Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo's pretty face turned pale, and she unconsciously bit her red lip, drawing a trickle of blood. Then, mustering her courage, she slowly explained the events to Jingling Shitai...
Upon hearing this, Jingling Shitai sighed, "This matter... cannot be blamed on you! Here's what we'll do! When I get back, I'll explain to my senior brother, the sect leader. If she knows there were reasons for it, she might be lenient and won't subject you to torture!"
"But there's one thing you absolutely must do! Forget about Li Changfeng! Never have anything to do with him again!"
Zhou Zhiruo's face turned pale upon hearing this, and she gritted her teeth and said, "No... I can't do it!"
Upon hearing this, Jingling Shitai's face darkened. "Zhiruo! Do you know what you're saying?! If you can't do this, do you know how severe the punishment will be?"
Zhou Zhiruo shook her head upon hearing this, her expression unusually resolute. "I know! But I won't give up! I... I want to live a good life with him!"
Jingling Shitai's face was filled with disappointment upon hearing this. "Zhiruo! You... you have disappointed me so much! Do you know how much the sect leader and I thought about you? We even had the potential to make you the sect leader in the future!! I'll give you one more chance!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo shook her head. "Jingling, my mind is made up! I will go back and tell the sect leader the truth!"
Upon hearing this, Jingling Shitai sighed, "Enough! Enough! Extend your hand!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo slowly extended her smooth, fair right arm. Seeing this, Jingling Shitai gathered a burst of true energy with two fingers and suddenly pointed at the center of her arm, instantly creating a red dot resembling Virginity Mark.
"You can come to me once a month, and I'll add the painting to it for you. This method can deceive people, but the sect leader will still be able to tell. It can only keep you in the dark for a while, not forever. The truth will eventually come out. Then it will be up to your fate!"
Zhou Zhiruo was startled upon seeing this and quickly said, "Doing this will implicate you, Aunt Jingling! No! I can't do this!!"
Jingling Shitai shook her head upon hearing this, "It's alright! I've watched you grow up since you were little, from a petite and delicate little girl to what you are now. I really can't bear to see you suffer like this. Besides... you did something I never dared to do before, and I... admire you very much!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo's eyes filled with tears, which welled up and streamed down her face. She threw herself into Jingling Shitai's arms, exclaiming, "Master Jingling! You're so kind!"
Jingling Shitai looked at Zhou Zhiruo with a face full of satisfaction, and gently stroked her back with her hand. "In a sect like Emei, life is austere and difficult. Women cannot marry or have their own children. It is extremely tough for them."
"The moment I saw you, I was immediately drawn to you and cherished you like my own child. You didn't disappoint me, but unfortunately..."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo slowly said, "I've always felt that you treat me a little differently from other disciples, Aunt Jingling. This feeling is very warm, I can't quite put my finger on it, but... I really like it!"
Jingling Shitai was gratified upon hearing this, but the thought of you suffering like this in the future makes me very sad. Is it really worth it?
"It's worth it! I... love Brother Feng so much! He's completely indispensable to me, and I'd be willing to endure anything for him! Aunt Jingling! Do you understand what I'm thinking?"
Jingling Shitai gave a bitter smile upon hearing this, "I understand! I also had a sincere relationship back then, but I wasn't as brave as you, so we never had anything to do with each other again. I don't know how he's been all these years, maybe it's because I didn't love him enough..."
Zhou Zhiruo was slightly surprised upon hearing this. She hadn't expected that Jingling Shitai had such an experience. She fell silent for a moment, unsure of how to begin.
Abbess Jingling Shitai's expression suddenly turned serious. "Zhiruo! I know you love him very much, but you don't know if he loves you as much. What if he can't withstand the pressure and changes his mind at the last minute? Wouldn't you have suffered for nothing!"
"No! Don't go back and explain things to the sect leader yet! I want to see how he reacts after he knows all this, and whether he has the resolve to live a good life with you!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo quickly said, "I believe him! He would never do this to me!"
Jingling Shitai's face turned serious upon hearing this. "No! You must listen to me on this matter, or I'll kill him right now! I won't let you make such a selfless sacrifice!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiruo gritted her teeth. If she didn't listen to Jingling Shitai, she really would do it, so she could only reluctantly agree.
Suddenly, Li Changfeng frowned and slowly opened his eyes, only to find himself lying in a tent, with Jingling Shitai and Zhou Zhiruo waiting beside him, their faces full of surprise.
"How did I get here?!"
Seeing this, Zhou Zhiruo quickly helped him up, saying worriedly, "Brother Feng! You're injured, so don't move around!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng chuckled lightly, "I'm as strong as an ox; this minor injury is nothing to worry about!"
Zhou Zhiruo glared at him fiercely upon hearing this, "Listen to me! Lie down obediently!"
Li Changfeng gave a wry smile upon hearing this and did as instructed. He was intimidated by Zhou Zhiruo's gaze and dared not disobey.
Jingling Shitai pursed her lips, "Zhiruo! You can rest assured about this boy's physique! He'll be fine!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng laughed loudly, his eyes landing gently on Zhou Zhiruo. "Right! Jingling Shitai said everything is alright, may I get up now?"
Zhou Zhiruo snorted coldly, "Hmph! Whatever! Don't call me if you feel unwell later!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng chuckled and obediently lay down on the ground. Zhou Zhiruo smiled slightly at this, "That's more like it!"
At this moment, Jingling Shitai's expression suddenly turned serious, and she asked directly, "Boy! I know everything about you and Zhiruo..."
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng was immediately shocked. Before Jingling Shitai could finish speaking, he hurriedly interrupted, "Jingling Shitai! Whatever you do to Zhiruo! I will take full responsibility for it! Please don't blame Zhiruo!"
Upon hearing this, Jingling Shitai gave Li Changfeng a deep look. "You've got some sense of responsibility, kid! So, what's your solution?"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright! I'll go directly to Emei and explain things to the Emei Sect Leader. I'll take full responsibility for any punishment!"
Zhou Zhiruo was filled with happiness upon hearing this, and tears welled up in her eyes. Seeing the man she loved going to such lengths for her, she immediately felt that she had not misjudged him.
However, Jingling Shitai's face darkened upon hearing this. "A foolish idea! You'll only get killed by the sect leader with a single palm strike if you go up there! And what's with this stupid talk about taking full responsibility!"
Upon hearing this, Li Changfeng frowned, thinking that he had acted impulsively. Rushing up like this would show disrespect for Emei and break their rules. He would be lucky if they didn't kill him with one blow.