“Do you know of the Phoenix Mark?” Feng Jiu’er sheathed the dagger, placing both hands on her belt.

“Jiu’er, don’t!” Zhao Yusheng strode over and grabbed her wrist.

Feng Jiu’er looked up to meet his gaze, blinking. “Deputy General Gao wants to see my Phoenix Mark—how else is he supposed to see it if I don’t take off my clothes?”

“The brothers all trust me so much, I can’t just watch them go to their deaths.”

“No.” Zhao Yusheng did not yield.

Feng Jiu’er’s pink lips pouted slightly, tears glistening at the edges of her eyes in an instant. “Sixty thousand brothers’ lives are in my hands—can I really not manage this small sacrifice?”

“Didn’t you hear him? If I can prove my identity, he’s willing to submit to me. Let go, and I’ll show him.”

“There’s no need.” Gao Lingzhi composed himself and looked away.

Feng Jiu’er pushed Zhao Yusheng aside and strode toward Gao Lingzhi.

She grabbed his collar and said in a low voice, “What do you mean by this? Going back on your word?”

Gao Lingzhi glanced up at her, then lowered his head and looked away.

“There’s no need to wrong yourself. I believe you.”

“How could it be this easy? Are you toying with me?” Feng Jiu’er frowned.

Showing the Phoenix Mark had been a bluff—without genuine feeling stirred, there would have been nothing to see at all.

She had thought this Master Gao seemed rather naive, and wanted to see if she could bluff her way through. She hadn’t expected it to work so well.

Gao Lingzhi stared at the small hand gripping his collar and cleared his throat lightly. “I, Gao Lingzhi, have always kept my word. You…”

“How will you prove your sincerity?” Feng Jiu’er cut him off in a low voice.

Zhao Yusheng raised an eyebrow and stepped over, pulling Feng Jiu’er back. “Jiu’er, you’re about to strangle him.”

Only then did Feng Jiu’er come to her senses and release Gao Lingzhi’s collar.

“Speak! How will you prove your sincerity?”

After Feng Jiu’er had unsealed the acupoint on Gao Lingzhi’s body, he could easily break free of his restraints.

He hadn’t done so, mainly because he wanted to see exactly what plan Feng Jiu’er had.

“I’ve heard you’re a divine physician. You could control me with drugs, couldn’t you?”

Feng Jiu’er furrowed her crescent brows and lowered her voice. “Willingly?”

“How could that be?” Gao Lingzhi’s brow creased. “Who would willingly suffer, without good reason?”

“But rather than be controlled by Chen Hong, I might as well take a gamble. At the very least…”

He met Feng Jiu’er’s gaze and curved his lips into a smile. “At the very least, you’re better looking than her.”

“Heh.” Feng Jiu’er pulled out a pill and brought it to Gao Lingzhi’s lips. “Good eye, I’ll give you that! Eat up, and behave once you have.”

Gao Lingzhi didn’t think too much of it, took the pill into his mouth, and swallowed.

“Can you tell me your specific plan now?”

“No rush.” Feng Jiu’er raised her long finger and pressed it against Gao Lingzhi’s body.

Gao Lingzhi’s gaze froze, and the smile on his face abruptly stopped.

Feng Jiu’er placed her index finger against her lips, pursing them. “Shh… bear with it a little longer. You’ll soon see Chen Hong’s true face.”

Gao Lingzhi blinked, which counted as his response.

Feng Jiu’er returned to Chen Hong’s side, took out her needle case, and continued the acupuncture treatment.

Chen Hong woke from her sleep. Feng Jiu’er was grinding medicine not far away, while Gao Lingzhi remained motionless, glaring at her.

Chen Hong sat up and stretched, reaching a hand out toward Feng Jiang.

Feng Jiang stepped over and helped her up.

“Jian Yi, I’m hungry.” Chen Hong said, smiling sweetly at the man beside her.

“I’ll go prepare something.” Feng Jiang pushed her hand away and walked off.

Chen Hong watched him leave, the smile on her face gradually turning bitter.

“How laughable!” Feng Jiu’er rolled her eyes at her. “Don’t forget, he’s only your puppet.”