"Ahh!"
Ning Rongrong cried out in pain, thrashing even more violently now. Her voice carried a sob and seething anger. "Dai Chengfeng! Let me go!"
"I'll tell Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone! You're dead meat! Wait until they punish you!"
"Still daring to threaten me?" Dai Chengfeng showed no mercy.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Three more sharp slaps rang out in quick succession. The force was perfectly controlled—enough to hurt her but not enough to leave lasting damage.
"Ahhh… You bastard!!!"
Ning Rongrong still refused to yield.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
The crisp sounds echoed through the quiet corner.
Dai Chengfeng wasn't like Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, or Gu Rong. He had no intention of indulging this little troublemaker from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
If he didn't assert himself, she'd think he was a harmless kitten…
As time ticked by, Ning Rongrong's struggles gradually weakened from their initial ferocity.
Humiliation, pain, and an unspoken submission to Dai Chengfeng's dominance intertwined within her.
Her resistance dwindled, replaced by muffled, pitiful whimpers.
"Wuu… You brute… How dare you hit me… Wuu…"
The proud little princess's voice was now choked with tears. Finally unable to hold back, large tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking them.
Hearing Ning Rongrong's sobs, Dai Chengfeng paused mid-swing, his hand frozen in midair.
He hadn't intended to harm her seriously; he merely wanted to teach her a lesson—to show her who held the upper hand.
Seeing that the effect had been achieved, most of the anger in his heart dissipated.
He released his grip on Ning Rongrong.
The moment she was free, Ning Rongrong bolted forward like a startled rabbit, taking two quick steps away.
Then she spun around sharply, pressing her back against the wall. Her hands instinctively covered her rear, and her tear-streaked face was drenched with sorrow. Her red, swollen eyes were filled with indignation and a hint of fear as she glared fiercely at Dai Chengfeng.
"You… You…"
She wanted to hurl threats, but seeing Dai Chengfeng's still stern gaze, and remembering the fiery sting of those slaps, the words died on her lips, leaving only hiccups.
Dai Chengfeng looked at the bawling little troublemaker before him. His tone softened slightly, though it remained firm and authoritative:
"Have you learned your lesson?"
"If not, you can go back right now—back to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Go find your Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone to avenge you. I won't stop you."
"Uh…" Though Ning Rongrong loved stirring up trouble, deep down, Dai Chengfeng brought her excitement and novelty—experiences she'd never had while staying within the confines of her clan.
If she were sent away because of this…
"Wuu… I'm sorry…"
Her voice was barely audible, like the buzz of a mosquito. She lowered her head, avoiding Dai Chengfeng's eyes.
"I… I know I was wrong… I shouldn't have caused trouble… or said things I shouldn't… I'm really sorry…"
Seeing her genuinely repentant expression, Dai Chengfeng finally felt all his anger dissipate.
He knew that for someone like Ning Rongrong—who responded better to tough love than softness—a bit of "force" was sometimes necessary to drive home the lesson.
"A mere apology isn't enough."
Dai Chengfeng's tone remained calm. "When we get back, do you know what you need to do?"
Ning Rongrong raised her tear-filled face and nodded, sniffling: "I… I know… I'll explain everything to Zhu Zhuqing and Nana… Tell them there's nothing between us… It was just… just me causing trouble…"
"And?"
"And… and…"
After some thought, Ning Rongrong added, "In the future… I won't make jokes like this anymore…"
Dai Chengfeng gave a slight nod. "Remember—if this happens again…"
Ning Rongrong instinctively pressed her legs together and cupped her rear with both hands, shaking her head vigorously. "It won't! It really won't!"
Seeing her reflexive actions, Dai Chengfeng almost burst into laughter.
He suppressed his amusement, pretending to be serious as he straightened his robes. "Alright, stop crying. Wipe your tears."
Ning Rongrong wiped her tears with the back of her hand, still looking pitiful. But her sobs gradually subsided.
"Let's go. Time for you to perform." Dai Chengfeng turned and headed toward the inn's entrance.
Ning Rongrong watched his retreating figure, biting her lip. Finally, she took tentative steps with her still wobbly legs and obediently followed.
Each step reminded her of the fiery sensation on her backside—the "torture" she had endured earlier. Her cheeks burned, and inwardly, she cursed Dai Chengfeng a thousand times over, calling him a "big jerk" and a "filthy pervert."
But outwardly, she dared not misbehave in the slightest.
The two returned to the dining hall one after the other.
The atmosphere inside seemed even more tense than when they had left.
Zhu Zhuqing's glass of water remained untouched, and only a small piece of fruit was missing.
Hu Liena had set down her silver spoon, folding her hands neatly on the table. Her calm gaze rested on the doorway.
High Priest Zhu Hongye continued eating her breakfast leisurely, seemingly oblivious to everything around her. Yet, the faintest trace of a smile played at the corners of her lips.
Upon seeing Dai Chengfeng and Ning Rongrong return—and noticing Ning Rongrong's obvious signs of having cried, her eyes red and swollen, her face streaked with tears, and her awkward gait—Zhu Zhuqing's icy gaze flickered ever so slightly.
Hu Liena's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.
Dai Chengfeng took a deep breath and gave Ning Rongrong a meaningful glance.
Receiving the signal, Ning Rongrong sniffled and walked over to the dining table, facing Zhu Zhuqing and Hu Liena.
"Zhu Zhuqing, Nana…"
Ning Rongrong nervously twisted the hem of her dress, keeping her head bowed as she confessed fully: "What I said earlier… it was all nonsense."
"The truth is… well, it's just that last night, I saw Zhu Zhuqing and then Nana both go to Dai Chengfeng's room… and… and I thought it would be fun to stir up trouble, to see Dai Chengfeng flustered…"
Zhu Zhuqing's furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
She understood Ning Rongrong's personality. This kind of "little devil" behavior was indeed typical of her.
A flicker of realization passed through Hu Liena's eyes.
She had already suspected that Ning Rongrong's earlier performance was overly deliberate. Now it was clear—it had all been a prank.
Still… the price of this prank must have been steep, judging by how hard Ning Rongrong had cried. Clearly, Dai Chengfeng had "taught her a lesson" outside.
Thinking about this, Hu Liena's lips curled into a faint, ambiguous smile as her gaze swept over Dai Chengfeng…
She wondered what methods he had used to bring the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to heel, making her return contritely to apologize.
After a long pause, Hu Liena chuckled softly and picked up her silver spoon again, speaking slowly: "So that's how it is."
"Little Sister Rongrong truly has… a childlike innocence."
Seeing this, Dai Chengfeng finally felt the weight lift off his chest.
"Rongrong is just a bit mischievous. I've already scolded her. Alright, alright, everyone, let's finish our breakfast."
With that, he hurried to his seat, grabbing a piece of bread and taking a big bite, as if celebrating his narrow escape.
Ning Rongrong cautiously sat down in her seat, picking up her utensils and eating small bites.
This tumultuous breakfast, full of twists and turns, was finally over without further incident.
After finishing breakfast and resting briefly, the group left the inn, boarded their carriage, and continued their journey toward the Great Star Dou Forest.
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