"I say…"
Lin Feng reclined in his rocking chair, swaying lightly, not even sparing a glance at the trembling Ning Rongrong kneeling before him.
"You don't actually think your little life…"
He paused, letting the silence suffocate.
"…is worth much, do you?"
These words were like a needle puncturing the fragile courage Ning Rongrong had just managed to gather.
Her tear-stained face jerked up, eyes widening in disbelief.
What?
She had risked her life, thrown away her dignity, made the most resolute decision of her existence—
Only to receive this?
A casual taunt?
Humiliation burned worse than any slap.
It wasn't just her.
Behind her, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo—who had prepared for death, ruin, or crushing demands—froze as if struck by lightning.
They had imagined Senior might kill Ning Rongrong on the spot.
They had imagined Senior taking everything the Sect had.
They had imagined Senior wiping their entire clan off the map.
But this—
A smiling, leisurely dismissal that ground all their fear and tragic resolve into the mud—
They never expected this.
At the next table, Zhu Zhuyun—just having swallowed a bun—smiled sweetly without even looking over.
"Oh my, this little girl probably thinks sticking out her neck and saying 'do what you want, I accept death' makes her noble enough to earn Senior's admiration."
Her voice wasn't loud, but in the dead silence of the restaurant, it rang clearly.
"Pfft—"
Someone cracked first.
Then laughter erupted around the hall.
Not mocking laughter.
But pure, unrestrained chuckles—
like watching a child solemnly play make-believe.
Each laugh was a burning needle jabbing into Ning Rongrong's face.
Her cheeks turned crimson, humiliation drowning her like ice water.
Her grand tragedy—
was a joke to everyone else.
Lin Feng glanced at Zhu Zhuyun and sighed.
"You—watch your mouth. Give the little girl a shred of dignity."
Zhu Zhuyun giggled and shot him a wink.
She would definitely do it again.
Lin Feng, who had just lectured others about their mouths, sat up straighter—completely unbothered.
He rested his elbows on the counter, his tone leisurely.
"Little girl, let me tell you the truth."
"Your life may be precious in your father's eyes, or in the eyes of those two old grandfathers."
He raised a finger and wagged it gently.
"But to me…"
A slow, amused smile curved his lips.
"It's worthless."
"If you die here, you only dirty my floor. The smell of blood affects my customers' appetite."
"Understand? Your noble 'I'll die to atone for all' routine—not only meaningless, but troublesome."
He gave her a lazy glance.
"So put away that ridiculous sense of sacrifice."
"I'm not interested in you, your father, or the fate of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
"As for your disrespect toward this Venerable One…"
"I'll temporarily label your Sect as 'atoning for sins.'"
His tone shifted as his gaze swept across the Titled Douluo enjoying the show.
"Of course, if you still want to proceed with your idea of having your two grandfathers demolish my Feng Ran Pavilion—"
He didn't finish.
Because—
Bibi Dong, who had just set down her chopsticks, answered coldly:
"If she dares harbor such thoughts again, I, on behalf of the entire Spirit Hall, will personally erase the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School from the continent."
Before the echo of her voice faded—
SLAP!
Qian Daoliu slapped the table.
"Bibi Dong, what do you mean? Stealing my job?"
"If the Sect needs extermination, I, the chief doorman of Feng Ran Pavilion, will lead the annihilation personally! You, Supreme Pontiff, wait your turn!"
Bibi Dong lifted her beautiful eyes, unamused.
"I am the only guest in Senior's shop who enjoys 'three meals a day.'"
"It is my duty—and my privilege—to share Senior's burdens."
Her gaze swept him up and down, mocking.
"Since when does an old thing whose 'second egg fried rice privilege' was just revoked get to bark here?"
"Y-you—!"
Qian Daoliu's face twisted green.
That sentence stabbed him right in his shattered heart.
In Lin Feng's mind, the system's voice trembled:
[As expected of Host… your PUA skills are breathtaking—ah no, I mean your authority.]
Lin Feng mentally flicked it off.
PUA your head.
This was simple resource management.
He wouldn't uproot top-quality leeks.
Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi was drenched in cold sweat, listening to two peak powerhouses argue over who was more qualified to destroy his Sect.
But—
It clicked.
Senior… wasn't pursuing the matter?
That realization struck like salvation.
He joyfully kowtowed again and again.
"Thank you, Senior, for sparing our lives! Thank you for your boundless mercy!"
The Sect was saved.
His daughter would live.
He tugged Ning Rongrong, who was still in a daze, to kowtow as well.
But her brain was blank—terror having squeezed out all other thoughts.
Just then—
Lin Feng's gaze shifted away from her…
And landed on the half-dead man Bone Douluo had dragged in.
"By the way, who is this?"
"I don't recall the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School having such a person."
Ning Fengzhi seized the chance, immediately pushing Ning Rongrong aside and pointing at the unconscious youth.
"Replying to Senior—this is Dai Mubai. The Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire."
Clang—!
A crisp sound rang out.
Zhu Zhuqing's chopsticks slipped from her fingers.
She looked up sharply—
for the first time showing intense emotion, her usually calm eyes faintly bloodshot.
Shrek's people…
actually chased them here?
But then her gaze fell on Dai Mubai's severed arm…
On his battered, blood-soaked body…
On the terrifying hall filled with kneeling Titled Douluo…
And Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes.
The storm inside her slowly subsided.
She bowed slightly toward Lin Feng in silent apology—
Then picked up her chopsticks again, though half a beat slower.
On the opposite side—
Her sister Zhu Zhuyun was a completely different scene.
_____________________
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a poem written by my brother on river Ganga after watching documentary by Jeremy Wade , I thought I should share with people and this is the only platform I use where if posted more than 10 people will watch
{will ask him to write this in english as well because when i tried google & gpt both butchered it}
भीषण हो रहा अन्याय,हे देवव्रत,
मैली कर दी जटाये, टूटा हर व्रत
पावनता में घोल हलाहल,
डुबकी मारे सब नारी नर,
आन पड़ा ये भारी संकट,
माता का है अंत निकट