The White Moonlight Disdained by the Male Protagonist of Redemption - Chapter 2.1

The senior disciple said, “Mountain Lord Ning, Feng Jingzhuo was thrown back to us by the Fengxie Dao Sect as punishment. I’m not sure what exactly he did, but Madam Lianzhen was absolutely furious. She even threatened to sever all ties with our sect. To appease her, our sect master has no choice but to severely punish this demon slave.”

The senior disciple shot a deadly glare at Feng Jingzhuo before clasping his hands at Ning Yao. “Madam Lianzhen has already spoken—unless we strip him of every last scale, grind them into powder, and present it to her for her beauty regimen, she will not be satisfied. Right now, we haven’t finished the job yet, so we ask for Mountain Lord Ning’s understanding.”

Ning Yao replied, “I don’t understand.”

The senior disciple’s words caught in his throat. He stared at her, dumbfounded.

That’s all? He had thought it was something more serious.

Ning Yao said, “Your sect master just said that within Xuan Yue Sect today, I can take whatever catches my eye. Of course, I am not an unreasonable person. I haven’t touched any of your sect’s treasures or rare artifacts. I only find this person interesting and wish to take him. But if you only care about Fengxie Dao Sect’s reputation and not mine, does that mean Luo Xiang Mountain can be treated with such disrespect?”

The senior disciple’s head was pounding. “Mountain Lord Ning, you misunderstand.”

Ning Yao pressed on, “So, does your sect master’s word hold weight or not?”

The senior disciple quickly replied, “Of course, it does.”

In the celestial hierarchy, wood-elemental clans held great prestige—second only to the Cangyuan Dragon Clan and the Beiming Xuanwu Clan. Offending them was out of the question. However, the Fengxie Dao Sect and the Xuan Yue Sect were both among the Four Great Sects, meaning their reputation couldn’t be disregarded either.

He hesitated before suggesting, “How about this? We finish stripping his scales first to satisfy Madam Lianzhen, and then you can take him back? I assure you, we’ll be careful—he won’t die.”

Ning Yao responded, “No.”

The senior disciple tried to negotiate further. “Mountain Lord, at least consider—”

“No.” Ning Yao cut him off. “I will not let you strip another scale from him. Also, I want all the scales you’ve already taken.”

Feng Jingzhuo’s pupils trembled slightly. His bl00d-stained Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. His gaze landed on the broken wooden basin, where his freshly torn dragon scales, still stained with bl00d, lay in a heap.

She wanted to take the stripped scales too?

The senior disciple forced a smile. “Mountain Lord Ning, if you do this, how will we explain it to Madam Lianzhen?”

Ning Yao looked at him in confusion. “It was your sect that made promises to Madam Lianzhen. And it was your sect that made promises to me. If anyone needs to explain themselves, it’s you—not me. Figure it out how you plan to handle both of us.”

The senior disciple was at a loss for words. After struggling for a while, he could only say, “But Madam Lianzhen was first, and you came after—”

What nonsense.

They had made a broad promise—take what you want—but now they were going back on their word just because she actually chose something. Ning Yao didn’t want to waste breath arguing.

“First? After? Think carefully before you speak.”

The senior disciple had no choice. “Then… Mountain Lord Ning, please wait here for a moment. I must report this matter to the sect master before a final decision is made.”

After he left, the two disciples who had been stripping Feng Jingzhuo’s scales also exited. The large prison cell was now empty except for the two of them.

Ning Yao unlocked the shackles on Feng Jingzhuo’s wrists, then turned to crouch beside the wooden basin, examining its contents.

These scales had been ripped straight from his flesh and meridians. They were still attached to bits of bloody tissue. Healing them would take time—there was no quick fix.

Her eyes went to his dragon tail, riddled with wounds. It was still warm, the scent of bl00d was heavy in the air. Some parts trembled involuntarily.

She stretched out both of her hands, palms down, as a gentle, nourishing spiritual energy spread outward.

The dragon tail suddenly flinched away.

“What are you doing?”

Feng Jingzhuo’s voice was hoarse and weak. He moved his tail hastily, showing no concern for his battered body, scraping the open wounds against the rough ground as his bl00d seeped into the dirt.

“Whatever Mountain Lord Ning wants, just take it. There’s no need to pretend.”

Ning Yao replied, “I want you to stay still.”

Feng Jingzhuo’s voice was weak. He had to pause for breath before continuing, “My entire being is at your disposal. Mountain Lord Ning may do as she pleases—there’s no need to waste spiritual energy on healing me.”

Ning Yao scoffed. “What else do you think I’m taking from you? If I don’t treat you, you’re as good as dead.”

He said, “I’m resilient. Even without treatment, I won’t die. If Mountain Lord Ning desires something, just take it.”

With that, he closed his eyes.

Ning Yao stared at him, speechless.

This man had suffered so much cruelty that even a simple act of healing was seen as a ploy.

If she tried to explain that she was simply helping him out of goodwill, he wouldn’t believe her. Arguing about it would be a of waste time, and in the meantime, he’d continue to suffer.

So she said, “Because I want to. I like doing this. I enjoy hitting first and then offering a sweet treat. I insist on healing you.”

Feng Jingzhuo glanced at his ruined tail. After a pause, he let it rest on the ground, his gaze shifting away.

He had given up on resisting.

Ning Yao gathered her spiritual energy once more and gently brushed it along his wounded tail. It was only a temporary fix, but it would at least ease his pain.

Not just because he was the Cangyuan Dragon she had always longed to see but because no matter who he was, she couldn’t ignore such cruel, inhumane torture.

When she withdrew her hands, his tail instinctively curled inward, shrinking slightly away from her touch—until it rested beside him once more.

Feng Jingzhuo leaned against the ground, one hand holding his tail. The bleeding had stopped, a thin layer of warm spiritual energy lingering over it.

Ning Yao pulled out a small medicine bottle from her robe, but when she looked up, she found his tail had recoiled back.