Faced with Zhu Wanqing's threats and inducements, the Seventeenth Prince had no choice but to deliberately deflate like a punctured balloon, immediately kneeling on the ground and trembling as he said, "My lord, spare my life! I really don't know anything!"

Seeing that the Seventeenth Master refused to admit it, Zhu Wanqing fiddled with the ring on her hand and said with a sarcastic smile, "I'm giving you a chance to confess now. If you really anger me, I'll throw you into the sea to feed the fish... These fish aren't ordinary fish; they're all piranhas with sharp teeth and claws!"

The men behind the Seventeenth Master exchanged glances, feeling a chill run down their spines. Zhu Wanqing's words seemed to be nothing more than a trivial matter, revealing just how ruthless she was.

Seventeenth Master timidly raised his head and stammered, "Sir, I confess...we are all pirates!"

Zhu Wanqing was taken aback, clearly dissatisfied with the Seventeenth Master's explanation, and said fiercely, "Pirates? Don't think you can get away with this by making up some excuse!"

Seventeenth Master quickly explained, "We really are pirates. We just heard there's a pirate here, and the island is full of women! So we thought we'd sneak onto the island to see if we could rob them..." Seventeenth Master deliberately glanced timidly at Zhu Wanqing, and to make his act more convincing, he gritted his teeth and said, "And maybe rob some of their women while we're at it..."

Upon hearing this, the several hall masters behind Zhu Wanqing turned green with rage and said angrily, "Sect Leader, these filthy men are incredibly audacious! No need for further words, execute them on the spot..."

"Yes, they actually dared to infiltrate our White Lotus Sect! It's utterly incomprehensible! Why waste words with them? Kill them!" The black-clad hall master roared, pointing fiercely at the Seventeenth Master. The Seventeenth Master inwardly cursed. These women were all worldly women, each highly skilled in martial arts. A direct confrontation would be futile. He had intended to lie to deceive them temporarily, but it had backfired, bringing him deadly trouble!

Zhu Wanqing slightly raised her hand, and everyone shut their mouths. Seventeenth Master broke out in a cold sweat and pleaded, "Sir, we were blind to your greatness. We really didn't expect that there were so many heroes on the island. Please spare our lives!"

Zhu Wanqing fell into deep thought. She didn't truly believe the Seventeenth Prince's one-sided account; instead, she became even more suspicious. Zhu Wanqing sized up the Seventeenth Prince, noting his fair complexion and undeniable aristocratic air. Zhu Wanqing narrowed her eyes and asked again, "Are you really a pirate?"

Seeing Zhu Wanqing hesitate, the Seventeenth Master knelt on the ground with secret delight and exclaimed, "It's absolutely true! We brothers are all from out of town. We finally made it to Songjiang Prefecture hoping to pull off a heist, but... we've been arrested by the magistrate before we've even started!"

The several hall masters behind Zhu Wanqing, thinking she believed the Seventeenth Master's words, rushed forward to persuade him, but Zhu Wanqing rebuked them all. Zhu Wanqing's eyes flickered, and she smiled, gesturing for the Seventeenth Master to rise. She said politely, "Since you are a pirate, and we are all considered members of the martial world, you and your brothers can stay on my island for a few days! When the time is right, I will release you..."

The Seventeenth Prince looked on in disbelief, too stunned to even say thank you. It was only when the soldiers behind him kowtowed in delight that he came to his senses.

The hall masters were all dumbfounded, watching Zhu Wanqing slowly walk out of the cave, completely bewildered as to what she was up to. In fact, Zhu Wanqing only wanted to test the Fourteenth Prince, so she deliberately pretended to believe the Seventeenth Prince's words.