How could a master drag a disciple to live in a small valley and not let the disciple get married? Could it be that Kong Hefeng harbors some illegitimate affection for Tu Ying?

Thinking of this made Bai Ruozhu feel a bit nauseated. Kong Hefeng could be old enough to be Tu Ying's father, yet he uses a debt of rescue to coerce her. It would have been better if he just stated his purpose plainly from the start, but instead, he insists that Tu Ying acknowledges him as a master and uses the identity of a master to oppress her. Isn't this like being a whore and then wanting to set up a monument for chastity?

"What's wrong, Ruozhu?" Tu Ying asked worriedly when she saw Bai Ruozhu in a daze.

Bai Ruozhu opened her mouth, but then swallowed her words. She was just guessing and speaking without evidence might not be good, right?

People are relatively conservative now; if Kong Hefeng has such intentions and has been alone with Tu Ying for so long, it wouldn't be good for Tu Ying's reputation if word got out.

"It's nothing. I'll talk to him later." Bai Ruozhu said.

"No way! My master has a big temper and is very skilled in martial arts. What if he hurts you?" Tu Ying immediately shook her head. She feared that her master might cause trouble for Bai Ruozhu, and how could she let Bai Ruozhu meet with him?

Bai Ruozhu laughed, somewhat slyly. With a stretch and a retract of her delicate hand, she pulled Tu Ying over and tossed her into the air, then caught her steadily and placed her back to her original spot.

Tu Ying was completely taken aback, staring blankly at Bai Ruozhu. This feat required sufficient inner strength to achieve, given the limited strength women generally have.

"When did you become so formidable?" Tu Ying exclaimed.

"Not too long ago, just a small fortunate encounter. So don't worry, your master can't harm me." Bai Ruozhu's eyes were bright, wearing a confident smile. Tu Ying looked on somewhat enviously, but she had her wings clipped.

"Then be careful." She still cautioned, not fully trusting.

Bai Ruozhu nodded with a smile and asked her to lead the way to find Kong Hefeng.

"Let me talk to him alone. With you present, it would hurt his pride and make him angrier. You go prepare some hot decoction; I'll treat your brother later." Bai Ruozhu found an excuse to send Tu Ying away.

Just as Tu Ying left, Kong Hefeng's door swung open with a thud. Kong Hefeng surely could hear her talking; he opened the door with inner strength, giving her a show of intimidation.

Her expression unchanged, she walked into the room unhurriedly and saluted Kong Hefeng, saying, "Junior Bai Ruozhu greets Mr. Kong."

"Hmph, after poisoning me, you still dare come, not afraid I'll deal with you?" Kong Hefeng's face was long, making his already elongated face look even more like a horse's face.

"Even if I'm afraid I have to speak for my good sister. She's older than I am, and here I am with three kids, while she hasn't even married yet. Does she intend to waste her whole life?" Bai Ruozhu spoke while probing Kong Hefeng's attitude. As expected, mentioning "marriage" made Kong Hefeng's expression turn even more ambiguous.

"You worry too much. A woman doesn't have to marry. Does marrying mean she won't be abandoned by her husband or bullied by her in-laws?" Kong Hefeng righteously argued, "Having her hide away with me is also to protect her. It's not easy for her to have survived. Should she still suffer?"

Bai Ruozhu snorted, looking down even more on Kong Hefeng's righteous facade.

"If women in this world encounter unworthy men, it's their lack of content. But that doesn't mean a woman should never marry and leave her family to hide away, right? What makes you think you can take care of her? Have you considered if she'd be happy?" Bai Ruozhu's voice raised a little.

"We were living well in the valley. If it weren't for that ungrateful young Westerner leading her away and then you meddling, she'd have been content and carefree," Kong Hefeng argued back.

"Content? She was unhappy, so she lost her drive for life. Don't act so morally superior. You think I can't see what crooked intentions you have for her? You're her master!" Bai Ruozhu lowered her voice, but each word seemed to hit Kong Hefeng like a heavy hammer.

His face showed panic, "What nonsense are you saying!"

Bai Ruozhu sneered, "You are just pretending to be what you're not. You like Tu Ying and want to forcefully keep her here; be upfront about your feelings instead of using your identity as a master to suppress her while faking concern for her well-being."

She said with a look of fury in her eyes, "I heard you've been through some emotional trauma, and with my ability, it's not impossible to find out. If others knew you coveted your own disciple, preventing her from marrying and forcing her to go back to the valley to live with you just for your own selfish needs, what would they think of you?"

"Rubbish! You wretched woman intentionally slandering me!" Kong Hefeng sprang up, suddenly striking at Bai Ruozhu with a palm, truly appearing as if intending to silence her.

Bai Ruozhu effortlessly evaded his attack with agile footwork, her face showing even more disdain, "Even if you kill me, you can't hide this secret. Do you really think no one else can see through you? Out of remembrance for you saving Tu Ying, I've given you face, but if you won't turn back, don't blame us for being ruthless!"

"Wretched woman, I'll kill you!" Kong Hefeng's eyes reddened, his palm forcefully smashing the room's table, then hitting a nearby cabinet.

Bai Ruozhu flicked her fingers, spreading poison powder as she dodged back out of the room.

"Dare not run; if you beat me, I'll leave immediately!" Kong Hefeng had mixed feelings, feeling exposed in a way that made him extremely uncomfortable, yet admitting it was something he couldn't bring himself to do.

He's even a year older than Tu Ying's father.

Yet he had saved her, and in the first month, cared for her without sleep. For healing purposes, he had even touched her. Seeing her gradually recover, his cold heart reignited. Many nights, he wanted to storm into Tu Ying's room and forcefully pin her down.

But he couldn't; he feared experiencing betrayal again. If Tu Ying had no contact with the outside world, she could quietly stay by his side.

"Pretentious hypocrite, dare you speak your sordid thoughts to Tu Ying?" Bai Ruozhu asked through clenched teeth.

"Shut up!" Kong Hefeng shouted, suddenly clutching his chest with a drastic change in his expression, "Did you poison me again?"

After saying this, he stumbled and fell to the ground.

Bai Ruozhu's face bore even more ridicule, "You think you're so capable? If not for Tu Ying's sake, you'd be dead many times over. Stop forcing Tu Ying, or else tell her your thoughts and see how she chooses. Love isn't something that can be forced, and using a rescue debt to coerce her, don't you find it disgusting?"

Kong Hefeng felt emotionally broken, lying on the ground in pain, "Impossible, she's just been deceived by that boy. She's too young to understand, but she'll realize how good I am later."

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