The man did not hesitate at all, asking a question casually before continuing to flog resolutely and relentlessly.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The sharp and biting sound of the whip exploded by the pool, each strike accompanied by Zhiwei's excruciating cries forcefully cut short.

Her arm spasmed uncontrollably, her palm a mess of deep red, tiny blood spots merging into a single mass.

The bone-eroding pain gnawed like a vicious ghost, her knees no longer able to support her, with a thud, she collapsed onto the meadow, her black hair clinging to her sweaty forehead, her frail body shaking like a sieve.

After ten lashes, Chen Ye retracted the whip, his movements crisp and decisive.

Looking down at her from above, Chen Ye spoke coldly:

"Does this pain cut to the bone? The pain today is to make you remember, peeking at your mentor and harboring ill thoughts are grave taboos in cultivation! Considering this is your first offense and your motives are still naïve, I only punished your palm today. If you repeat... you will be expelled from the sect! Now, do you understand your mistake?"

Zhiwei shuddered violently, expelled from the sect?!

The young girl lifted her face, incredulous, teary eyes looking at her master, choking on her pain, she forced the words out:

"Um...under...understood...disciple...will never dare again...master..."

She felt utterly desolate—Master...did not care for her at all.

If it had been the Master of the past, how could he...how could he bear to hit her? Let alone utter the words "expelled from the sect"...

The intense physical pain churned within her, the feeling of heartbreak a hundred times more excruciating than the physical torment.

She stared at the food box that had fallen to one side, the freshly baked pastries scattered on the muddy ground, something she had practiced countless times to get Granny Li's approval, wanting to share her joy with her master...

Seeing the young girl stagger off into the depths of the path, Chen Ye sighed.

This day's punishment should make her remember the lesson.

In his view, he was not wrong in what he did.

Who didn't face their parents' whip in their childhood?

And in his heart, Zhiwei's mistakes were too many.

First, she wantonly spied on him—even with deep feelings, Chen Ye had his boundaries, he was not his disciple's servant.

Second, being overly attached was not a good thing—granted, it was good for Chen Ye, but not for Zhiwei. Chen Ye didn't want his disciple to become someone's appendage, not even his own.

Third, it was a covert reminder to Zhiwei.

Wrongdoing could be done, but be sure not to be discovered, otherwise the consequences would be unbearable.

Falling into Chen Ye's hands today was merely a few lashes, but falling into others' hands...

Fourth...there was no fourth, there absolutely could not be a fourth...

Chen Ye shook his head, re-wrapping the whip around his waist.

He never forgot he was the master, having not only the responsibility to care for them but also to educate them.

Therefore, even though the Bone-Scraping Whip had long lost its effectiveness, being merely a First Tier Lower Grade Magical Artifact, he always kept it at his waist, using it to discipline his disciples.

Only pain can deepen one's impression.

...

When Zhiwei staggered back to the small courtyard, she was greeted by Qing Jun's cheerful little face.

"Senior Sister, Senior Sister! Look! Aunt Mao taught me to weave a wreath!"

The silver-haired little girl flitted over like a butterfly, proudly placing a slightly lopsided wreath woven from green vines and wildflowers on Zhiwei's head,

"It's so pretty!"

The little girl straightened her back proudly.

A beautiful senior sister, plus a beautiful wreath, that makes for ultimate beauty!

The kind that everyone adores!

But the senior sister's face was ghostly pale, lips white; she only managed a stiff smile: "Qing Jun is really amazing..."

Even though she received praise from her senior sister.

The little girl couldn't feel happy; she tilted her head, finally sensing something was wrong:

"Senior Sister?"

Only to see the senior sister suddenly lower her head, her long black hair obscuring all her expressions: "I'm fine, really."

"Senior Sister, what's the matter?" Qing Jun was a bit flustered; she held Zhiwei's hand, trying to get her to lift her head.

But the moment she touched Zhiwei's hand, her expression changed immediately.

The touch...was not right.

"Zhiwei?"

Sitting by the stone table, Mao Qingzhu also noticed the anomaly here. She put down the teacup in her hand and walked over slowly, her gentle, beautiful eyes falling on Zhiwei.

As a Foundation Establishment True Man, with just a slight sense, she could feel Zhiwei's frail state.

"Zhiwei, let Auntie see your hand." She squatted beside Zhiwei, her voice soft.

Zhiwei instinctively hid her injured hand behind her back, stubbornly shaking her head:

"Really, it's nothing..."

But the more she behaved like this, the more suspicious Mao Qingzhu became.

She said no more, directly reaching out, holding Zhiwei's unharmed wrist, then pulled out the small hand she had been hiding behind her back.

As soon as the bruised and mottled hand was exposed to the air.

Her pupils contracted: "This...what is this?"

"Ah...it's...the Bone-Scraping Whip!"

Qing Jun's face lost all color, the injuries were too obvious, the myriad of dense red pinprick-like blood spots surely caused by the Bone-Scraping Whip!

Why did Master hit Senior Sister?

"Darn it, Senior Sister, I'm going to get even with Master! He...he actually hit you..."

The little girl was very angry.

Although instinct told her that Master wouldn't hit Senior Sister without reason.

But she couldn't stand seeing Senior Sister hurt!

And Mao Qingzhu's face also looked somewhat grim.

What happened with Brother Ye?

He could actually lay such heavy hands on a child who so wholeheartedly relied on him!

Even if Zhiwei did something wrong, this punishment was too much.

With Zhiwei's intelligence, just a verbal teaching from Chen Ye would have made her understand her master's good intentions, so why use corporal punishment?

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