Chapter 36: He Jiang Becomes the Laughingstock

When Wu Tian arrived outside He Jiang's residence, a crowd of disciples from the Heavenly Qi Sect had already gathered there.

"Senior Brother Wang, what exactly is happening inside Elder He's mansion?" some newly arrived disciples asked.

"Listen, you can hear the sounds of a fierce fight inside. It's said Elder He tried to assault Elder Liu, but Elder Liu resisted, and the two ended up in a violent confrontation. Their cultivation is far too advanced; none of us dare approach!" another group explained.

"Tsk tsk… Elder He always seemed upright, but it turns out he's like this…"

"Shh! Keep your voice down. He is still our elder; we mustn't speak recklessly!"

Boom!

With a thunderous crash, the roof of the reception hall was suddenly blown open. He Jiang and Elder Liu, a woman, leapt into the air, battling fiercely before landing in the courtyard before the hall. At this moment, all the disciples outside craned their necks to see what was happening.

"He Jiang, you are utterly shameless! To commit such a vile act in broad daylight—I truly misjudged you!" Elder Liu shouted, face flushed and breathing heavily.

He Jiang, however, wore a lecherous grin. "I just wanted to get closer to you, no need to be so upset. Come, let’s have a kiss!"

At once, the disciples watching from outside burst into laughter.

Wu Tian couldn't help but smile as well. The effect of the Yin-Yang Harmony Pill was truly remarkable—it had utterly unleashed He Jiang's desires. Dazed by the drug, He Jiang had no idea what he was doing.

After speaking, He Jiang vaulted forward, instantly appearing before Elder Liu, whose expression changed—she could not dodge in time.

Smack!

With a crisp sound, Elder Hao Hu from the Hall of Punishment intercepted He Jiang with one hand.

"Elder He, this farce ends now," Hao Hu said coldly.

He Jiang's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at Elder Liu, paying no heed to Hao Hu's intervention. He shrugged off Hao Hu's hand and lunged toward Elder Liu.

"Enough!" Hao Hu roared, his figure flashing. In an instant, he appeared behind He Jiang.

With a loud crash, Elder He’s body slammed heavily to the ground.

He Jiang had ignored all warnings, so Hao Hu did not hold back, subduing him outright. Hao Hu, an elder of the Hall of Punishment, had cultivation above the fifth realm of Martial Spirit—taking down He Jiang was effortless.

"Elder Hao is truly formidable—he subdued Elder He with a single move!"

"Of course! How else could he be an elder of the Hall of Punishment?"

"He Jiang, as an elder of the Heavenly Qi Sect, to commit such a disgraceful act before so many disciples is a stain upon your title!" Hao Hu grabbed He Jiang, roaring angrily.

He Jiang, still grinning foolishly, looked at Hao Hu.

Hao Hu paused, frowning slightly, and called to a nearby disciple, "Bring some water!"

Soon, a disciple brought over a large bucket of cold water. Hao Hu picked it up and doused He Jiang from head to toe.

Splash!

He Jiang shivered, the redness fading from his eyes. He looked around at the crowd of disciples, bewildered.

"What… what happened here?" He Jiang wiped the water from his face, asking in confusion.

"Elder He, you dare ask what happened? To commit such an unethical act in public is a disgrace to our sect!" Elder Liu, furious, pointed her longsword at He Jiang. Had Hao Hu not arrived in time, she would surely have been violated.

He Jiang looked stunned. "Elder Liu… what exactly did I do?"

"Elder He, you tried to assault Elder Liu in broad daylight. What were you thinking?" Hao Hu watched He Jiang with a cold sneer.

He Jiang's mouth dropped open in disbelief. Looking around at the many disciples, some with amused expressions, he realized Hao Hu spoke the truth—yet he had no idea what had happened.

"I… I truly don't remember what I just did!" He Jiang's face flushed red, uncertain what to do.

"Elder He, regardless, I must report this to the Sect Leader. You'll have to explain yourself," Elder Liu said furiously, then left.

"Elder He, something is amiss. You must have been poisoned. Did you eat or drink anything unusual?" Hao Hu asked, frowning.

He Jiang thought for a moment, then his eyes widened. "I just had a cup of tea earlier—could it be…"

"Sung Xiang, come here!" He Jiang shouted at the disciple who served the tea.

The disciple hurried over, looking aggrieved. "Master, please forgive me! I truly had nothing to do with this—I don't know how this happened!"

"You'd best confess—who put poison in the tea?" He Jiang roared, knowing his reputation was ruined, regardless of whether he was drugged; he had lost face before all the disciples.

"I truly don't know! There are disciples assigned to brewing tea—I only deliver it. I didn't do anything!" The disciple trembled with fear; drugging his master was a grave offense.

"Think carefully. If you don’t—"

"Elder He, it’s best not to investigate this in front of everyone. We should handle it privately," Hao Hu interrupted, then turned to the crowd. "Disciples of the Heavenly Qi Sect, return to your posts at once. Do not spread word of today's events, or you will be punished for breaking sect rules!"

Hearing Hao Hu's command, the disciples dispersed. Though they wanted to watch further, none dared defy the elder of the Hall of Punishment.

"He Jiang, you've lost all dignity before the disciples. Let's see how you show your face in the Heavenly Qi Sect from now on. This is the price for opposing me," Wu Tian muttered with disdain, then left, uninterested in the aftermath.

Once the disciples had gone, He Jiang, furious, launched a thorough investigation into the poisoning, interrogating everyone involved in brewing and serving the tea. Qin Long was questioned as well, but He Jiang trusted him deeply and suspected nothing. Little did he know that Qin Long had been turned into a puppet by Wu Tian. In the end, He Jiang found no culprit. To vent his frustration, he punished all the relevant disciples.

The matter eventually faded away, but He Jiang became the laughingstock of the Heavenly Qi Sect; if not for his status as an elder, he would have been mocked daily.