Chapter 8: A Challenge to a Duel

After finishing these, Qing Mei exited the space. She opened the door and looked at the sky; only half a day had passed outside, and Ning'er was resting in her room. Just as she thought about returning to her room to rest for a while, she heard a commotion outside. Qing Mei curled her lips coldly; they had finally arrived. She saw her "cheap" father, Qing Zhining, storming in with several servants, followed by Qing Fu, who was being supported by Qing He, and Fang Yun—her third mother, the mother of Qing He and Qing Fu. As soon as Qing Zhining entered, he pointed at Qing Mei and cursed, "Qing Mei, how could you be so ruthless to your younger sister Fu'er?

She is your sister! If I hadn't noticed something off about Fu'er today and forced her to tell me who hit her, she would still be trying to protect you. Look at what your sister's back has become!" Qing Fu, supported by Qing He, walked over and tugged at Qing Zhining's sleeve. "Father, forget it. Fifth Sister didn't mean it. Please don't blame her anymore; it was just Qing Fu being careless." "No, Father must seek justice for you today. Look, look at how your back has been beaten by her! You must be punished!" As he spoke, he pulled Qing Fu around and pulled back her clothes to reveal the wound beneath the torn fabric.

That back, which had originally been fair and tender, now bore a two-foot-long gash. It was still oozing blood, and the flesh on both sides of the wound was turned outward—a truly shocking sight. "Are you finished?" Qing Mei stood where she was, looking at the group coldly. Both Qing Fu and Qing He were stunned. In this situation, shouldn't Qing Mei be rushing to explain herself? Why was she so calm?

"Mei'er, is that any way to speak to your father?" At this moment, Fang Yun ran over, supporting Qing Fu with a pained expression, and scolded Qing Mei in a reproachful tone. "It is not your place to speak." Qing Mei didn't even look at Fang Yun, who was instantly embarrassed. "Qing Mei, she is your third mother! How can you speak to your elders like that? Someone, bring the family law!" Qing Zhining ordered his men to punish Qing Mei with the family law.

"Qing Zhining, you are punishing me based solely on the one-sided words of Qing He and Qing Fu. Isn't that too rash? You are a truly pathetic father." Qing Mei couldn't even be bothered to call him 'Father.' If she weren't unable to beat him, she wouldn't be wasting her breath on them. Qing Zhining was furious to hear her call him by his name. In Yue City, everyone treated him with respect; how dare a mere Qing Mei speak to him in such a tone? He was her father—this was simply rebellious! "You... you... you!" Qing Zhining was so angry he couldn't speak. Fang Yun set Qing Fu down and turned to stroke Qing Zhining's back to help him breathe. "Mei'er, how could you do this? Quickly, apologize to your father!"

Qing Mei ignored her completely. "Qing Fu, you really are ruthless. It must have hurt to carve such a wound into your own back. Do you have a tendency for self-harm? There wasn't much of a wound, yet you insisted on cutting it so severely." "Fifth Sister, how can you slander me like this? The wound on my back was caused by you, this... this was clearly whipped by you, Fifth Sister!" Qing Fu said, looking at Qing Mei with tears in her eyes. "That's right, Qing Mei, you are too shameless! You clearly hurt Fu'er, and now you're trying to say she did it to herself!" Qing He immediately chimed in.

"Qing He, I remember that your Rainbow Dance Whip is poisonous. How strange, Qing Fu's blood is still bright red. Besides, shouldn't a whip leave thin, striped marks? Why does Qing Fu's look like it was cut by a dagger? How did you manage to frame me for this, Sixth Sister?" Qing Mei finished in one breath, leaving Qing Fu's face alternating between red and white. Qing Fu now realized that this Qing Mei was no longer the same person; she had become formidable. What made her realize even more was... this Qing Mei could not be allowed to stay. Qing He couldn't take it anymore. How dare this piece of trash speak like this? She would make sure Qing Mei had no face left to show anyone! "Qing Mei, I challenge you to a life-or-death duel, in front of everyone in Yue City." "Fine, but... it will have to be in two months." Qing Mei feigned nervousness.

"Hmph, two months it is. I'll give you two months." She didn't believe this trash could come up with any tricks. Could she possibly become a Third-Rank Spirit Master like her in two months? She had worked hard from the age of five to reach the third rank. It must be said, Miss Qing He, you hit the nail on the head—Qing Mei was already a Third-Rank Spirit Master. "Father, let's go. Fu'er is not feeling well." Qing Fu used her discomfort as an excuse to leave. If they stayed any longer, she didn't know if Qing Mei would spill their old secrets. Although her father would surely protect her, there were too many servants present, and she needed to maintain her image to avoid being seen as vicious.

"Yes, yes. Today, for Fu'er's sake, I will spare you. No family law for now. From now on, behave yourself and don't cause any more trouble for me!" Qing Zhining roared heartlessly. "Hmph, if I don't beat you into the ground in two months, I, Qing He, will let you use my head as a stool. Trash will always be trash. I'll see how long you can be smug. Just you wait, you waste." Qing He left after dropping those words. She was annoyed that she hadn't managed to ruin Qing Mei; the wound on Qing Fu's back had been for nothing. Soon, the large group returned the way they came. "Ning'er, go and rest." "Yes, Miss." Although Ning'er didn't know why her mistress wanted her to rest at this time, she obeyed.