Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

"You only listen to half of what I say?" Jiang Jibai unconsciously tightened his grip, hearing his junior disciple groan in frustration. He then eased his grip, saying, "Why wouldn't you listen? I didn't want my probing to put you in a difficult position."

Qin Ji remained silent.

He was naturally anxious and fearful because he felt guilty.

Jiang Jibai couldn't understand why his little disciple, who was clearly not a sensitive, insecure, or overly sentimental person, and whose father and brothers had given him enough love despite his special status, should be a fearless prodigy. Why did he always seem to be anxious about their relationship, constantly trying to confirm something with him, and even after getting an answer, he still couldn't feel at ease?

In the past two days, he has been reflecting on himself and pondering what caused his junior disciple to make such a misjudgment, thus failing to gain enough security from him.

After much thought, it boils down to just two points.

Perhaps it was because of the disciple's special status, and because there were always countless unspeakable things when facing him.

Perhaps it was because of the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet when he misunderstood his junior disciple and stormed off without a word, and the angry words he uttered—"Bian Shidu, if this is your determination to benefit the people and speak up for them, I would rather I had never accepted you."

Jiang Jibai, unaware of the details, chose to respect his junior disciple's reluctance to speak out, thus accepting his powerlessness in this matter.

As for the latter, all he could offer was more affirmation and reassurance.

Jiang Jibai straightened Qin Ji's clothes: "In the end, I am just an ordinary person. I can also be blinded by anger and sometimes I cannot control my emotions well. I was wrong to say such hurtful things to you at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet. If this has caused you to have doubts and feel uneasy, I apologize to you."

Jiang Jibai paused slightly, gently stroking Qin Ji's back, his voice low and gentle like a babbling brook: "Feibai, please believe me, I have never had the thought of severing ties with you. Admittedly, you have kept things from me, and many times I have felt helpless and powerless, but that does not mean I am disappointed in you."

"Just because I'm your teacher doesn't mean you have to be involved in every little detail and share everything with me. You have your own difficulties, and I have my own boundaries. Many times, my only concern is that I, as your teacher, am unable to help you."

"If you don't want to talk about something, I won't ask. But if you want to talk about something, I will listen carefully."

"Whether you lie a lot or anything else, if you do something wrong, I will teach you and punish you, but I will never abandon you or be disappointed in you."

"No matter when you encounter difficulties that you can't solve, you can come to me. Although my abilities are limited and I can't share everything for you, as long as you come, I will always have a cup of hot tea and a bowl of soup for you."

The words were too confident, giving off an unreal, bubble-like quality, yet they were like the sweetest bait, irresistibly drawing Qin Ji into a state of intoxication.

If you knew who I was, if you knew my original despicable purpose, would you still be willing to keep your promise?

The better things are now, the more painful it will be when we lose them, right?

The day of facing the verdict is not far off.

A wave of sourness surged up and churned in his chest. Qin Ji's throat bobbed, and he buried his face in the pillow.

He was very quiet, his shoulders rising and falling slightly with deep breaths. He made no sound at all, and Jiang Jibai didn't even need to look at whether the pillow was wet to inexplicably sense that the boy was probably crying.

The young disciple's cries were always earth-shattering, but when truly caught up in emotions, he was always silent.

Jiang Jibai felt a surge of tenderness and pity. He gently stroked the back of the boy's head and quietly stayed by his side.

After an unknown amount of time, the boy's somewhat hoarse voice muffledly came from under the pillow: "Forget about the soup, your cooking is terrible."

Jiang Jibai: "..."

The boy disgustedly brushed Jiang Jibai's hand away: "And did you wash your hands? You're just touching my head..."

Jiang Jibai's hands were itching to give the boy a flick on the forehead, but seeing the boy's slightly red eyes, he got up and washed his hands in the wooden basin. When he came back, he vigorously rubbed the boy's head: "Grandpa, are you clean now?"

Qin Ji then let out a satisfied groan and condescended to let him massage him a few times.

Jiang Jibai suddenly remembered something and asked in surprise, "When did you and your senior brother become so close?"

The boy immediately reacted like a pufferfish, his face full of sullen anger: "Who's on good terms with Shen Jiangliu?"

If the junior disciple doesn't get along with his senior brother, why would he go and confide in him, saying in a pitiful tone that he feels "the teacher is disappointed in him"?

If the relationship between them is bad, why would the eldest disciple come here and tell me all about the grievances of the junior disciple?

The two had previously been at loggerheads.

Now that one knows to ask for help and the other knows to mediate, and seeing the eldest and youngest disciples being friendly and respectful, and only waiting for the second disciple to integrate, harmony within the sect is just around the corner. Jiang Jibai is very pleased.

A hint of a smile flashed in Jiang Jibai's eyes. Knowing that his little disciple was stubborn and wouldn't admit it, he said so, "Alright, alright, I misunderstood."

Qin Ji then withdrew his gaze, satisfied, and buried himself back in his pillow. After a while, he brought up the old matter again: "You're not going to punish me for recommending Zhao Siye?"

Jiang Jibai carefully put the porcelain bottle away and glanced at the boy: "I don't like to punish my disciples without understanding why. When you can tell me the whole story, if you are really in the wrong, you will be punished severely."

At that time, let alone proper blessings, it's uncertain whether even excessive blessings will be available.

Qin Ji cursed bitterly, "Stingy!"

Jiang Jibai: "?"

...

Second update delivered! Goal achieved! Double update tomorrow!