At that moment,
As for Kong Ruozeng himself, he had long since been scared witless. He didn't dare utter a single word of protest, simply slumping to the ground in a trembling heap.
"You fool — apologize at once!" Kong Ruozeng's father suddenly bellowed at his son.
In truth, he was trying to help Kong Ruozeng. To spare his son from punishment, he had no choice but to force him to apologize, hoping that if Kong Ruozeng admitted his wrongs, Elder Kong Shanglian wouldn't truly follow through with the punishment.
After all, Elder Kong Shanglian had always been rather fond of Kong Ruozeng. How could he possibly impose such a cruel punishment on him simply because of a
All he needed to do was give Kong Shanglian a way to save face, and this crisis could be defused.
"Chu Feng, I'm sorry… I truly didn't mean to provoke you. I really just wanted to spar with you. Perhaps the way I expressed myself was wrong, but I truly had no intent of being disrespectful. I hope you won't take it to heart. Could you please explain things to the Elder on my behalf?"
Kong Ruozeng scrambled to his feet and bowed respectfully to Chu Feng in apology. All the stubbornness and defiance he had shown moments ago had vanished entirely.
Moreover, Kong Ruozeng was clever. It wasn't enough for him to simply apologize — he also wanted Chu Feng to plead on his behalf. He knew that if others spoke up, Kong Shanglian might not grant them any courtesy. But if Chu Feng were to plead, that would carry significant weight.
He now understood clearly where he stood in Kong Shanglian's heart. It was just that he deeply regretted it, because he realized it was too late.
However, upon hearing Kong Ruozeng's words, Chu Feng's expression didn't change in the slightest, nor did he say a single word.
Chu Feng could see right through him. He knew Kong Ruozeng's apology wasn't sincere. People like Kong Ruozeng were different from Kong Zheng and Kong Sheng — once a grudge was set, he would remember it for a lifetime. For the rest of his life, he would remain Chu Feng's enemy.
Even if Chu Feng pleaded for him today, Kong Ruozeng would never let him go in the future. Since they were destined to be enemies regardless, why should Chu Feng bother speaking up for him?
"It's too late for apologies now. You will receive the Medicinal Punishment today," Kong Shanglian declared.
The moment these words left Kong Shanglian's mouth, Kong Ruozeng collapsed to the ground once more, his face ashen, convinced that there was no escape for him today.
"Supreme Elder, please… after all, Ruozeng is still young. If there is anything wrong with him, I will certainly punish him myself. But this Medicinal Punishment — isn't it a bit too severe?"
Seeing that Kong Shanglian still had no intention of letting Kong Ruozeng off, Kong Ruozeng's father had no choice but to plead personally.
"You only realize you're in the wrong when disaster is at your doorstep? Who indulged you into becoming so arrogant?" Kong Shanglian pointed at Kong Ruozeng and demanded, then turned to Kong Ruozeng's father. "Kong Yao — as Kong Ruozeng's father, do you have an explanation for me?"
"It's my fault. I failed to educate my son properly. Supreme Elder, if anyone must be punished, then punish me instead." Kong Yao suddenly dropped to his knees, prepared to take the punishment in his son's place.
"You fool — have you lived all these years without even understanding that guilt cannot be borne by another?" Kong Shanglian said furiously.
"Supreme Elder, I understand the reasoning perfectly. But Ruozeng is still young, and I fear he cannot endure such a harsh punishment as the Medicinal Punishment. So please, show mercy and allow me to take it in his stead."
"Truly incorrigible. No wonder Kong Ruozeng is so willfully ignorant — this is the consequence of a father who refuses to discipline his child."
"Very well, very well, very well. Since you insist on being punished, then today the two of you — father and son — will be punished together," Kong Shanglian said.
Swoosh—
The instant Kong Shanglian finished speaking, he raised his arm, and a wave of oppressive might swept outward like ropes, binding Kong Ruozeng and his father so tightly that they could not move, their cultivation completely suppressed.
"Guards — drag them both away and administer the Medicinal Punishment immediately. If anyone dares to disobey, they will share the fate of these two," Kong Shanglian ordered.