23: Gu Yingying, you all line up.

Watching Gu Lingshuang share the affection Lin Dong had for her, Lin Rou felt bitter inside.

She could clearly feel that Lin Dong didn't care about her as much as he did when she was a child.

Just as she was about to continue following them, a sudden muffled "thud" rang out, and a sharp pain shot through the back of her head.

Her vision went black, and she collapsed limply to the ground.

"If you want to blame someone, blame your father for daring to humiliate my big brother."

Gu Yingying stood behind her, hands on her hips with an arrogant air, weighing a brick in her hand.

Behind her stood several lackeys, all of whom she had specifically called as helpers.

"Teach her a good lesson for me!" At Gu Yingying's command, the lackeys immediately surrounded her.

They immediately began to punch and kick Lin Rou.

They showed no mercy or chivalry in their attacks.

Before long, Lin Rou slowly regained consciousness, and Gu Yingying quickly set up a soundproof Barrier.

"Y-you, who are you? Why are you hitting me?"

Lin Rou curled her body up, looking around in terror.

"Beat her to death, just don't actually kill her!" Gu Yingying kicked Lin Rou in anger.

Hearing this, the lackeys hit even harder, their punches and kicks creating afterimages.

"Gu Yingying! We are practically in-laws, why are you doing this?"

Lin Rou endured the intense pain throughout her body and finally saw Gu Yingying's face clearly.

In an instant, flames of rage erupted in her chest.

She had no grudge against this woman.

Yet the other party had ordered people to beat her to the brink of death; this was clearly an attempt to cripple her.

"Stop!"

Gu Yingying raised her hand to signal, and the lackeys understood, immediately holding Lin Rou down.

"Not bad, you all know how to control yourselves."

Gu Yingying walked over to examine her closely, nodding in satisfaction.

She saw that Lin Rou had bumps on her head, and her face was covered in black and blue bruises.

"It's all thanks to Boss's usual teachings, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to achieve this effect." One lackey said flatteringly.

Lin Rou gritted her teeth and stared at Gu Yingying, threatening: "Gu Yingying, if you don't tell them to let me go, once my father finds out about this, he won't let you off."

"Your father." Gu Yingying scoffed disdainfully: "What does that Azure Emperor amount to? Insulting my big brother—whoever it is must pay the price!"

As she spoke, she reached out and pinched Lin Rou's cheek.

"You're quite pretty."

Her fingers slid down, and she gave Lin Rou's chest a hard pinch.

"Hmm, the feel is an eight out of ten, two points less than mine, not bad." Gu Yingying nodded, a flash of envy in her eyes.

How did this woman grow up? How is she a size bigger than her?

"Ah! Y-you actually dare to..."

Lin Rou was filled with shame and anger, her face turning bright red.

This Gu Yingying was simply too detestable.

She actually dared to molest her.

Unforgivable!

"I dare to, what can you do about it?"

Gu Yingying triumphantly pinched her a few more times, making Lin Rou gasp in pain.

"When I go back and tell my father, I will definitely make you pay." Lin Rou threatened through gritted teeth.

This woman had no sense of restraint; she could only feel a burning pain in her chest now.

"Slap!"

A loud slap landed on Lin Rou's face.

Lin Rou widened her eyes in disbelief; never in her life had anyone dared to hit her like this.

"Ah! I'll fight you to the death!"

Lin Rou struggled desperately, but it was to no avail.

These two lackeys were at the Peak of the Divine Power Realm, while she was only at the first level of the Divine Power Realm; she couldn't break free at all.

"Still daring to resist?"

Gu Yingying sneered and immediately ordered the three lackeys behind her: "You all line up."

Upon hearing this, Lin Rou trembled, terrified: "Y-you're crazy! I am the daughter of the Great Emperor!"

The three lackeys swept their eyes over Lin Rou's hot, delicate body, their Adam's apples bobbing, but no one dared to take a step forward.

Gu Yingying turned around abruptly, her sharp gaze sweeping over the three of them: "Useless things, such a beauty delivered to your lips, and you don't dare to touch her?"

The lackeys looked at each other, and one of them gathered his courage to say: "Boss, this is the daughter of the Great Emperor."

"So what if she's the daughter of the Great Emperor."

Gu Yingying looked exasperated: "With me here, what are you afraid of?"

The few lackeys were almost crying.

You're not afraid because you have the Third Mistress backing you.

But we don't!

Behind a tree not far away, Cao Bu watched, dumbfounded.

This girl is too ruthless!

But Lin Rou was someone he had his eye on.

And that place could only be entered by him.

Besides, he still needed to use Lin Rou to Cultivate, so the first time had to be his regardless.

Thus, Cao Bu transformed directly into the appearance of Gu Yun and walked out.

"Little sister! What are you doing? Miss Lin Rou is a distinguished guest of my Gu Clan, look at what you've beaten her into!"

Seeing Cao Bu, Lin Rou felt as if she had grabbed a life-saving straw.

She struggled desperately to break free from her restraints, stumbled over to behind Cao Bu, and said with a crying voice: "Big Brother Gu Yun, save me quickly! This crazy woman wants to let these people molest me."

Cao Bu gently patted her shoulder and said softly: "Don't be afraid, with me here, no one can bully you."

Looking at Cao Bu, who was so close, two blushes flew onto Lin Rou's cheeks.

She nodded quietly: "Mm, I trust Big Brother Gu Yun."

Cao Bu turned around, his stern gaze looking at Gu Yingying: "Little sister, the Azure Emperor is still in the banquet hall; you've caused such a big commotion, shouldn't you give an explanation?"

Gu Yingying retorted unconvinced: "Who told the Azure Emperor to insult my big brother first!"

She walked up to Cao Bu and glared coldly at Lin Rou: "I'll let it slide this time, but next time, I'll bring a hundred big men to find you."

As she spoke, she waved to the lackeys behind her: "Brothers, let's go!"

The lackeys wished they could sprout wings on their feet, hurriedly following Gu Yingying away from there.

Lin Rou watched their retreating figures, then turned to look at Cao Bu, saying with a crying voice: "Big Brother Gu Yun, you must decide for me; this Gu Yingying is too detestable."

As she spoke, her tears couldn't stop falling.

Cao Bu quickly pacified her softly: "Miss Lin Rou, I am truly sorry. This girl has been spoiled since she was young, and as her older brother, I can't do anything about her either."

"Are we just going to let it go like this?"

Lin Rou bit her lip tightly, her eyes full of unwillingness.

"This matter is indeed my little sister's fault." Cao Bu sighed lightly: "After I go back, I will report it to the Third Concubine and let her properly discipline Yingying to give you an explanation."

As he spoke, he took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped the tear stains and dirt off Lin Rou's face.

Lin Rou met Cao Bu's focused gaze and was momentarily stunned, even forgetting to cry.

Cao Bu put away the handkerchief and said in a sincere tone: "There is a pavilion over there; let me help you treat your wounds, just as an apology for my willful sister."

Lin Rou's face turned red instantly, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her clothes, and she said in a soft, delicate voice: "T-then, I will trouble you, Big Brother Gu Yun."

"Why be polite with me?" Cao Bu smiled gently and turned to walk towards the pavilion.

Lin Rou felt her cheeks burning and hurriedly followed.

In the pavilion, Lin Rou sat upright on a stone stool, and Cao Bu stood in front of her, taking out ointment from his storage ring, dipping a little on his fingertip, and said softly: "It might hurt a little, bear with it."

"Mm." Lin Rou lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.

When his warm fingertips brushed across her cheek, Lin Rou's heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

Borrowing the moonlight, she quietly looked up and clearly saw Cao Bu's lowered eyelashes and tightly pursed thin lips.

"Does it hurt?" Cao Bu suddenly looked up, meeting her amorous gaze directly.

Lin Rou hurriedly shook her head: "N-no, it doesn't hurt."

"Your face is completely red." Cao Bu chuckled.

"I am not!" Lin Rou subconsciously retorted.

Cao Bu leaned in close and whispered in her ear: "Actually... I prefer to see you smile."

Lin Rou's breath hitched, and in her panic, she wanted to dodge backward, but the stool had no backrest, and as she leaned back, she was about to fall backward.

"Careful."

Cao Bu grabbed her wrist, and his other hand steadily supported her lower back.

Feeling the delicate sensation from his palm, a flash of evil light crossed his eyes.

Lin Rou was almost half-suspended in the air, the pearl hairpin in her hair swaying gently.

She widened her eyes, meeting Cao Bu's handsome face, which was inches away.

Their breathing intertwined, and the sound of their heartbeats was deafening; she didn't know if it was his or hers.

Lin Rou twisted her body in panic, wanting to break free from his embrace: "L-let me go!"

"Don't move!" Cao Bu increased the force in his hand, pressing her directly back onto the stone stool, his tone unquestionable: "The wound hasn't been treated yet."

Lin Rou froze instantly, the tips of her ears red enough to bleed, and she lowered her head, not daring to struggle again.

After a long while, she muttered softly: "Isn't it done yet?"

A trace of playfulness flashed in Cao Bu's eyes, and he deliberately slowed down his movements: "Don't be anxious, the wound needs to be treated carefully."

His fingertips deliberately caressed her cheek, and his tone suddenly became serious: "In the future, if you encounter danger, come find me first, got it?"

Lin Rou was stunned, looking up and crashing into his deep eyes.

Under the moonlight, those eyes shone with a gentle light, making her forget to respond for a moment.

"Did you hear me?" Cao Bu raised an eyebrow slightly, his fingertips gently pinching the tip of her nose with a hint of doting.

"W-who needs you to care!" Lin Rou instantly regained her senses, blushing as she slapped his hand away: "I can handle it myself!"

Cao Bu didn't get angry but instead laughed, suddenly leaning in close: "Oh? Then who was it that hid behind me just now, trembling while clutching my sleeve?"

"You!"

Lin Rou glared with rounded eyes in anger.

But when she saw the handsome, sharp-featured face in front of her, her Aura immediately weakened, and her voice became smaller and smaller: "That... that was an accident."