“Really? Then what about the injury?”
Feng Yaqin spoke with a questioning tone, while Feng Lie was sweating profusely, looking helplessly at Meng Lao.
Meng Lao caught Feng Lie’s gaze and was about to speak when Feng Yaqin interrupted, “Meng Lao, are you also thinking of plucking that beard?”
At her words, Meng Lao trembled violently.
“That’s out of the question. The Holy Maiden taking care of her own father’s appearance—such filial piety—I dare not partake in.”
Meng Lao!
You coward!
“Qin’er! I really am injured. You’ve been gone these days, and I’ve wasted away from hunger! If you don’t believe me, look!”
Feng Lie raised his hand and pinched the flesh on his arm as proof.
Feng Yaqin pinched Feng Lie’s cheek.
“Is that so? Old Dad, I think you’ve just been indulging in your private life too much, that’s why you’ve gotten thinner.”
With that, Feng Yaqin had already drawn her knife.
In no time, Feng Lie’s face looked several years younger because not a single whisker was left.
“All done! Much better, right, Old Dad? And Meng Lao!”
“Yes, yes!”
“Yes, yes!”
Feng Lie almost wanted to cry. He had worked so hard to grow that beard, the very beard that intimidated the sect’s underlings!
“Oh, right, Old Dad, give me the Scripture Repository Key!”
“Why do you want that thing? Didn’t you say you don’t like reading?”
Feng Lie rubbed his chin, confused since his daughter supposedly didn’t like books.
“If I want it, you give it, no need for so much nonsense! Remember, there’s also the key to the attic.”
Feng Yaqin stretched out her hand towards Feng Lie.
But Feng Lie, having raised his daughter for so many years, was extremely wary now.
His subconscious told him something was wrong—definitely wrong!
But hearing Feng Yaqin specifically mention the attic, he immediately panicked.
“Qin’er! There’s nothing interesting in the attic… Why do you need the key? Besides, it has a protective array; even if I give you the key, you can’t open it!”
“Oh? Nothing interesting? Yet you sneak up there often to look. Hurry up and hand it over, or the next chance I get, I’ll burn everything inside to ashes!”
Feng Lie’s mouth twitched. The Scripture Repository contained many books—astronomy, geography, history from ancient to modern times.
And the attic above was a place only Feng Lie had ever secretly visited. How could he not know what was inside?
Just some Bedroom Arts Concepts and Dual Cultivation Manuals.
His face flushed red. Feng Yaqin gave Feng Lie a cold glance but immediately switched back to a smile.
“Old Dad, if you don’t give it to me, not only will I burn everything, I’ll make it public too. Believe me!”
“Don’t! I’ll give it to you, isn’t that enough? But you have to promise me—you’re not allowed to look at or touch anything inside!”
Meng Lao, standing by watching, was stuck in a dilemma—couldn’t move a muscle.
Upon hearing this, Feng Yaqin stood up and took a deep breath facing the door.
“Da…!!”
Just as she was about to speak, Feng Lie grabbed her mouth, silencing her.
“Don’t! I said I’ll give it to you, didn’t I?”
He then pulled a bunch of keys from his pocket and shoved them into Feng Yaqin’s hand.
“Tell me, what exactly do you want to do?”
Feng Yaqin glared at Feng Lie, pushed his hand away, then spoke slowly as she walked toward the door.
“Old Dad, I’m not interested in those things of yours. I just want to find a few good Dual Cultivation Manuals.”
With that, Feng Yaqin reached the door and disappeared.
Hearing this, Feng Lie felt like washing his ears, wanting to listen again just to make sure he hadn’t misheard.
He turned to Meng Lao.
Meng Lao lowered his head; he hadn’t mentioned a word about the Yaoshi in that Ruined Temple.
“Meng Lao!”
“Yes!”
“Speak!”
Meng Lao wiped sweat from his forehead, then recounted everything he had seen.
At first, Feng Lie felt relieved when he heard it was just a child.
But the more he listened, the more uneasy he became.
It seemed his daughter was serious.
Thinking this, he supported his forehead and sank heavily into his chair.
“What a sin! What sin have I committed!
I, Feng Lie, so wise and mighty, can’t even manage my own daughter! What a sin!”
“Sect Master, in my opinion, this is by no means a bad thing.”
“Hm?” Feng Lie raised his eyebrows. His daughter was abducted, and this wasn’t bad?
“Continue.”
“Yes. First, the other party is someone the Holy Maiden truly likes. Second, the other party has no background, making control easier. This way, the Holy Maiden won’t suffer losses. Also, in terms of age, the Holy Maiden is at an advantage.”
“Meng Lao.”
“At your service.”
“Go down and receive forty lashes.”
“……”
“Just kidding, sigh.”
Feng Lie sighed heavily, a troubled look on his face.
Meng Lao, who had been startled earlier, quickly composed himself and respectfully said, “Sect Master, what about your injury?”
“No problem. Just some despicable scoundrels using crude methods. Won’t kill me.”
The atmosphere instantly grew cold. Feng Lie, who had been speaking casually with his daughter just moments ago, now exuded an imposing kingly aura.
He tore open his chest garment, revealing his chest.
There, clustered on his firm muscles, was a red and purple scar.
“I never thought such a vicious Fire Poison existed in this world. Looks like a Demon Clan trick. In recent years, our Demonic Sect and the Demon Clan have stayed out of each other’s way. How could they resort to this? Thank goodness. Thank goodness this poison wasn’t used on my daughter.”
Meng Lao gasped upon seeing Feng Lie’s injury.
He hadn’t expected that the Sect Master’s earlier demeanor was just an act.
“Sect Master! This…”
“Harmless. It won’t take my life for now. Don’t tell Qin’er. I wrote that letter to make her think I was deceiving her, so she wouldn’t suspect anything with her suspicious nature.”
Hearing this, Meng Lao quickly bowed to the ground, while Feng Lie’s expression turned grim.
“Alright, withdraw. Interrogate those captured. Make them talk, understand?
When they do, don’t kill them immediately. If they dare harm my daughter, I want them to regret living in this world!”
…….
The next morning, Jiang Che woke up to the smell of alcohol.
His body was heavy and sluggish. It turned out Lin Yin was pressing down on him firmly.
Jiang Che had no idea when Lin Yin had come back to the room, nor that she had climbed into his bed.
One arm lay across his chest, trapping him tightly in her embrace.
She looked like a large cat seeking warmth, curled up with her chin almost touching the top of his head.
Her signature pale moon-blue robe had slight wrinkles, appearing soft and unreal in the dim room.
“Damn! So strong, and yet drank so much! Is this really Lin Yin?”
Jiang Che muttered curses internally, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t push her away.
Instead, Lin Yin hugged him even tighter, almost choking him.
Anyone who couldn’t see would know that in the first moment of not knowing how they were being held, one always ended up touching places one shouldn’t.
Lin Yin frowned slightly and finally woke fully, getting up, but she didn’t blame Jiang Che.
She quietly went to prepare his wash.