Chapter 189: 189 You Aren't Even Willing to Let Him Call Me Father!

What?

Let himself kneel before the hall and whip himself a hundred times to beg Ning Mu, that piece of trash, for forgiveness?

"Mother!"

Wu Yuxiao immediately cried out in disbelief.

"Go!"

"If you still want the two of us to live to see tomorrow's sun, and if you still want the elders of the Mountain Stronghold to be safe and sound, then go and accept your punishment!"

Zhu Yaluan suddenly exploded, her aura formidable, her words filled with fury.

It was unclear if she was venting her frustration at herself or blaming Wu Yuxiao for being stubborn and ignorant; Wu Yuxiao's expression stiffened.

He had never seen such an expression on his mother's face before.

Especially the regret that filled her words at this moment, which made even him feel a sense of shame.

"This child understands!"

Wu Yuxiao said with a stiff face and a muffled voice.

He was very unwilling.

But such a grave expression from his mother was something he had never seen before.

Yet, at the thought of himself, a dashing Young Master, having to kneel and beg for mercy, he could not stop the grief and indignation in his heart.

"Go!"

Zhu Yaluan's expression was grave; she struck Wu Yuxiao's back with her palm, channeling her internal energy into him to stabilize his injuries.

Afterward, she grabbed him by the collar and lifted him up; the two of them, one in front and one behind, walked toward the entrance of the main hall with grave and complex expressions.

"Kneel!"

Zhu Yaluan, holding the horsewhip she had just borrowed from a guard, pointed at the ground and barked at Wu Yuxiao.

Wu Yuxiao's face was deathly pale, his eyes filled with hatred.

But he still knelt to the ground.

Then.

Zhu Yaluan threw the horsewhip in front of him.

Hatred appeared in Wu Yuxiao's eyes, but he still picked up the whip out of spite, lashed himself with a backhand stroke, and then shouted loudly: "Wu Yuxiao of Yunxiao Stronghold, knowing I have violated the laws of Ningyang Stronghold, have come to beg for forgiveness and will whip myself one hundred times!"

"I ask that Ning Zhaozhu be magnanimous and forgive this lowly one for his recklessness!"

"Two, three, four..."

Wu Yuxiao counted aloud as he whipped himself.

The commotion here immediately attracted many people to come and watch.

Some had even started pointing and whispering; it was estimated that before long, the news of Wu Yuxiao, the young leader of Yunxiao Stronghold, whipping himself a hundred times to beg for forgiveness would spread throughout the Three Mountains and Four Ridges.

Watching his son land every single blow solidly on his own body, Zhu Yaluan could not help but feel a flicker of heartache in her eyes.

As a mother, how could she bear to watch this scene?

But she still hardened her heart.

When Wu Yuxiao had whipped himself to the tenth stroke, her face turned slightly flushed, her gaze drifted and flickered, and she bit her lip, lifted her feet, and crossed the threshold of the main hall.

"Ning Zhaozhu!"

"This humble one has come to beg for forgiveness."

Zhu Yaluan, her expression revealing a hint of trepidation, a hint of unwillingness, and a hint of helplessness, knelt before the steps of the hall.

She bowed her body and lowered her head, prostrating herself completely.

"What is this that Zhu Zhaozhu is saying?"

Ning Mu sneered, then feigned alarm as he stood up and walked down.

He helped Zhu Yaluan up and said with biting sarcasm: "Madam, you are of high status and peerless beauty; for a dignified Grandmaster to humble herself in my small Mountain Stronghold is already enough to make my Ningyang Stronghold shine with glory!"

"For such a noble person to have allowed this Zhaozhu to have his way once is already a great favor; what sin could there be?"

Zhu Yaluan's face flushed red instantly, but a moment later, panic flashed in her eyes.

Admittedly, Ning Zhaozhu could be sarcastic.

He had the qualifications to do so!

But she did not have the confidence to face it! Even though she was being held by the shoulders by Ning Mu, that warm hand seemed to contain some kind of magic, making her heart palpitate.

Especially here, where her son Wu Yuxiao could clearly see every move Ning Mu made toward her.

Yet, even so, she dared not offer the slightest resistance.

"Ning Zhaozhu, this humble one truly knows she was wrong and had no intention of offending you. Seeing Xiao'er being bullied, I lost control of my emotions; I ask that Ning Zhaozhu please understand!"

Zhu Yaluan's face was flushed with shame, her expression filled with helplessness and panic.

She felt Ning Mu's hand.

It was about to reach the food bag from Xiao'er's childhood!

No!

If Xiao'er saw this, she would have a hundred deaths to atone for and would have no face to see the elders of Yunxiao again!

At this thought.

Zhu Yaluan suddenly had a flash of inspiration; she knelt straight down at Ning Mu's feet and begged for mercy again: "Please, Ning Zhaozhu, understand this humble one's heart as a mother, and please also understand the self-esteem of one who has become a servant for the first time!"

As she spoke, Zhu Yaluan kowtowed again.

Ning Mu's hand lingered in the air, flicking at the empty space, before he calmly and composedly withdrew it and stood with his hands behind his back.

He first glanced at the distance outside the hall, where Wu Yuxiao was kneeling against the light at the entrance, whipping himself, counting loudly, and filled with hatred.

Only then did he lower his head to look at Zhu Yaluan, who was prostrate on the ground and unwilling to rise.

He extended his foot and lifted Zhu Yaluan's face.

A flash of humiliation and shamed anger immediately crossed the depths of Zhu Yaluan's eyes.

"Twenty-seven, twenty-eight..."

And outside the hall.

Wu Yuxiao, who had just been whipped on his back, was counting to twenty-eight.

Seeing this scene, he immediately widened his eyes in disbelief, his eyeballs nearly bulging from their sockets in fury, and the movement of his hands stopped as he stared fixedly into the hall.

Veins bulged on his forehead, beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down, and his face was filled with extreme, intense rage.

His own mother was the former Alliance Leader of the Three Mountains and Four Ridges, a dignified Grandmaster of the Sitting Reflection Realm; not to mention on Xima Mountain, even in the great Chu Kingdom and Great Qi, she would be treated with the utmost courtesy by any noble she encountered.

Even the generals of the Chu Kingdom's Zhenwu Army treated her with exceptional favor.

Yet here.

Her dignity was being trampled upon like this!

Her face was being lifted by a man not much older than himself, using his foot to hook her chin.

This kind of insult was simply shocking! Wu Yuxiao, already burning with rage, felt his heart fill with wild fury.

But when he moved to stand up and charge over, he suddenly felt his legs weigh over a thousand catties, unable to move even a fraction.

He was shocked, looked up, and remained clueless in his heart.

But seeing that Liuli Shitai's gaze sweep over him intentionally or otherwise, he was suddenly terrified.

Looking at his mother again, she was not resisting.

He pondered for a moment and had no choice but to forcibly suppress the anger in his heart, continuing to lash himself with the whip.

"Madam, of course this Stronghold Master is considerate of you."

"If I weren't considerate of you, do you think you could still be kneeling here before this Stronghold Master begging for mercy?"

"Do you think your precious son would still have the chance to be kneeling over there?"

Ning Mu stood with his hands behind his back, shaking his head slowly, a faint, ambiguous smile at the corners of his mouth.

Yet it was this expression, seemingly calm but actually concealing untold thunder, that made Zhu Yaluan even more afraid to act rashly, her heart thumping like rolling thunder.

Even though.

At this moment, her chin was being lifted by his toe.

She still dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction, instead looking up at him in a submissive and pitiful manner.

Listening to Ning Mu's words, Zhu Yaluan pursed her lips, did not resist, and let her chin rest on his toe, saying slowly: "This humble one understands. Many thanks to Ning Zhaozhu for your grace and consideration. On behalf of my unfilial son, I beg for your forgiveness!"

After speaking.

Once Ning Mu withdrew his foot, Zhu Yaluan immediately kowtowed again.

"Sigh~"

Ning Mu let out a faint sigh, causing Zhu Yaluan's face to change slightly as she looked up at him, bewildered.

What exactly would it take for this Ning Zhaozhu to be satisfied?

Just as she was thinking this.

Ning Mu's voice came again.

"I have been considerate of you and your son and forgiven your sins, yet you are not even willing to let him call me father!"

Ning Mu shook his head with a calm expression, looking down at Zhu Yaluan.

"..."

Both Zhu Yaluan and Liuli were shocked! Needless to say, Zhu Yaluan felt her heart tighten upon hearing Ning Mu's words; she immediately realized something and instinctively turned her head to look at her son at the hall entrance.

Her expression was filled with panic and helplessness.

Liuli had not expected that Ning Mu actually had the intention of being a father to Wu Yuxiao...

Playing with Zhu Yaluan was one thing.

After all, she was just a woman.

But why insist on raising a son older than himself? Wouldn't that be raising an ingrate, bound to backfire sooner or later?

Liuli shook her head inwardly, unable to understand her husband's perverse hobby.

And Wu Yuxiao, who had vaguely heard these words, stood frozen on the spot, his eyes dull, staring into the hall in utter astonishment.

But a moment later.

His face turned ferocious, and he tried to stand up in angry defiance.

Yet he was restrained by an inexplicable force and could not move at all.

"Ning Mu, you dog, you bastard, I'm going to kill you!"

Wu Yuxiao roared in anger, his eyes splitting. He was no fool.

With this highly provocative remark from Ning Mu, combined with the hand that had just been wandering over his mother, even if he were a fool, he would have understood by now.

His own father, who had passed away and whom he had never met, probably already had grass growing green on his grave.

And he, the dignified Young Master of Yunxiao Stronghold, had likely gained a cheap stepfather! "Presumptuous!"

Ning Mu did not speak, merely glancing back at him indifferently before turning his gaze back to Zhu Yaluan.

Liuli gave a light snort.

Wu Yuxiao's face turned pale instantly, sweat pouring down like rain.

And Zhu Yaluan, having reacted, felt deep helplessness well up in her eyes; she frowned, nervous and slightly displeased, but faced with Ning Mu's dominance, she dared not resist.

Especially.

Since Xiao'er was currently under the pressure of Liuli Shitai's aura! She dared not act rashly at all.

Pursing her lips, her eyes shimmered with moisture, and she sighed, saying in a low voice audible only to Ning Mu and herself, shamefully: "Ning Zhaozhu, he is even older than you; this request is not that it cannot be done, but... it is inappropriate!"

"Look, is there any room for flexibility?"

Zhu Yaluan blushed, looking with some worry at her son, who was furious to the point of gnashing his teeth.

She then raised her head and asked with an incredibly awkward expression.

"Since it is inappropriate, then let us do something appropriate!"

Ning Mu smiled indifferently.

Immediately.

Without waiting for the bewildered Zhu Yaluan to react, he bent down, swept her up into his arms, and walked toward the stairs of the side hall.

Eek! Zhu Yaluan was completely stunned.

She stared blankly at Ning Mu's profile, subconsciously wrapping her arms around his neck.

Her face turned bright red in an instant.

Mmph! Small School!

Stepping onto the stairs, Zhu Yaluan finally reacted, and her heart immediately became incredibly flustered.

Small School had witnessed all of this with his own eyes; she feared that at this moment, he must be heartbroken and deeply disappointed in her, his incompetent mother! But.

In her current situation, facing this unpredictable and unyielding Ning Zhaozhu.

She was also powerless.

Sigh! Zhu Yaluan could not help but let out a soft sigh in the depths of her heart.

Once upstairs.

Zhu Yaluan thought Ning Mu was going to carry her into a room.

However.

Ning Mu made a sharp turn and headed toward the balcony.

Before long.

He placed her in front of the balcony railing, making her rest her hands on it and lean over to look out.

Even.

She could feel that her son, Wu Yuxiao, was right beneath her feet!

Mmph.

Her son was being punished on the first floor.

And as his mother, she was being punished right above him!

Being humiliated by a man the same age as her son! This kind of thing truly made her feel terrified and uneasy.

"Ning Zhaozhu, I beg you, go to a room, go to your room!"

"This won't do, Small School is right below!"

Zhu Yaluan was suddenly anxious, her face flushed, and she covered her skirt with eyes full of grief and indignation.

But.

This bit of resistance was merely futile.

"Mmph~"

Suddenly.

Zhu Yaluan's neck stretched involuntarily, and her waist and abdomen were pushed against the railing, emitting a muffled sound.

If this railing had not been maintained and been very sturdy.

She feared that with this impact, the railing would have been destroyed, and the two of them might have fallen off.

But even so.

She almost failed to maintain her balance.

Fortunately, with Ning Zhaozhu as her support, she was able to steady herself.

Within her pair of grief-stricken, beautiful eyes.

At this very moment, ripples like water and mist emerged.

"Ning, ah, Zhaozhu!"

"This won't do!"

Zhu Yaluan was filled with grief, indignation, and shame.

But no matter how she struggled.

It only served to add sensation for the other party, and she failed to restrain herself.

"It won't do!" Ning Mu smiled wickedly.

Riiip.

Zhu Yaluan's clothes were torn open, splitting into two halves.

And then.

Ning Mu flicked his hand.

The fabric drifted and fluttered with the warm breeze flowing through the mountains, falling from the second floor.

Eek! "No!"

Zhu Yaluan, who had been squinting in shame and indignation, not daring to face the broad daylight.

Realizing the fabric was drifting down, she was suddenly startled.

She hurriedly reached out, stretching her waist forward, intending to grab it! But in the end, it was all in vain.

After all.

Her waist was currently in Ning Mu's grasp.

She was completely unable to fly up.

She could only watch in terror as the torn fabric of her sleeves fell toward the outside of the hall.

Please, don't let it fall onto Yuxiao! Zhu Yaluan was shocked and pale, hurriedly clenching her fists in prayer.

And at this moment.

Ning Mu's next words rang out beside her ear.

"Madam, your son's attitude toward his self-punishment is not very satisfactory!"

Ning Mu leaned against her ear, his voice full of rhythm.

Zhu Yaluan was stunned upon hearing this.

She hurriedly turned her ear to listen.

Sure enough.

Downstairs, Wu Yuxiao had long since stopped the whipping and punishment.

"Ning Zhaozhu..." Zhu Yaluan was about to plead for mercy.

Seeing that she was currently so devoutly turned away, allowing him to charge and kill, begging Ning Zhaozhu to spare Yuxiao.

But.

Ning Mu did not give her a chance at all, directly blocking her words back.

"Madam, tell him not to stop, otherwise I will be very dissatisfied, you know the consequences!"

Ning Mu let out a wicked laugh.

It was as if he had blocked the source of a flowing spring, leaving her with no right to continue speaking.

"Mmph~"

Zhu Yaluan's expression was instantly filled with panic and trepidation, as well as deep shame and anger.

She pursed her lips, not wanting to speak.

But.

Before long, she discovered how childish and ignorant her resistance was.

This Ning Zhaozhu was simply too strong!

He left her with absolutely no room to resist.

"Don't, don't... I'll say it, I'll say it, spare this humble one!"

Zhu Yaluan was suddenly panting heavily, feeling as if her heart were going numb; if it weren't for the fact that Yuxiao was right downstairs, making her afraid to fully immerse herself and forcing her to maintain the last shred of clarity in her spirit, she would have long since lost her soul to the heavens.

"Hoo..."

She exhaled lightly.

Zhu Yaluan's face was like clouds and mist after being steamed, brilliant and colorful.

She looked downstairs, her eyes filled with shyness.

But she still had to open her mouth and shout, "Yuxiao, I ordered you to whip yourself one hundred times, why have you stopped!"

"Hurry, hurry up!"

"I am pleading with Ning Zhaozhu, you must quickly finish the hundred lashes and then return to the stronghold!"

(End of chapter)