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In a flash, Ning Rongrong followed Feng Xiao to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's cafeteria. It was the holiday after the Elite Competition of Advanced Soul Master Academies of the Entire Continent, and the usually bustling cafeteria now appeared exceptionally spacious.
Sunlight streamed through the tall, floor-to-ceiling windows, casting dappled light and shadow on the polished marble floor. The vast dining area had only a few scattered individuals, and the clinking of cutlery sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet space.
After getting his meal, Feng Xiao skillfully walked to a window seat, where the lighting was best and he could see the scenery outside. Ning Rongrong followed behind him, her gilded embroidered shoes making a faint echo on the floor. She looked around and couldn't help but recall the Shrek Academy's small cafeteria, which was always bustling with people—where the tables and chairs always creaked, but were full of life.
Ning Rongrong, holding her exquisite tray, hesitated for a moment in the cafeteria before finally moving her lotus-like steps and slowly sitting down opposite Feng Xiao.
Noticing the movement opposite him, Feng Xiao raised his eyes and glanced over, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, but it quickly returned to calm. He said nothing more, only continuing to focus on the meal in front of him, his movements elegant and orderly.
Ning Rongrong, however, seemed distracted. She mechanically stirred her thick soup with a silver spoon, her gaze occasionally darting towards Feng Xiao.
Sunlight poured through the glass window, casting a bright dividing line on the dining table between them. Feng Xiao remained as calm as ever, as if the gaze from across the table didn't exist. It wasn't until he swallowed the last bite of food that he elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth and met Ning Rongrong's probing gaze.
Ning Rongrong gazed at the elegant Feng Xiao opposite her, her slender fingers gently caressing the rim of her cup, and asked softly, "The competition has ended, so you should have graduated, right? Why are you still staying at Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"
Feng Xiao unhurriedly brought a delicacy from his silver fork to his mouth. After savoring it, he picked up a snow-white napkin to gently wipe his lips, and said calmly, "Though the world is vast, there is no place for me to return. The Academy has everything, so it's quite convenient."
These words suddenly reminded Ning Rongrong of Oscar's resolute departing back that day, and her glazed eyes immediately misted over: "Yes… it lacks nothing here, but he still left…."
Hearing this, Feng Xiao suddenly chuckled, "You mean… that food system Spirit Master?"
Ning Rongrong suddenly came back to her senses, her gaze towards Feng Xiao filled with resentment. In her heart, Oscar's departure was, in the final analysis, inseparable from the person in front of her. Thoughts surged like a tide, and she couldn't help but inwardly speculate on another possibility: if they had won the competition, would her father have looked at Oscar differently?
If they had won the championship, how would those people dare to mock Oscar? It was just a mistake in one dance piece…
Feng Xiao met Ning Rongrong's sharp, blade-like gaze, a playful smile curling at the corner of his lips: "Heh, finally can't keep up the act?" He elegantly swirled the wine glass in his hand, "Let me guess, you wouldn't be fantasizing—that if you had won the competition back then, everything would be completely different? How adorably naive."
"Isn't that how it is?" Ning Rongrong's face was pale, her fingertips digging deeply into her palm.
Feng Xiao gently shook his head, the wine in the glazed cup reflecting his deep eyes: "Leaving aside that I won fairly and squarely. Even if you had won by chance…" He paused, his voice suddenly turning cold, "No matter how brilliant the fireworks of victory, they cannot conceal the fundamental problem. What your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School needs has never been an auxiliary Spirit Master who can make Sausage, but a strong individual who can stand shoulder to shoulder with you and support the future of the Sect."
He looked directly into Ning Rongrong's slightly trembling eyes, enunciating each word: "In this regard, even Tang San is a hundred times more suitable than that food system boy."
Lies were like wind passing by the ear, but the truth was like a knife carving into the heart.
As Feng Xiao's words fell, Ning Rongrong's face turned ashen, and her entire body seemed to freeze in place as if her soul had been drained.
Seeing that she no longer spoke, Feng Xiao picked up his silver cutlery again and calmly enjoyed the delicacies on his plate. The crisp sound of knife and fork clinking against the porcelain plate was particularly jarring in the quiet dining room.
After swallowing the last bite of food, he elegantly picked up a napkin to wipe the corners of his lips, then looked up—Ning Rongrong still appeared distraught, her usually lively eyes now startlingly hollow.
Feng Xiao said nothing more, merely straightened his sleeves and gracefully rose. The afternoon sun, filtering through the stained-glass windows, cast dappled shadows upon him. His tall figure glided towards the lakeside where he had played the zither that morning, leaving behind only a room filled with stagnant silence.
Ning Rongrong stared blankly at the empty seat, a sudden sour ache rising in her chest. She had clearly come here as per her father's instructions, yet everything around her seemed to mock her silently. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, casting a shadow beneath her eyes, and her fingertips unconsciously clutched her skirt, crumpling the luxurious fabric into a ball.
In the alternate dimension, Chen Xin and Gu Rong watched this scene, their hearts filled with bitterness. The two Titled Douluo exchanged glances, both reading deep heartache and helplessness in each other's eyes.
Gu Rong suddenly flung his sleeve, angrily declaring, "This old man is going to find Feng Zhi right now and talk some sense into him! I'm quitting this job! How can the esteemed little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School be forced to humble herself and curry favor with an outsider?!"
Chen Xin's sword-like brows furrowed slightly, and he raised a hand to press on Gu Rong's shoulder: "Wait." He looked at the distance with complex eyes, "Although Feng Xiao's attitude is arrogant, he hasn't done anything excessive to Rongrong. With his talent and strength, should he really bow down to a defeated opponent?"
"Hmph!" Gu Rong snorted coldly, his bony fingers clenching with a cracking sound, "Although that Oscar boy is not as good as this Feng Xiao, he is truly sincere towards Rongrong. This old man must go and make it clear to Feng Zhi, does our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School truly cannot hold its own without the help of a battle Spirit Master?"
Chen Xin sighed softly, his white hair gently swaying in the wind: "What Feng Zhi is worried about is what happens after you and I are gone, a hundred years from now." He looked into the distance, "If Feng Xiao assists the Crown Prince in the future, with just Rongrong and Oscar… can the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School still maintain its current position in Heaven Dou?"
Chen Xin stood with his hands behind his back. He knew better than anyone that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's title of "Number One Sect in the World" was actually like treading on thin ice. If he and Gu Rong, these two pillars, were removed, purely in terms of Sect combat power, not to mention compared to the original Number One Sect, the Clear Sky Sect, it was far inferior even to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Gu Rong stomped his foot abruptly, causing ripples in the alternate dimension. He angrily said, "Then what do you suggest we do? Are we supposed to let Rongrong continue to curry favor with that boy?" His rough, large hands clenched into fists, his knuckles cracking crisply.
A hint of pain flashed in Chen Xin's eyes: "This is the price of growth." He looked at Ning Rongrong's lonely figure not far away, his voice low: "How I wish I could let her remain as she was before, carefree and joyful under our care? But Rongrong must eventually learn to stand on her own."
"Hmph! I can't stand this!" Gu Rong turned away angrily, his robes rustling, "You can continue to be a coward here, I'd rather not see it!"
In an instant, Gu Rong's figure flashed, shattering the void, and instantly appeared before Ning Rongrong.
"Grandpa Bone!" Ning Rongrong looked up and saw that familiar face, her eyes immediately reddening. She pounced into Gu Rong's arms like a wounded little beast.
Gu Rong gently patted the trembling back of the young girl, his voice impossibly soft: "Silly girl, your father is also in a difficult position. Don't blame him, he didn't force you to do anything with that boy. Let's just treat it as normal interaction. Wasn't your training progress this morning very good?" He paused, a glint flashing in his eyes, "We can choose not to have the person, but we should at least accept the benefits that are freely given, shouldn't we?"
Ning Rongrong sobbed and nodded, recalling Feng Xiao's half-smile, feeling only countless taunts hidden within that smile. She vigorously wiped away her tears and defiantly lifted her small face: "Grandpa Bone is right! I don't care for him at all! Not only will I make him obediently act as my auxiliary, but I'll also let him know how formidable our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is!"
Gu Rong laughed heartily, affectionately rubbing the top of her head: "This is my Gu Rong's granddaughter! Rongrong, don't worry, as long as your Grandpa Sword and I still have a breath left, no one can force you to do anything. As for your father, leave it to Grandpa!"
Gu Rong looked at Ning Rongrong, who had regained her spirits, and a hint of relief flashed in his eyes. He gently patted Ning Rongrong's shoulder and said warmly, "Come on, we're not eating in this lousy cafeteria. Grandpa will take you to eat your favorite pastries. Put these worries aside for now, and we'll go straight to training this afternoon."
Ning Rongrong's tears turned into laughter, and she nodded heavily: "Okay, Grandpa Bone."
Gu Rong smiled dotingly, then turned and glanced at the void, a hint of triumph on his face: "You dead scoundrel, do you want to come along? What kind of skill is it to hide in the dark and peek?"
A cold snort came from the void, and Chen Xin's figure slowly emerged. He said with a stern face, "Who was peeking? I just happened to be passing by." His gaze, however, unconsciously fell on Ning Rongrong, and seeing that her mood had improved, his tense expression softened a little.
Ning Rongrong let go of Gu Rong and trotted over to pull Chen Xin's sleeve: "Grandpa Sword, come along too~"
Chen Xin shook his head helplessly, but the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward: "You girl… Let's go."
The three walked side by side, the setting sun casting long shadows. Ning Rongrong walked in the middle, linked arm in arm with the two Titled Douluo, as if she had returned to her carefree childhood.
The blazing afternoon sun poured down, shattering into thousands of shimmering gold foils on the lake surface. Feng Xiao's slender fingertips lightly plucked and strummed the Seven Stringed Zither, and the clear zither notes, like cold springs washing over jade, dispersed a hint of coolness in the hot air.
Ning Rongrong gracefully approached, stepping on the hot pebbles, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her palm swirling with a dreamy halo. This time, she did not provoke him, but simply sat quietly on a bluestone by the lake, allowing the pagoda's brilliant light to gently sway with the zither music.
Feng Xiao remained with his eyes closed in concentration, the sunlight outlining his handsome profile with a golden edge, his snow-white figure, reflected in the shimmering water, appearing like an exiled immortal. At some point, the zither music had lost some of its coldness and gained a subtle, almost imperceptible softness.
"Why is this kid acting so pretentious, just like you…" Gu Rong squatted in the shade of a sycamore tree, tugging at his beard with dissatisfaction as he spoke to Chen Xin beside him.
When the piece ended, Feng Xiao slowly raised his eyes, his gaze lightly sweeping over Ning Rongrong: "I thought you had gone back." Before he finished speaking, his fingertips were already caressing the strings again, and the melody began to flow gracefully—since he was fishing, he naturally couldn't be stingy with the bait.
Ning Rongrong gently stroked the flowing light on the Glazed Tile Pagoda and said calmly, "I, this young lady, am here to cultivate."
Feng Xiao acted as if he hadn't heard, his slender fingers still gliding over the zither strings. The zither music flowed like a clear spring, spreading a cool ripple in the scorching afternoon. His lowered eyelashes cast a faint shadow in the sunlight, his expression so focused as if only this Seven Stringed Zither existed in the world.
Ning Rongrong wasn't annoyed either. Her spirit ring continuously flickered, allowing the colorful light to gently sway with the rhythm of the zither music. The two continued in this manner, one playing and one listening, neither speaking, yet reaching a subtle balance in this silent understanding.
The sun gradually set, and the last ray of golden light swept across the zither strings. Feng Xiao's slender fingers gently pressed down, and the lingering notes faded. Ning Rongrong awoke as if from a dream, only then realizing that dusk had already settled. The empty feeling of spirit power circulating within her body made her realize—how long had it been since she had been so immersed in cultivation?
"It seems Miss Ning has made considerable progress today." Feng Xiao's voice was like a gentle evening breeze.
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, a complex emotion flashing in her glazed eyes. She had once been defeated by the person in front of her, but now she… She suddenly straightened her back, secretly gritting her teeth: "Since Father has already paid the price, I might as well take advantage of this. Want to scheme against my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School? It's not that easy!"
Seeing the young girl's silence, Feng Xiao said nothing more. He picked up the ancient zither "Fuxi" and turned to leave. His plain white long robe fluttered in the evening breeze, like an exiled immortal.
"Hey! Zither player." Ning Rongrong suddenly called out, "Tomorrow, I'll still come!" Before her voice faded, the colorful light had receded, and her delicate figure, like a butterfly, flitted across the lakeside and gracefully flew towards outside the Academy.
In the afterglow, Feng Xiao's steps paused imperceptibly, a faint, almost imperceptible curve playing on his lips.
The night was as dark as ink, and Feng Xiao stepped through the starlight to the Ni Tai Training Field. As his fingertips touched the door, a gilded figure, like a swallow returning to its nest, flew into his embrace. Feng Xiao paused slightly, then spread his arms to steadily catch her, lowering his gaze with a soft chuckle: "Today's Xue'er is quite passionate."
Qian Renxue buried her face deeply in his chest, her golden hair cascading like a waterfall, shimmering with tiny halos in the moonlight. Feeling the rare silence of the person in his arms, gentle ripples appeared in Feng Xiao's eyes, and his thumb gently caressed a rebellious strand of golden hair: "Let me guess… has someone overturned a vinegar jar?"
Seeing Qian Renxue still not answering, only clutching his lapels tighter. Feng Xiao chuckled softly, bending down to lightly kiss her smooth forehead. His thin lips slowly moved down from her brow, finally stopping at her flushed earlobe, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive ear: "Xue'er…"
Qian Renxue's earlobe trembled slightly, and she finally looked up, her golden eyes, bright as stars, filled with a hint of petulance: "Playing the zither by the lake today, quite elegant, wasn't it?" Her fingertips lightly poked his chest, "Did the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School enjoy listening?"
Feng Xiao caught her mischievous hand. He suddenly pressed her against the door, moonlight filtering through the window lattice, casting dappled shadows on his brows.
Their gazes met, Qian Renxue's breathing was slightly erratic, yet she still forced herself to glare at him. Her unspoken words were suddenly drowned in a warm sensation. Feng Xiao captured her lips, turning twenty-year-old aged vinegar into honey.