Chapter 1957: Public Flogging

Lei Ming was the most afraid of Wu Qingcheng, and hurried over with a grin: "Wu sis, you guys aren't asleep yet?"

We three can't sleep, so we went out to stretch our legs!

Wu Qingcheng, however, put on a stern face and lectured them: "Do you guys know you almost caused a big disaster?"

"Hehe! We didn't actually go out! Wu sis, don't be mad, it's just a small thing, don't tell the little brother!"

Lei Ming grabbed Wu Qingcheng's arm and shook it, pleading.

Wu Qingcheng, however, solemnly asked: "Don't you think about why Liuyun only let Qingfeng go out during the day, and even brought two Demon Wolves?"

Why?

Because they are of the wolf tribe?

Lei Ming asked, puzzled.

Wu Qingcheng gave her a glance: "That's because some of your bloodlines and auras cannot be exposed! Especially in front of those beastmen!"

If you two go out and expose your auras, drawing stronger opponents, we'd have wasted these days! We must withdraw immediately!

Are you complaining that Liuyun's troubles aren't enough?

Su Miaoyin also said: "Liuyun always has his own arrangements when doing things."

If you don't know what plan he has, why follow him out to mess around?

If you ruin his affairs, you'll have nothing good to eat!

Lei Ming and Long Nv only then realized how much trouble they'd cause if they went out.

Huo Wu silently sighed, feeling dragged down by these two troublemakers.

Besides, what Su Miaoyin said is also correct; if she went out and couldn't find Ye Liuyun, she really wouldn't know how to proceed.

So now she also feels a bit regretful, but fortunately she didn't go out.

Otherwise, if Ye Liuyun came back and found out, he'd be even angrier.

Wu Qingcheng saw the three of them lowering their heads in apology, and didn't want to pursue it further.

Unexpectedly, Ye Tiandao led a squad of soldiers in.

"What's wrong?"

Wu Qingcheng was also somewhat surprised.

"The master knows!"

Ye Tiandao also said apologetically.

"Ah?"

Lei Ming's voice trembled upon hearing that.

"How did Liuyun find out?"

Wu Qingcheng asked, puzzled.

Ye Tiandao could only explain: "The garrison soldiers reported."

"There are military regulations!"

Wu Qingcheng also sighed; this was unavoidable.

But seeing the soldiers behind Ye Tiandao, she couldn't help but be curious.

"So what is this..."

Ye Tiandao cleared his throat and said: "The master's order: Huo Wu, Lei Ming, and Long Nv have violated military discipline; each shall receive twenty lashes as a public punishment, not allowed to wear armor, not allowed to use True Essence to resist!"

For a moment, everyone fell silent, looking sympathetically at Lei Ming and the others.

After a while, Lei Ming said: "It's fine; we're not prohibited from being hit, twenty lashes aren't many."

"Uh... the master also said to use Huo Wu's eighth-rank fire serpent whip, to be administered by the soldiers..." Ye Tiandao couldn't continue.

Wu Qingcheng also stared blankly at Lei Ming and the others.

Even though their physical bodies are strong, the eighth-rank fire serpent whip will tear their skin and flesh with twenty lashes.

Huo Wu tremblingly took out the fire serpent whip; Ye Tiandao waved his hand, and the soldiers behind her immediately stepped forward to take the whip, simultaneously binding the three of them and pushing them out.

"Dong, dong, dong..." The military drums sounded inside the stronghold, and all soldiers immediately gathered.

The members of the Tiger Mighty Mercenary Corps also thought something big had happened and rushed out.

Seeing that everyone was actually there.

They only saw Lei Ming and the others tied to wooden posts, a soldier holding a fiery-red whip standing aside.

"How did this happen?

Are they spies?"

Tuyezi asked Cao Meng, puzzled.

Cao Meng also shook his head, not knowing what was going on.

Then a soldier commander stepped forward and announced: "Huo Wu, Lei Ming, and Long Nv intended to leave the camp at night, violating military discipline; they shall receive twenty lashes as a public punishment! Carry it out immediately!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

The execution soldier immediately stepped in front of Huo Wu, raised the whip, and began striking.

"Pa"—with one lash, Huo Wu also let out an "ah," and her clothes were instantly soaked with a stripe of blood.

With each lash the soldier struck, Huo Wu let out a miserable cry.

After twenty lashes, Huo Wu's cries grew weak, and her clothes were soaked red with blood.

Nobody could bear to watch anymore.

Next came Lei Ming.

She wanted to grit her teeth and endure the twenty lashes without crying out.

But as soon as the first lash landed, she burst out crying "wa!"

This fire serpent whip, when it strikes the body, still carries a burning sensation of flame, simply making her feel pain to the bone.

Moreover, the soldiers carrying out the execution are obviously experienced; they apply force through the clothing, striking the flesh.

They won't tear the clothes to embarrass them, yet the pain is not lessened in the slightest.

Only the last Long Nv endured it without a sound; after twenty lashes, Long Nv fainted.

Afterward, the soldiers announced the execution was complete.

Wu Qingcheng then immediately had someone untie Lei Ming and the others, carried them back to their residence, and used Life Spring Water to treat their injuries.

Several women followed in to help; when they tore open the clothes, they saw that all three had been beaten to a bloody mess, and each was terrified.

Such minor skin injuries, under the effect of the Life Spring Water, were hardly anything, and they quickly recovered.

Lei Ming no longer felt pain at this moment, and was telling everyone how painful the whipping had been!

"It's not my fault! It was so painful, I also wanted to endure without making a sound! It's all Huo Wu's fault—she was the first to cry out."

"If she could have made a good start, I wouldn't have been so embarrassed!"

Lei Ming was still blaming Huo Wu.

Huo Wu, holding her own fire serpent whip, also sighed: "This thing is really a treasure! I never imagined hitting someone would hurt this much!"

Long Nv also woke up at this time.

"You're still impressive, not making a sound! I admire you, I admire you!"

Lei Ming praised Long Nv.

"It's so painful! I wanted to cry out but couldn't! If I had cried out, it would probably have been a roar or I would have revealed my true form."

"All I could do was grit my teeth and endure."

Long Nv explained.

"Hahaha! I thought you were so formidable!"

Lei Ming also laughed at this moment.

Wu Qingcheng, seeing that they had all recovered well, also said: "You guys, from now on let Ye Liúyún worry a little less! Look how you've angered him! If he weren't truly angry, he wouldn't bear to strike you!"

"This border battlefield, the situation is too complicated; if you keep causing trouble for him, it's really easy to stir up big trouble!"

"Mm-hmm, I'm obedient, I'm honest, from now on I won't cause trouble anymore! Getting whipped was really so painful!"

Lei Ming also immediately said.

"It's all my fault for causing trouble!"

Huo Wu also sighed.

Wu Qingcheng, however, advised her: "We've all made mistakes, but when have you ever seen Ye Liúyún settle old scores?"

"At most he'll say a few things and then forget! Why do you have to take it to heart?"

"If he were the type to hold grudges and settle scores, this little girl Lei Ming would have long been tossed aside by him!"

"Eh?"

"Why are you using me as an example!"

Lei Ming objected dissatisfiedly.

Wu Qingcheng also laughed: "On the contrary, it's your messing around that really adds trouble for him, truly making him angry!"

They all also recognized their mistakes; after chatting a while longer, they each returned to their respective dwellings to cultivate.