Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Shen Jiangliu was used to this miserly behavior. He raised his hand, and a slender bamboo stick flew down from the air, giving him an extra ounce: "Okay."

Fang Yanqing was already prepared; her lowered eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly, and she involuntarily clenched the blankets beneath her.

Having been fellow disciples with this spray bottle enthusiast for many years, I'm used to his foul mouth, but this is the first time I've experienced his "reasoning on behalf of the master" approach.

Although he felt a little strange, he didn't really object to Shen Jiangliu's actions. Besides, there was money involved, so why not make some?

Shen Jiangliu handed over another tael of silver. "You said I colluded with outsiders to deceive Master Yu. In other words, in your view, His Majesty is not a fellow disciple of ours, but at most an outsider?"

"Isn't that right?" Fang Yanqing frowned slightly in pain, then sneered, "What kind of proper master-disciple relationship is built on deception? If the teacher knew the truth, it's hard to say whether he would even acknowledge it."

If that small-hole honeycomb briquette heard these words, it would probably be heartbroken.

Shen Jiangliu twirled the small bamboo stick in his hand: "Then at tonight's celebration banquet, why didn't you, as the disciple, promptly step forward to serve your teacher, instead letting an outsider do it first? Could it be that your filial piety towards your teacher is less than that of an outsider?"

Fang Yanqing choked.

These words were utterly offensive, and he retorted without hesitation, "Aren't you the same? As the senior disciple, how dare you say that to me?"

Shen Jiangliu raised an eyebrow: "His status is special, and he rarely has such an opportunity to perform in front of the teacher. As the senior brother, I am naturally happy to see my junior brother being willing to be filial to the teacher, and I have no reason to compete for this opportunity."

Shen Jiangliu paused slightly, his tone meaningful: "You keep saying he's an outsider, but could it be that you think the same way I do?"

It's impossible to admit that I think the same way as the spray bottle expert.

The water bottle spirit kept calling His Majesty "Junior Brother," clearly indicating that he had already acknowledged His Majesty's status in the sect. If he were to openly admit it, wouldn't that mean he had also accepted this esteemed "Junior Brother" along with him?

He didn't want to gamble his teacher's safety on the emperor's whim.

I have no desire to join them in their grand scheme of deceiving the teacher.

The teacher changed his life, transforming his world from simply "living" into a vast and boundless realm.

He wouldn't switch sides just because of a congratulatory gift or a few words of pleading.

It is undeniable that the spray bottle spirit's statement is tantamount to admitting that his filial piety towards his teacher is not as great as that towards an "outsider".

This is especially frustrating.

Being stubborn and unable to think straight, Fang Yanqing simply decided to remain silent on the spot.

Clearly, his silence did not shut Shen Jiangliu up, nor did it stop him.

After the five taels of silver arrived in quick succession, Fang Yanqing's breathing became a little rapid, and a slight sweat appeared on the tip of his nose.

Although the spray bottle master's hands aren't as black as the teacher's, his combo attacks are still quite painful, not to mention that his output continues.

"If you truly consider him an outsider, then he is the supreme ruler, the sovereign of the world, the ruler of you, me, and our teacher. Your provocative words tonight, are you prepared to die in remonstrance?"

Fang Yanqing pursed her lips, her eyes filled with complex emotions, and she didn't utter a single word in response.

"So, are you prepared to risk your teacher, your senior brother, and yourself, letting things spiral out of control and facing the wrath of the Emperor?" Shen Jiangliu slowed his speech, his tone rising slightly. "Are you planning a fight to the death?"

Fang Yanqing swallowed hard, and after a long pause, he spoke each word with a completely flat tone, sounding exceptionally calm: "My teacher's reputation is renowned throughout the court, and his students are found all over the world. Unless His Majesty wants to ruin his reputation, he won't touch him. You are now a rising star in the court, a tool in His Majesty's hand, and a benchmark he has set for himself. As long as His Majesty doesn't intend to change his mind so easily, he will still need you and won't abandon you easily."

Shen Jiangliu sneered: "What, are you saying that the only thing you're willing to risk is your own life?"

Fang Yanqing did not answer.

"His Majesty certainly won't kill my teacher and me easily. You may disregard your own life, but you are my teacher's student, my junior brother..." Shen Jiangliu increased the force, quickly slapping him seven or eight times, and asked, "How can you expect us to accept this?"

Fang Yanqing bit his lip, suppressing his groan of pain. His lowered gaze rippled with emotion, unsure how to respond.

Shen Jiangliu said in a flat tone: "Besides, a single imperial decree is enough to confine the teacher to the capital, so that he can never leave the capital again, let alone travel the world and teach the people."

"Don't your teacher's ideals matter to you either?"

It's not that it's unimportant.

Fang Yanqing knew that Shen Jiangliu's sudden attack and questioning were not meant to get an answer from him, but to put pressure on him both physically and mentally.

Sure enough, that foul mouth didn't stop there; it kept babbling on and on, offering a completely different interpretation of his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Fang Yanqing, not without a bit of difficulty, earned another five taels of silver.

"If you don't treat him like an outsider, he's your junior brother." Shen Jiangliu's gaze swept over Fang Yanqing's back, which was slightly tense from the pain. "You exposed your junior brother's deception in public, ignited the conflict between him and the teacher, and embarrassed everyone. What was your intention?"

"Should we let things get even more out of control, leaving no room for reconciliation between the teacher and the junior disciple, or should we let everyone else see our sect become a laughingstock?"

"Is this what a disciple, a senior disciple, should do?"

The small bamboo stick drew out several hissing sounds from the air without any hesitation, turning them into muffled thuds as they hit the clothes.

Fang Yanqing lowered his head silently, the veins on his forehead bulging slightly, and a drop of sweat dripped from the tip of his nose, disappearing into the bedding and turning into a small dot.

Shen Jiangliu asked pointedly, "Fang Yanqing, do you treat him like the Emperor, gambling on the Emperor's wrath? Or are you certain that your junior brother is a wise ruler who won't do anything to your teacher, me, or even you, so you're fearless and recklessly testing his limits, forcing him to swallow his pride and prove your sincerity?"

Fang Yanqing's pupils contracted sharply, and he opened his mouth slightly, as if to say something in rebuttal.

Shen Jiangliu didn't even give him a chance to defend himself: "Do you think everything you've done is for the teacher? That you don't want the teacher to be misled?"

He chuckled. "Do you think the teacher is still completely oblivious? Why didn't he investigate further? And why didn't he respond to your question today, instead letting the matter drop?"

"Have you ever considered that the teacher covered his ears and closed his eyes, willingly remaining in the dark, because he had already made his choice? He respects and cares for his young student just as he cares for you and me?"

"He is waiting for the day when his young disciple will be willing to speak up."

Shen Jiangliu slowed his speech: "If that's the case, is it necessary for you to expose the truth and overstep your bounds?"