Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

Zhou Qingfeng said, "Master, I think there's something fishy about Uncle Chenghu's drunkenness and lustful behavior towards the envoy's daughter."

Qiu Chengde: "Oh? What are your thoughts?"

Zhou Qingfeng said, "It's illogical, it doesn't make sense, it's just too outrageous. There were so many people watching outside the carriage. Even if Uncle Chenghu had lustful thoughts and was emboldened by alcohol, he couldn't possibly do something so irrational. It's too hard to believe."

Qiu Chengde said, "I don't believe it either, but... facts speak louder than words."

Zhou Qingfeng remained silent. He had witnessed the wickedness of human nature, and so had his master.

In this defiled and evil world, people of all ages and genders are capable of doing things that are beyond imagination and have absolutely no bottom line.

It would be impossible to say there were no doubts.

However, suspicions aside, there is no conclusive evidence to clear the name of the guilty party.

Then Qiu Chenghu will have to bear the blame and will be unable to defend himself.

Rules are the bottom line for maintaining basic order, and anyone who violates the rules must pay the price.

Even though Qiu Chenghu was Qiu Chengde's younger brother, he still had to pay a heavy price for it.

Given the circumstances at the time, Qiu Chenghu was indeed beyond saving. If he had actually done it, needless to say, even if the First Lady were willing to show leniency and let him off the hook, the others, in order to uphold the rules, would have made Qiu Chenghu's fate even worse than it is now.

Qiu Chengde said, "Suppose Cheng Hu was framed, and you were Cheng Hu back then. In this situation, how would you break the deadlock and save yourself?"

Zhou Qingfeng frowned slightly: "This situation is difficult to break unless the envoy's daughter suddenly changes her mind, which is of course impossible."

"If someone were truly framing you on purpose, they would never change their story."

"Because the person who wrongs you is always more wronged than you are, and crying out for justice is useless."

Qiu Chengde was taken aback upon hearing this, then stroked his beard and smiled, saying with satisfaction, "My disciple's words are too biased and pessimistic, but... they make sense."

Zhou Qingfeng said, "If I were Uncle Chenghu at that time, the only way to break the deadlock would be to catch the envoy's daughter and beat her up. The envoy's daughter would fight back and we would fight each other, eventually getting her out of the carriage. Then everyone would see me and the envoy's daughter fighting each other. That way, the deadlock could be broken."

"Ah, this..." Qiu Chengde thought his disciple would come up with some brilliant idea, but he didn't expect it to be so simple and crude. However, upon closer examination, he felt that although the plan was a bit crude and simple, it seemed to be very effective, because it turned the process of proving one's innocence into a fight between two people.

Zhou Qingfeng said with a serious expression, "Master, publicly molesting the daughter of an envoy is punishable by exile at the very least, and could even be the death penalty. If I fight with the envoy's daughter, at most I'll get a whipping and a few years in prison. I know which is more serious."

Qiu Chengde hissed, looking at his apprentice with astonishment, and gave him a thumbs up: "A genius!"

Zhou Qingfeng clasped his hands in a salute and smiled, "Master, you flatter me. These are just trivial skills of mine."

A burst of laughter rang out.

Qiu Chengde and Zhou Qingfeng turned their heads and saw that not far away, Jianwu, dressed in white, was sitting on a tree branch, listening to the conversation between the master and disciple. She was holding a sugar cake in one hand and waving to them with the other: "Hello, Fourth Brother, Steward Qiu."

Qiu Chengde smiled slightly: "Sword Dancer, eavesdropping is not a good habit."

Sword Dance landed lightly, with a faint smile: "Steward Qiu, don't say that. People should be reasonable. I was here first, and you came later. I just didn't make a sound, so you couldn't see me. Don't blame me for eavesdropping."

Qiu Chengde chuckled and shook his head: "Sword Dancer is eloquent. Excuse me, disciple, let's go."

Zhou Qingfeng hurriedly followed Qiu Chengde away. As Zhou Qingfeng passed by Jianwu,

Sword Dance extended her slender hand and smiled slightly: "Fourth Brother, you've been away for so long, where's my gift?"

Zhou Qingfeng watched his master's retreating figure. The dog furtively took a bunch of things out of the Holy Ring and stuffed them into Jianwu's arms, whispering, "Sister Jianwu, of course I won't forget the gifts. These are local specialties I bought when I went out. You and the sisters can share them. I'll go first and we'll talk later."

"Hehe, so thoughtful." Jianwu smiled as she hugged the pile of gifts, her favorability rating increasing by 1+1+1+1...

Qiu Chengde walked ahead with his hands behind his back. Sensing that his disciple was catching up, he said without turning his head, "Well done. Maintaining a good relationship with Jianwu and the others is beneficial to you in every way."

Zhou Qingfeng followed closely, took out a pagoda, and presented it with both hands: "Master, I have also prepared a gift for you. Please accept it."

Qiu Chengde paused, recognizing the item at a glance: "This is the Nine-Story Demon-Subduing Pagoda, a treasure of the Li family of Qiantang."

Zhou Qingfeng said, "So Master recognizes it. It's a waste for me to keep this treasure. I should give it to you."

Qiu Chengde took the pagoda to admire it and nodded in satisfaction: "The Nine-Story Demon-Subduing Pagoda is indeed rare. There is only one pseudo-divine artifact in the world with such growth potential. It is enough to be used until the Appetite Realm, but it is too useless for me. Silang, keep it for yourself. I no longer need it."

After saying this, Qiu Chengde placed the pagoda back in Zhou Qingfeng's palm and patted Zhou Qingfeng on the shoulder.

If it were anyone else, seeing that their master had already said so, they would definitely have obediently taken back the generous gift.

However, Zhou Qingfeng wouldn't think that way. Even if the Nine-Story Demon-Slaying Tower was a replica of a powerful artifact with growth potential, and there was only one of its kind in the world, it wasn't anything special. It was something that would eventually be eliminated as his cultivation level increased.

What is truly rare is power; with power, you can have anything.

Therefore, maintaining, consolidating, and deepening the close relationship with one's master is the most important thing. Only in this way can the master bring greater power, stronger support, and more feedback. As for whether the gift is useful or not, it really doesn't matter. With the master's power, what can't he have?

Offering precious gifts is merely an outward expression of one's respect for teachers and filial piety. If it's not demonstrated through real money and accumulated over time, how can one rely on sweet words and empty promises every day? Just like love, love doesn't need money, but proving love does.

Asking your master for help once can deplete your master's goodwill. Asking your master to cover for you twice can still deplete your master-disciple relationship. But what about asking for help three, four, five, or six times? None of this is a given. Relationships are reciprocal, and the master-disciple relationship also needs mutual benefit as a lubricant.

Pure feelings are really unreliable.

I can't sleep at night because my master doesn't accept gifts.

Zhou Qingfeng quickly presented the pagoda again: "Master, this is a token of my affection. Even if you don't need it, you can still collect and admire it. Although it is a pseudo-divine artifact, it is still of great collectible value. Please accept it, Master."

Qiu Chengde chuckled, hesitated for a moment, and then accepted the pagoda: "Alright, then I will accept it."

Zhou Qingfeng clasped his hands in a salute and said solemnly, "Thank you, Master, for granting Silang's wish to be filial."