The woman in the water mirror spoke. Her voice was gentle, but beneath it lurked a venomous resentment that would not fade. "Little sister, what did I tell you? Men all deserve to die! When they like you, they're all honeyed words and tender affection, practically wagging their tails and begging to lick your shoes. When they don't, they cast you aside like a worn-out shoe and can't wait to grind you into the dirt!"
Zhu Biqiong lowered her eyelids. "But... he doesn't like me."
"If he doesn't like you, then he deserves to die even more!" The woman in the water mirror spat viciously. "You're so wonderful. What gives him the right not to like you? He has to pay for it!"
"No." Zhu Biqiong shook her head, her movement gentle but resolute. "I won't hurt him."
"Look at him! He's treating you like the plague, wishing he could send you away this instant. And even so, you still think he's a good person?"
"No, he's worried about me. He's afraid I'll get into trouble if I stay."
"Oh, please! He has so many friends and such powerful connections. What trouble could there be in leaving you in Qi? You want to help him—you still want to help him. But he looks down on you! He thinks you lack talent, cultivation, and intelligence, that you're no use to him! Men are always like that. They don't see women at all, only their value. All they care about is how many Dao Essence Stones you're worth! What do men know about feelings?"
"No, that's not it." Zhu Biqiong spoke timidly. In front of Zhu Suyao, she couldn't even raise her voice, but she stubbornly disagreed. "There are bad people in this world, but there are good people too. Jiang Wang...