TSWPF -Chapter 370 Lingering Fear

No one in the family had noticed that she was sneaking up the mountain, which made Li Qingning bolder. Not only did she bring food, she also took various medicines up to the mountain for the man in black.

She did this as a precaution, afraid that he might develop a fever again or something.

That day, after the man in black finished eating the food she brought, he reached out and rubbed her little head, telling her that he was leaving and that she should stop going up the mountain.

He had stayed in the cave for five days. The wound on his back had healed somewhat, and he could no longer remain there.

His words stunned Li Qingning. She frowned and looked at him, asking how he could leave when his injuries were not fully healed.

What if he fainted on the way?

“It’s just a minor injury. It’s nothing,” the man in black said with a slight curl of his lips. He took a black token from his robe and placed it in her hand. “Little girl, if you ever run into trouble, take this token to Wanyou Money House. Someone there will help you.”

Li Qingning lowered her head and glanced at the token engraved with the character You. With reluctance, she looked up at him and nodded gently, telling him to take care and not get hurt again.

The man in black replied with a soft “Okay,” took a deep look at her, then turned and left the cave.

After a moment, Li Qingning pouted and ran out of the cave, rushing all the way down the mountain.

What she did not know was that the man in black had been following her from behind the whole time. Only after seeing her safely down the mountain did he quietly leave.

Li Qingning sneaked in through the back door. Before she could return to her room, she was caught red-handed by Li Qingling.

“S-Sister…” Li Qingning stopped, looking timidly at Li Qingling’s dark expression.

Oh no, oh no, oh no—she’d been discovered.

Li Qingling frowned and glared at her. “Follow me.” With that, she turned and walked back to her courtyard.

Sitting in her chair, she looked at Li Qingning coldly and asked, “Where did you go?”

“I… I just went out for a walk.”

Bang!

Li Qingling slammed her hand on the table. “Since when did you learn to lie?”

If she hadn’t suddenly thought of checking on her, she wouldn’t have known that Li Qingning had been sneaking out these past few days.

This little girl was outrageously bold—running up the mountain alone without even bringing guards. If something happened, who would save her?

Li Qingning shuddered in fear. She bit her lower lip and lowered her head. “I… I was wrong…”

“Wrong? What were you wrong about? Tell me.”

Knowing her sister had found out, Li Qingning swallowed nervously. “I shouldn’t have lied. I shouldn’t have gone up the mountain without guards.”

Even though her attitude was good, Li Qingling’s anger did not subside.

Coldly, she asked, “Why did you go up the mountain? Hm?”

Li Qingning glanced at her cautiously, twisting her fingers, unsure whether to tell the truth.

“What are you staring at? Speak. Why did you go?”

“I… I saved an injured big brother. I was afraid he’d be hungry, so I… I brought him food.” Afraid her sister would get too angry, she told everything honestly.

Li Qingling stared at her for a moment. Seeing she wasn’t lying, she asked, “Why didn’t you come back and tell us? What if he had been a bad person?”

“Sister, I was wrong. If it happens again, I’ll tell you first.” She admitted her mistake obediently.

“You still want a next time?” Li Qingling glared at her.

“No, no, no! There won’t be!” Li Qingning waved her hands frantically. Her sister was too scary.

Li Qingling took a deep breath and suppressed her anger.

“This time, you were lucky and met a good person. What about next time? What if he’s bad? Would you still be alive to come back?”

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Seeing her sister’s face turn pale with anger, Li Qingning forgot her fear. She rushed over and hugged Li Qingling’s leg.

“I won’t do it again, I really won’t! Don’t be angry. I’ll listen to you.”

Li Qingling pushed her away. “If I don’t teach you a lesson, you’ll do it again.”

“This time, you must be punished.”

“Sixi—”

Before she could finish, Li Qingning shook her head desperately.

“Sister, it’s not Sixi’s fault! I threatened her not to tell! It’s my fault! I’ll take the punishment!”

“She’s your maid. She also bears responsibility,” Li Qingling said coldly.

She wanted Li Qingning to understand that her mistakes could implicate others.

“Calling me ‘sister’ won’t help,” Li Qingling said indifferently.

“Your punishment: no dinner tonight, no going out for one month, and during that month, you must embroider two handkerchiefs for me. No perfunctory work.”

No going out for a month—and embroidery?

Li Qingning drooped her head, not daring to bargain.

“Did you hear me?”

“Yes…”

Li Qingling snorted and told Xichun to call Sixi.

Xichun looked at Li Qingning sympathetically and went out.

“Sister, please don’t take it out on Sixi…”

At least this child took responsibility.

“I said she will be punished too. Pleading won’t help.”

At that moment, Li Qingning felt extremely guilty.

Sixi rushed in and knelt down with a thud.

“Madam, it’s my fault! Please don’t punish Third Miss!”

Hearing this, Li Qingning’s nose tingled. From now on, she would think carefully before acting.

Li Qingling said sternly, “When you knew she was going up the mountain, you should have stopped her. Or at least made her bring guards. What if something had happened?”

“Madam, I know I was wrong…” Sixi said nervously.

“Punishment: two months’ wages deducted. Tonight, stay with Miss and no dinner.”

Sixi immediately relaxed. “Thank you, Madam.”

Li Qingning secretly sighed in relief.

Li Qingling glanced at her with a half-smile and waved them away.

After they left, she rubbed her temples. Having such a naughty younger sister was truly a headache.

“Xichun, call Ling Yi over.”

“Yes.”

Soon, Ling Yi arrived.

Li Qingling ordered him to strengthen security so Li Qingning couldn’t sneak out again.

“Yes, Madam.”

After he left, Li Qingling finally relaxed and went to rest.

At dinner, Master Luo noticed Li Qingning was absent.

“Xiao Ling, where’s Ningning?”

“She made a mistake. She’s being punished—no dinner tonight.”

“You can’t punish a growing child by not letting her eat,” Master Luo frowned.

Li Qingling explained everything.

After hearing it, everyone fell silent.

She really deserved punishment.

“Should she be punished?” Li Qingling asked.

Master Luo nodded. “Yes. She needs to learn what she can and cannot do. Running alone up Ninghua Mountain… unbelievable. Where is the man she saved?”

“He left today,” Li Qingling said. “I don’t know who he was.”

“Since he didn’t hurt her, he probably wasn’t bad,” Master Luo sighed. “I’ll talk to her later. She can’t do such dangerous things again.”

Li Qingling nodded. The family really shouldn’t spoil her unconditionally anymore.