I think Nie Li is letting his passions get the better of him. His master wanted to him to be above this kind of stuff. Though ultimately if she changes was it for the best? Will it lead to Nie Li thinking he can always resort to such tactics?
But really... common this seems kind of easy. She gets whipped now she reflects? I am also sensing some desire to chase after our guy here. It all feels kind of lazy.
In the novel it's more precised.
Nie Li said people don't respect her cause she is strong but because their fear her family. She doesn't beleive it at first but when she look at people here she see them more or less bow to her or being polite and everithing but they have a light smirk in their mouth or desdain in their eyes.
She start to doubt.
alright, so she never beat or killed anyone, she was just an annoying bitch until now, and all the killing that nie li is talking about will come later.....now i feel its unfair for her to be punished for something she didnt do BUT i guess she would have whiped ni lie if she won, she even said she woudl kill him...hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm