Chapter 70: Punishment (Patreon)

"Ah—!"

Ning Rongrong's shriek pierced the forest's nighttime hush—but the sound barely traveled.

Layers of leaves, branches, and roots muffled it like waves dampening shorebreak.

"Go on, scream. Louder." Lu Feng's voice dripped with mock villainy. "No one can hear you."

The line—delivered in classic "soon-to-die thug" fashion—amused him.

Not entirely true, though.

Twenty meters away, Zhu Zhuyun heard every word.

"Y-you dare hit me?!"

Tears cascaded anew down Ning Rongrong's cheeks.

A pampered jewel like her—who'd ever struck her? Her family spoiled her rotten; outsiders who so much as glanced wrong at her faced gruesome ends.

Yet Lu Feng had smacked her—without a shred of reverence for her status.

And where?

Her legs—her pride.

While her chest might be less full compared to other girls her age, her fair, delicate skin—soft as if it could break with a breath—outshone them all, especially on her long, flawless legs.

But now, those perfect, rounded thighs bore the sting of Lu Feng's unrelenting slaps. A vivid red handprint marred her snow-white skin, shattering the beauty and flooding her with shame.

"You cheated, so you lost. You're in my hands now," Lu Feng said with a sly smile.

"Let me down! This round doesn't count—we'll rematch!"

"On what grounds?"

"You—you never said you had twin souls!"

"Invalid."

"I refuse to concede!"

"Then you stay hanging. By the way… feel that itch? That numbness creeping in?"

Lu Feng activated the (paralysis toxin) from his vines.

"Y-you—poison me?! Release me—!"

"Say 'I lose.'"

"I'm not giving in! No way I'm admitting defeat! We're classmates—you wouldn't dare to harm me. Bet you don't even know who I am. Let me tell you, my dad is…"

"Ning Fengzhi. Patriarch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Your 'Sword Grandpa' and 'Bone Grandpa' are both Titled Douluos."

Lu Feng listed them off.

Titled Douluos.

The pinnacle of soul masters—each capable of dominating an entire region.

The continent's known Titled Douluos could be counted on one hand. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's single Titled Douluo secured their place among the Top Three Clans.

But two? Plus the Clan's bottomless wealth?

No one crossed them lightly.

Even the notoriously bratty Prince Xue Beng groveled before Ning Rongrong. Crown Prince Xue Qinghe—Ning Fengzhi's disciple—doted on her endlessly.

This was the backbone of her defiance.

"You know," she sneered, "yet you struck me? A mere Soul Elder like you—if my Sword Grandpa learns of this, hmph—"

SMACK!

"KYAAAA—!"

Her scream dwarfed the last.

Threatening him backfired spectacularly.

This time, Lu Feng's palm struck her embarrassing spot harder.

"Now it's more than just one hit," Lu Feng said lazily. "And there's a third one coming."

He wasn't about to waste time arguing. Actions spoke louder.

He'd already confirmed this method's effectiveness… on Zhu Zhuyun.

"S-stop! I surrender! I surrender, okay?! Wuwuwu…"

Each strike made her suspended body spin dizzyingly.

Finally, she cracked.

Faced with someone who truly feared nothing, she was the one who broke.

"Should've said that sooner."

Lu Feng lowered his hand.

Ning Rongrong took deep, shaky breaths, forcing herself to calm down.

Tears didn't move him. Threats backfired. So… maybe…

"You tied me too tight… Could you loosen it a little? Please?"

She squirmed slightly, her tone softening.

Lu Feng flicked a finger.

The vines slackened—just a bit.

She had no idea he could share his senses, feeling every curve of her soft, delicate figure through the vines.

It wasn't as vivid as touching her himself, but it was close.

Ning Rongrong let out a small sigh of relief.

Found his weakness—he responds to gentleness!

Pouting, she shot him a wounded look. "You seem like someone who'd cherish beauty… Why are you so cruel to me?"

Nearby, Zhu Zhuyun's eye twitched. "He was harsher with me. You got off light."

Lu Feng tilted his head skyward, gazing at the stars.

"A great sage from my homeland, Lu Xun, once said: 'To hit is to cherish; to scold is to love.'"

"Huh?"

Zhu Zhuyun's eyes glowed, brighter than the constellations. A sultry smile curled her lips.

So… he's liked me all along…

"Gah—!" Ning Rongrong's sapphire eyes widened, her heart suddenly racing. Her cheeks flushed pink.

"W-what kind of confession is this?! I-I'm not that kind of girl! I need to think—"

"Not a confession. It's about parents disciplining children." Lu Feng deadpanned. "Consider this your father's lesson, delivered by proxy."

Ning Rongrong: "…"

Zhu Zhuyun: "…"

"If I truly meant you harm," Lu Feng continued, "what would you do? Answer me."

"H-harm? Like… kill me? I'm not afraid to die!"

"Some harms are worse than death. They make you beg for it."

Lu Feng said, his hands moving with purpose as he tugged Ning Rongrong's skirt up slightly.

Sure enough.

Ning Rongrong understood instantly.

If a man forced himself on her like that, it'd be a fate worse than death.

But… if it were Lu Feng… maybe just a tiny bit less terrible?

—Pah! Since when did I become so shameless?!

Even though Lu Feng hadn't actually done anything, her heart still lurched. "I-I get it! Don't touch me again—just let me down!"

"Fine. Releasing you now."

He gestured, and the vines loosened.

"I'm still numb! If you drop me like this, I'll crash!"

"Then… I'll catch you?"

"…That's more like it."

The next moment—

—Ning Rongrong's delicate frame tumbled straight into Lu Feng's arms.

Soft jade against his chest. A flutter of floral scent.

His pulse stuttered. Before he could stop himself, he buried his nose in her hair and inhaled.

"W-what are you doing?! Just cure the poison already!" Ning Rongrong squirmed, her face burning.