Finally, he could escape this damned situation where no one was available.

 

Walking out of the Curled-up Dragon Sword Sect, Du Ge felt extremely pleased. He wasn't worried that his master or eldest senior brother would betray or flee; all he ever wanted was the Dragon Fang.

 

Moreover, if Wu Chang couldn't even keep an eye on two injured people, he wouldn't be worthy of being an Alien Star warrior.

 

Through the battle with Yu Hongsheng, Du Ge had roughly gauged his current combat strength. In the presence of water, no martial artist below the innate level should be his match.

 

However, this world had innate experts, and even higher-level grandmasters. With his current abilities, he couldn't ensure his own safety. He had to find a way to quickly enhance his strength.

 

It would be best if he could awaken an auxiliary attack or defense skill.

 

But how to derive an attack skill from loyalty and trend was indeed a difficult problem…

 

…

 

"Master?" Under the moonlight, Luo Shuang saw Du Ge at the cave entrance. She put away the dagger in her hand and walked out of the darkness, asking, "Did you fail?"

 

"If I had failed, there would be pursuers behind me. And if there were pursuers, I would never lead them to the princess." Du Ge frowned and scolded, "Princess, your mind has been slack these days. You've made several misjudgments on these small matters."

 

"Master, I…" Under the moonlight, Luo Shuang looked at Du Ge's stern face, a face she both feared and loved. Her heart inexplicably sped up, and she stammered, unable to speak.

 

"Hold out your hand." Du Ge drew a vine whip from his waist and said in a deep voice, "Perhaps I've been doing too much for the princess lately, causing you to grow complacent. This is my fault. For the sake of Qingwu Kingdom, I must be strict with you. Please forgive me, Princess."

 

"Master, I know I was wrong. Can we skip the punishment?" Luo Shuang looked at the vine whip, which had been polished to a shine by Du Ge's hands. The fear she had long forgotten surged back into her heart. She hid her hands behind her back, unwilling to stretch them out.

 

"Princess, think of your deceased father and brothers." Du Ge's expression grew even more severe.

 

"…" Luo Shuang looked at Du Ge with grievance, bit her lip, and reluctantly extended her hand.

 

Smack!

 

The vine whip in Du Ge's hand came down heavily on Luo Shuang's palm.

 

Ah!

 

A short scream escaped her lips as a red mark appeared on her palm.

 

Her hand instinctively retracted, and she looked at Du Ge in shock. In her memory, the vine whip had only ever been used symbolically on her, never as harshly as today…

 

"This lash is for forgetting the vengeance for your father and brothers." Du Ge looked at Luo Shuang coldly and said, "Remember the pain in your palm. The steel blade that Duke Dingguo used to sever your father's neck was a thousand times more painful. Please extend your hand again, Princess."

 

Luo Shuang was stunned, tears welling up in her eyes. She glared at Du Ge, then, in a fit of pique, extended her hand again.

 

Smack!

 

The second lash fell.

 

Another red mark appeared.

 

Du Ge said, "This second lash is for your arrogance and complacency. You've forgotten my teachings. Even Wu Chang can see through your little schemes now. In the future, more people will follow you. Each time you slack off, others will look down on you a bit more. Slack off ten times, and your status will be as worthless as toilet paper."

 

The princess endured the pain, looking at Du Ge without saying a word.

 

Smack!

 

The third lash fell.

 

Du Ge continued, "This third lash is for your childish mindset. From the moment you decided to seek revenge, your life no longer had youth or love. Unnecessary emotions will only harm you and everyone who sacrifices for you."

 

Luo Shuang's eyes widened suddenly, her heart racing again, momentarily forgetting the pain in her palm. He knew, he knew everything!

 

Swallowing hard, Luo Shuang's expression grew flustered. "Master, I…"

 

With a sigh, Du Ge put away the vine whip. "Princess, I know what you're thinking, but you must remember, I am your master. If anything were to happen between us, it would be the greatest scandal under the heavens. It would benefit neither you, me, nor the future of Qingwu Kingdom. Between a ruler and a subject, a master and a disciple, there is a natural chasm. Whoever crosses it will die."

 

"I…" Luo Shuang looked at Du Ge, wanting to speak but hesitating. At this moment, she suddenly regretted her decision to become his disciple. She hadn't expected that calling him master would eventually become a prison for her.

 

"Unless one day, you hold great power." Du Ge looked at Luo Shuang, injecting a new hope into her. "When you can silence the world, you can do anything."

 

Luo Shuang's breathing quickened, her eyes widening.

 

Du Ge looked at Luo Shuang and took out a bottle of healing ointment from his pocket, handing it to the princess. "Princess, I was a bit heavy-handed today. Please forgive me."

 

Luo Shuang poured some ointment from the bottle and applied it to her palm, looking at the three red marks. As she carefully pondered Du Ge's words, her mood gradually calmed down.

 

After a moment of hesitation, Luo Shuang said, "Master, with Wu Chang not around, I want to ask you something."

 

"Ask away," Du Ge replied.

 

Luo Shuang looked at Du Ge and asked, "Are you the Heavenly Demon?"

 

"No," Du Ge answered decisively.

 

"…" Luo Shuang's hand paused, a hint of sadness flashing in her eyes.

 

"Princess, whether it's the Heavenly Demon or a celestial being, they will eventually leave this world. But mortals will not." Du Ge said softly, inexplicably reminded of Wang Chong from his previous world. That body had been honed to its peak, and he wondered what had become of it after his soul returned.

 

Is that how it is?

 

Luo Shuang chuckled silently and asked, "Can I trust you?"

 

Du Ge looked at her and said, "You can always trust me. As long as I'm here, I won't allow anyone to harm you. This is my promise to you."

 

"Mm." Luo Shuang nodded lightly. When she looked up again, she was already full of spirit. "Master, thank you for the three lashes today. I won't make such low-level mistakes again."

 

"That's for the best." Du Ge nodded, looking at the vine whip in his hand. After a moment of thought, he said, "Princess, no matter what, a subject hitting their ruler is always improper and disrespectful. In the future, as more people gather around you, it will damage your dignity if outsiders see it. How about this? Please bestow a name upon this vine."

 

"Bestow a name?" Luo Shuang was taken aback.

 

"Grant it the right to punish tyrants and treacherous ministers." Du Ge said, "This way, I can use it to admonish the princess with a clear conscience."

 

Gulp!

 

Luo Shuang instinctively shrank her neck. You want to hit me with it and still want me to give it a proper name?

 

"How about calling it the 'King-Beating Whip'?" Du Ge didn't wait for Luo Shuang to speak and decided on the name himself. He was a persistent person; once he decided to create a derivative item, he wanted to perfect it.

 

With an official name, he could justifiably use it to discipline the princess and also boost his image as a loyal subject.

 

In classical tales, Bao Zheng's executioner's blade, Yuchi Gong's golden cudgel, Wen Zhong's King-Beating Whip, and She- Taijun's dragon-headed cane…

 

Which one of those who possessed weapons that could punish tyrants and treacherous ministers wasn't a renowned loyal subject?

 

"Alright," Luo Shuang said awkwardly.

 

As soon as she finished speaking.

 

Du Ge had already drawn his sword and, under the moonlight, carved the words "Punish Tyrants and Treacherous Ministers" onto the vine whip. He then handed the sword to Luo Shuang. "Please, Princess, bestow the name."

 

Luo Shuang swallowed hard and reluctantly carved her name onto the vine whip.

 

"Let's go!" Du Ge, satisfied, put away the King-Beating Whip and called to the princess. "I've already subdued Dragon Fang. From now on, we have our own intelligence network."

 

"Is it reliable?" Luo Shuang asked.

 

"Rest assured, Princess. I've only initially dealt with Dragon Fang's leader. Give me a few days, and I can completely control Dragon Fang." Du Ge smiled. "There's one more thing I need to tell you in advance. To subdue Dragon Fang, I told them I was helping you restore the kingdom because I coveted the throne myself. This is highly disrespectful…"

 

"Master, you don't need to explain to me. In urgent matters, one must act accordingly. I understand." Luo Shuang smiled, interrupting him. "No matter when, I always trust you, Master."