"..."

Ying Yu’an’s whole body stiffened, and cold sweat immediately dripped down his forehead.

He slowly turned his head, staring straight at Lóng’ào tiān, and said quietly, "Lóng’ào tiān, are you my sister’s dragon, or my dragon? How could you betray me so quickly?"

"Lóng’ào tiān is naturally your dragon, Young Master, sworn to protect you," Lóng’ào tiān hurriedly pledged loyalty, looking all earnest, but then his face instantly fell, "But even if you gave me a hundred guts, I wouldn’t dare disobey the miss’s order~~ In our house, up and down, except for a few Old Ancestors, who would dare to mess with the miss?"

"Even the Old Ancestors mostly cater to the miss’s temperament."

Ying Yu’an’s body was stiff, his face changing colors. He hesitated for quite a while before finally waving his hand in defeat, "You guys disperse first. I’ll come find you after I’ve dealt with my sister."

The group of little companions immediately scattered like they were receiving a great amnesty.

Only Ying Yu’an.

Was led by Lóng’ào tiān, apprehensively making his way to his sister’s courtyard.

[Jade Bamboo Court].

Jade Bamboo Court was Ying Yu’an’s sister’s courtyard. It was located in the core area of the main residence, just a courtyard wall away from the [Reed Gray Court] where Ying Yu’an lived with his parents.

This courtyard occupied a large area, but there weren’t many people in it. Most places in the courtyard were occupied by various Spiritual Bamboo, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they were spread all over.

The wind blew, rustling the bamboo leaves, making it feel very serene.

Ying Yu’an followed behind Lóng’ào tiān, walking along the small path in the courtyard, and quickly reached a section deep in the Jade Bamboo Court, in front of an Immortal Purple Jade Bamboo Forest.

In the bamboo forest, a graceful figure of a woman was holding a Jade Hoe, digging for Immortal Shoots.

Without much movement, with just one swipe of the hoe, she dug up a tender shoot that was still buried deep underground. The tender shoot was small, and including the bamboo sheath, was about half an arm’s length.

She was Ying Lingzhu, Ying Yu’an’s direct-line sister.

Ying Lingzhu had a gentle disposition and loved eating tender shoot ham soup on normal days.

In no time, she dug up five or six tender shoots and then, satisfied, finished her work.

Turning her head, she saw her brother Ying Yu’an standing not far away, looking like he had done something wrong, withdrawing his hands and feet.

Ying Lingzhu put down her basket of shoots and walked over with her lotus-like steps, showing a gentle smile on her face, "Yu’an, was it fun to snatch a maiden?"

"No, it wasn’t fun." Ying Yu’an shook his head like a rattle drum, then sweatily tried to explain, "No, no, sis, you misunderstood. I just wanted to buy you a maid, I never intended to snatch one."

"Hmm, looks like you’re quite obedient~" Ying Lingzhu laughed, "I heard you got beaten badly? Want me to go help you hit back?"

"I... don’t want to." Ying Yu’an was so frightened that his back went cold, quickly shaking his head, "Sis, how can someone of your noble status stoop to handle a wild girl?"

"Very well, lie down." Ying Lingzhu flipped her hand and placed a long stool on the ground, softly pointing at it.

"Huh?" Ying Yu’an’s face turned pale, urgently pleading, "Sis, I was wrong, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me..."

"Aotian." Ying Lingzhu called softly.

"Yes, Miss." Lóng’ào tiān stepped forward, looking pained and reluctant, held Ying Yu’an down on the long stool, and turned his head away, not daring to look at him, "Young Master, just bear it and it will be over."

"Lóng’ào tiān, you traitor who feeds inside and outside!"

"Young Master, Aotian is doing this for your own good."

"I want to see Father and Mother!"

"Even if you brought the Old Ancestor today, it would be useless." Ying Lingzhu’s face finally cooled down bit by bit, a glint of fierceness in her eyes.

She flipped her delicate hand, and a purple bamboo stick appeared in her hand, striking down on Ying Yu’an’s solid backside, "I told you not to learn well and forcibly seize a maiden!"

"Ouch, ouch, I was wrong."

"Luojing Four Young Masters! Ha, ha, I haven’t been back for a few years, and you’ve become one of the Four Young Masters?"

"Sis~~ boohoo, I’m going to be beaten to death."

"Wang Licui is a wild girl? A Saintess favored by my Master, with a chance to vie for the Taozi against me, and in your eyes, she’s just a wild girl? Then what does that make your sister?"

"Ouch, ouch, ah~~ I didn’t know!"

Ying Lingzhu lashed out with a flurry of strikes, harsher than what Wang Licui had meted out.

After a while, seeing Ying Yu’an beaten until he was more out than in, she stopped her hand and instructed Lóng’ào tiān, "Aotian, take him for a simple treatment, and then bring him back. I’m going to take him to apologize to Miss Lici."

"Sis, is that really necessary?" Lying prostrate on the long bench, Ying Yu’an, clutching his sore backside in tears, weakly expressed his own opinion, "Even if that Wang Licui has the qualifications to vie with you, we don’t have to fear her, right?"

"Is this a matter of fear?" Ying Lingzhu retorted angrily, "Our Ancient Saint Clan Ying is not afraid of anyone, but when you’re wrong, you have to own up. In the future, I’ll mostly be in seclusion at the Dao Palace, not concerning myself with worldly matters. If you are so incorrigible and antagonistic, how can I feel at ease?"

"Moreover, that Wang Licui’s background is very mysterious, and we might not be able to provoke it." Ying Lingzhu’s eyes flickered with a trace of doubt in her pretty pupils, "My Master suspects she comes from a Hidden Ancient Clan."

"Hidden Ancient Clan?" Ying Yu’an looked puzzled, "What is that?"