Webnovel/37

## Recap

**"I like the little black house."** Gongyi Xiao and a pockmarked disciple escorts Qingqiu into the Water Prison, locking him up. Later, he is awoken by a splash of cold water by Xiao Gongzhu, who wishes to make the "criminal" pay. Qingqiu dodges her attacks in the confined space, the whip's cracking wind grazing him, cutting his clothes. When he is backed into a corner, Binghe catches the whip with his bare hands. He sternly puts her in her place, destroying the refined iron whip and tossing it into the lake. After Gongzhu leaves, Qingqiu subconsciously maintains distance between them and Binghe is again upset by how Qingqiu expects the worst from him.

## Synopsis

Shen Qingqiu is being led blindfolded through Huan Hua Palace's maze array by disciples. He asks if he is allowed any contact with outsiders while he waits for the joint trial by the four sects and is told that only those with Huan Hua Palace's authorization pass can enter the Water Prison freely. Shen Qingqiu then asks how the sowers were dealt with, and Gongyi Xiao faithfully answers his question. A pockmarked disciple scolds Gongyi Xiao for telling him too much, who slaps back reminding him to not be rude, but Shen Qingqiu allows the disciple to do so. They arrive at the place where Shen Qingqiu is to be held temporarily, his blindfold is undone. Gongyi Xiao unlocks a stone path that leads to a white, stone platform in the center of the lake. The pockmark disciple throws an ordinary stone into the lakewater to demonstrate the ferocity of the liquid. After Qingqiu enters, Gongyi Xiao turns on the mechanism and murky water descends, forming an airtight water curtain.

Later, the Xiao Gongzhu splashes him with a basin of icy lakewater. She accuses him for colluding with the Demon Realm, simply based on how he treated Binghe: “Luo-gege is such a good person, so of course he wouldn’t say it. The wounds he’s suffered are all hidden within his heart, where no can touch them, where no one can see them… But do you think that just because he doesn’t say, I wouldn’t be able to tell? Have I not eyes, nor a heart?” At her poetic delivery, Qingqiu wants to burst out in laughter. Xiao Gongzhu notices his mocking grin, and cracks her whip. Qingqiu wonders why the refined iron whip used for hitting love rivals were being used on him, a man. Qingqiu dodges, but no matter how fast Qingqiu is, the platform is only so big, so the whip's wind inevitably grazed him, ripping his clothes in several places. After dodging continuously, Qingqiu is backed up to the edge of the platform. Bracing himself for impact, he opens his eyes to see Binghe gripping the lash with a cold, severe expression. Gongzhu explains she got the authorization pass from her dad, but is put in her place by Binghe. He yanks out her whip and reduces it to a pile of tiny fragments, throwing it into the lake. Filled with sorrow and indignation, Xiao Gongzhu flees in tears.

Binghe shifts his gaze to Qingqiu, looking at each other for a long time. When Binghe finally takes a step forward, Qingqiu subconsciously maintained distance between them, stopping Binghe in his tracks, making him withdraw his outreached hand: “There’s no need for Shizun to be so wary, if I wished to do something to you, I wouldn’t need to touch you at all.” Qingqiu sits back down in a meditative pose, eyes lifted to meet Binghe's gaze. Qingqiu tries to convince him to wait until after the joint trial to settle their debts. But unexpectedly not only did Luo Binghe’s expression fail to clear, it became even more bitingly cold: “Why is Shizun so certain the joint trial will find you guilty?” Qingqiu suggests Binghe will ensure that his reputation will be ruined, and Binghe is yet again disappointed that his master is so sure he is evil. He gave a cold laugh. “Again me.”

## Appearances

Shen Qingqiu

Gongyi Xiao

File:Pockmarked Disciple.pngPockmarked Disciple

Xiao Gongzhu

Luo Binghe