Chapter 19: Ning Rongrong, the Unfair Fighter
From the moment of enrollment, Dugu Feng's journey toward independence began.
Teacher Ge introduced himself as Ge Ying and led Dugu Feng to his assigned quarters—an independent suite with a sitting room. Comfortable and private.
From there, he guided him around the training grounds, dueling arena, and mimicry fields before finally bringing him to the third floor of the teaching building, where his class was located.
As they approached, a din of chatter echoed down the hallway—shrilly familiar to any teacher who had ever handled six-year-olds.
These were children raised in comfort, unused to discipline. Few could quiet their restless spirits enough to cultivate properly.
At the classroom door, noise poured out like a storm.
Ge Ying, unfazed from experience, simply walked in with Dugu Feng in tow.
One glance around, and Dugu Feng immediately pinpointed the chaos's culprit.
A young girl in a white dress sat in the center of the room. Her porcelain skin gleamed against gold-trimmed fabric and the crystal embroidery on her chest—it lent her the grace of nobility.
Around her buzzed a ring of boys, loudly boasting about their martial spirits and soul skills.
Some of them had already obtained their first soul rings despite their age.
Beside the girl stood a slim boy with golden bangs framing his face. His figure was lean yet confident, a light-blue sword of energy in his hand.
"I and my younger brother are already rank eleven one-ring soul masters! My first soul skill, Storm Sword, lets me form twelve sword arcs into a sword array against our enemies. Rongrong, we'll protect you from now on!"
"I already said, call me Boss!" snapped the girl in the white dress.
She was none other than the Little Princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—Ning Rongrong. Her tone dripped with imperious dissatisfaction.
"Yes, Boss! We'll guard you forever!" the younger brother echoed eagerly, grinning and nodding.
Their exaggerated flattery drew a quirk from Dugu Feng's brows. Such young children, yet they've already mastered the art of sycophancy?
"Feng Ling, Feng Li," Ning Rongrong said sharply, "your Storm Swords are interesting enough. But I don't care for mere sword-lights. I know what your Wind Sword Sect is truly famous for—Sword Flight.
Whoever learns sword flight first will be my Second in Command. Practice hard. One day you'll carry me through the skies."
Her crimson lips tilted into a smug smile; a spark of cunning flashed in her bright eyes.
Feng Ling and Feng Li exchanged competitive looks instantly—the seeds of rivalry sown with a few playful words.
The Wind Sword Sect. Dugu Feng froze slightly. One of the four lower sects—descendants of the Clear Sky's shadow.
Their martial spirits allowed flight and midair combat, and rumor had it they were distant allies of the Seven Treasure Clan's Sword Douluo.
So these fawning youths were Wind Sword disciples.
And Ning Rongrong—same grade as him. Unexpected.
So the little enchantress had come to school, had she? Likely to dominate the place.
No wonder, he thought, she's exactly the type to make an empire's academy her personal playground.
"Cough."
Teacher Ge cleared his throat.
The girl reluctantly sat back down; the tempests of chatter gradually faded.
"Dugu Feng, pick a seat," Ge Ying said.
Hoping not to attract attention, Dugu Feng turned toward the back.
"Stop right there! Sit here!"
Ning Rongrong pointed at the vacant seat beside her.
He glanced at the open desk. Both positions beside her were empty—clearly reserved. Typical.
He had no interest in indulging her whims, but her imperious stare caught him off guard. What game was she playing?
"I'm from the Dugu Clan," he said calmly. "My martial spirit is the Jade Phosphor Serpent—poison-type. Are you sure you want me sitting next to you?"
At that, quite a few nearby students subtly shifted their chairs away.
The name "Dugu" carried infamy across the empire—especially after Dugu Bo's rise to Titled Douluo. His poisonous reputation was legendary.
"Hmph. Others might fear you, but I don't," Ning Rongrong declared. "I'm the boss of this class. You're new, so naturally, I must… take care of you."
The way she emphasized take care dripped with mischief.
Dugu Feng smiled faintly and took the seat.
A little tyrant, are you? Let's see how long you can keep that up.
"Call me Boss," Ning Rongrong demanded. "The title means prestige—and the right to sit beside me is a privilege!"
Feng Ling, behind her, clenched his fists, jealousy flashing in his eyes.
His family had drilled into him—forge bonds with Ning Rongrong no matter the cost.
He and his brother had groveled endlessly yet still sat behind her. And now this newcomer, Dugu Feng, was invited to her side on his first day?
Dugu Feng barely spared them a glance. Even in this world, there are still lapdogs. And they always end the same way—empty-handed.
From her earlier comments, it was clear—Ning Rongrong wasn't the naïve heiress she seemed. Her playful "competition" over sword flight was manipulation, fueling ambition with flattery. She had a sharp, calculating mind already.
It changed his view of her entirely.
"I wasn't here when you elected your 'boss,'" Dugu Feng said evenly, reclining against his chair. "She might be your boss—but not mine."
Ning Rongrong's eyes sparked. "Dugu Feng, my spirit power is already level twelve—the highest in class. They follow me not only because of my noble status; my martial spirit is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, its support unmatched. I can greatly enhance a team's strength. What makes you think you're above me?"
He smiled lazily. "Sorry. I'm level thirteen."
It was childish, but undeniably satisfying.
Her composure crumbled instantly. "Impossible! How can you have cultivated faster than me?!"
"There's always someone stronger, always someone further ahead," he replied. "If you really want to prove yourself as boss, go ahead—let my serpent crawl across your hand. Do that, and I'll follow you gladly."
He lifted his hand. Between his fingers slithered a palm-length emerald serpent, scales glistening faintly as it hissed twice.
Its scarlet eyes gleamed provocatively at Ning Rongrong.
"Ahhh!" Ning Rongrong shrieked, leaping up and backing away from her desk.
"You vile boy! How can you bring a snake to school!?"
Her voice trembled between outrage and panic. Sheltered in luxury all her life, she had never seen something so alien—fear made her cheeks pale.
If only you knew I had two of them, Dugu Feng thought dryly.
"Feng Ling, Feng Li!" she snapped. "Challenge him in the dueling arena! Defeat him using the noble way!"
The brothers exchanged nervous glances.
Everyone in Heaven Dou knew the Dugu Clan—experts in venom arts.
This new boy was level thirteen, carried live snakes, and reeked of poison in both voice and presence. Facing him could end horribly.
"What are you afraid of? I'm a support-type soul master—I can enhance your strength!" Ning Rongrong huffed.
Dugu Feng nearly laughed aloud.
The 'noble way,' she said? What kind of duel includes outside augmentation?
This little sorceress clearly didn't play by the rules.
Unfair, cunning, and utterly "uncivilized."
Just what one would expect from Ning Rongrong—the little princess who never played fair.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Bankai10