had passed, they naturally couldn’t help but start chatting among themselves.

Listening to the villagers’ discussions, Chen Yang, accompanied by Wu Kexin and Dai Annie, approached the old man and asked, "Elder, can we still perform the ritual now?"

Upon hearing this, the old man checked the time and said, "The auspicious time has passed. If we want to perform the ritual, we need to wait another twenty minutes. We can start after that."

Chen Yang originally thought they had missed the good timing and might have to wait until tomorrow, but unexpectedly, it was just a twenty-minute wait.

"Alright, then we will start in twenty minutes." Chen Yang nodded with a smile and then stood by, waiting.

During the wait, he also casually chatted with the old man.

He asked the old man what his relationship with Hong Yang was, since despite one being from the Buddhist school and the other from the Taoist Sect, why was Hong Yang so afraid of him.

The old man chuckled at Chen Yang’s question and replied, "Young friend, didn’t I answer this before? I was a close friend of his master in life, so he naturally respects me as his elder."

The old man spoke lightly, attributing it all to respecting one’s elders.

But in Chen Yang’s mind, that didn’t seem to be the case.

No matter how much of an elder he was, Hong Yang wouldn’t have acted with such low deference.

What could have made Hong Yang show such deference, except for the old man’s martial prowess?

Hong Yang knew that although the old man was advanced in age, he was a master, so he dared not offend him easily.

Even though they were numerous, they clearly understood that if any conflict broke out, they would end up suffering losses, and thus treated him with such respect.

With these thoughts, Chen Yang’s doubts were instantly resolved.

He couldn’t help but roll his eyes at the old man.

Thinking the old man was quite the actor.

The twenty minutes passed quickly.

During the waiting period, the villagers continued to discuss the earlier events without stop.

Until the old man’s disciple called for silence again, the scene finally returned to peace.

With quiet restored, the old man promptly began the ritual.