Huang Rong from The Return of the Condor Heroes: Brother Jing, let's get a divorce.

Zhao Zhiyuan released his grip and gave a wink to the two disciples behind him. The two disciples understood immediately, stepped forward, and each grabbed one of Lu Wushuang's arms, pressing her to the ground like a prisoner.

Lu Wushuang's face was pressed tightly against the cold bluestone slab, with food scraps scattered all around her. Soup smeared her cheeks, sticky and soiling her hair. She struggled desperately, the humiliation more unbearable than the pain of her broken leg.

Zhao Zhiyuan squatted down and looked at Lu Wushuang's disheveled appearance. The pent-up frustration that Yang Guo had suppressed in his heart finally dissipated a lot.

"Try swearing again?" Zhao Zhiyuan reached out and slapped Lu Wushuang's face with a sadistic pleasure. "You think following Yang Guo will make you untouchable? What is Yang Guo anyway? He's a hoodlum, a fourth-generation disciple, and he still has to call me 'Uncle-Master'. Besides, he became the sect leader by cheating. Does he really think everyone respects him? Senior Brother Yin is the rightful heir. Yang Guo will be kicked out sooner or later."

Lu Wushuang was pinned to the ground, her breathing rapid with rage. Her face was pressed against the ground, her eyes fixed on Zhao Zhiyuan. She recalled Yang Guo's restraint in the main hall, and a sudden surge of courage welled up within her. She gritted her teeth, gathered a mouthful of bloody saliva, and spat it fiercely onto Zhao Zhiyuan's shoes.

"Bah!" Lu Wushuang cursed, "Even if Yang Guo is a scoundrel, he's still better than you bunch of backstabbing lackeys! Yin Zhiping is a traitor who colludes with the enemy, and you all who follow him are a bunch of shameless beasts! If you have the guts, go and yell at Yang Guo. What kind of ability is it to bully me!"

Zhao Zhiyuan was struck where it hurt, and he became furious with shame. He had always prided himself on being high and mighty in the Quanzhen Sect, and now, being publicly called a beast by Lu Wushuang, he couldn't bear it. He suddenly stood up, a fierce glint in his eyes, and raised his foot to kick Lu Wushuang hard.

Before his foot even landed, a voice came from around the corner of the corridor.

"Let go."

The voice wasn't loud, and even sounded somewhat weak, but the chill in it sent a shiver down everyone's spine.

Zhao Zhiyuan froze. He turned his head and saw that Yang Guo was already standing a few steps away.

Yang Guo was wearing a loose-fitting blue Taoist robe, his hands behind his back. He had been waiting for food for a long time and had come out to look for someone with some impatience, but he never expected to see this scene.

Seeing Lu Wushuang pressed into the mud, her pretty face, which always mocked him, covered in filth, Yang Guo felt the long-suppressed anger in his chest suddenly ignite.

Yang Guo strode forward, and even though he was extremely weak, his killing intent remained undiminished. The two disciples who were holding Lu Wushuang down trembled in fear when Yang Guo's gaze swept over them, and they quickly released their grip and stepped aside.

Lu Wushuang got up from the ground. She was in a terrible state, her clothes were dirty and her face was smeared, but she didn't cry. She just stood there stubbornly, her head down, her thin shoulders trembling slightly.

Zhao Zhiyuan forced a bow and said with a forced air, "Sect Leader, this girl has been rude and insulted the elders of Quanzhen. I will teach her a lesson on manners on behalf of the Sect Leader."

Yang Guo ignored him. He looked at Lu Wushuang, at the red mark on her face, and asked, "Where's the food?"

Lu Wushuang pointed to the mess of debris on the ground, her voice muffled, carrying a hint of barely perceptible grievance: "It spilled."

Yang Guo nodded. He looked at Zhao Zhiyuan again.

Yang Guo's expression remained unchanged. He spoke in an extremely calm tone: "Lu Wushuang is my personally appointed attendant. I've said before that she's under my command. If you touch her, you're slapping me in the face."

Zhao Zhiyuan wanted to argue further: "Sect Leader, she just insulted Senior Brother Yin..."

"Shut up." Yang Guo interrupted him, his eyes revealing a chilling ferocity. He knew that if he didn't completely crush Zhao Zhiyuan today, everyone in the Quanzhen Sect would come after him in the future.

"Zhao Zhiyuan, for publicly bullying the sect leader's attendant and disregarding sect rules, is to be punished by kneeling in the Ancestral Hall for three days and three nights without a drop of water or a bite of food. The two beside him will each receive thirty strokes of the rod."

Zhao Zhiyuan suddenly raised his head, his face full of indignation: "Why! She's an outsider, why should I be severely punished because of her!"

Yang Guo looked at him, his tone icy and leaving no room for negotiation: "Because I am the sect leader. If you utter another word, I will expel you from the Quanzhen Sect right now. Do you understand?"

Zhao Zhiyuan was startled. He saw the true killing intent in Yang Guo's eyes. He knew Yang Guo was really capable of doing it.

Zhao Zhiyuan gritted his teeth and lowered his head: "I understand."

Yang Guo turned around and said to Lu Wushuang, "Follow me."

He didn't help her up, nor did he ask her any questions. He simply turned and walked back. Lu Wushuang, dragging her left leg that had been kicked and limping, followed behind Yang Guo.

The two returned to the sect leader's courtyard. Yang Guo pushed open the door to the main house and went inside. He sat down at the table.

Lu Wushuang followed her in and stopped by the door. She kept her head down, clutching the dirty hem of her clothes. She didn't know what Yang Guo was going to do. Although Yang Guo had stood up for her earlier, she had messed up her job, failed to bring back the food, and gotten herself into trouble. Given Yang Guo's terrible temper, he would definitely scold her, or even punish her.

Yang Guo sat in the chair, looking at her. Her left cheek was covered in vegetable leaves and mud, her hair was messy, and there was a red mark on her forehead from a fall.

Yang Guo patted the other chair next to him: "Come here and sit down."

Lu Wushuang didn't move.

"I asked you to come and sit down," Yang Guo emphasized.

Lu Wushuang bit her lip, slowly moved over, and sat down on one side of the chair.

Yang Guo took out a white silk handkerchief from his sleeve. He picked up the teapot on the table, poured some cold tea onto the handkerchief, and dampened it. Then, he turned to face Lu Wushuang.

Yang Guo reached out, pinched Lu Wushuang's chin, and turned her face to face him.

Lu Wushuang was startled and instinctively backed away.

Yang Guo tightened his grip on her wrist, holding her in place. "Don't move," Yang Guo said.

He took a damp handkerchief and pressed it against Lu Wushuang's left cheek, vigorously wiping away the vegetable soup and dirt. His movements were rough and not gentle at all. The rough cloth rubbed against her skin, and Lu Wushuang felt a stinging pain on her cheek. She closed her eyes tightly, her long eyelashes trembling incessantly.

Yang Guo carefully wiped the dirt off her face. Then he turned the handkerchief over and wiped the red mark on her forehead.

Lu Wushuang sat there, feeling the wiping sensation on her face. In all her life, since the Lu family was wiped out, no one had ever treated her like this.

She followed Li Mochou, living in constant fear, terrified of being beaten or scolded for even the slightest mistake. She ran away to Zhongnan Mountain and nearly died by Yin Zhiping's sword. She was forced by Yang Guo to become a maid, enduring endless humiliation.

She thought she had gotten used to this kind of life. But just now, Yang Guo protected her in front of everyone. Now, Yang Guo was personally wiping her face. This sudden action directly shattered the shell she had been building up inside.

Lu Wushuang's eyes quickly reddened. Large tears welled up and streamed down her cheeks, landing on Yang Guo's hand.

At first, she just shed silent tears. Then, she couldn't control herself. She buried her face in her arms on the table and burst into loud sobs. Her cries were deafening, completely unrestrained, as she poured out all the grievances she had held for the past ten years.

Yang Guo sat beside him without saying a word.

She cried for almost half an hour before her sobs gradually subsided, turning into intermittent hiccups. She looked up, her eyes red and swollen, her nose bright red.

Yang Guo looked at her, his tone still that irritatingly irritating manner: "Finished crying?"

Lu Wushuang sniffed but didn't say anything.

Yang Guo stood up and stretched. "Wipe your nose after you're done crying. Go get a basin of water and wash your face." Yang Guo pointed outside the door, "You also have to wash my clothes later. You're not allowed to sleep until you're clean."

After saying that, Yang Guo turned and went into the inner room.

Lu Wushuang sat in the chair, watching Yang Guo's retreating figure. His words were harsh, and his attitude was rude. But Lu Wushuang no longer felt afraid.

She wiped away her tears, stood up, and limped towards the water vat in the courtyard. She knew that in this Quanzhen sect, as long as this person stood there, no one could bully her. Except for himself.