The Villain Recognizes the Female Lead as His Master [Transmigration] - Chapter 35.2

However, with Chengyuan present, she had no choice but to acquiesce. He was Yuan Shao’s senior brother, and if she insisted on holding a grudge, it would reflect poorly on Yuan Shao.

So, despite her reluctance, Chi Jinnian tugged at Yuan Shao’s sleeve, signaling for her to make the decision on her behalf.

She assumed that since the other party was Yuan Shao’s senior brother and also an elder, Yuan Shao would likely show some leniency for his sake. After all, she truly was a demon there was no denying it.

Yuan Shao seemed to understand Chi Jinnian’s intention and tightened her grip on her hand before replying, “Since Senior Brother is here, I won’t make things difficult for them.”

Just as the two breathed a sigh of relief, Yuan Shao suddenly added, “The death penalty may be spared, but the living punishment is unavoidable. You two have spread rumors and sown discord within the sect. If we let you off lightly, others will surely follow your example.”

Chengyuan, knowing he was in the wrong, remained silent. Seeing that no one would back them, the two realized they would have to endure some suffering to escape this ordeal. Thus, one of them spoke up, “Elder, I am willing to accept twenty disciplinary lashes as a warning to others. I beg for your forgiveness!”

When Yuan Shao remained silent, the other added, “If twenty lashes are not enough to quell your anger, Elder, what about thirty?”

Thirty disciplinary lashes were no small number. The whip on the punishment platform was imbued with lightning energy. After thirty lashes, not only would their cultivation be severely damaged, but it would also take at least a year or more for their wounds to heal.

Thirty lashes everyone felt it was sufficient. Even Chi Jinnian was satisfied with this punishment. After all, they hadn’t caused her any real harm, and making them bedridden for a year seemed a fair consequence.

But Yuan Shao would not relent. “Do you think this is a marketplace where you can haggle with me? Since one of you said twenty and the other thirty, that makes fifty. I’ll double it a hundred each. Any complaints?”

A hundred disciplinary lashes these two would likely not leave the punishment platform alive. At this number, not only did the two collapse completely, but even Cheng Yuan’s face turned pale. These two had merely reported to him that Yuan Shao had brought a demoness back, and Yuan Shao had admitted it. He had only brought people along and hadn’t even laid a hand on the demoness. Why was Yuan Shao so furious?

Where did she place the dignity of her senior brother?

Seeing this, Chi Jinnian tugged at Yuan Shao’s sleeve. “Master, isn’t this too severe? A hundred lashes they might not survive. They didn’t harm me. Perhaps you could.”

Yuan Shao, however, smiled at Chi Jinnian upon hearing this. “Alright, as you wish.” Then she turned and said, “Since my disciple has pleaded for you, I won’t say more. It shall be as you two requested fifty lashes each. Go and receive your punishment.”

Fifty lashes, though it might shatter their spiritual roots, would at least spare their lives. Hearing this, the two felt as if they had narrowly escaped the gates of hell and hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude.

“Don’t thank me,” Yuan Shao said, pulling Chi Jinnian out from behind her. “Thank the one who pleaded for you.”

The two glanced at Chi Jinnian and, though reluctant, bowed deeply, their foreheads touching the ground, and said, “Thank you, junior sister.”

Cheng Yuan couldn’t bear to see his disciples kowtowing to a demon, but with Yuan Shao present, he couldn’t act out. He could only scold the two, “Get out of here! Don’t embarrass yourselves further!”

Their legs were already too weak to stand, and they had to be supported by other disciples to barely rise.

Though Cheng Yuan was resentful, he had no concrete evidence against the demoness at the moment. He could only grit his teeth and sneer, “A demoness as a disciple, I hope you can keep her under control, junior sister. This time it’s on your Jade Purity Peak. If she ever shows up elsewhere, don’t blame me for being merciless.”

Hearing this, Yuan Shao wasn’t angered. Instead, she smiled and replied, “Senior brother, don’t worry. My disciple is very attached to me. She wouldn’t want to stray too far from me.”

Yuan Shao’s tone was neither light nor heavy, and her expression carried a hint of pride, which Cheng Yuan found deeply irritating.

Truly, women are fickle. How had his once righteous and principled junior sister turned into this after just one trip away!

Cheng Yuan opened his mouth to speak, but upon seeing Yuan Shao tightly holding the demoness’s hand, he couldn’t utter a single word. He could only let out a cold snort and leave in anger.

On the other side, after the crowd dispersed, only the master and her two disciples remained in the Miaoyan Palace.

Only after everyone had left did Yuan Shao notice Su Tingxi, who had been standing at the back all along. She had nearly forgotten there was such a person in the courtyard. When someone had come knocking earlier, this senior disciple of hers had hidden in the back without saying a word. Yuan Shao’s gaze toward him carried a trace of disappointment.

Fortunately, fortunately, the elixir her little disciple had given her had allowed her to build her foundation and recall some past events. If her senior brother had come today and she hadn’t recognized anyone, with Su Tingxi remaining silent, her little disciple would surely have been taken away. The consequences that would follow she didn’t even dare to imagine.

“Aren’t you supposed to be sweeping?” Yuan Shao asked him coldly. “Then sweep the steps up the mountain as well.”

Su Tingxi was already upset about being ignored, and now his master’s words felt like a punishment. But what was he being punished for? Not speaking up for Chi Jinnian?

He stood rooted to the spot, unmoving, as jealousy slowly burned within him.

“What are you standing there for?” Yuan Shao’s tone grew sharper when he saw Su Tingxi hadn’t moved. “Do my orders mean nothing to you now?”

“I wouldn’t dare.” Though reluctant, Su Tingxi had no choice but to grit his teeth, grab the broom, and step out of the palace gate.

For a moment, only Chi Jinnian and Yuan Shao remained in the courtyard. Seeing his little disciple’s troubled expression, Yuan Shao reached out to comfort her. “Don’t be afraid. I’ve chased them all away. No one will bully you anymore.”

Upon hearing this, Chi Jinnian breathed a sigh of relief. After a long while, she finally spoke softly, “Master, I’m sorry.”

“You haven’t done anything wrong. Why are you apologizing?” Yuan Shao asked. “Is it because you’re a demon?”

Chi Jinnian shook her head. “It’s not just that. Master, when I was here before, I used to dye my hair black on purpose. Today, I was careless and forgot, which ended up causing trouble for you.”

What Chi Jinnian feared most was that Elder Chengyuan had questioned Yuan Shao about when she had taken her as a disciple. What if Yuan Shao found out that she had never actually been her disciple from the start, that she had been deceiving her all along.

“You don’t need to do that anymore,” Yuan Shao said. “You are my disciple. There’s no need to hide who you are. As long as I’m here, no one can harm you.”

Chi Jinnian lowered her head but suddenly remembered something and asked, “Master, when did you find out?”

Yuan Shao looked at her little disciple, whose eyes were downcast and cheeks puffed out as if she were sulking. Unable to resist, she reached out and gently poked her cheek, smiling. “I knew before you gave me the apprenticeship gift.”

The two mice had pointed toward the demon realm, and her little disciple had led her all the way here, claiming her home was nearby. Yuan Shao had already grown suspicious. Coupled with her little disciple’s reddish-brown hair and deep-set eyes, it became clear to her.

However, she only recalled the characteristics of demons on the day her little disciple had asked to live with her.

Her little disciple had said that she had always been strict with her, and Yuan Shao figured it must have been because of her race.

Thinking of this, Yuan Shao asked, “Before this, has anyone ever bullied you because of this?”

Her fingertip brushed against Chi Jinnian’s cheek, where a layer of soft fuzz made the skin feel smooth and delicate. Yuan Shao seemed to find it amusing and didn’t want to stop, her finger poking repeatedly at Chi Jinnian’s soft skin.

Chi Jinnian denied it while covering her face, looking aggrieved. “Master, stop teasing me.”

Fortunately, Yuan Shao only knew she was a demon and hadn’t yet remembered the person who had attacked her that day.

Seeing her reluctance, Yuan Shao withdrew her hand. “What were you doing running down the mountain earlier?”

“I.” Chi Jinnian pulled a small bottle from her sleeve, a pre-prepared excuse. “I went to collect dew.”

Yuan Shao looked at the bottle, where the dew had barely covered the bottom. It seemed she hadn’t had time to collect much before being frightened back by the large group of people.

“Don’t go again,” Yuan Shao comforted her. “If you want to drink it, I’ll help you gather it. Look at you, going out so early in the morning and only managing to collect this little.”

Chi Jinnian lowered her head. “I wasn’t collecting it for myself.”

“Hmm?” Yuan Shao looked at the porcelain bottle in her palm, but before she could voice her thoughts, Chi Jinnian revealed the answer.

“Master, I heard that fairies drink dew,” Chi Jinnian said, raising her eyes and smiling at her. “Master, you’re so wonderful. I’m sure you’ll become an immortal one day. I wanted to gather some for you in advance so you can get used to it.”

Yuan Shao saw that her little disciple’s expression had finally returned to normal, the earlier fear completely gone, replaced with hopeful anticipation. Unable to resist her adorable demeanor, she pinched Chi Jinnian’s soft cheeks with both hands. “There’s no need for that!”

Her cheeks were rubbed back and forth, and Chi Jinnian puffed up in annoyance as she took a step back. What kind of twisted amusement was this treating her like a child? Since Chi Jinnian hadn’t been particularly tall in her original world either, she had a particular aversion to others treating her as small.