Let Me Test You!

"Make yourselves comfortable. Rest for a bit—I'll get you some snacks. I think there's still some Willow Moon Cake that Aunt Mei made a couple days ago."

The first floor was for receiving guests. Ning Tian gestured for Ning Wuque to sit wherever he liked, just like Wu Feng, then got up and headed to the second floor to fetch tea and refreshments.

Sometimes her brothers and sisters came here as guests too, so certain things were always kept in stock.

Though she usually did not rest here herself.

She either lived with her parents or ate and slept with Wu Feng. This courtyard was more like a private place for her cultivation than a residence.

"Hey, where exactly are you planning to start testing?"

Sitting casually in a chair covered with soft beast hide, Wu Feng asked Ning Wuque with some embarrassment after Ning Tian left.

Testing really did require some mental preparation.

Ning Wuque did not answer right away. Instead, he picked a chair and sat down, gently stroking the beast hide spread over it as he savored the fragrance of something called "money."

Please forgive this country bumpkin for his ignorance.

"Of course I'll start by testing your body. Your endurance, the limits of your willpower, your digestive ability, and so on. Oh, and you can't use your martial soul. What you need to train is your pure, fundamental physical fitness."

Ning Wuque said it as though it were only natural, but his sharp eyes caught Wu Feng suddenly blushing before the color quickly faded.

He could only marvel at how mature the children of Douluo Continent were. Still, taken at face value, what he had said did sound a little indecent.

But he was merely stating facts. If he was not testing her body, was he supposed to test her Soul Power? Please, basic physical fitness did not include any Soul Power factors.

"Come on, I brought a pot of fruit drink too. Let's try it together. Wuque, when does the test start? Do you need me to have someone prepare a Soul Tool?"

Before long, Ning Tian came downstairs, carrying a box of pastries in one hand and a full pot of fruit drink in the other.

As she set the box on the round table between them, she took out teacups and filled them for all three. She had none of a young lady's haughty airs, treating them like close friends with warmth and delight.

"Thank you. We can start the test now. Do push-ups on the spot without stopping. Let me see your limit."

Ning Wuque thanked her as he accepted the teacup filled with fruit drink, then gave instructions to Wu Feng, who had already picked up a pastry and started eating without ceremony.

At that, Wu Feng looked up at Ning Wuque blankly, as if saying:

I'm eating right now. Can't it wait?

"Do you want to get stronger? Do you want a thousand-year second ring? If you do, get moving. Don't make me look down on you!"

"You're deliberately getting back at me! Ning Tian, look at him!"

"I am deliberately getting back at you. So what? Eating pastries and drinking tea while watching you sweat makes me happy in both body and mind~"

A smile spread across Ning Wuque's face. Come on, who did not want to sit in front of their Junior Brothers during military training and happily eat chilled watermelon?

Eating watermelon was such a wonderful thing~

You always used to badmouth me. A gentleman's revenge was never too late, even after ten years!

"Enough, you two. Eat something first. Sharpening the knife won't delay the chopping of wood. You need to eat your fill before you'll have the strength."

"Sister Tian is still the best to me, unlike some petty person. He looks righteous and dignified, but he's full of rotten tricks inside."

"You even used the wrong phrase. It's 'sanctimonious.' So uncultured."

Ning Wuque had no intention of arguing back. He simply mocked Wu Feng right to her face for being small and not having much of a brain either.

That immediately set Wu Feng off. Her already fiery temper flared straight into overdrive!

But constrained by the difference in strength and out of consideration for Ning Tian, she chose to swallow her anger and stew in resentment, gloomily stuffing herself with pastries.

She ate so quickly, as if afraid Ning Wuque would eat too much—one Willow Moon Cake after another.

Ning Wuque had no intention of competing with her. He only watched Wu Feng with a smile, like an adult unwilling to squabble with a child. After taking two small sips of fruit drink, he stopped eating altogether.

"The Willow Moon Cake is made from the Hanging Moon Fruit of that Ten-Thousand Year Hanging Star Willow outside. Eating it nourishes Soul Power."

Damn it, what a loss!

As Ning Tian explained with a grin, Ning Wuque's expression instantly turned into one of utter regret. But seeing that Wu Feng had already devoured all the pastries by herself, he had no desire to fight over the last few pieces.

Shaking his head, he put on an indifferent expression again, while inwardly deciding that he would make Wu Feng train extra hard in the future!

Wu Feng, on the other hand, looked pleased with herself as she watched Ning Wuque, as if her scheme had succeeded.

Between them, Ning Tian watched their interaction from side to side, feeling deeply content.

Cute and proud, yet soft and clingy toward her—Feng Mei. Intelligent and resolute on the outside, yet willing to reveal his true self around those close to him—Wuque.

Oh~

"Childhood sweethearts and kindred spirits—how many times in life can one find such a bond?

Old friends sharing the same aspirations—where could one seek mountains of gold and waters of jade?"

"Clap, clap, clap~"

Ning Wuque applauded softly. He looked at Ning Tian as though he had found a kindred friend, thoroughly pleased with the verse she had recited.

As expected of someone who could be his friend, Ning Tian was quite accomplished with words.

If she were wearing splendid clothes or a qipao at this moment, Ning Wuque might have wanted to make room in his heart for another important person.

But...

Ning Wuque looked at Ning Tian and Wu Feng and felt that having two friends was actually... not bad? Perhaps he really did need to relax from time to time.

From the day his martial soul awakened until now, he had been almost the same every day, like an ice block that would never melt. Only before Zhang Can did he reveal his true heart.

Happy expressions, joyful expressions, worried expressions, expressions asking to be praised...

There was too much he had buried deep inside for the sake of his achievements today. Only Zhang Can—only he—could see them.

Perhaps there could be two more people now?

"Alright, you've finished eating. Start the test. Your other data means nothing to me. I only need to see your willpower."

Ning Wuque quickly composed himself and sternly ordered Wu Feng, who looked thoroughly full.

Under her unhappy and unwilling gaze, he watched her stand up and begin doing the most basic push-ups in an open area of the room.

She had learned this from Ning Wuque, though it had previously been completely useless for her.

Watching Wu Feng begin the test, Ning Wuque picked up his teacup and drank fruit drink while enjoying the sight. Oddly enough, he even felt full, and the already sweet fruit drink tasted even better.

"Is this all that needs to be done?"

Eager to learn, Ning Tian asked Ning Wuque seriously.

Ning Wuque shook his head and replied:

"Of course not. Training is a very serious matter. A slight mistake can leave lasting damage in the body. It is a process in which the body harms itself, repairs itself, and finally grows stronger.

And unlike taking heavenly treasures, this process is not swift. It is an exceptionally long and painful process. Without enough perseverance, it is simply impossible to keep going."