Chapter 90.1 The Righteous Faction’s Exemplar (1/2)
Chapter 90.1 The Righteous Faction’s Exemplar (1/2)
At the Divine Dragon Island’s southern dock! There were no guards on that day.
A group of men dressed in black was slowly boarding a massive ship!
The men took off their hoods on the deck, revealing the skinny-looking faces underneath. Those were the prisoners kept on the island. The one leading them was the Heavenly Wolf Sect’s second senior apprentice.
He took Wang Ke’s hands with tears in his eyes.
“Junior apprentice-brother, you have suffered a lot!” the senior apprentice said with abundant gratitude.
“Brother Wang, please receive our bow!” The disciples from each righteous sect bowed toward Wang Ke, teary-eyed and grateful.
So many years had passed; they thought they were going to die on the island. No one had answered their cries for help; no one had gone to their rescue, and all they saw was despair. They were farmed like pigs; the demons drank their blood when they got fat. They were treated inhumanely; many had broken down and committed suicide by fasting.
Most of them had given up all hope of being rescued. But that day, they were rescued.
“Everyone, we are already here. Let’s not talk about this!” Wang Ke shook his head.
“No, I insist on speaking! Some talked about how you played Mahjong with the demonic sect disciples. They were even mocking you! Who did this?” The second senior apprentice chided those behind him.
Many lowered their heads in shame.
“Did you not see it? My junior apprentice-brother consistently schemed against the demons while walking on fine thread. Why do you think we made it out today? Isn’t it because my junior apprentice-brother organized a Mahjong competition and got all the demonic sect disciples to play? That’s why the entire place is so unguarded so he could set us free? Were your consciences devoured by dogs?” the second senior apprentice said indignantly.
“Brother Wang, we are sorry! We shouldn’t have doubted you!” A few of the men stepped out and bowed with tears of repentance.
Wang Ke walked up to them and pulled them up.
“Everyone, you don’t have to be like this; it’s not your fault. I, Wang Ke, do things outside the norm. It is inevitable to cause some misunderstandings!” Wang Ke said, “I purposefully lost all my money during the Mahjong competition, all to draw their complete attention!
But little did the prisoners know that he didn’t play any Mahjong on that day; he didn’t lose any money.
“Brother Wang, we are sorry. We are really sorry. How could we doubt your intentions! I deserve to die!” A prisoner slapped himself, full of regret.
“Please don’t do this. We are fellow cultivators of the righteous sects. We are like branches of the same tree; we should help each other, and that is my duty!” Wang Ke persuaded and stopped the man from slapping himself.
“Brother Wang, say no more. Whatever you want to do, just let me know and I’l l do it for you!”
“Me too!”
“Me too!”
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The men expressed their gratitude toward Wang Ke.
“Thank you, everyone. I’m sure there will come situations when I need your help. It’s just that, now that I’ve made my way into the demonic sect, there might be some rumors aside from the slander going about that I betrayed the righteous faction. Please help me clarify this after all of you get out. Please help me to clarify this!” Wang Ke said with a serious tone.
“Brother Wang, rest assured. I won’t believe anyone’s slandering words about you!”
“Right! How will the righteous faction continue to exist if Brother Wang’s virtuous character is tarnished by slander?”
“Brother Wang, don’t worry. Whoever dares to speak badly about you will get it from me!”
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The righteous disciples took a deadly vow to protect Wang Ke’s reputation.
“It’s not really a slander per se. I really had to entertain demons for the sake of rescuing more righteous prisoners. It is inevitable to cause some misunderstandings…!” Wang Ke said with a smile.
“We believe in you! I don’t care what rumors may say. We will continue to believe in you!” everyone said with their hands clenched, showing their determination.
“Okay, my trip deep into the demons’ den was well worth it if you believe in me. Once we are back at the sect, please don’t tell others about my operations here! It is better to pretend you’ve never seen me before!” Wang Ke requested hopefully.
“Why? Brother Wang, you did lots of things for the righteous sect. You ought to be praised in songs!” one of them asked anxiously.
“My junior apprentice-brother still needs to mix with the demons. Wouldn’t going back to speak about the matter expose his secret identity? Do you want my junior apprentice-brother to die at the hands of the demons?” the second senior apprentice “explained” on behalf of Wang Ke.
“Ohoh! Now we understand. We will surely keep our mouths shut about this!” one of them said. And the group took another bow.
“Thank you, everyone. There’s a navigation map on the Miasmic Sea Ship; it’s a pity that the map can only be used once. You can immediately leave the Divine Dragon Island and return to your respective sects so you can heal. I will only be sending you off up to this point!” Wang Ke bowed toward everyone and was about to disembark.
“Brother Wang, aren’t you going with us?” they asked anxiously.
“Junior apprentice-brother, aren’t you coming with us?” the second senior apprentice also asked in a worried tone.
“Me? I need to take care of the aftermath caused by your departure. None of us would be able to leave if the demonic disciples find out that one of the ships is missing. I need you to help me delay them from finding out! You should leave quickly!” Wang Ke said.
Tears welled up in everyone’s eyes as they exclaimed, “Brother Wang!”
He is sacrificing his life to help us escape! Wang Ke was such a virtuous man that those who had doubted him in the past had also felt too ashamed to continue living.
“Junior apprentice-brother, that’s too dangerous!” the second senior apprentice said with worry.
“Second senior apprentice, it’s too late. Listen to me, leave now! Quick!” Wang Ke jumped off the ship and urged them to leave.
The second senior apprentice hated himself. He hated himself for being that useless, since he had to leave his junior behind so he could escape.
“Move out!” The second senior apprentice ordered with tears in his eyes.
The massive ship slowly left the island.
Wang Ke watched as the righteous prisoners disappeared into the dense fog.
Everyone stood on deck with teary eyes. All of them were moved by Wang Ke’s sacrificial act.
“Listen carefully, all of you. I don’t want to hear any of you slandering Brother Wang. Even if someone says Wang Ke is a monster, or that Wang Ke is a Branch Lord of the demonic sect, don’t you believe it!”
“That’s right! Brother Wang risked his life diving into the demons’ den for the sake of our righteous sects. Whoever dares to slander him will get it from me!”
“I will surely do my part if brother Wang asks me for any favors!”
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The group of righteous prisoners sailed out of the Miasmic Sea and discussed how they would repay Wang Ke.
Meanwhile, Wang Ke ran toward a hut near the dock.
She Qingqing stood in the hut, next to the fatigued and unconscious Princess Youyue.
“Wang Ke, what’s the problem with you?” She Qingqing asked Wang Ke with a confused look.
“Hall Lord She, please don’t ask me about it anymore. I don’t have time as it is. I will be in big trouble if I don’t return to the Heavenly Wolf Sect’s territory!” Wang Ke replied with a bitter smile.
“But you can’t leave just like that! You can’t leave the island while leaving things hanging like that, don’t you think?” She Qingqing reminded him with a frown.
“Why should I care! The ‘Divine Dragon Branch Lord’ is just an empty shell! Oh yes, the same goes for you! I wouldn’t have even been here if Zhu Hongyi hadn’t helped me by ordering the demons to participate in the Mahjong competition! Do you think those demonic disciples are searching for me? Hall Lord She, you should focus on recovering from your injuries. Haven’t I spoken to Zhu Hongyi? I’m assisting you as the Divine Dragon Island’s Chapter Lord, who also manages the island. Help me with this if you’re interested!” Wang Ke said helplessly.
“Me?” She Qingqing frowned.
“Yes, do anything you like! Just do whatever piques your fancy. You are the only ones here. Of course, you can also help me recruit some trustworthy subordinates! I’ll leave everything in your hands!” Wang Ke shook his head.
She Qingqing: “…………………………..!”
“I need to leave now. I’m running out of time!” Wang Ke said. He then carried the princess and was about to leave.