The Foot-Washing Maid Ning Rongrong

"Let him deceive us if he wants. If he wants to leave, can we stop him?"

"Besides, don't you want to see what exactly he's been doing out there?"

"Of course I do, but if we follow him in secret, won't he notice us?"

"Not necessarily. Have you forgotten? Immortal herbs can conceal the aura of us soul beasts."

"Xue'er, are you talking about the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass?"

"That's right."

The Snow Empress looked in the direction Lin Mian had left, a smile at the corner of her eyes.

She still remembered how Lin Mian had hidden it from them and run off to Sea God Island to find that woman decades ago.

This time, she wanted to see what woman he was looking for again.

After leaving that place, Lin Mian still felt as though thorns were pressing against his back and a bone was stuck in his throat.

Only after a long while did he return to normal. Then he called Lou Gao and Dugu Bo out for drinks.

Besides the two of them, there were others present as well.

Lou Gao's laboratory was not occupied by him alone. Even Tai Tan of the Strength Clan was there conducting research with him.

Lin Mian did not put on any airs, so he simply invited Tai Tan along.

After the Strength Clan broke away from the Clear Sky Sect over a decade ago, it had joined the Judgment Hall through Lou Gao's introduction.

As one of the divine craftsmen, Tai Tan was also deeply interested in Soul Tool research. He had contributed greatly to the rapid advancement of Soul Tools over the years.

"Looks like you're still not tired enough. Don't rest tonight either. Come boil water for your master's bath."

"Hall Master, who are you talking to? Have you taken in a disciple?" Lou Gao asked.

Lin Mian set down the Communication Soul Tool, and the other three all looked at him strangely.

Seeing their expressions, Lin Mian explained what had happened.

"Hall Master, you mean you came out of seclusion two days ago and even took in two disciples?"

"That's right."

"Then... do those two know?"

Those two naturally referred to the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress.

"No. Remember to keep this secret for me. At the very least, don't tell them where I am."

"Don't worry, Hall Master. I'll definitely keep it secret." Dugu Bo was the first to pat his chest and swear it.

"Me too x2." The other two echoed him.

Knock, knock, knock.

Suddenly, there came a knock at the door, and a graceful figure entered.

She had long golden hair, exquisite features, and a curvaceous figure. Who else could she be but Qian Renxue?

"It's you. What are you doing here?"

Dugu Bo was clearly somewhat familiar with Qian Renxue. He was not intimidated just because she was Qian Daoliu's granddaughter.

"I heard the Hall Master was drinking here, and I happened to have a jar of fine wine. So I thought I'd bring it over for the Hall Master to properly sample."

Qian Renxue's gaze remained fixed on Lin Mian.

"So it's for the Hall Master. I thought it was for an old geezer like me."

"Hall Master, tell me, do you want this wine or not?" Old Poison winked at Lin Mian, clearly teasing him.

"Leave it there."

Lin Mian knew he was good-looking. He had gotten used to this sort of thing decades ago.

After setting down the wine, Qian Renxue walked out of the room. However, she did not leave immediately and instead listened at the door.

"After all these years, the Hall Master's charm is still as great as ever. Even that girl from Spirit Hall was staring at him. I just wonder whether those two disciples in Suotuo City are the same."

"Lou Gao, you old pervert. Has it been so many years since you got beaten that your skin's started itching?"

The four of them drank until the afternoon before dispersing.

After hearing "Suotuo City" and "two disciples," Qian Renxue committed those words to memory before leaving in thought.

By the time Lin Mian returned, Ning Rongrong had just finished running a hundred li.

This time, he naturally did not return empty-handed. He had taken some Body Tempering Pills and Calm Heart Pills from Old Poison and returned fully loaded.

The academy run by the Judgment Hall had access to good things. How could his own disciples go without?

Looking at the gate in the distance, Ning Rongrong had never thought this lousy place looked so wonderful.

Her feet felt as though they were filled with lead. Every step required all the strength in her body.

She should not have been this exhausted. But that one and a half mu of land in the morning had truly drained every bit of her strength.

Just as she entered the gate and was about to faint, a pair of hands caught her.

Then, that nightmare-like voice sounded again.

"Are you really that tired?"

Hearing that voice, Ning Rongrong subconsciously looked up at the owner of those hands.

Then she recoiled as though startled, but she had forgotten that she had no strength left. She landed squarely on her butt.

"Ow!" she cried, tears already glistening in the corners of her eyes.

"Although you look pitiful, as your master, I have no choice but to remind you that you're late again. So you still don't get to eat."

"Zhu Zhuqing, take her inside. Tonight, have her boil water and wash my feet. That is her punishment."

"No, I don't want to!"

Ning Rongrong looked utterly incredulous as she shook her head repeatedly.

In her eyes, such things were meant for servants. She was noble and should not be doing this kind of work.

"You don't get a choice. When you said those words this morning, why didn't you think about the consequences?"

"Washing feet is the most ordinary task. It barely counts as anything. Since you look down on ordinary people and on the servants in your home, then you can properly experience the kind of life they live."

After saying that, Lin Mian walked into the courtyard.

Zhu Zhuqing got out of the Soul Tool Car and helped Ning Rongrong inside.

Night came.

Lin Mian gave Zhu Zhuqing some of both kinds of pills.

Zhu Zhuqing would have a much easier night today. At the very least, she would not have to struggle until dawn.

However, after accepting the pills, Zhu Zhuqing's expression became somewhat strange.

Her eyes seemed to be asking,

Master, if you had something like this, why didn't you take it out sooner?

Lin Mian merely smiled awkwardly without saying anything.

Ning Rongrong had not gone to sleep yet. Under Xiaoxi's direction, she started a fire with firewood and boiled water.

Children's emotions came quickly and went quickly. Xiaoxi had already forgotten what had happened that morning.

Ning Rongrong truly felt somewhat awkward and guilty.

Soon, Ning Rongrong tremblingly carried a basin of water into Lin Mian's room.

In the end, she still chose to submit.

She kept telling herself that she had to endure it.

Seeing that Ning Rongrong had not moved, Lin Mian reminded her.

"Take off my shoes and wash my feet. What are you standing there for?"

"Ah! I really have to wash them?" Ning Rongrong clearly still held a trace of hope. In her mind, this was something servants did at home. She had never imagined that one day it would fall to her.

"Otherwise?"

Ning Rongrong once again yielded beneath his tyranny. With one hand pinching her delicate nose, she slowly began taking off his shoes with the other.

"Do they stink?"

Lin Mian found it strange. He was already Rank 99. No matter what, his feet should not stink, right?

Ning Rongrong cautiously looked up at him. After one glance, she shrank back down like a quail.

"They don't."

Though she said that, she still covered her nose.

After placing his feet in the water, Ning Rongrong endured immense humiliation as she began stroking them with her delicate little hands.

It was as though she was not washing feet, but washing away sin.

This was the first time in her life she had washed someone's feet. Even her father had never received such treatment.

Her tears were about to spill over, but in her heart, she was thinking,

Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Bone, when are you coming? Hurry and save Rongrong.