Chapter 117: A Meathead Apology! Part 2

Back in the 'Ember sect'.

*Pow*

"That's for what you said about my mom!"

*Pow*

"And that's for hiding my stuff!"

*Bang*

"And this is for using me as a punching bag!"

It has been a month since the day Yuuma spread the rumor that Kenji, the former golden child of the sect elder, was at the gate begging for forgiveness. And every day since, at least one of his former victims would come to see him, and nearly all of them would start slugging him while voicing their grievances. Kenji, on the other hand, refused to retaliate, only ever moving to defend his vitals so he would not die from their attacks. As time passed, more and more people became curious and soon a crowd would form around the sect gate to watch the daily one-sided beatdown.

"And this is for-!"

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Yuuma shouted as he moved to restrain the disciple from throwing another punch at Kenji's already broken nose.

"LET GO OF ME! I'M NOT DONE WITH HIM!"

"He obviously can't take anymore! One more blow might kill him, and I'm not going to clean up his corpse!"

To prevent things from getting out of hand, a consensus was reached amongst the gate guards regarding these beatdowns. They were only to allow this during Yuuma's guard shift because he was the one who caused this mess by telling everyone. Another was to stop anyone from killing Kenji, since having him die at their front gate could be considered bad luck. It would suck to pay a monk or a priest to come all the way out to their sect to exorcise Kenji's ghost just because someone couldn't control their outburst.

"I DON'T CARE! THAT BASTARD IS THE REASON I'M STILL IN BODY REFINEMENT!"

 "HEY!" Yuuma shouted, as the guy slipped out of his grasp and sprinted towards Kenji.

"DIE YOU BASTARD!"

*BANG*

Just then, as the disciple was about to finish Kenji off, someone stepped in between the two and blocked the attack.

"That's enough, Haruka! Stand down!"

It was Hiro, the dwarf who had slugged Kenji about a month ago. He had for some reason stepped in to block the young disciple's attack.

"BUT!"

"I SAID STAND DOWN!"

"Tsk!"

The young man clicked his tongue in frustration and disappointment as he walked disgruntled back through the sect gates.

"What are all you fools looking at?! Leave! NOW!" Hiro shouted at the crowd of disciples gathered at the gate.

After the crowd dispersed, only Hiro, Yuuma and a swollen faced Kenji with a bleeding nose remained. Seeing they were alone Hiro turned to Kenji.

"What is wrong with you? Were you just going to let that guy kill you?"

"I'b be fime! I'be beem tchu versh! (I'd be fine! I've been through worse!)"

"Have you not looked in a mirror lately? Your face is so broken I can barely understand the gibberish coming out of your mouth!"

"Hehe! *cough**cough*! Bish ish noshing compaired tcho tche boshesh teashings! I'b tchake tchis amy jay owar tche paine shtick! (This is nothing compared to the boss's teachings! I'd take this any day over the pain stick!)"

"Ugh! You're getting more unintelligible by the day 'ugly'! Maybe you should go join a circus after this, might give someone a good laugh! Haha!"

Hiro had come to watch Kenji every day since he heard about the beatings, and after every beating he would walk up to him to take his own form of revenge. But instead of attacking him with his fists, he would do so with words. He would give him demeaning nicknames while spouting insults in his swollen face.

"You know your face might never return to normal if you keep this up Kenji!" Yuuma spoke up.

"Itch fime! (Its fine!)"

"Ugly listen!" Hiro said as his mocking expression turned serious.

"Hm?"

"If you keep going like this you'll really die! Is this really worth risking your life for? Would you really die just to get back in?"

"I'be tchowb chu! I bom't vant tcho wetchurm tcho tche shectch! Im shusht hewe tcho apowochishe! (I've told you! I don't want to return to the sect! I'm just here to apologize!)"

"Then why haven't you left already! You've let everyone smash your face in already! You have no reason to stay here any longer, so just leave!"

"Notch ewewywone! (Not everyone!)"

"What?"

"You can't be serious!" Yuuma said as he realized who Kenji was talking about.

"Itchuki! (Itsuki!)" Kenji spoke.

"Itsuki? You want to apologize to Itsuki?" Hiro muttered in astonishment.

"You can't be serious! Kenji! Out of all the people here, he is the last person you should be apologizing to!" Yuuma spoke.

"He wash tche onwy wone ho bibm't chow! (He was the only one that didn't show!)"

"Of course he didn't! Ever since he became a core disciple, he has rarely left the inner section! If he had showed up, he would have killed you by now!"

"Fine! Follow me!" Hiro said as he stood up to walk through the sect gates.

"Watch? (What?)"

"If you won't leave until you've seen him, then I'll let you see him!"

"Hey, Hiro! He can't enter the-!"

"I'll take responsibility!"

"You sure?"

"If the man has to die here, then it makes no difference whether it's out here or in their!"

"Shank chu! (Thank you!)" Kenji said as he got up to bow his head to the dwarf.

"Come along then!" Hiro said before leading Kenji through the gates.

The Ember sect is split into three sections.

The outer section: where the outer disciples live.

The inner section: where the inner and core disciples live.

The center: where the elders and sect leader live.

While the outer disciples have limited access to the inner section, the inner disciples can go anywhere but the center of the sect. Out of all the disciples only the core disciples are permitted to pass the center gates. Normally, you would have to be a disciple to enter the sect, but special exceptions can be made if they are invited by an inner disciple or higher. Of course, should anything happen during their stay, the disciple who invited them will be held responsible should anything happen.

"Shanksh fow chewing chiss shiwo! (Thanks for doing this Hiro!)"

"You finally learned my name, but your mouth is too broken to say it right! *sigh*! Never mind! The inner gate is just up ahead!" Hiro said, pointing toward the red gate leading towards their destination while feeling dejected Kenji couldn't pronounce his name on account of his broken jaw.

But before they reached the inner gate, someone grabbed Kenji's shoulder from behind.

"HEY! Who let this cripple in here! This is a cultivation sect! Mortals like you aren't allowed!" An outer disciple spoke before trying to drag Kenji towards the outer gate to throw him out.

"Its fine! I let him in!" Hiro said, before stepping between them.

"What? Senior Hiro! Why would you?"

"That's none of your concern! Come on let's go!" Hiro said before dragging Kenji through the inner gate.