Strike First!

"Your name is Ning Rongrong?"

Hearing that familiar name, Zhou Chen was immediately startled, though he casually praised her on the surface. "That's a very cute name."

"Oh? Cute?"

Zhu Zhuqing shot Zhou Chen a sidelong glance, her tone icy. He instantly felt a surge of killing intent.

"Ahem..."

Realizing he had misspoken, Zhou Chen hastily coughed awkwardly, then turned to Ning Rongrong and said solemnly, "I'm Zhou Chen, Chen as in Star Dust. She's Zhu Zhuqing, Zhu as in bamboo leaves, Qing as in clear lotus."

"Wow, Big Brother and Big Sister both have such lovely names."

Ning Rongrong parted her little lips, her voice soft and pleasant, so gentle it made one's bones feel weak.

Her expression was adorable as well. Her tender smile was like a spring breeze, and even Zhu Zhuqing, who had always been cold by nature, softened her gaze as she looked at her.

But Zhou Chen knew it was all an act.

As the heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the wealthiest Little Rich Woman on Douluo Continent, worth hundreds of millions of Gold Soul Coins, Ning Rongrong had possessed an extremely vile personality at the start of the original story. She had even been arrogant and overbearing, earning herself the title of Little Witch.

Yet as a well-traveled daughter of a great clan, Ning Rongrong was highly skilled at pretending. Just like now, with merely a few words and a gentle, lovely smile, she had soothed Zhou Chen's anger and won Zhu Zhuqing's favor.

This little girl was truly an excellent actress. Meeting Zhou Chen, an actor of equal caliber, was like matching a worthy opponent against a brilliant general.

"Rong Rong, right? Since we're all friends now, there's no need to stand on ceremony. These skewers are all yours."

Zhou Chen pointed at the dozens of untouched skewers on the grill and said generously.

At those words, Ning Rongrong's gaze toward Zhou Chen instantly grew warmer. With her spoiled young lady temperament, what she loved most was hearing others voluntarily fulfill her wishes.

After all, the reason she had run over to strike up a conversation with Zhou Chen was for these fragrant grilled skewers.

What was more, the big brother who had willingly indulged her was so handsome and dashing. It greatly satisfied Ning Rongrong's vanity, making her instantly toss aside the grievance and anger she had felt after being scolded by Zhou Chen.

"Wow, delicious."

Ning Rongrong ran to the grill, picked up a lamb skewer, and took just one bite. Her beautiful blue eyes narrowed blissfully.

"Come on, Rong Rong. Sit beside me first."

Zhu Zhuqing rarely took the initiative to speak, showing just how favorable her first impression of Ning Rongrong had been.

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong smiled and nodded. She obediently sat beside Zhu Zhuqing, holding a skewer in one hand while naturally linking her other arm through Zhu Zhuqing's, chatting with her.

It had to be said that although Ning Rongrong was proud and willful, her social skills were practically maxed out. She actually got along with the aloof and taciturn Zhu Zhuqing in no time.

Meanwhile, Zhou Chen behaved as a proper gentleman should. He did not privately chat with Ning Rongrong even once, merely gazing at Zhu Zhuqing with deep affection in his eyes.

Zhou Chen would never do something as reckless as eating from one bowl while eyeing the pot. That was far too likely to backfire.

He should settle things with Zhu Zhuqing first before considering living off the Little Rich Woman and marrying into the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Sigh, if that damned System weren't desperately in need of Gold Soul Coins, how could a man of such noble character as me ever entertain the thought of living off a rich woman?

One lifetime, one partner—that had been his original pursuit.

Fate truly toyed with people!

And so, Zhou Chen wallowed in self-pity and reflected on himself, while Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing happily ate skewers and drank...

Who knew how much time passed. The night had grown deep.

The campfire still burned brightly. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing had eaten to their hearts' content and were chugging Dark Beer together, while Zhou Chen stood beside the grill, roasting another batch of skewers.

Suddenly, Zhou Chen's ears twitched, and his hand stopped brushing sauce onto the skewers.

His gaze seemed to pierce through space as he looked toward the forest five li away. Three figures were quietly approaching from there.

"Sneaking over in the middle of the night—either they're here to rob us or worse! Are they from Spirit Hall? Or the Star Luo Empire?"

Zhou Chen set down the brush and stood tall and straight. Three brilliant golden spirit rings rose one after another from beneath his feet!

Seeing Zhou Chen suddenly release his spirit rings, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were both stunned.

"Stop eating. Someone's coming."

Zhou Chen looked at the two foolish girls and spoke calmly.

Only then did the two girls snap out of it. They hurriedly rose to their feet and released their martial souls and spirit rings.

Two furry cat ears instantly emerged from Zhu Zhuqing's hair, while a cat tail extended from her perky rear, making her look utterly adorable.

"Seven Treasures Out, There is Glazed Tile."

At the same time, a gentle and clear voice rang out. Dazzling seven-colored light burst from Ning Rongrong's body, and a seven-colored treasure pagoda more than a foot tall appeared in her right palm.

Two yellow spirit rings also rose from beneath her feet.

"Rong Rong, you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Family?"

Zhu Zhuqing asked in surprise. Few people did not know of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the number one support martial soul on the continent, or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects.

"That's right. Ning Fengzhi, the current Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, is my father."

Ning Rongrong slightly raised her chin and spoke with a hint of pride.

"Seven Treasures have their name: first, Strength!"

"Seven Treasures have their name: second, Speed!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Rongrong's spirit rings lit up in sequence. At the point of her left hand, two beams of colored light shot forth simultaneously, enveloping Zhu Zhuqing and Zhou Chen respectively.

In an instant, Zhu Zhuqing felt her entire body fill with strength, and even her body became several degrees lighter.

But Zhou Chen felt nothing at all. The seven-colored light that had just enveloped him was actually reflected back, landing once more on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in Ning Rongrong's hand.

Ning Rongrong was instantly dumbfounded.

Not only had her support ability failed to work, it had even been reflected back at her. She had never seen such an abnormal phenomenon before—she had never even heard of it!

Ning Rongrong instantly became extremely curious about Zhou Chen. She desperately wanted to know what secrets this handsome big brother carried.

But now was not the time to investigate secrets, because those likely villains had already arrived!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three successive sounds of rushing wind rang out. Three men dressed in white, with white scarves covering their faces, appeared before Zhou Chen and the others.

"We are..."

The men in white had just steadied themselves and were about to speak when Zhou Chen, who had never liked wasting words and excelled at striking first, suddenly transformed into a golden humanoid of light. Then, in a flash of golden radiance, he appeared before the leading man in white!

Third Spirit Ability—Ground Shrinking Golden Light!

First Spirit Ability—Imperial Sky Shocking Fist!