After everyone was reborn, I was strictly disciplined.

After Xie Xingran left, Lu Chengyuan lay on the ground for a while. After an unknown amount of time, the excruciating heaviness and pain gradually receded like the tide, and his strength slowly returned to his body.

Lu Chengyuan then slowly moved his fingers, then propped himself up on his arms and barely managed to stand up straight.

He patted his rough hands repeatedly on his body, brushing away the dust from his clothes. His fingertips inadvertently touched the bruises, and he couldn't help but gasp.

He looked up and saw Wu Hao still lying on the bed, his back to him, motionless, like a lifeless stone statue.

Wu Hao seemed not to have heard a sound or seen a single scene from the farce and the humiliation that had just unfolded.

Lu Chengyuan's throat was dry and sore, with a barely perceptible unease: "I... I'll continue applying the medicine for you."

"Wash your hands first."

Wu Hao's voice came lightly, devoid of any emotion. Lu Chengyuan's hands were covered in dust, and Wu Hao didn't want his wound to get infected.

"Oh..." Lu Chengyuan's face flushed red, and he rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly, waiting for him to come back after washing his hands.

Wu Hao then slowly turned around, his eyes filled with an unyielding indifference, not even glancing at Lu Chengyuan.

Lu Chengyuan silently picked up the medicine bottle placed on the bedside table, unscrewed the stopper, and a cool medicinal fragrance wafted out, slightly dispelling the stuffiness in the room.

A cotton swab dipped in ointment was gently applied to the wound on Wu Hao's back.

The only sounds in the room were the faint rustling of cotton swabs against skin and the heavy breathing of the two people. An indescribable awkwardness and stagnation permeated the air, heavy and suffocating.

After a moment, Lu Chengyuan finally broke the silence, his voice still hoarse but filled with utmost solemnity: "Wu Hao, I'm sorry."

These words seemed to finally touch Wu Hao. He slowly opened his eyes, raised his eyelids, and glanced at Lu Chengyuan with a faint look.

There was no anger or accusation in his eyes, only a cold indifference, as if he were looking at a stranger. His gaze swept over the bruises on Lu Chengyuan's face without lingering for a moment, and then slowly moved away.

Lu Chengyuan met his gaze without flinching and continued, his tone filled with guilt and determination: "It's all because of me that you got beaten up. I'll remember this kindness, and I will definitely repay you in the future."

"Forget about repaying me." Wu Hao suddenly snorted coldly, his tone filled with undisguised mockery and impatience. He lowered his eyelids and closed his eyes again.

"Just mind your own business and don't cause me any more trouble. That's the best way to repay me."

Lu Chengyuan paused, his expression stiffening slightly.

He knew that Wu Hao didn't believe him at all.

Yes, anyone would probably not believe it.

Lu Chengyuan was of mediocre talent, even worse than Wu Hao, and his family was extremely poor.

My mother has been bedridden for many years. In previous years, she relied entirely on the help of neighbors. Later, thanks to Xie Xingran's help, my mother's condition finally started to improve and she gradually got better.

Over the years, in order to treat his mother's illness, the family has become destitute. Not to mention saving money, it is difficult to even make a basic living.

The meager wages he earned were barely enough for his family to make ends meet; where would he find the extra money to repay others?

Wu Hao understood things clearly; he saw things thoroughly, which is why he was so sarcastic and disdainful.

Lu Chengyuan's face flushed red instantly, and his tone was somewhat unwilling:

"I will repay you, really. As long as that Xie Xing... Young Master Xie stops causing me trouble, I will work hard, save enough money, and definitely pay you back!"

"I hope so."

Wu Hao responded indifferently, his eyelids drooping heavily, and he didn't look at Lu Chengyuan again.

After an unknown amount of time, the medicine was finally applied. Lu Chengyuan stood up, slowly opened the door, and gently closed it again without making a sound, as if he had never been there.

As he stepped out of the room, a warm feeling instantly enveloped him. Looking up, he saw a clear blue sky without a trace of impurity, with dappled sunlight filtering through the gaps in the leaves.

Such fine weather, such warm sunshine, should have made people feel happy, but Lu Chengyuan felt no warmth at all, his heart still heavy.

He raised his hand to touch the bruises on his face that had not yet faded, and felt a slight stinging pain. Xie Xingran's arrogant and mean face, as well as the unbearable humiliation he had just suffered, reappeared in his mind.

A strong sense of resentment welled up in his heart. He didn't want to continue like this, he didn't want to be bullied by Xie Xingran anymore, and he didn't want to live such a humble and wretched life anymore.

As long as Xie Xingran is still alive, he will never be able to hold his head high, never be able to live a good life in this holy land, and never be able to let his family live a peaceful life.

Just as he was filled with despair and confusion, two maids slowly walked past him.

"Have you heard? The Holy Maiden and her son-in-law have finally returned. This long-running war is finally over."

"Yes, yes, they're finally back. Everyone was on tenterhooks these past few days. Now that the Holy Maiden and her husband have returned safely, everyone can finally relax."

Their words were light and casual, yet they suddenly gave Lu Chengyuan a small but firm glimmer of hope.

He had heard the names of the Holy Maiden Liu Qingwan and Xie Jinghan more than once.

Legend has it that the Holy Maiden is gentle and kind, with the world in her heart, while her husband Xie Jinghan is highly skilled in martial arts, upright and incorruptible, hates evil as if it were his enemy, cares for the poor and suffering, and never shows favoritism to anyone.

A bold idea gradually rose in his mind:

Xie Xingran is the child of the Holy Maiden and Xie Jinghan. If he could tell them everything Xie Xingran has done these days, the humiliation and bullying he has suffered, and Wu Hao who has been implicated, they would be able to help.

Will they try to keep Xie Xingran in check? Will they stand up for him?

Thinking this, he took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and quickly stepped forward to stop a guard not far away, asking where the Holy Maiden and Xie Jinghan were.

Along the way, he inquired from countless people and went through numerous interrogations and checks by guards. He explained his purpose time and time again and endured the strange looks from others. His anxiety and unease grew stronger and stronger, but he never gave up.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally arrived in front of Xie Jinghan.

He recounted in detail how Xie Xingran had bullied and humiliated him, how Wu Hao had been beaten because of him, and all the grievances and hardships he had suffered in recent days.

Xie Jinghan stood quietly in place, the pressure around him gradually decreasing as Lu Chengyuan spoke, and a layer of coldness covering his deep eyes.

He didn't interrupt Lu Chengyuan, but just stared at him intently, his expression unreadable, showing shock, anger, and a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment.

That was the shame a father felt upon hearing what his son had done.

"So?" Xie Xingran, exuding an arrogant and fierce aura, looked up at Xie Jinghan, whose face was ashen, a mocking smile playing on her lips, her tone flippant and disdainful.

"Are you going to punish me for the sake of an outer disciple? Father—"

As he spoke, he casually walked forward, arms crossed, completely oblivious to the anger in Xie Jinghan's eyes.

He even deliberately lifted his foot and lightly kicked Lu Chengyuan's knee, his tone becoming increasingly sarcastic:

"Lu Chengyuan, you've got some guts, haven't you? You can't beat me, so you run to my father for help? You're spineless, no different from a dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy."

Lu Chengyuan felt a sharp pain in his knee from the kick, but he gritted his teeth and did not dodge. He simply raised his head and stared intently at Xie Xingran.

The grievance and anger in his eyes grew stronger, but because Xie Jinghan was present, he dared not easily lash out.

Looking at the unruly and unrepentant child in front of him, Xie Jinghan was instantly enraged, a rage that seemed to burst through his chest and devour him.

He opened his mouth, wanting to scold him, wanting to call out his son's name, but the words stuck in his throat.

He still couldn't get over that hurdle in his heart.

Seeing Xie Xingran's current actions, Xie Jinghan was not surprised at all; on the contrary, it was within his expectations.

Sure enough, Xie Xingran is a born villain, no matter how old she is.

He suppressed his anger, his tone icy cold, his gaze fixed on Xie Xingran like a sharp sword: "So, you're admitting it? You've been bullying him, humiliating him all along, haven't you?"

"What do you mean by bullying him?"

Xie Xingran retorted with a disdainful look, "It's clearly him who's arrogant and disrespectful to me. What's wrong with me teaching him a lesson?"

"Furthermore, his mother was seriously ill, and he begged me to treat her, crying. Shouldn't he pay some price for that?"

He stared at Lu Chengyuan, his eyes filled with undisguised mockery and contempt:

"I didn't make him pay exorbitant medical bills, I didn't break his legs or dislocate his arms, and I certainly didn't try to kill him. I just made him bark like a dog three times for a bit of fun. Is that considered bullying him?!"

"Lu Chengyuan, aren't you taking yourself way too seriously?"

"You're insulting me, insulting my dignity!"

Lu Chengyuan could no longer hold back; his eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaved violently, and his voice was hoarse with excitement.

"Yes, I begged you to save my mother, and I did bark like a dog three times. I endured that humiliation, thinking it was the end of it. But why? Why are you still bullying me and humiliating me today?!"

His voice was filled with resentment and accusation, as if he wanted to pour out all the grievances and humiliations he had suffered over the past few days.

He stared intently at Xie Xingran, hoping he would feel even a trace of remorse.

But Xie Xingran seemed amused by his accusation, scoffing and saying nonchalantly:

"Why? There's no reason, I just want to! I just don't like you, I just want to bully you, what can you do about it?"

"Go ahead and sue me if you dare! I want to see if my father would really punish me for someone as lowly as you!"

After saying that, he deliberately gave Xie Jinghan a provocative look, and his fearless appearance completely ignited the anger in Xie Jinghan's heart.

"You bastard!"