Romance-Brained Is a Terrible Thing

The female cultivators present all nodded in sympathy.

Not one of them would have admitted in public that she had been imprisoned if she were in Meng Ning's place.

Yao Hui was the scum who had done it, yet the victim was the one who had to bear the consequences.

It was so unfair!

The male cultivators present were realizing this for the first time, and they fell into deep thought.

Meng Ning and Yao Hui were both only in the Foundation Establishment Realm, so neither could hear Li Zi's thoughts.

Meng Ning gritted her teeth and swallowed her anger.

Yao Hui, meanwhile, was already looking her up and down, warning her with his eyes not to say anything she shouldn't.

He mouthed at Meng Ning, "You're beautiful."

Then he gave her a suggestive smile.

The system fumed: [Host, that scumbag is still flirting with the young lady! We've got to find a way to get him!]

Every powerful cultivator present heard that deafening shout.

Their fists clenched.

Just as the Five Elements Sect Master was about to throw a punch, Li Zi suddenly burst into tears.

Her crying was even more deafening.

Li Zi was petite and adorable to begin with, with bright, clear eyes. Now she was crying at the top of her lungs, and the tears spilling from those eyes made her look all the more pitiful.

"Martial Uncle!" She hurried forward, clutched the Sect Master's robe, and pointed a soft little hand at Yao Hui.

"He made eyes at me too! I was so scared, waaah! Martial Uncle, you have to stand up for me! Senior Brother said that's what a man looks like when he's flirting."

The eight-year-old was sobbing so hard she could barely catch her breath. She truly looked frightened and pitiful.

Li Zi: [I'll get Martial Uncle to deal with him! Rotten cucumber! Enoki mushroom!]

The system: [Host, you're only eight. Is it really a good idea to say he was flirting with you?]

Li Zi: [He'd even flirt with an eight-year-old? What a beast! Martial Uncle, get him!]

Everyone present: "..."

Yao Hui, who had been singled out for no apparent reason, looked utterly baffled.

Wait, who was that little bean?

If she hadn't suddenly run out crying, he wouldn't even have noticed her.

The Sect Master obligingly rolled up his sleeves and slapped Yao Hui across the face.

"Our little Zi is only eight, and you flirted with her? Beast!"

The Five Elements Sect Master had found his excuse too. He kicked Yao Hui hard enough to break his leg. "You beast! Not even the king of heaven himself could save you today!"

Yao Hui rolled on the ground in pain, clutching his leg and howling miserably.

"Do you know who I am? I'm the Medicine Sect Master's son—"

Before he could finish, the Five Elements Sect Master slapped him across the face.

"Shut your mouth! If your father has what it takes, let him come save you! The Medicine Sect Master's son? Are you even his flesh and blood, talking like that?"

The Spirit Sword Sect Master and the Five Elements Sect Master took turns beating him.

All Yao Hui could do was roll on the ground and howl.

"Father, save me! Father!"

Li Zi pumped her fists and cheered, "Beautifully done, Martial Uncle! Hit him harder! Well done, Senior Five Elements Sect Master! Beat him until even his own father won't recognize him!"

Meng Ning, whose face had remained cold throughout, could not help turning to look at her.

At the sight of the little girl waving her arms, a trace of a smile crossed Meng Ning's eyes.

She didn't know why this adorable little girl was helping her.

But it felt so good.

She would work even harder at her cultivation. Never again would she find herself so helpless.

"Stop!"

A furious shout suddenly rang down from above.

Yao Hui's eyes widened with delight. "Father! Hurry and save me!"

As long as his father was willing to protect him, he would be fine.

The Medicine Sect Master appeared in front of Yao Hui in a flash.

The Spirit Sword Sect Master gave him a cold snort. "Your son spoke disrespectfully to my disciple. I'm teaching him a lesson."

The onlookers: "..."

A moment ago, he had been flirting. Now it was disrespectful speech?

Sect Master Jiang, lies just rolled off your tongue, didn't they?

He had thrown all shame aside just to put on a show for his disciple.

The Five Elements Sect Master looked stern. "He spoke disrespectfully to my disciple too. Old Yao, if you get in my way, you'll answer to me."

Everyone was stunned.

The Five Elements Sect Master was known for being a proper man.

He was rigid by nature, strictly observed ancient customs, and enforced harsh rules in his Sect.

Yet here he was, telling lies right alongside Sect Master Jiang.

It was a first!

Yao Hui, sprawled on the ground, burst into loud sobs.

"Father, I didn't! I didn't do anything, but they beat me half to death! I've been wronged! Your son is innocent!"

Li Zi chimed in at just the right moment: [Right, you didn't do anything. You only abducted their treasured disciple, a cultivation prodigy with the Azure Lotus Yin Body, and tried to marry her. Meng Ning only lost her dignity, while all you lost was a woman.]

That remark hit the mark so precisely that everyone present nodded in agreement.

She had said exactly what they were thinking.

Only then did the Medicine Sect Master understand what had happened.

His face darkened, and he kicked Yao Hui in the chest.

"Unfilial wretch!"

Yao Hui stared at him in confusion.

What was going on?

Then he heard the Medicine Sect Master say coldly, "Do you know West-Pacifying Village?"

His blood turned cold, inch by inch.

His heart sank.

A shudder rose from the depths of Yao Hui's soul. This was terror at its most extreme.

No. Father couldn't know about that!

Clutching his chest, he hurried to explain. "Father, I only hired someone to kill that man because he'd gone after me before."

As he spoke, he glanced cautiously at the Medicine Sect Master.

He still held on to hope.

He hoped the Medicine Sect Master hadn't seen that man's face.

That man looked so much like the Medicine Sect Master. Otherwise, Yao Hui would never have been so desperate to kill him.