Show Me the Pride of a Genius, Damn It, Wuque!

"You! You—! You... forget it."

Ning Tian bit her lip and looked up at Ning Wuque, who was playing dumb, feeling a wave of displeasure. At a time like this, did he really have to make a girl say it herself before he would accept?

But... when she thought of Ning Wuque's own problems, as well as her family's rules, Ning Tian could not bring herself to blame him.

Reckless people could throw everything aside for love.

But clear-headed people knew which feelings were worth having and which had to be cut off decisively.

Clearly, Ning Wuque was the latter. He understood perfectly what Ning Tian's hints over this period meant, yet he deliberately pretended not to understand.

However, Ning Tian activated her young lady special skill—willfulness! Since Ning Wuque did not want to say it, then she would make everything crystal clear right in front of him!

"Wuque, according to the rules of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, ever since ten thousand years ago, every direct descendant with Innate Soul Power at Rank Eight or above, or any designated Young Clan Head, must go to Shrek to recruit talented people for the clan and for themselves.

"My mother met and fell in love with my father at Shrek Academy, and among the current clan elders, seven were friends my father made back then."

Under the shade of the tree, the sun began to sink. Its dim golden afterglow shone upon Ning Tian's resolute face. She lowered her arm, put away her shyness, and calmly looked at the boy leaning slowly against the tree trunk a short distance before her.

"I am a member of the family. Since childhood, I have enjoyed a life of golden pools and jade groves. After being designated as the next Sect Master, I received the finest treatment as well. For that, I must fulfill my responsibilities.

"I must go to Shrek Academy, the continent's foremost academy, recruit geniuses there for the clan's next generation, and choose... an outstanding partner for my family's continuation."

"If Young Clan Head means for me to help you select talents, then I don't think a brute like me is suited for the job."

Leaning against the tree trunk, Ning Wuque slowly lowered his head. The weighted training equipment on his body was incomparably heavy, but it was nothing compared to what he was facing now, which made every step impossible.

"Still, I think I would make a suitable benchmark for testing them. Any genius truly worthy of you surely would not fail to get past me."

He was still playing dumb.

His lowered face was absolutely calm. At a time like this, he could not let the friendship he had built with Ning Tian over the years cloud his judgment!

If he followed Ning Tian's intentions and agreed, they would both be happy. One would successfully indulge in love, while the other would have a beautiful rich woman as his backing and develop comfortably.

But!

This was the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and Ning Tian was the Young Clan Head. Before her father made his stance clear, Ning Wuque could not presume to guess what he thought.

Yes, he had contributed a great deal over the years. Whether it was the secret method of Ring Blasting, the soul skills he had created, or helping the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda develop a possible direction for evolution, none of those were small matters.

But what gave him the right to be arrogant because of his talent? What gave him the right to think that Ning Tian's parents, or even the elders of her entire family, would just watch a gifted junior stay with a boy who was like a ticking time bomb?

Perhaps they allowed Ning Tian to keep playing with him only for the knowledge that occasionally popped out of his head? After all, he truly could open up an entirely new direction for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's evolution, one that was theoretically the most likely to succeed!

Ning Tian could be willful without limit because she was exceptionally talented, because she was the little princess of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!

But Ning Wuque could not. He was not qualified.

It was precisely because he understood all this that he had to remain calm when facing Ning Tian's near-confession!

One wrong step could bring eternal regret, and a fortune of gold could turn to dust in an instant.

For strength, many things could be discarded, ignored, and endured!

Across from him, Ning Tian fell silent as she watched Ning Wuque continue to play dumb. Looking at the boy forcing himself to face her calmly, scenes from their everyday lives over the years flashed through her mind.

She watched him train together with Wu Feng.

She watched him collapse to the ground in joy after breaking through his limits.

She watched him study by lamplight through countless books. She watched him treat time as his most precious treasure, unwilling to waste even the slightest bit.

Tenacity, self-reliance, unyieldingness, determination—those beautiful qualities seemed to be displayed by this boy at every moment.

Yet in his spare time, he could bicker with Wu Feng, and he could also borrow the scenery to make her smile.

He would not refuse her reasonable requests, nor would he disappoint her when she was looking forward to something. He would never flatter her or cater to her thoughts, but was quiet and sincere like a true friend.

Ning Tian was happy to be friends with him—happy enough that she did not want them to be merely friends.

Slowly, after a stretch of silence, she spoke.

"Wuque, you are a genius too. Once we reach Shrek Academy, no one among the younger generation will be your match. You could easily become one of the current Shrek Seven Devils.

"The clan may have no way to help you, but that does not mean Shrek cannot help you! You are a true genius, a genius I, Ning Tian, have watched grow up since childhood—a genius greater than any genius I have ever heard of!"

"Do you know the White Tiger Duke's Mansion? There is a genius there named Dai Huabin. He is not much older than you, and his Soul Power Level is Rank Thirty-Two, yet he cannot beat you!

"Even if he and his fiancée use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, I still do not think you would lose with your abilities!"

The girl's words came to an end alongside the setting sun. At the horizon, the evening clouds began to sink with the skyline.

"You have already surpassed the standard of excellence in my heart. Come to Shrek with me and become a genius worthy of me there, all right?"

"If you only want to escape the family's restraints, I can help—"

"You bastard!!!"

Before Ning Wuque could finish, Ning Tian rushed forward, raised her fist, and viciously punched him in the head. Her clear voice was filled with fury.

Ning Wuque did not move. His head tilted slightly from the blow, and he said nothing more.

Drip.

Beneath his lowered head, he saw the girl's tears falling beside his feet.

Suddenly, a soft, fragrant body pressed into his arms. Ning Wuque felt himself being hugged. Ning Tian rested her chin on his shoulder and roared in a low, angry voice.

"I already bought out your life! Do you think this young lady's money and resources are so easy to take?! I am ordering you now—ordering you to have a little more confidence! Show me the pride of a genius and agree to me!

"I know what you are afraid of. You are afraid my family will reject you, afraid that you could die at any moment, afraid of hurting me, but... but... but..."

As Ning Tian spoke, she was already sobbing so hard that she could barely continue. She had looked forward to today's confession for a long time. She had even prepared herself to defy her family's wishes, yet what she received was Ning Wuque's rejection again and again.

Why, why?!

"Okay."

"Huh?"

"If I reject you once more, we will not even be able to remain friends, will we, Ning Tian?"