"Is your father the strongest fighter in the Tang family?" Chu Feng asked.
"My father is a Seventh Grade Half-Ancestor. He is indeed the strongest in our Tang family," Tang Ying replied.
"But if your father is the strongest in the Tang family, and he was ambushed and injured, why didn't the Cao family seize the opportunity to attack? Instead, they actually gave your father time to recover?" Chu Feng asked, genuinely puzzled.
"It was my father's close friend. After injuring my father, his conscience apparently got the better of him — he couldn't go through with it."
"He pleaded with the Cao family, asking them to spare my father and even demanding they give him time to heal. Otherwise, he said he would fight for our Tang family."
"As long as the Cao family gave my father time to recover, he wouldn't interfere in the matter," Tang Ying explained.
"Talk about melodramatic," Chu Feng said, a dark look crossing his face.
"Yes, it is pretty ridiculous. But the truth is, if not for my father's friend that day, my father would have died right there," Tang Ying said.
"That's quite the story — practically theatrical," Chu Feng said with a faint smile. "So how much time did the Cao family give your father to recover?"
"One more month," Tang Ying replied.
"That should be enough time," Chu Feng said.
"Enough time for what?" Tang Ying asked.
"I need to go deal with that demoness first. But since I gave you my word to serve as your bodyguard, I can't very well abandon you."
"Especially now that your Tang family is facing a powerful enemy, you're in even greater danger. A bodyguard who isn't at his client's side isn't much of a bodyguard."
"But with a month, I should be able to finish dealing with the demoness and come back to protect you," Chu Feng told Tang Ying. He was a man who kept his promises, and he always followed through on his word.
"Chu Feng… I…" Suddenly, Tang Ying's expression shifted again. Her small lips pressed together as though she had been terribly wronged.
"What's wrong?" Chu Feng asked.
"I'm so sorry. The first time I saw you, I picked a fight with you on purpose," Tang Ying said.
"I know," Chu Feng replied with a grin. "A blind man could've seen you were doing it on purpose. The sky is enormous — you could've walked anywhere, but you just had to walk right through where I was standing."
"That's exactly why I need to apologize. I went out of my way to provoke you for no reason, yet not only did you hold no grudge, you actually saved me and our Tang family's guards."
"And you're my lifesaver. I should be repaying you without conditions. But when you asked for the Demon-Subduing Spring Water, I turned around and made demands of you, insisting you become my bodyguard."
"And you actually agreed. Not only that, you've been so earnest about it — genuinely concerned for my safety."
"But I treated you like that, and you're still this good to me. I… I… wuu… I'm such a terrible person!"
At this point, tears spilled from Tang Ying's eyes like the waters of a great river — once they started, there was no stopping them.
After all, she was still just a girl. She had only recently come of age, but her temperament was that of a child. And because so few people had ever been truly sincere with her growing up, encountering someone like Chu Feng moved her to tears.
"Hey, hey, don't do that. People who don't know any better might think I did something to you," Chu Feng said with a laugh, trying to calm her down.
"Wuu!!!" But Tang Ying only cried even louder.
"Stop crying. If you keep it up, I'm going to have to take action," Chu Feng said suddenly.
"What action?" Tang Ying stared at him blankly.
"Your Tang family has so many powerful experts. What if they get angry and have me executed?"