495 Identity Revealed
Shen Ruojing turned her head and saw the leader of the Valor Gate, Old Hong, walking in.
At seventy years old, he was the same age as Shen Yuansong, but he looked much stronger.
The old man was energetic. His sharp eyes betrayed his martial arts training, and his movements were nimble.
As soon as he entered, all the disciples of Valor Gate in the courtyard stood up and respectfully greeted him with the martial artist’s fist salute. “Greetings, Master!”
Old Hong waved his hand and said directly to everyone, “You can all sit down now!” He then strode toward Shen Ruojing.
Chu Cimo and all the disciples looked over, wondering why Old Hong had just spoken as if Shen Ruojing were someone important.
They were still pondering when Old Hong arrived in front of Shen Ruojing and scolded her, “You little brat, you finally remembered to come and see me?”
Shen Ruojing coughed and said, “Old man, I came back to look at the punishment hall.”
The term “old man” sounded extremely impolite, and the people around immediately frowned and looked at Shen Ruojing, saying, “How can you be so rude to our Master?”
Chu Cimo’s heart also tightened.
But the next moment, they heard Old Hong angrily rebuking them, “When I’m talking to your junior martial uncle, do you have the right to interrupt?”
With this statement, everyone fell silent!
Everyone looked at Shen Ruojing in disbelief. Even Chu Cimo was stunned.
Shen Ruojing actually was Old Hong’s disciple?! How was that possible? But Old Hong couldn’t possibly be lying…
Old Hong patted Shen Ruojing’s shoulder and said, “Now that you’re back, you have to shoulder the responsibility of being the next leader of Valor Gate. Since we’re all here today, let’s introduce everyone here to you, so that we won’t be strangers in the future.”
After speaking, he scanned all the younger generation disciples with a stern look and said, “Why don’t you all greet your junior martial uncle?”
There were many younger generation disciples here today, and upon hearing this, they all looked toward Shen Ruojing and greeted her.
The eldest senior brother stared at Shen Ruojing with a fierce look in his eyes. He stepped forward and asked, “Junior Martial Uncle, is it true that Chu Cimo’s sister-in-law is you? Are you back today because of Chu Cimo?”
Shen Ruojing raised an eyebrow.
Sure enough, the next moment, everyone looked at her with suspicion in their eyes.
The eldest senior brother’s words implied that she had returned to Valor Gate to flout the rules and show favoritism toward Chu Cimo.
The people around immediately started whispering, “Could our junior martial uncle really be that kind of person?”
“If she did something like this, it would be so disappointing!”
“Our legendary junior martial uncle is the pride of Valor Gate. Don’t forget how much honor she brought for us in the past. She couldn’t possibly be like that!”
“Then how do you explain her sudden return on the day of Chu Cimo’s punishment in the punishment hall?”
“…”
While everyone was discussing, Shen Ruojing said, “Yes.”
Her admission stunned all the disciples around her.
Those who were against her looked angry, while those who supported her couldn’t believe it. “Our junior martial uncle couldn’t possibly be like that!”
The eldest senior brother immediately said, “Junior Martial Uncle, Valor Gate never shows favoritism in their affairs. Just because you’re our elder doesn’t mean you can ignore Chu Cimo’s mistake!”
Shen Ruojing slowly said, “Did I say I wanted to show favoritism?”
She looked at the eldest senior brother. “As the next leader of Valor Gate, do I not even have the right to ask about the trial of a Valor Gate disciple? Eldest Martial Nephew, you immediately labeled me as being corrupt just because I asked about it, are you that impatient?”
The eldest senior brother was rendered speechless by her rebuttal. “That’s not what I meant, I…”
The second martial uncle interrupted his foolish son. “Shut up! When is it your turn to speak when elders are speaking?”
The eldest senior brother immediately shut his mouth and took two steps back.
The second martial uncle then looked at Shen Ruojing and asked, “There’s no problem with you visiting the disciplinary hall. But you just said you have an objection to the punishment I’ve given Chu Cimo. What is it?”
Shen Ruojing replied, “There’s something called ‘discretionary punishment.'”
“Second Martial Brother, I think when you’re judging a disciple, you shouldn’t only consider the cold and impersonal rules. The reputation of the Rooftop Gentleman is also widely known. If you treat him like this, how can we still talk about the righteousness of Valor Gate?”
The second martial uncle sneered. “Righteousness? Was it his righteousness to act like a hero? What he did violated the rules and laws and caused us to be investigated so severely back then. Now that I’m punishing him, is that still wrong? The punishment hall will always act in accordance with the rules!”
Shen Ruojing responded, “Even death row inmates have the opportunity to defend themselves. Any Valor Gate disciple who makes a mistake should have the opportunity to appeal for themselves. But just now, Second Senior Brother, you didn’t give him a chance at all. Is that what you call the rules?”
The second martial uncle paused for a moment.
Shen Ruojing turned to look at Chu Cimo. “I came here today not to show favoritism, but to give a disciple a chance to say something! Chu Cimo, now is the time for you to speak up!”
Chu Cimo looked at the people around him and then finally looked at the second martial uncle. Seeing the second martial uncle nod, he took a deep breath and said, “On October 3rd five years ago, I stole the contracts of the Liu family in the capital because they tricked a group of migrant workers into signing labor contracts that didn’t pay workers. After I stole the labor contracts, I gave them to the migrant workers, giving them a chance to appeal…”
“On November 6th, I went to steal from the Huairou Private Hospital because they were unscrupulous businessmen who used ordinary cold medicine as a special cure and gave false diagnoses to ordinary patients, causing a child’s condition to worsen. When his father sued, he had no evidence, so the drugs I stole were sent to the relevant testing unit to provide evidence for him…”
“On January 7th, I went to the Liangshan Corporation to steal the contract because a senior executive there sexually harassed a female colleague, but he denied it and threatened the female colleague to sign an unfair contract. I then helped the female colleague steal the contract, and that woman could leave the company completely…”
“… ”
“… ”
Chu Cimo explained each and every incident in detail.
In the entire courtyard of the Valor Gate sect, only his voice could be heard…
No one knew how long he had spoken. But he finally finished explaining everything, and the people around him fell silent.
Chu Cimo said with a dry throat, “In summary, I committed 58 theft cases. I should not have used the martial arts taught to me by Valor Gate to do these things, but I have no regrets. I have caused inconvenience for my fellow disciples, and I was wrong! So I will accept my punishment. I only request Valor Gate to not kick me out.”
He looked earnestly at the crowd. “All the good things I’ve done with the skills taught by Valor Gate are also Valor Gate’s achievements.”
Seeing the sincerity in his words, everyone was moved, but the eldest senior brother’s face turned black and he shouted, “What are you talking about? Do you think you can get away with it by pretending to be a hero? Let me tell you, that’s impossible! Do you have any evidence for what you’re saying?”
“I do!”
As soon as the eldest senior brother finished speaking, the fifth senior brother ran in from outside.