Ning Rongrong's attitude toward Little White was even more direct and... extravagantly generous.
She directly had someone deliver a small, exquisite jade box containing three round, translucent white pills that gave off a faint, pleasant fragrance.
"These are Spirit Nurturing Pills, made by the alchemists of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. They're fairly effective at nourishing Mental Power. Little White seems to be a Spirit-type Spirit Beast, so these should help with its growth." Ning Rongrong delivered them personally, her tone as casual as if she were giving away a bag of candy.
Lin Kun looked at the three pills, which were obviously extremely valuable, and his hands trembled slightly. "Classmate Ning, these are too precious! I can't accept them!"
"Take them." Ning Rongrong smiled faintly, her sweet smile allowing no refusal. "Consider it... an early investment. I think highly of Little White's potential, and I think highly of you too, Classmate Lin Kun." Her gaze swept meaningfully over Lin Kun.
Lin Kun felt enormous pressure. These pills were burning hot in his hands! Once he accepted her gifts, he would owe her a favor. It would probably be even harder to sever ties with her later.
"Chirp?" Little White seemed very interested in the Spirit Nurturing Pills. It poked its little head out of Lin Kun's arms and stared wistfully at the jade box, seemingly with a glistening trace of drool at the corner of its mouth...
Lin Kun: "..." You little glutton! Where's your resolve?!
In the end, under the dual pressure of Ning Rongrong's "kind" gaze and Little White's "yearning" eyes, Lin Kun could only accept them reluctantly. He selected the smallest Spirit Nurturing Pill and carefully fed it to Little White.
Little White swallowed it in one bite, then narrowed its eyes in satisfaction. A soft white glow radiated from its body, as though it felt very comfortable. Then it yawned, curled up, and fell asleep. The mental fluctuations around it seemed to have strengthened by the slightest bit.
Ning Rongrong nodded in satisfaction. "The effect seems pretty good. I'll have someone send more over every month from now on."
Lin Kun nearly dropped to his knees before this little rich girl! Every month? How much money would that cost?! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly was outrageously wealthy!
"Classmate Ning... this... I truly don't deserve such generosity..." Lin Kun tried to struggle one last time.
"It's fine." Ning Rongrong blinked. "You can repay me in other ways. For example... if I need information on any 'special' herbs or minerals in the future, you could give it to me first? Or... help me research how to make my Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda a little more 'interesting'?" Her words carried a hint of temptation and deeper meaning.
Alarm bells blared in Lin Kun's heart! Here it came! She really did have an agenda! And it was no small one! Asking him to help research her Martial Soul? That was practically shoving him into a pit of fire!
But when he looked at Little White sleeping sweetly in his arms, then thought about those Spirit Nurturing Pills arriving on schedule every month... it seemed the price of refusing would be quite steep too.
"I... I'll do my best... but my abilities are limited..." Lin Kun could only agree vaguely.
Ning Rongrong did not seem to expect him to provide an answer immediately. She rose gracefully. "Then it's settled. I'll be waiting for your good news." She drifted away, leaving behind a thoroughly frazzled Lin Kun and pills worth a fortune.
However, Lin Kun did not know that while he was troubled by Ning Rongrong's "investment," another pair of eyes was watching him and Little White from the shadows.
Outside Nuoding City, in a concealed corner.
The sect scout who had previously reported to Ning Rongrong knelt on one knee, reporting to a middle-aged man in luxurious black robes whose face was hidden in shadow.
"...The target has returned to the academy. The unknown Spirit-type Spirit Beast cub he obtained has enormous potential and is suspected to possess an ancient bloodline. Miss Ning Rongrong has already attempted contact and made an investment."
The black-robed middle-aged man's voice was low and hoarse. "An ancient bloodline... is the information confirmed?"
"Your subordinate does not dare be completely certain, but the intensity of that mental storm and the purity of its Mental Power were beyond what an ordinary Spirit Beast could possess. Even Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's personal probing was repelled by its mental instincts."
"Yu Xiaogang..." The black-robed middle-aged man pondered for a moment. "Continue observing. Do not act rashly. Focus on the Spirit Beast's growth, and... that boy named Lin Kun. Rongrong's move is rather interesting. Perhaps... he can become a useful breakthrough point."
"Yes!"
The scout quietly vanished.
The black-robed middle-aged man looked toward Nuoding Academy, his gaze unfathomably deep. "Troubled times indeed... Even a place this small is beginning to produce variables..."
Inside the academy, Lin Kun shivered, feeling as though something troublesome had its eyes on him again.
"Ah, Little White, Little White, you're truly a sweet burden." Lin Kun poked Little White's soft little cheek. The little fellow grumbled discontentedly in its sleep.
The joy of having a special Spirit Beast companion was gradually replaced by the weight of reality. Tang San's investigation, Ning Rongrong's investment, the eyes lurking in the shadows... everything foretold that his academy life would never again know peace.
He had to grow stronger faster in order to protect himself and Little White, and to find a slim chance of survival within this increasingly complicated vortex.
"Points! I still need to earn Points!" Lin Kun once again turned his gaze toward that damned yet tempting system.
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