Feng Ninghe calmly met the angry gaze before her, pointing to the cultivators beside her. "You apologized to me, but what about them?"
The pointed-to cultivators looked flattered. They hadn't expected Feng Ninghe to seek justice for them.
Ye Ze quickly waved his hand, refusing. "Miss Feng, as long as you don't feel wronged, that's enough. Besides, what this young lady said has some truth to it. We aren't in a position to demand an apology from her."
"Exactly!"
Sheng Linglong's face turned red with anger, her furious eyes fixed on Feng Ninghe. "Even if I was wrong, I've already apologized. What more do you want from me?"
Feng Ninghe met those angry eyes, her bright yet serene face devoid of any excessive emotional ripples. Her voice, as always, was cold. "These cultivators bore a significant portion of the pressure alongside us in defending against the human puppets. That is their contribution. Human lives are of utmost importance. If I hadn't stopped them, they might have already left the wooden house to their deaths."
Her words made Ye Ze swallow what he was about to say, his gaze towards Feng Ninghe filled with admiration.
Even if he was being accused or humiliated, he didn't mind.
These were external matters, insignificant.
But now, his heart was filled with gratitude and warmth.
Feng Ninghe didn't know them, yet she was willing to stand up for them.
He remembered this kindness.
"But you already stopped them! They are standing here safely and didn't leave the wooden house!"
Sheng Linglong couldn't hide her anger, glaring at Feng Ninghe with displeasure. "I am a disciple of Shengtian Academy. My parents command the entire Shengtian Academy. Even if I don't apologize, what can you do to me? Do you dare offend Shengtian Academy?"
She didn't hesitate to reveal her background.
Anyone else would have retreated at this.
Offending an academy was no small matter.
Feng Ninghe smiled, unconcerned by the mention of the academy. "I have already given you the two shield jade slips that Shengtian Academy contributed. Now, what right do you have to accuse others of not contributing? You yourself refused to leave the wooden house, so why are you being so aggressive?"
The earlier clamoring words were all directed at Feng Ninghe.
It was likely that Shengtian Academy not only wanted to drive away Ye Ze and the others but also Feng Ninghe herself.
"You!"
Sheng Linglong was choked by her words. She knew she was in the wrong but refused to back down in front of everyone. "I won't apologize. What can you do to me?"
The arrogant, domineering female voice reached Feng Ninghe's ears. Her eyes curved into a smile, "Have you forgotten that this wooden house is mine? I can let anyone in I want, and I can make anyone leave."
This woman had spoken disrespectfully multiple times.
This was merely a small punishment.
Her clear, cold voice reached Sheng Linglong's ears, stirring a tempest in her heart.
Sheng Linglong's expression involuntarily stiffened, a hint of gloom lingering in her eyes.
As a daughter of the Sheng family, she had been pampered since childhood. Everyone indulged her and dared not offend her.
Yet now, someone dared to humiliate her.
How could she swallow this insult?
Sheng Linglong glared fiercely at the woman before her, her warning words slowly falling. "Are you sure you want me to apologize?"
Undoubtedly, if Sheng Linglong apologized, Feng Ninghe would completely offend her.
In the Dragon Domain, no one would dare offend Shengtian Academy, not even other academies would completely alienate them.
Ye Ze's eyes showed a hint of hesitation. He softly advised, "Miss Feng, it's really not worth offending Shengtian Academy for us. Let's just let this matter go."
Feng Ninghe gently shook her head, her bright yet serene face exquisitely beautiful. "I am not only seeking justice for you all, but I am also seeking an explanation for myself."
She was no living Bodhisattva, nor a docile little rabbit. She would never allow herself to be bullied.
Sheng Linglong's actions, while seemingly targeting the cultivators, were actually aimed at her.
Ye Ze stopped persuading her, deliberately lowering his voice. "Miss Feng, no matter what, this matter is not unrelated to us. I will remember this kindness. If you ever need help in the future, just ask, and I will do my utmost."
Sheng Linglong bit her lip, looking intently at Feng Ninghe. "Think carefully whether you want me to apologize."
Feng Ninghe raised her delicate eyebrows, unconcerned by the warning. "These words should be said by me to you. Whether to apologize, the decision is yours, not mine."
The implication was that she didn't care about the warning.
She was equally indifferent to offending Shengtian Academy.
Sheng Linglong was not foolish and naturally understood the meaning behind these words. She stared directly at the woman before her, her eyes burning with fierce flames.
Their eyes met, each holding different emotions.
Feng Ninghe's expression remained unchanged, her eyes holding a hint of cold detachment.
Sheng Linglong closed her eyes, as if steeling herself to endure something.
After a moment, she opened them and spoke again. "I apologize for what happened earlier. I hope all the cultivators will not take it to heart. Feng Ninghe, are you satisfied now?"
Hatred was growing wildly within her.
At this moment, she secretly vowed that she would never let this woman have an easy time!
Feng Ninghe calmly withdrew her gaze, ignoring her.
"Miss Feng, I apologize."
Du Chang's handsome face showed a hint of apology, his deep voice slowly falling. "We were indeed impolite today."
As his voice fell, Sheng Linglong's gaze sharpened instantly. "Brother Du! You didn't do anything wrong, why do you need to apologize?"
At this moment, Feng Ninghe also turned her gaze to Sheng Linglong. "Young Master Du indeed doesn't need to apologize, and besides, someone has already apologized."
Despite her words, Du Chang's face still held a hint of helplessness. "Miss Feng, I am considered Sheng Linglong's half-brother. I failed to discipline her properly, so an apology is fitting."
Feng Ninghe quietly looked up at the human puppets outside the shield.
The entire view was filled with human puppets.
The number of human puppets was terrifying.
"The human puppets have spirit crystals within them. Where did these things come from?"
Feng Ninghe's eyes held a hint of contemplation.
Du Chang glanced at her. "The human puppets come from the border. To know the secret, one must go there. But no one has ever returned alive from the border."
The human puppets within the border were terrifyingly numerous.
Even those with high cultivation could not retreat unscathed.
"Miss Feng, where are you from? Why are you so unfamiliar?"
Du Chang looked at her with slight suspicion. "How can someone who can tame divine beasts be unknown?"
Especially since she tamed an ancient Qilin.
Su Hongxiu also walked over, her well-defined fingers gently fanning herself, a smile on her face. "We are from Xuanzhou Continent."
"Xuanzhou Continent?"
"This place... sounds a bit familiar..."