No More "Ning Tian," Only "Young Lady"

"No more calling her Ning Tian, only... Young Lady."

"So I'll pay for you, help you, and then... then you can repay me later. Anything is fine, as long as it can... can exceed the investment by just a little. What do you think?"

As she spoke, Ning Tian took out a Gold Card from her Storage Soul Tool.

Not only did the Gold Card have red-and-black trim, but the front was directly printed with the glazed-color insignia of the Nine Treasure Bank!

The dazzling Gold Card nearly blinded Ning Wuque's poor eyes, instantly drawing his gaze.

A rich lady... steel wool... a lifetime of wealth and glory!

"Th-This... is okay?"

Scratching the back of his head, Ning Wuque shamefully asked again. Help was out of the question, but an investment was worth considering.

A relationship bound by interests might be more solid, but it also made people more rational. It put Ning Wuque far more at ease than the bonds and trust of friendship.

Even taking ten thousand steps back, could Ning Wuque refuse Ning Tian's repeated invitation?

He couldn't! She had even brought up her father! For all he knew, a Soul Saint or Soul Douluo was secretly recording everything right now. It would be bad if the Sect Master decided to make things difficult for him later.

The Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan: Kid, you'd better know what's good for you!

"Of course! We're friends, aren't we?"

No, we're not friends.

Ning Wuque fiercely shook his head inwardly. Girl, don't try to swap a pure exchange of interests into a bond of friendship. It makes me nervous!

But he certainly could not say that aloud. With an embarrassed expression, Ning Wuque replied:

"Then, thank you, Young Lady. It is my honor to be valued by you."

In that moment, Ning Wuque fully displayed an adult's shamelessness and quick wit.

The moment he said the words "Young Lady," Ning Tian's previously delighted expression stiffened.

She held the Gold Card with a ten-million Gold Soul Coin credit limit in her hand, but the words she had prepared caught in her throat.

Young Lady?

Was that how Ning Wuque had always seen her? Perhaps a pitifully thick wall had long stood between them.

Whether it was their backgrounds or their martial souls.

Ning Tian froze. Even Wu Feng beside her froze as well.

She stared at Ning Wuque in disbelief, never expecting to hear that form of address from him. It felt even more distant than calling Ning Tian the Young Clan Head!

Usually, Ning Wuque either did not call Ning Tian by name at all, or called her by her full name when he did. She had thought... So she had never had a rival in the first place!

Wu Feng's stunned expression turned into a smile, the joy on her face nearly overflowing.

Why had she kept needling Ning Wuque? Because that hateful guy had stolen part of Sister Tian's attention from her!

Ahahaha, now Sister Tian was all hers again!

So happy~

"You never called me that before. If you find this difficult, you can just refuse me..."

After all, Ning Tian was the Young Clan Head of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Once the cold water had calmed her down, a turn of thought was all it took for her to understand why.

She looked at Ning Wuque with hopeful eyes, signaling that he did not need to do this at all. If she had not received her father's approval, she would never have spent such a long time around Ning Wuque.

She knew that their identities had made Ning Wuque worry that they were getting too close.

Worthy of being a genius even Father had praised. One sentence had nearly severed the connection between them.

How ruthless! How ruthless!!!

Across from her, Ning Wuque also knew that Ning Tian had seen through part of his thoughts. He no longer pretended. His embarrassed expression returned to calmness. He nodded slightly, then shook his head, saying nothing more.

The more he said, the more likely he was to make mistakes. Sometimes, saying nothing and simply acting was better.

"I understand. But the more you act like this, the more I want to make you dissatisfied! Just as you said, I am the Young Lady of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!"

Ning Tian understood Ning Wuque's meaning, but she was very dissatisfied! She was also a child, with selfish desires and a willful side!

You, Ning Wuque, dared to toy with me and hurt my feelings, so I'll make you uncomfortable instead. You have to accept this help whether you want to or not!

She was the Young Lady! Hmph!

The sudden reversal made Wu Feng's mind crash. What was going on with them? Why had they suddenly made up again?

Th-This wasn't right, was it? Wasn't the script supposed to be Ning Tian angrily taking her little hand and leaving Ning Wuque, then returning to their sweet days of being alone together? That was the correct script, wasn't it?!

Wu Feng's face was like an uncooperative sky, changing from clear to overcast in an instant.

Not happy anymore~

"Ning Tian, we are not people from the same world. If you asked your father about me, then you should know that I could die at any time in the future."

Ning Wuque spoke calmly with his arms folded, his eyes holding no fear of death, only a pursuit of strength.

Ring Blasting was the first step of the Ninefold Yama Gates, but it was not the most dangerous step!

Ring Blasting alone could blow a Soul Master to death, let alone the more advanced and dangerous Ninefold Yama Gates!

Bearing the burden between man and soul was safer than having either man or soul bear it alone!

He had inspected the hidden dangers so seriously precisely to reduce the possibility of being blown to death by the method he himself had created!

The Sect Master, who had definitely read the organized theories he submitted, surely knew this.

Ning Wuque did not want anyone to be harmed because of him, nor did he want to take the initiative to hurt anyone. His world was very small right now.

So small that it held only one wish: to care for his grandfather until the end of his life! Once he was completely free of attachments, he could begin his true madness!

Facing Ning Wuque, who seemed determined to isolate himself from everything, Ning Tian felt a complicated mix of emotions. It was precisely because she knew this that she wanted to help him!

Otherwise, with the physical abilities Ning Wuque usually displayed, how could he possibly need her help?

She only... wanted this friend to live a little longer...

"Father, I... I want to ask you about someone."

"Is it Ning Wuque?"

"Mm... yes! He's been gone for so long. I... I simply can't cultivate for long periods without him around."

"Tian'er, there are some things I originally did not want to tell you so soon. I wanted you to have as happy a childhood as possible, but..."

Seeing how worried his daughter was over some boy, Ning Fengxiao seemed to make up his mind. He intended to cut off this bond, which resembled that of childhood sweethearts, as soon as possible, so he said directly:

"But he truly is not worth you spending too much thought on. Don't worry, he is doing well now, but the future is uncertain."

"Wh-Why, Father?"

Ning Tian suddenly had a bad feeling.

Until...

Until everything about Ning Wuque was laid out before her.

Only then did she learn just how talented Ning Wuque was, and how hard he worked.

And just how... tragic he was!

"I only wanted to help you, Wuque. I know. I know everything. But that is exactly what I need to do as your friend—to help you!"