The best strategy is to attack the mind.

　　That was what her master had taught her, and Yu Qingwu never thought that one day, she would use it on her master.

　　The reason her master dared to do this was simply because he was sure that she would be soft-hearted and save Qingqing.

　　It was also her fault for being too irrational before, which allowed her to be in a passive position all along.

　　But if she were selfish and ignored those junior brothers and sisters, then her master would be helpless against her.

　　Sure enough, as soon as Yu Qingwu's words came out, Xiao Rongqi's kind and amiable face from the previous moment instantly froze, and his eyes were filled with disbelief. His smiling lips seemed to solidify, and the expression on his face was extremely ugly for a moment.

　　Such rich changes in expression were something Yu Qingwu had never seen before. It seemed that her actions had indeed startled her master, who was like a father to her.

　　Not to mention Xiao Rongqi, even Xie Jin Yan was shocked.

　　In fact, for him, Yan Qingqing was not really important.

　　If Yu Qingwu hadn't insisted on saving her, he might not have taken action, or rather, even if he did, he would never have been so quick, so quick as to fear that Yan Qingqing would suffer even the slightest harm.

　　After all, at the negotiating table, the more anxious party is destined to be the loser.

　　He hadn't dared to be so direct before, because he was also concerned about Yu Qingwu's feelings, fearing that he would leave her with the impression of being ruthless, cold-blooded, and inhuman, like in the past.

　　But at this moment, Yu Qingwu had spoken up, so he had no more scruples.

　　Smiling lightly at Xiao Rongqi on the seat, Xie Jin Yan leaned slightly closer to Yu Qingwu and teased with a low laugh, "Shijie (senior apprentice sister), it's not too late to come to your senses. You're not as much of a hindrance as I imagined."

　　"You're the hindrance," Yu Qingwu glared at him and retorted unhappily.

　　Seeing her angry expression, Xie Jin Yan didn't argue any further. He just spread his hands and followed her words, "Yes, yes, yes, I'm the hindrance. Shijie, you're smart."

　　"But... smart is smart, you still have to be calm, and don't be led into the pit by Shifu (master). Shifu has always known about me, there are no weaknesses, sinister and vicious, cold-blooded and ruthless, no one can threaten me. But Shijie... you're different."

　　"So, you have to steady yourself. Only if you steady yourself can I gain the initiative."

　　Xie Jin Yan smiled and gave a few more low instructions.

　　Yu Qingwu was originally a calculating person, but she was often too emotional when facing people she cared about, so she was so distraught before.

　　But at this moment, when she came back to her senses, she gradually calmed down.

　　Naturally, she wouldn't be so emotional and let Shifu Xiao Rongqi manipulate her.

　　She smiled lightly and didn't reply to Xie Jin Yan. She just rested her cheek in her hand and looked at her master, who had been watching them whispering for a long time. Seeing that Xiao Rongqi didn't answer, she reminded him again in an extremely indifferent manner, "Shifu, what exactly do you want? You should think carefully."

　　"Once this village is gone, there won't be another shop..."

　　"If this disciple's compassion passes, I will no longer be able to intervene in Junior Sister Yan's life or death."

　　"For His Highness, these things are even less important."

　　She raised her eyebrows slightly, without the seriousness and respect she used to have in the sect. Xiao Rongqi seemed to see a bit of a playboy's shadow on that once gentle and peaceful face. That kind of expression was very similar to Xie Jin Yan at the negotiating table.

　　Sure enough, one is influenced by what one is near! Is she completely disregarding the grace of adoption back then?

　　Xiao Rongqi was displeased and wanted to reprimand her.

　　But when he met that smiling yet not smiling bright face, he quickly realized that his second disciple was not someone he could easily control now. If he put on the airs of a master again and said something, it would probably be counterproductive.

　　After thinking about it, the displeasure on Xiao Rongqi's face disappeared as much as possible, and he put on his past kind face again, pretending to be wronged and helpless. He sighed and replied to Yu Qingwu, "Qingwu, what are you thinking?"

　　"Shifu didn't mean anything else, just afraid that you would have no one to help you in the capital."

　　"After all, Shifu also loves you like a daughter, how could I hope that you are not well? Since you are unwilling, then let's forget about it."

　　"Anyway, with the dagger that Shifu gave you, you can command many people in the martial world. If something happens, they will naturally help you. It was Shifu who was overthinking..."

　　As he spoke, Xiao Rongqi's eyes intentionally or unintentionally swept across Yu Qingwu's face.

　　In fact, his words were not entirely false. Among all the disciples, he loved Yu Qingwu the most. Once upon a time, he really treated her like a daughter, so he gave her the dagger that represented the Jianghu (martial world) command, originally hoping that she would use it to protect herself.

　　But he never expected that it was his carefully cultivated disciple, whom he kept by his side and loved like a daughter, who had harmed his Yu Mo, his Yu Mo who was connected to him by blood, into a madman.

　　Whenever he thought of Yu Mo's daily terrified begging appearance, his hatred for Yu Qingwu increased by one point, and his love gradually dissipated.

　　But now, he naturally couldn't show it.

　　He still had to repair his relationship with her...

　　Therefore, Xiao Rongqi deliberately mentioned the dagger.

　　He didn't go wrong either. When she heard the word "dagger," Yu Qingwu's heart was indeed a little shaken.

　　She knew very well what the dagger represented. It represented the Jianghu command. With that dagger, all the gangs would have to obey her orders.

　　Yes, her master did indeed treat her as a chess piece to win over the royal family.

　　But... perhaps... the love was also real.

　　Even if he was cruel to other disciples, but to her...

　　Thinking of the past, thinking of the care her master had given her, Yu Qingwu's originally cold eyes softened again.

　　But soon, when she raised her head again and met her master's face, which was deliberately maintaining a peaceful expression, she tried her best to suppress the emotions in her heart. She still wore a distant negotiating face, and smiled back at her master, "Shifu is so considerate and cares for this disciple, this disciple is ashamed. Just now, this disciple was too激进(jijin - radical/impetuous), so the words I said were somewhat offensive to Shifu."

　　"But this disciple thinks that since Shifu is so considerate of this disciple, you must also understand this disciple's situation and understand this disciple's feelings. As a woman, this disciple is unwilling to share a husband with others."

　　"So, I hope Shifu can understand." Yu Qingwu said, then got up and bowed extremely respectfully to Xiao Rongqi.

　　Xiao Rongqi originally wanted to play the emotional card with Yu Qingwu, but he didn't expect that she would directly put a high hat on him.

　　For a moment, he was a little dumbfounded.

　　His face stiffened slightly, and he reached out unnaturally, "Qingwu, what are you talking about? Once a teacher, always a father. Shifu treats you like a daughter, how can a father argue with his daughter? It's just..."

　　"Since that's the case, then father will definitely agree to daughter's request, right?" Xiao Rongqi was still pretending to use emotions to manipulate Yu Qingwu, but the next moment, the bright and beautiful woman suddenly shouted this sentence.

　　Then she bowed heavily to him and pleaded, "Daughter begs father to look at daughter's sake and return my Shimei (junior apprentice sisters) to their freedom."