"Alright now. I said it's time to rest, so it's time to rest."
Ling Feng stepped forward, took the stone from Deng Yongshi's hand, and casually tossed it aside. He then said calmly, "Look at you, you've been busy all day. Go wash up first and have dinner. Your meridian gate is sealed now which makes you just an ordinary person, so you need to balance work and rest."
"Oh..." Seeing Ling Feng's serious expression, Deng Yongshi bit her lip, unable to muster any thought of refuting him.
Ling Feng nodded and then reached out and took Deng Yongshi's hand, noticing the cuts and bruises on it. He shook his head slightly.
"Hey, what are you doing?" Deng Yongshi, suddenly grabbed by Ling Feng, reacted like a startled rabbit and tried to pull her hand back.
"Don't move!" Ling Feng glared at her, making her freeze in place.
Ling Feng took out a clean cloth, wiped away the blood and dirt on her hand, and then retrieved a bamboo tube from his storage spirit ring and handed it to her. "This is the Eight Treasure Jade Essence Ointment I made. Apply it to your wounds tonight, and they'll be fully healed by morning."
"Is it really that miraculous?" Deng Yongshi blinked, somewhat foolishly.
For a moment, she felt her heart racing faster and faster.
"You can choose not to use it," Ling Feng shrugged. "It's getting late; you should go back. Come back tomorrow morning."
"Mhmm." Deng Yongshi carefully held the bamboo tube while looking at Ling Feng with determination. "Tomorrow, I'll complete at least one stone pillar!"
"Don't make such bold claims so early," Ling Feng smiled faintly.
"Hmph, just you wait and see!" Deng Yongshi pouted.
"But, you've already made great progress, which really impressed me!" Ling Feng said sincerely.
Hearing this, a sense of joy welled up in Deng Yongshi's heart, and a slight look of pride appeared on her face. She almost burst into laughter.
However, she quickly realized she was happy just because of Ling Feng's praise. She tried to hold back by humming lightly. "Hmph, I don't need your compliments! I'm leaving. Tomorrow, I'll surprise you!"
With that, Deng Yongshi rushed out of Tianyi Pavilion. As she turned, an uncontrollable smile appeared on her lips and she hopped away joyfully.
Ling Feng smiled gently, murmuring to himself, "What a woman who's cold on the outside but warm on the inside!"
When Deng Yongshi returned to her residence at Shuyi Pavilion, she was surprised to find her grandfather waiting in the main hall. Seeing her dirty appearance, General Deng was evidently shocked.
"Little Shi, what on earth have you been doing? You look like a little dirty cat!"
Deng Xian couldn't believe it. His granddaughter was usually meticulous about cleanliness, but now she was covered in dirt. It was entirely out of character.
"It's nothing. Just a bit of washing and I'll be clean!" Deng Yongshi replied with a cheerful smile. "Alright, Grandpa, I can't chat now. I need to wash up and have a good meal. I have training tomorrow!"
General Deng's eyes widened. What has my granddaughter gone through in these past two days to bring about such a complete change?
In the past, whenever she saw me, she would either act spoiled or ask for things. Now, she is so serious and focused on training?
General Deng was almost moved to tears. He was secretly delighted with his earlier decision.
Indeed, that boy Ling Feng was truly the nemesis my granddaughter needed!
Feeling immensely gratified, General Deng nodded and said, "Good, good. This girl, you aren't crying and shouting for Ling Feng to get lost anymore? You see how capable he is now, don't you?"
"Hmph, he's not that great!" Deng Yongshi pouted and then suddenly looked up at General Deng, saying with determination, "Grandpa, I was too willful and naughty before. From now on, I won't make you worry or disappoint you anymore."
"W-What did you say?"
General Deng almost thought he had misheard. Is my unruly granddaughter really saying these words?
"I said, Grandpa, thank you for spoiling Little Shi all these years." Deng Yongshi hugged General Deng's arm. "Thank you, Grandpa!"
"Thank you!?" General Deng swallowed hard. My god, my granddaughter is actually saying thank you!
Deng Xian's heart was in turmoil, as if mountains were collapsing and volcanoes were erupting!
What magical power does that boy Ling Feng possess?
"Good child, you've finally grown up!" General Deng gently patted his granddaughter's cheek and laughed heartily. "Alright, alright! Look at you, covered in dirt. Go wash up before you dirty Grandpa's clothes!"
"Hehe!" Deng Yongshi squinted her eyes and laughed. "Okay, stinky Grandpa! You're actually complaining about me being dirty!"
"Hahaha!" General Deng couldn't help but laugh, his laughter mixed with a touch of sentiment and relief.
His granddaughter's transformation was truly thanks to Ling Feng!
"Grandpa has decided to lift your confinement early. Starting tomorrow, you can move freely around the mansion and also return to Hailan Academy."
General Deng chuckled. "By the way, tomorrow is the family banquet at the general's mansion. Invite Ling Feng to join us."
"Huh?" Deng Yongshi's smile froze. "Isn't that inappropriate?"
"What's so inappropriate about it? He's your teacher now. You know we always invite the younger generation's teachers to our family banquets. You've finally got a good teacher, so of course, we should introduce him to everyone."
"No way..." Deng Yongshi's face fell. Other people's teachers were esteemed seniors, directors, vice-directors, or presidents of various guilds. But her teacher...
Ling Feng, he was just a young student at Tianwei Academy!
"Grandpa, how about neither Ling... Teacher Ling nor I attend?" Deng Yongshi bit her lower lip while asking.
"That's not acceptable. Even if you don't attend, Ling Feng must!" General Deng said sternly. "He has disciplined my granddaughter so well, I must show my gratitude! Ling Feng must come to the family banquet, and he will have the seat of honor!"
"Alright..." Deng Yongshi looked depressed. She had just said in the morning that she didn't want anyone to know Ling Feng was her teacher, and now this bad news came in the evening!
Fine, let them laugh at me then. Laugh all you want! Hmph!
"I understand. I'll tell Ling Feng... ahem, Teacher Ling tomorrow," Deng Yongshi reluctantly agreed.
"That's a good girl," General Deng said as he stroked his long beard and smiled again.
But Deng Yongshi's face remained dark, filled with worry about the family banquet tomorrow. She could already imagine how her peers would laugh at her and point fingers behind her back. Just thinking about it made Deng Yongshi incredibly anxious and upset.