It's Philosophy

"Ah..."

In a makeshift thatched cottage, not even an hour old, three disciples of the Dugu Demonic Sect were tied to chairs with Tortoise Shell Binding, emitting constant screams.

Niannian, playing at Spirit Bird Peak next door, heard the cries and tilted her little head cutely. She tugged at the feathers of the Owl beside her with her small hand, her big eyes full of worry.

"Sister Tou Ying, will Papa be okay?"

"Don't worry, Niannian. Anyone else might have trouble, but that Jiang Lin fellow? Impossible."

The Owl demon named Tou Ying gently rubbed Niannian's little head.

Since Fang Ruo had a temporary engagement, Tou Ying was helping to look after the child.

"Then what is Papa doing... Why did he ask Niannian to come out? Does Papa not like Niannian anymore?"

"Niannian is so cute, Jiang Lin would dote on you, not dislike you. Jiang Lin asked you to come out to protect you."

"Protect me?"

"Mhm." Nuzzling Little Dragon Girl's collagen-filled cheeks, Tou Ying looked towards Twin Pearl Peak, where the screams continued, "Your Papa said he was discussing philosophy..."

"Flower-Picking Thief Jiang, even if you kill us, we won't say anything!"

"That's right! We are villains with integrity!"

"You'll never make us betray the Dugu Demonic Sect!"

"..."

Inside the thatched cottage, Jiang Lin sat somewhat speechlessly on a wooden stool he had made himself. The stool was a bit wobbly, requiring careful balancing.

To Jiang Lin's left stood Diao Da and the bald Wu Ke. To his right stood Ji Ji Bo and Fang Chaoqun.

"I haven't even done anything yet, why are you all screaming your heads off?" Jiang Lin poured himself a cup of tea, his tone calm. "Don't worry, we from the Sun Moon Sect never use torture. We treat our hostages very kindly, right?"

"That's right, we never use torture."

"Yeah, we're proper members of the Demonic Sect."

Ji Ji Bo and Fang Chaoqun chimed in from the other side.

"Who are you trying to fool?! What are those in your hands?"

The camera shifted. At Jiang Lin's feet lay a Pig Slaughtering Knife, a Wolf Tooth Club, a Branding Iron, Nail Clippers, and Rubber Bands – various torture implements.

Moving the camera down further, a Finger Squeezer rested on Jiang Lin's thigh. Diao Da, Fang Chaoqun, and the others were holding Bone Needles and Pipa Skewers...

"Ahem, ahem, these are things that were phased out by the Sun Moon Sect's Punishment Hall. We don't use them anymore."

Jiang Lin tossed the Finger Squeezer off his lap.

"Come, Diao Da, tell them, what does I, Jiang Lin, the sole successor of the Sun Moon Sect's Twin Pearl Peak, usually use?"

Diao Da pulled a feather from his own body. "This feather is the essence of my being! Fine and soft, with many smaller feathers within, it's perfect for tickling feet..."

He snapped his fingers. "Ji Ji Bo, what do you think I use?"

Ji Ji Bo produced two cups of Tofu Pudding. "Some people like sweet Tofu Pudding, some like savory. What do you three like?"

"Savory."

"Me too."

"I like sweet."

"Excellent." Ji Ji Bo brought out two large vats of Tofu Pudding from his Storage Bag. "For those who like savory, I'll give them sweet. For those who like sweet, I'll give them savory, until you talk."

Suddenly, looking at the two vats of Tofu Pudding, the three men's faces changed drastically. They thrashed wildly on their chairs, spittle flying.

"Jiang Lin! You're shameless!"

"Jiang Lin! If you have the guts, kill me!"

"You are a demon sect member! Kill me if you have the guts!"

"Jiang Lin! @#￥ (Vulgar Language)."

Watching the three Dugu Demonic Sect cultivators turn into Zuan people, capable only of impotent rage, Jiang Lin quickly grabbed Diao Da's wing to shield himself from their flying spittle.

A cold Sword Qi flashed, and the mouths of the three men were sealed by their own frozen saliva.

"I haven't even gotten to the next one yet, why are you in such a hurry?"

Jiang Lin stood up, tidied his sleeves, and whispered in front of them:

"Recently, I just remembered a method. I will throw the three of you into a small room, just barely big enough for one person. The room will have nothing in it, no windows, not a sound, not a speck of sunlight, just complete darkness. You'll stay there indefinitely, forgetting time, forgetting light, not even a mouse..."

As Jiang Lin finished speaking, the thought of being in such a room brought tears to their eyes, and their bodies began to tremble.

With a snap of his fingers, they could speak again.

The one in the middle looked at Jiang Lin tremblingly. "Jiang Lin! You're a demon!"

"No..." Jiang Lin bent down, looking at them. "Please call me... Snake... a very, very venomous snake... Snake~~~"

"I'll give you one night to consider. I'll be back tomorrow. Oh, and before I go, I've prepared a gift for you." With that, Jiang Lin turned and left. Diao Da and Fang Chaoqun glanced at the three men with extremely sympathetic eyes before turning and following him.

"Little Brother Jiang~~~~"

Outside Twin Pearl Peak, Jiang Lin and his four companions had just exited the thatched cottage when a "tough guy" covered in muscles, wearing makeup, and speaking in a soft voice arrived at Twin Pearl Peak.

"Brother Jia Baoli, please go easy on them."

"Oh my, Little Brother Jiang, what are you talking about?" The man called Jia Baoli handed Jiang Lin three Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and nudged Jiang Lin's shoulder. "Honestly, I prefer Little Brother Jiang~~~~ How about one High-Grade Spirit Stone?"

"Uh... I have something to do, goodbye Brother Jia Baoli!"

Jiang Lin quickly cupped his hands and bid farewell, heading to Spirit Bird Peak to pick up Little Niannian.

"Papa..."

Seeing her Papa come to pick her up, Little Niannian jumped from Tou Ying's embrace, opened her little arms, and ran towards Jiang Lin with her short legs, pattering along.

"Did Niannian miss Papa?"

Lifting Niannian up, Jiang Lin said happily.

"Mhm!"

Little Niannian kissed Papa, her chubby little tail wagging happily. However, as if thinking of something unhappy, Little Niannian lowered her head, her two cute little fingers poking each other.

"Papa, I'm sorry, Niannian fell asleep this morning... and didn't go out with Papa..."

"It's okay, it's not Niannian's fault."

Listening to his "daughter's" warm words, Jiang Lin's heart felt a warmth.

"Let's go, Papa earned a lot of money today, Papa will take Niannian to eat something delicious."

"Really?"

"Really."

Jiang Lin ruffled the girl's little head, placed Little Niannian on a horse formed from Spiritual Qi, and quickly galloped towards the Sun Moon Sect town.

"No! Don't come over!"

"Oh! Yeah!"

Not long after they left Spirit Bird Peak, a strange sound faintly drifted from behind them.

"Papa, what was that sound?"

Lifting her little head, Little Niannian looked at Jiang Lin innocently.

"Well..." Jiang Lin thought for a moment, stroking Little Niannian's silver-white long hair. "That was philosophy..."