The punishment was only halfway through, but blood was already trickling from the corner of Chen Nan’s mouth, and his back was a mangled ruin of flesh. Ning Xuan hadn’t expected the Protection Association’s punishment whip to be so severe. He was one of her own, always by her side, looking after her. If he were permanently injured, it would be her own heart that ached.

"That’s enough. Stop. Let them down." Ning Xuan’s voice echoed through the punishment chamber via an intercom. The enforcers received the order, and the sound of the punishment whip whistling through the air came to an abrupt halt.

They quickly released the restraints. Lin Mo’s physical constitution was much stronger than Chen Nan’s. Although he swayed, he could still stand firm. Chen Nan was in much worse shape. After being released, he was unsteady on his feet, his knees gave out, and he slid to the ground.

"It’s... over already? Miss Ning, you’re too soft-hearted. Be careful they don’t walk all over you in the future. Hey, where are you going?" Before the vice president could finish, he watched in surprise as Ning Xuan ran out.

Ning Xuan had seen on the holographic projection that Chen Nan looked unwell. She hurried to the punishment chamber, scooped Chen Nan up to examine him, fed him some Healing Medicine, then draped a piece of clothing over him and lifted him into her arms.

Seeing Ning Xuan fussing over only Chen Nan, Lin Mo spoke up stubbornly, "Lord Contract Master, Lin Mo is willing to endure the full fifty lashes!"

Ning Xuan glanced back at him and replied coolly, "Suit yourself!" before carrying Chen Nan out of the punishment chamber.

Lin Mo glanced at the two enforcers, spread his arms, and leaned back against the punishment rack. "Come on!"

As Lin Mo’s back hit the cold punishment rack, metal clasps automatically locked around his wrists. The two enforcers exchanged a glance, and the piercing whistle of the whip’s tip tore through the dim air.

CRACK!

This lash landed on his waist, perfectly overlapping a previous welt, and excruciating pain exploded along his spine. Lin Mo clenched his back teeth, the taste of blood spreading in his mouth. Through his blurry vision, he saw Ning Xuan carry Chen Nan around a corner in the hallway, without a single glance back at him.

"Thirty-two... Thirty-three..." the enforcer counted off mechanically. Sweat mixed with blood, snaking across the bluestone floor. Lin Mo counted the vibrations that shuddered through his ribs. By the time the final lash fell, his mouth was thick with the taste of blood. The instant the locks sprang open, he pitched forward like a puppet with its strings cut. His palms landed in a pool of blood that had yet to congeal—it felt sticky and cold, utterly devoid of warmth.

Nestled in Ning Xuan’s arms, Chen Nan stirred uneasily. "Contractor, I’m fine. I can take it! Let me go back!"

"Are you sure?" Ning Xuan supported him with one arm, using her other hand to grip his chin and tilt it up.

’The five locks that secured a person to the punishment rack in the Protection Association’s chamber must have an effect similar to an Imprisonment Ring, suppressing the victim’s energy circulation and recovery ability. However, it wasn’t a complete suppression. Just now, Chen Nan’s energy circulation had stagnated, which was why he was so severely injured. She was afraid of damaging Chen Nan’s foundation and couldn’t help but call a halt to it!’

"That sudden stagnation of your energy just now, you did that yourself, didn’t you? Aren’t you afraid that fifty lashes would cripple you!" Ning Xuan pinched his cheek.

"Just for a moment, I felt my energy was circulating abnormally and wanted to see what was happening. I didn’t expect it to suddenly stagnate. I didn’t do it on purpose," Chen Nan explained.

"And you still want to go back?" Ning Xuan asked, her face cold.

"No, don’t send me back! Lord Contract Master, Ah Nan was wrong! Thank you for saving me!" Chen Nan tried to curry favor, resting his cheek on Ning Xuan’s hand and nuzzling against it.

"I’ll keep a tally of the lashes you missed this time. If you dare to make a mistake in the future, I’ll send you back here to receive them all at once!" Ning Xuan threatened him with a cold expression.

Ning Xuan carried Chen Nan back to the reception room. The vice president looked at Chen Nan in her arms, then glanced toward Lin Mo, who was suffering alone in the punishment chamber, and couldn’t help but shake his head. "You’re being far too partial. Lin Mo’s background isn’t simple. You haven’t even established a spiritual connection yet. With such favoritism, aren’t you afraid he’ll run off?"

Ning Xuan had already seen Lin Mo finish his punishment via the holographic projector. He’d looked wretched when first released, but once the restraints were off and his energy circulation returned to normal, his body’s powerful regenerative abilities gradually kicked in. After resting for a moment, he was able to get to his feet.

Lin Mo put the clothes he had taken off before the punishment back on. The dark purple fabric was instantly stained with blood. Lin Mo’s face was pale from the pain, revealing a hint of confusion and helplessness. He mechanically fastened the buttons of his shirt one by one and walked out of the punishment chamber, step by step.

"If he runs, he runs. It was never a big deal anyway," Ning Xuan said with an air of indifference.

Seeing her attitude, the vice president was a bit stunned. He didn’t know what gave Ning Xuan such confidence, but she didn’t seem to regard the power of Five Maples City in the slightest.

Or perhaps, Ning Xuan simply had no idea how powerful Five Maples City truly was.

The people from the Controller Protection Association escorted Ning Xuan, Chen Nan, and Lin Mo to the house assigned to her.

Ning Xuan had just entered the house when Yan Fuzhen arrived with his Attendants. He was still dressed elegantly and properly, and his every move was pleasant to watch.

Yan Fuzhen and his Attendants quickly cleaned and tidied the house and also purchased many daily necessities.

The house wasn’t very large, divided into two floors. Each floor had three bedrooms, two living rooms, and two bathrooms. Ning Xuan, Chen Nan, and Lin Mo took the upper floor, while Yan Fuzhen and a few Attendants stayed on the lower floor.

「The next day」

After breakfast, Ning Xuan instructed Chen Nan and Lin Mo to rest at home while she went with Yan Fuzhen to the Central Star Information Center for a Companion Spirit awakening test.

This test was originally supposed to be part of the Spiritual Power Level test she took before. It was just that last time, on D618 Star, every time she tried to activate her Companion Spirit, the testing instrument would explode, so she was never able to get a reading.

This time, upon entering the testing chamber, Ning Xuan activated the tiny, glowing particles within her blood. Outside, the technician watched the screen. The area representing the Level grew progressively darker, while the area for the energy system turned a vibrant red. As the technician saw the Level indicator turn as black as ink, he cried out in alarm and immediately contacted his superior.

"SCREECH!" With a cry, the fluffy Little Red Bird appeared again. It remained for about one or two minutes before dissipating back into her bloodline.

After leaving the testing chamber, Ning Xuan immediately called up her Light Computer to check her personal information.

Profile

Ordinary Citizen (Minor)

Name: Ning Xuan

Gender: Female

Age: 17

Mother: Ning Zilan (Deceased)

Father: Bai Xiwen (Deceased)

Registered Address: D-level Star, D618 Planet, Zone 4 Residence, Xingluo Bay

School: Xingluo Bay Middle and High Level Joint Academy (Student’s Spiritual Power Level has advanced to B-level, granting eligibility to reside on the Central Star. Application approved.)

Major: Alchemy

Professional Qualification: Has passed the Advanced Alchemist examination and obtained Advanced Alchemist professional qualification.

Spiritual Power: B-level (Value: 4298)

Brain Domain Width: SSS-level

Companion Spirit (Superpower Body): Legendary Fire Spirit Vermilion Bird (Not yet fully formed)

Superpower Talent: Unawakened