Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo

"How was he here too?" Bai Baoshan muttered. Ning Rongrong could even sense this education committee member's breathing quicken, a thin sheen of cold sweat appearing on his brow.

A Soul Douluo was only one Soul Ring away from a Titled Douluo, but that gap was the difference between heaven and earth.

A Titled Douluo—even the weakest Titled Douluo—could afford to disregard the empire's Royal Family. A Soul Douluo could not. That was the incomparable disparity between them.

"The three education committee members are quite capable!"

His brilliant gaze swept over the three Soul Douluo education committee members, and the old man spoke in a rather cold tone.

"Making an imperial prince kneel in public—do you have no regard for Emperor Xue Ye?"

"Poison Douluo Your Excellency, you cannot casually pin such accusations on us." Meng Shenji stepped forward. As the Center Position among Heaven Dou Royal Academy's three education committee members, he could only step forward. He first bowed slightly to Dugu Bo, showing the respect due a Titled Douluo.

Then his expression turned solemn as he said, "Prince Xue Beng publicly harassed a distinguished guest of the Crown Prince. We merely wished for His Highness to apologize and offer compensation.

"We never said that the Fourth Prince was to kneel. This was entirely his own doing, and we were quite surprised as well."

"Oh?" Dugu Bo's brows furrowed slightly as his gaze shifted from the three education committee members to Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong's clothing was not particularly luxurious, so Dugu Bo could not immediately determine her identity.

But how could anyone who had cultivated to the rank of Titled Douluo be a fool? His gaze shifted slightly.

"Prince Xue Xing, what exactly is going on?"

Though he disliked Xue Beng's conduct, Prince Xue Xing had once helped him.

The three education committee members before him were originally Xue Qinghe's people, so naturally he would not show them a pleasant face. Still, he had to get to the bottom of this.

"Th... this was all Xue Beng's fault." Prince Xue Xing gritted his teeth.

"Xue Beng was too unruly and offended a distinguished guest of the Crown Prince."

Xue Beng merely lowered his head and said nothing.

"It is a pleasure to meet you for the first time, Poison Douluo Your Excellency." Ning Rongrong stepped forward. "My father often mentions you and praises your profound understanding of medicinal herbs."

"Who is your father?"

Dugu Bo could not quite grasp the situation. Prince Xue Xing's behavior was also rather strange.

"My name is Ning Rongrong. My father is Ning Fengzhi. I presume Poison Douluo Your Excellency knows of him." Ning Rongrong smiled faintly.

"Hiss—"

Dugu Bo sucked in a sharp breath, cold sweat breaking out across his back.

Fortunately, he had not rashly charged in just now and had first asked about the whole situation. No wonder those two, Prince Xue Xing and Xue Beng, had been so restrained.

"Grandfather, isn't Ning Fengzhi the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?" Dugu Yan asked curiously. Yu Tianheng, who hovered around her like a lapdog all day, was from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects.

Though Dugu Yan was not a sect disciple herself, she had heard quite a bit about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which was likewise one of the Upper Three Sects.

"That's right. After the Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect became one of the foremost sects on the Douluo Continent. Its standing even surpassed that of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

After saying that, Dugu Bo gathered his thoughts.

He had no desire to offend the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

He also felt rather speechless. What kind of mess had that wastrel Xue Beng gotten himself into?

Not only did Prince Xue Xing have to clean up his messes every day, but now he had even dragged an outsider like him into it.

If he did not still owe Prince Xue Xing a favor, he might have left long ago. After all, he had a granddaughter, and he did not want that thing Xue Beng setting his sights on her.

Every time he returned home, he had to warn his granddaughter to stay away from Prince Xue Xing's nephew and cherish her life.

"Miss Ning, how do you intend to handle Xue Beng's offense against you?"

Dugu Bo's eyes rolled as he spoke.

"If the matter is not too serious, could you give me, Dugu Bo, some face? My relationship with your father, Sect Master Ning, is quite good as well."

Well, well, well.

The three education committee members stared with wide eyes.

Damn, this guy was Dugu Bo?

Was this really the Poison Douluo who had always strutted in with his nose in the air, acting as though no one could compare to him? Was he really this snobbish?

They had thought all Titled Douluos were more or less alike, but now they saw that was far from the case!

"I will give Dugu Mianxia that much face." Ning Rongrong studied Dugu Yan and Dugu Bo for a while before speaking. "This time, I came to Heaven Dou Royal Academy not only to visit the empire's foremost academy. I also had another purpose: to deliver a letter written by my father to you.

"He hopes that, when you have time, you can make a trip to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. We will welcome you with the utmost hospitality.

"The reason is written in the letter. I hope Dugu Mianxia will honor us with your presence."

After Ning Rongrong took out the prepared envelope, Dugu Bo immediately stepped forward and accepted it.

He did not open it at once, merely nodding. "I will certainly visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and trouble you there."

After receiving Ning Fengzhi's letter, Dugu Bo took Dugu Yan and stepped aside, indicating that he would no longer involve himself in Prince Xue Xing's affairs.

Ning Rongrong turned her gaze toward Xue Beng, her tone still carrying little emotion.

"Prince Xue Beng, you do not want this small conflict to become a major issue either, do you? The day after tomorrow is the Crown Prince's Apprenticeship Ceremony.

"If it affects the brotherly bond between Prince Xue Beng and the Crown Prince, that would be quite troublesome."

Ning Rongrong deliberately emphasized the words "brotherly bond."

Xue Beng's body trembled faintly. It was impossible to tell whether it was from shock or fear.

Xue Beng understood very well that, if not for his wastrel behavior—whether it was an act or not, even if he enjoyed it—once Xue Qinghe became serious, he might truly get rid of him.

Especially after Prince Xue Xing had explained the severity of the matter, the more Xue Beng thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

He had ruined the Apprenticeship Ceremony. Would Xue Qinghe not strike to kill?

Seeing Xue Beng's frightened appearance, Prince Xue Xing stepped forward.

"Young Sect Master Ning, I have a gift of apology here. I hope you will like it."

As he spoke, Prince Xue Xing handed over a Jade Box.

"Oh?" Ning Rongrong was not worried that Prince Xue Xing might be plotting anything.

She accepted the jade treasure box Prince Xue Xing handed over, its surface engraved with soaring dragon-like patterns.

Ning Rongrong did not open it. Her lashes fluttered slightly as she looked up to meet Prince Xue Xing's gaze.

"The Jade Box is beautiful. I like the gift very much.

"However, Prince Xue Beng's matter is not something I can settle alone. In truth, I do not wish to make this matter bigger either."

Seeing the faint smile at the corner of Ning Rongrong's lips, Prince Xue Xing did not know how she had learned what was inside, but that was not important. It was even better that she did not display it in public.

"Young Sect Master Ning, your willingness to forgive Xue Beng's unruly behavior has already satisfied us greatly. We have no excessive demands."

"I only hope that my elder brother's sons can live in harmony. That is also my wish as their uncle."

"I see." Ning Rongrong fell silent for a moment, then turned to the three education committee members behind her.

"Three education committee members, could I ask you not to escalate this matter? My father likely does not wish to interfere in matters of the Royal Family either.

"In any case, can we let this end here?"

The three education committee members exchanged glances.

They were Xue Qinghe's people, but the one they truly served was still Emperor Xue Ye.

There were rumors that the deaths of the Second Prince and Third Prince were connected to the Crown Prince, though those rumors seemed baseless.

Still, as education committee members, they did not wish to involve themselves in the Royal Family's internal affairs.

"We can refrain from telling the Crown Prince, but Emperor Xue Ye..."