Feng Ninghe gently took her hand, her voice clear and soft, "Shall I escort you back? It will ensure your safety."
Before Si Xin Xin could reply, a powerful gust of wind suddenly swept up.
When the wind subsided, two figures stood before Feng Ninghe. Along with the wind came a palpable killing intent.
"Xin Xin."
The masked man standing at the forefront spoke.
His cool male voice carried a hint of anger.
Feng Ninghe's gaze immediately fell upon the masked man.
Upon closer inspection, she noticed intricate and beautiful patterns carved onto the mask.
Beneath the mask, his phoenix eyes were as clear as glass, yet as unfathomable as an abyss.
These eyes felt inexplicably familiar, as if she had seen them somewhere before.
Si Xin Xin shivered and tremblingly walked towards Si Jian Ye, "Father."
Father?
This was Xin Xin's inhumane, child-neglecting father?
Feng Ninghe subconsciously glanced at the man before her again.
"Si Xin Xin, you ran out again?"
Si Jian Ye raised his sword-like eyebrows, his voice filled with reprimand.
Si Xin Xin's chubby little hands clutched his sleeve tightly. She lowered her head, remaining silent.
"Have you forgotten everything you were taught during your confinement? How could you be so easily captured and thrown into an iron cage?"
His voice was cold, laced with fury.
His masked face hid his expression, but a stern glance sent a shiver down one's spine.
Si Xin Xin's head was almost bowed to the ground. Biting her small red lips, she accepted all blame, "It was Xin Xin who was playful and ran around, which is why I was caught. Xin Xin was wrong."
"Show me your hands."
His voice was low and husky, brooking no refusal.
Si Xin Xin obediently extended her hands. She tightly closed her eyes, awaiting punishment.
Si Jian Ye drew a willow branch and struck her palm fiercely, "Old rule, three lashes."
The first lash fell.
Si Xin Xin's palm instantly swelled and reddened.
Her chubby little hand was already small, and with this swelling, her entire palm turned crimson.
Seeing this, Feng Ninghe felt a pang of heartache.
At such a young age, prone to playfulness, why such harshness?
The second lash had not yet fallen when Feng Ninghe caught the willow branch.
As her hand touched the branch, a cool surge of spiritual energy flowed through her and into her body.
Her eyes immediately changed, and she looked at the willow branch in surprise.
This ordinary-looking willow branch was actually a spiritual artifact, imbued with cool spiritual energy.
This lash, with its spiritual energy, would directly enter the body, cleansing the mind and body, and even aiding in cultivation.
"What are you doing?"
Si Jian Ye narrowed his phoenix eyes, a dangerous glint appearing within them.
He finally looked directly at the woman before him.
Feng Ninghe's black hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders. A light veil obscured her face, but beneath her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows, her phoenix eyes flickered, carrying a hint of cold aloofness.
Yet, it was precisely these eyes that held a spark of liveliness.
This familiar aura... it was her!
The woman who had humiliated him by discarding pearls!
Excellent!
He hadn't expected to run into her!
Si Jian Ye's hand gripping the willow branch creaked, the crisp sound of bones colliding, signifying his rage.
He was Si Jian Ye, a figure of myth, yet he had been humiliated by an arrogant woman from the Li Kingdom.
He could not swallow this insult!
"Daddy."
Si Xin Xin sensed something and quickly tugged at Si Jian Ye's sleeve, her small face flushed with anxiety. "Daddy, I won't be foolish and listen to others again, getting tricked into a cage. Please don't be angry."
Ah Xi could feel Si Jian Ye's anger and looked at Si Xin Xin with pity.
They didn't know the true reason for Si Jian Ye's fury, only believing that Si Xin Xin had been disobedient and angered him.
Feng Ninghe spread out her palms and said with mock seriousness, "The child is young. I will take the remaining two lashes for Xin Xin!"
This statement brought tears to Si Xin Xin's eyes. She quickly wiped them away.
The pretty sister was too kind, willing to take the punishment for her!
"Pretty sister, I was the disobedient one, and it's right for Daddy to punish me. You shouldn't be punished!"
As she spoke, Si Xin Xin extended her chubby little hands again, her small figure standing protectively in front of Feng Ninghe.
In response, Feng Ninghe gently patted Si Xin Xin's small shoulder and shook her head generously, "Xin Xin, I am doing this willingly. Let me take the remaining two lashes."
The willow branch was a good thing, and she could endure this small hardship.
"Very well, since you've volunteered, I shall grant your wish."
Si Jian Ye spoke, his sudden voice chilling.
He poured all his spiritual energy into the willow branch.
The willow branch grew visibly larger, and in an instant, it became taller than Feng Ninghe.
Si Jian Ye curled his thin lips, his fierce gaze locked onto her, "Are you ready?"
Looking at the willow branch, now large and thick, taller than herself, Feng Ninghe's eyelids twitched involuntarily, and her scalp tingled. "It... it can actually grow this big."
This lash would be devastating.
She had no doubt she would be sent flying.
"Daddy... Daddy!"
Si Xin Xin quickly tugged at Si Jian Ye's sleeve, her small face contorted. He awkwardly bent over, "Xin Xin's stomach hurts!"
Si Jian Ye's attention was immediately diverted. He quickly put away the willow branch and picked up Si Xin Xin, "What's wrong? Why does your stomach hurt?"
Si Xin Xin feigned pain, "I ate too much... I need to go to the restroom!"
Si Jian Ye dared not delay and rushed off with Si Xin Xin.
As they left, Si Xin Xin winked playfully at Feng Ninghe, her earlier pain completely gone.
Understanding her subtle hint, Feng Ninghe sighed inwardly.
This child was truly adorable.
It was a shame she had such a ferocious father.
If Si Xin Xin hadn't cleverly found an excuse, that enormous willow branch would likely have fallen...
Feng Ninghe did not linger. She quickly moved away.
Suddenly, she sensed something and subtly turned her gaze.
A casual smile played on her lips as she changed direction and darted into the woods.
The dense forest was empty.
Feng Ninghe raised her eyes, her cool female voice slowly falling, "Little tail, come out."
In the shadows, a sneaky figure froze instantly and turned to flee.
However, before she could take two steps, Feng Ninghe was already standing before her.
"Little tail, I've caught you."
The one caught was Nanny Qiu, who had long served Madam Zhang.
Nanny Qiu smiled amiably and bowed respectfully, "I didn't expect to encounter Young Miss here."
This familiar face stirred memories long buried in Feng Ninghe's mind, memories she had almost forgotten.
Initially, Nanny Qiu had been her mother's maid.
After her mother's death, Nanny Qiu had defected to Madam Zhang, doing many shameful things for her.
Years ago, it was Nanny Qiu who had first discovered Feng Ninghe's whereabouts. She had promised to keep it a secret, but the very next day, the Feng family had come looking for her...