A Lovestruck Mind Was Nothing but Trouble
The female cultivators present all nodded in shared understanding.
If any of them had been in Meng Ning's position, she would never have admitted in public that she had been held captive.
Yao Hui was the scum who had done it, yet the victim was the one who had to bear the consequences.
It was deeply unfair!
The male cultivators present were realizing this for the first time, and they all fell into thought.
Meng Ning and Yao Hui were only at the Foundation Establishment Realm, so neither could hear Li Zi's thoughts.
Meng Ning gritted her teeth and swallowed her anger.
Yao Hui, meanwhile, had begun looking Meng Ning up and down, warning her with his eyes not to say anything she shouldn't.
He mouthed at her, "You're beautiful."
Then he gave her a suggestive smile.
The system fumed: [Host, that scumbag is still making moves on the girl! We've got to find a way to deal with him!]
Every powerful cultivator present heard that deafening roar.
Their fists clenched.
Just as the Five Elements Sect Master was about to throw a punch, Li Zi suddenly burst into tears.
Her sobs were even more deafening.
Li Zi was already small and adorable, with clear, bright almond eyes. Now that she was crying, her voice rang out, and the sight of tears spilling down her cheeks made everyone's heart ache.
"Martial Uncle!" She hurried forward, grabbed the Sect Master's robe, and pointed a soft little hand at Yao Hui.
"He even winked at me! I was so scared, boo-hoo! Martial Uncle, you have to stand up for me! Senior Brother said a look like that means he's making moves on someone."
The eight-year-old sobbed so hard she could barely catch her breath. She truly looked frightened, and pitiful beyond words.
Li Zi thought, I'll have Martial Uncle deal with him! Rotten cucumber! Enoki mushroom!
The system said, [Host, you're only eight. Is it really a good idea to say he's making moves on you?]
Li Zi thought, Making moves on 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 squirt?
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 hard.
"Our Xiao Zi is only eight, and you're making moves on her? You beast!"
The Five Elements Sect Master had found his excuse too. He kicked Yao Hui's leg hard enough to break it. "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 King Sect Master's son—"
Before he could finish, the Five Elements Sect Master slapped him across the face.
"Shut your mouth! If you can, get your father over here to save you! The Medicine King Sect Master's son, you say? 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 fist and cheered, "Beautifully done, Martial Uncle! Give him a good beating! Well done, Senior Five Elements Sect Master! Beat him so badly even his own father won't recognize him!"
Meng Ning, whose face had remained cold from beginning to end, couldn't help turning toward her.
Seeing the little girl waving her arms, Meng Ning felt a flicker of amusement.
She didn't know why this adorable little girl was helping her.
But it felt so good.
She would cultivate even harder. Never again would she let herself fall into such a helpless position.
"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 King Sect Master appeared before Yao Hui in a flash.
The Spirit Sword Sect Master snorted coldly at him. "Your son spoke disrespectfully to my disciple. I'm teaching him a lesson."
The onlookers: "..."
A moment ago, he had been making moves on her. Now he had merely spoken disrespectfully?
Sect Master Jiang, lies rolled right off your tongue.
To put on a show for his disciple, he had thrown his dignity away.
The Five Elements Sect Master's face was stern. "He spoke disrespectfully to my disciple too. Old Yao, if you get in my way, you'll have me to answer to."
Everyone was stunned.
The Five Elements Sect Master was famously upright.
He was rigid by nature, scrupulous about ancient etiquette, and strict about his Sect's rules.
Yet here he was, joining Sect Master Jiang in telling barefaced lies.
It was unheard of!
Yao Hui, sprawled on the ground, burst into loud sobs.
"Father, I didn't! I didn't do anything, but they beat me senseless! I've been wronged, Father!"
Li Zi's comment came at just the right moment: Right, you didn't do anything. You just had their treasured disciple, a rare cultivation talent with the Azure Lotus Yin Body, abducted by force and tried to marry her. Meng Ning only lost her dignity, while you merely lost a woman.
Everyone present nodded in agreement with that sharp remark.
She had put their thoughts into words.
Only then did the Medicine King Sect Master learn what had happened.
His face darkened, and he kicked Yao Hui in the chest.
"You unfilial son!"
Yao Hui stared at him, bewildered.
What was this about?
Then the Medicine King Sect Master said coldly, "Do you know West-Pacifying Village?"
His blood turned cold, inch by inch.
His heart sank.
Yao Hui felt a tremor rise from the depths of his soul. It was terror in its purest form.
No. Father couldn't know about that!
A Lovestruck Mind Was Nothing but Trouble
Clutching his chest, he explained in a rush, "Father, I only hired someone to kill that man because he'd come 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 the 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.