Anli Clarifies Her Straw Man Argument

These words caused the onlookers to think more highly of her.

"I never felt I was nobler than anyone else, I simply wanted to trample you. You don't need to twist my words," Meng Anli said, looking at the mortals.

Some were old, some were young, and some were even white-haired.

"Some of them cultivated for ten years, some for twenty, even fifty, just to get a chance to test at the academy. I respect them."

"But you, who haven't cultivated for a single day, dug out my inner core to cheat. This is blasphemy against the rules, disrespect to all the disciples who registered. Shouldn't I trample you?"

The crowd nodded in agreement. "That's right, there are only a hundred spots for admission."

"How detestable."

"People like that should be thrown out and never hired."

"A web of lies, turning black into white. Who knows when she'll harm someone."

"Exactly, it's impossible to guard against. Before, how good were the three young masters of the Meng family and the family head to Meng Anli? Yet, they still dug out Meng Anli's inner core for her."

"All of you, shut up!" Meng Xiuchen was still protecting Meng Shiwan, looking at Meng Anli with disappointment in his eyes.

"How did you become so glib and eloquent? If you wanted to get my attention this way, you've miscalculated. I will only despise you more."

Was he unable to discern right from wrong, or was he deceiving himself?

Meng Anli took a deep breath, about to unleash her anger.

"Slap!"

A flash of red, and Lu Yao flew to Meng Xiuchen's side, slapping him squarely across the face.

She roared, "Break off the engagement! I'm sick of idiots!"

After yelling, she flashed back to Meng Anli's side, protecting her.

Meng Xiuchen's handsome face turned red as he was about to retaliate.

"Good!"

Meng Anli started clapping.

That slap was worth ten, even a hundred of her scoldings. If her body wasn't so weak right now, she would have loved to add a couple more slaps herself.

Everyone else began to clap too, praising Lu Yao for her actions and shouting for Meng Xiuchen and Meng Shiwan to leave.

Meng Shiwan looked up at him. "Third Brother, let's go. Your face needs medicine."

"Meng Anli, Lu Yao, you just wait!"

Meng Xiuchen, after issuing his threat, grabbed Meng Shiwan and flew away.

Looking at their backs, they were fleeing in a hurried and utterly disheveled manner.

Meng Anli cupped her hands towards the instructor overseeing the entrance test. "Instructor, I apologize for the disturbance."

The instructor smiled and stroked his beard. "Not at all. You came at the perfect time. If the academy truly accepted disciples like that, it would be a great sin on my part."

Meng Anli harbored some selfish thoughts, so she felt a bit ashamed. She said she wouldn't disturb him further and pulled Lu Yao to walk out.

As they exited the crowd, Lu Yao strode forward, stopping in front of her. "Let's go to the medical hall first to check the injuries on your body..."

"A'yao! My dear A'yao..."

Meng Anli hugged her tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

In her past life, she had been locked in that dark prison for who knows how long.

A'yao had found her.

She wanted to take her away, but was stopped by the Meng family.

A'yao refused to give up, coming again and again, only to be blocked each time.

Later, she secretly came at night. "Anli, I was too stubborn before. We can just sneak out."

A'yao cried as she unlocked the chains binding Meng Anli.

"Those beasts, how could they have injured my Anli so severely."

"My Anli is so afraid of pain, how could they have severed your wrist and ankle tendons?"

"It's okay, I can carry Anli out. I can cure Anli."

After removing the chains, A'yao supported her with one hand and took out a string of candied hawthorns from her embrace, feeding them to her.

"You said that after eating candied hawthorns, you wouldn't be afraid of pain anymore."

Meng Anli struggled to raise her hand, pushing the candied hawthorns away with her forearm. "The first one... A'yao, you eat it."

In the past, whenever Anli ate candied hawthorns, Lu Yao would clamor to eat the first one.

This was because it meant Anli was the best of friends with her, giving her the biggest one.

A'yao cried profusely. "This time, the first one is for Anli to eat."

Meng Anli no longer refused, opening her mouth. Her loose teeth couldn't bite the small hawthorn.

Hatred flashed in A'yao's eyes. She fiercely wiped her face, shoving the candied hawthorns back into her embrace.

"I'll take Anli out first."

She carried Anli out of the dark room.

Outside, however, everything was brightly lit.

Her father, her brothers, and Meng Shiwan stood at the very front, with many servants holding torches behind them.

Meng Shiwan said fearfully, "Sister Yao, why did you steal my sister away?"

The word "steal" made Third Brother's eyes light up.

He ordered without mercy, "Beat this thief to death with sticks."

Lu Yao was not afraid, even finding it amusing. "You want to beat me to death? Do you want to be enemies with our entire Niuyang Mountain?"

"Niuyang Mountain?" Her father sneered, his dominance evident. "If they dare to come, we'll just destroy them. No one can bully Wanwan."

He raised his hand, and a group of servants closed in on them.

"No," Meng Anli tumbled from her back and kowtowed to her father. "Please... Father, let A'Yao go."

Lu Yao stuffed a candied hawthorn into her hand. "No need to beg him! I'll get us through this."

She drew her whip and began fighting the servants.

Soon, she was defeated and captured. They beat her to death with planks.

Thinking of the scene of blood and gore, Meng Anli held A'Yao even tighter.

"A'Yao, A'Yao."

Lu Yao hugged her back, her heart aching. "I'm here. Our Anli has suffered. It's all my fault for not realizing sooner."