Su Ling'er's Punishment

Meanwhile, Su Ling'er had run a short distance away out of shyness. After she calmed down, however, she suddenly remembered something.

"Could the reason Sect Leader Brother was so distant with me just now be because of yesterday...?"

The image of Lu Qing, the guard captain, gradually surfaced in her mind.

His scornful words seemed to still echo in her ears.

Yesterday, Sect Leader Brother had clearly been too preoccupied with helping her withstand the heavenly lightning to pay attention to anything else.

That was why he had not immediately punished Lu Qing.

But she was the one who stayed by Sect Leader Brother's side to protect him-

She should not have stood by and done nothing.

A flicker of panic suddenly seized her.

"What am I going to do...?"

Perhaps this one little matter would make Sect Leader Brother disappointed in her.

And gradually grow distant from her.

"No, Ling'er has to make up for it right away. I absolutely can't let Sect Leader Brother be disappointed in me."

She clenched her teeth, and her graceful figure flashed and vanished from the spot.

In the medicine pavilion, Lu Qing was receiving treatment from one of the sect's pharmacists.

"Guard Lu, how exactly did you sustain this injury? Why is there only a pinprick-sized wound on the surface of your skin?"

The pharmacist was utterly baffled. He had never heard of such an injury, nor such a method.

"Pharmacist, I don't know either. Someone ambushed me, but I don't know who. Can my arm still be saved?"

Lu Qing looked at the pharmacist, who nodded.

"Of course it can. Your opponent only took one of your bones and didn't damage the foundation. If they had struck a little harder, I'm afraid it couldn't have been saved."

Lu Qing was overjoyed.

It was a relief that it could still be saved.

Otherwise, he feared he would not be able to keep his position.

The Dragon-Seeking Sect would not keep a cripple around.

His position as a guard had been passed down through the generations.

The sect leader's guard.

A job as good as they came.

The current sect leader was someone whose authority could be stripped away at will, and Lu Qing could treat him as neglectfully or disdainfully as he pleased.

That only made Lu Qing cherish the position all the more.

He did not want to lose it.

Across from him, the pharmacist had already begun preparing a pill.

According to the pharmacist, after taking it, Lu Qing would be as good as new in seven days at most.

A wonderful life in the sect still awaited him.

But for no apparent reason, Lu Qing's heart gave a violent thump.

It was not a good sign.

Just then.

The door was kicked open.

Su Ling'er appeared before Lu Qing.

Her beautiful eyes blazed with anger.

"P-Protector Su, what brings you here?"

The pharmacist was bewildered and asked her a question.

"I'm looking for him."

Su Ling'er stared at Lu Qing, sending a chill down his spine.

"What do you want with me, Protector?"

"To hold you accountable for the crime of neglecting the sect leader."

Su Ling'er frowned, her imposing presence bearing down on him.

Her anger was not only for Sect Leader Brother's sake, but also for her own.

Lu Qing had nearly ruined Sect Leader Brother's plans.

And by extension, he had nearly caused her to die in the thunderstorm the night before.

If he had not called her over in time yesterday,

Su Ling'er would surely have been unable to escape the lightning tribulation.

"I already told you, my leg was injured and I couldn't walk fast. It definitely won't happen again..."

Lu Qing spoke indifferently, though he still had to show Su Ling'er some respect.

He could neglect Chen Ning

because Chen Ning had no backing

and no cultivation.

He had nothing but the title of sect leader.

But Su Ling'er was different. Her cultivation was outstanding, and her status was higher.

He had to take that into consideration.

"Since you can't walk fast, you may as well stop walking altogether."

Su Ling'er spoke sternly, her graceful figure darting forward.

In an instant, she left a gruesome wound on Lu Qing's leg.

"The sect leader is merciful, so Ling'er will only punish you lightly and spare your life."

Lu Qing was utterly dumbfounded.

Agonizing pain struck him, and sweat poured down his body in an instant.

He did not even need to circulate his primordial Qi to know that his leg was crippled.

"You! How dare you... take punishment into your own hands?"

Lu Qing howled in pain, but the next moment, his sword flew straight from his waist.

It slid free of its sheath.

The tip came to rest against Lu Qing's throat.

"If you object, you can report me to the Law Enforcement Hall."

With that, Su Ling'er turned to leave.

She left him with just one sentence:

"Pharmacist Geng, he offended the sect leader. Ling'er hopes you won't treat his leg."

After that, only the dumbstruck Pharmacist Geng remained in the room.

And the terrified Lu Qing.

He felt that, just now, Su Ling'er really might have dared to kill him.

He simply could not understand it.

Why had Su Ling'er, who had never paid attention to such matters, suddenly started defending Chen Ning's authority?

After leaving the room, Su Ling'er unconsciously slowed her steps.

Even so, she could hardly conceal the shock in her heart.

Just now, while punishing Lu Qing,

she had been horrified to discover

that Lu Qing bore traces left by the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand.

But that was an exclusive Divine Ability passed down by her grandfather.

Why would someone in the Dragon-Seeking Sect have mastered the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand?

And

the other person had cultivated the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand to a high level.

Taking another's flesh and blood, snatching away their sinews and bones-surely even her grandfather had not reached such a level with that terrifying technique.

Su Ling'er had never sensed such a presence even from her grandfather.

"Could it be... that senior expert has emerged?"

That was the only possibility she could think of.

Her grandfather had said that their lineage had a founding patriarch who had cultivated the Heaven-Stealing Ghost Hand to the great perfection realm, attaining the pinnacle of mastery.

But he had vanished without a trace.

Some said he was dead.

Others speculated that he had committed too many sins and withdrawn from the world.

But whether or not it was him, what she had witnessed today was momentous news.

"I have to tell Grandpa when I get the chance."

Su Ling'er nodded and committed the matter to memory.

The Law Enforcement Hall.

Chen Ning had arrived early.

This time, he had prepared thoroughly. Even his reasons and excuses were airtight, with everything considered from beginning to end.

He was determined not to use a flimsy excuse like yesterday's,

which had made even Su Ling'er suspicious of him.

Since he was about to face a Devil Race infiltrator, he had also found a book and learned a couple of phrases in the Devil Race Language.

Just in case.

"Please forgive me, Sect Leader. I'm late."

A woman entered through the doorway as a melodious voice rang out.

Her figure was graceful, her brows and eyes picturesque, and she exuded a seductive charm.

Even knowing who she was, Chen Ning could not help taking a couple of extra looks.

This woman was the master of the Law Enforcement Hall.

Xiao Mei.

She lived up to her name, and her bearing was even more bewitching and alluring.

She wore flowing purple gauze robes and layered silk sleeves, which set off skin as smooth as congealed cream. Her dark brows arched slightly, her red lips were delicately painted, and a smile lingered at their corners that could make souls swoon.

She truly was a witch.

Chen Ning sighed softly to himself.

He immediately braced himself.

Just then, a system notification suddenly rang out.

"Ding! The formal phase of the mission [Xiao Mei's Worry] has been successfully activated!"

[Xiao Mei's Worry]

Mission details: Xiao Mei enjoys drinking, but she has tasted every wine brewed in the Nine Provinces. Her palate is discerning, and she has no wine left to drink. This has become a worry weighing on her heart.

Mission requirement: Host, present Xiao Mei with a strong, fine wine to ease her worry.

Mission deadline: Seven days

Mission rewards: Base reward of three cultivation levels, one mysterious rare reward, and the title [Sect Leader Who Perceives the Finest Details]