Noticing the coldness in Ning Fan's eyes, Lin i hurriedly said, "Young Master Ning, please don't misunderstand. I am loyal and devoted to you."
"Get to the point!"
"After Miss Ma left, she worried I might run away, so she locked here to wait for your return, Young Master Ning."
After speaking, Lin i complained, "Young Master Ning, if you had co back a day or two later, I really would have starved to death."
Ning Fan nodded, agreeing with Lin i's explanation.
Upon entering the room, he had noticed sothing peculiar.
The chains on Lin i were long; besides preventing her escape, they allowed her considerable freedom of movent, even letting her bask in the sun at the doorway.
Moreover, there were crumbs left on the wooden table, a cistern in the room with clear water,
and even a chamber pot had been placed there for Lin i's convenience.
Clearly, when Ma Fei'er left, she had considered Lin i's basic needs.
The strange sll Ning Fan had noticed earlier was due to these arrangents.
"Young Master Ning, you must trust . I truly have no ulterior motives. But Miss Ma doesn't..."
Just as she was speaking, Lin i saw Ning Fan wave his hand. Just when she closed her eyes, pale and preparing for death, she realized the chains on her body broke with a sound.
"Thank you, Young Master Ning, thank you!"
Having survived, Lin i hurriedly expressed her gratitude,
recalling Ning Fan's prior gloomy expression, she had thought she would be killed in anger.
"Get yourself cleaned up first."
Hearing this, Lin i felt embarrassed.
In the hot weather, not bathing for four or five consecutive days while trapped in a room used for basic needs made her sll unbearable.
"Oh!"
Ning Fan sighed heavily; his good mood before returning had now completely vanished.
"Fei'er, why are you so foolish? Couldn't you just wait for to return? We could have faced whatever it was together!"
Ning Fan thought about it but understood Ma Fei'er's reasoning.
If it was truly due to the Council of Elders' difficulties, Ma Fei'er's departure was indeed understandable.
She could only avoid conflict to resolve tensions between Ning Fan and the Ma Family.
"As the saying goes, a tiger never harms its cubs. The old mbers of the Ma Family shouldn't be that cruel, right?"
Since Ma Fei'er's departure wasn't due to an accident, Ning Fan felt slightly relieved of his anxiety.
His disdain for those stubborn old mbers of the Ma Family grew.
Ning Fan's eyes turned cold, "If I get the chance, I'd at least give those old guys a beating."
Killing them certainly wasn't an option unless he wished to sever ties with Ma Fei'er completely.
Not long after, a freshly bathed Lin i wearing dry clothes erged.
Lin i asked curiously, "Young Master Ning, are we heading back to Zhonghai now?"
She had accepted her position under others, thinking Zhonghai was Ning Fan's main base.
"Well..."
Ning Fan hesitated a bit; before, he indeed planned to bring Lin i back to Zhonghai and hand her over to Ouyang Feifei.
But now, this decision seed a bit shaky.
Seeing this, Lin i misunderstood and said with a sorrowful expression, "Ning Fan, do you still not trust ?"
Upon realizing she might be considered "one of us," Lin i indeed started to feel more open with Ning Fan.
"You've misunderstood."
Ning Fan smiled gently, "I said as long as you don't betray , I'll never harm you."
"That's good."
Lin i breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled flatteringly, "Regarding my situation, does Young Master Ning have any concerns?"
"That's indeed the case. I want to settle you in another place."
Lin i asked curiously, "What place?"
Ning Fan smiled, "This place has beautiful mountains, lovely waters, and exquisite scenery. The only downside is that it's isolated from the outside world, practically secluded."
Lin i's eyes shifted as she guessed, "It's similar to a Secret Realm, isn't it?"
"Sort of, more like an Arcadia."
Ning Fan was referring to the Hu Family's residence.
"Is there any danger?"
Noticing Lin i's cautious deanor, Ning Fan sighed at her fear of death but responded, "No danger, and there are even a few bodyguards to protect you."
"Protect ? More like monitor !"
Lin i thought cynically but quickly listened as Ning Fan said, "Either we return to Zhonghai, or you go to the valley I ntioned. Which do you choose?"
"I..."
Just as she was about to speak, Lin i's face changed slightly, then she quickly altered her answer, "I'll follow Young Master Ning's command, of course."
"I personally hope you go to the valley."
"I will follow all of Ning's commands."
Seeing Lin i's complex expression, Ning Fan smiled, "Since you are now one of us, I wouldn't harm you. Going to the valley, I hope you can assist by properly teaching those young girls."
"Young girls? Are they the bodyguards Ning ntioned earlier?"
"Yes. There are eight young girls there who grew up in the valley; their hearts are pure, so I hope you can teach them so worldly wisdom."
After speaking, Ning Fan said subtly, "After all, this world is perilous, and being too innocent could easily lead to misfortune."
"Rest assured, Young Master Ning, I will certainly teach them well."
Lin i understood Ning Fan's underlying aning, which clearly pointed out her crafty and slippery nature.
"Innocent Martial Artists! This is like finding a pillow when you're sleepy."
Thinking of this, Lin i was secretly delighted.
Ning Fan's arrangent was a golden opportunity for her.
Now that Lin i had beco useless, she must have capable people around her both for her safety and to gain Ning Fan's favor.
Seeing Lin i's calm expression, Ning Fan chuckled silently. He was fully aware of Lin i's intentions.
With Lin i's thickness and cunning, along with her sly heart, not only would inexperienced girls be fooled, even swindlers might be deceived by her.
Bringing Lin i to Purple Cloud's group of girls was akin to sending a wolf among sheep.
In due ti, the girls would surely be brainwashed by her.
Ning Fan knew this yet was confident in his approach.
Ning Fan chuckled inwardly, "Do you really think they're that simple?"
Though the girls from Purple Cloud grew up in the valley, naive in worldly ways, their minds were far from simple.
The Hu Family wasn't just any place; describing it as a den of wolves and tigers wouldn't be an exaggeration.
The Hu Family mbers were violent by nature, indifferent to life.
Growing up in such a place and surviving until now, the eight girls must possess exceptional skills, or they would have perished long ago.
Observant, socially adept, resilient, and determined...
With Lin i's thods, trying to brainwash such strong-willed individuals was nothing but wishful thinking.
Though the eight girls were sophisticated, Ning Fan's ability to win them over and earn their unwavering loyalty was due to coincidence and necessity.
In those ruthless years, the eight girls didn't weigh their lives heavily.
In their hearts, the hatred towards the Hu Family and the desire for revenge had surpassed the value of their own lives.
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