"But they were really just superficial wounds. I didn't use much force." Genuine distress showed on the girl's face. She lowered her head and thought for a while longer, then spoke with much greater certainty. "No, I wasn't ruthless enough. I should have cut off one of his hands just now."
"..."
"Intimidation never works on people like that, and a beating barely stings." The girl talked to herself. "Who knows how many men he's bullied, women he's oppressed, and things he's seized by force before this? Cutting off a hand just now would absolutely have been letting him off lightly."
"Then let's pay the Lakeheart Gang another visit."
"Yes!-No, wait, we can't. A direct disciple of Jade Feather represents Jade Feather's honor. Once spoken, a promise is worth a thousand pieces of gold." Li Piaoqing frowned. "I said I would cut off his hand if he meddled again."
"True." Pei Ye looked at the girl beside him and suddenly asked, "Did your senior brother teach you these things?"
Li Piaoqing gave him a surprised look, then lowered her head again. "Yes. He used to be the foremost direct disciple. I heard him say them when I followed him down the mountain. But actually, he's already..."
The girl's voice suddenly changed a little. Pei Ye turned to look and, for the first time, saw that sort of stiff expression on her lively face. Her lips were pressed tightly together, her entire face taut.
"Sorry."
"It's all right. Actually, the Emerald Feather Sword Sect has been struggling to keep up appearances all these years." The girl took another breath and changed the subject. "There were fifteen candidate slots for this year's Martial Competition, and at one point, we could only find fourteen disciples of the right age at Third Growth or