Act First, Report Later—Special Privilege Granted by Authority

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was still shrouded in morning mist. Having just finished washing up, Wang Chuan was about to head to the library to look for manuals on footwork and evasive movement when someone hurried over and bowed respectfully. "Lord Wang Chuan, the Sect Master requests your presence in the main hall at once."

"All right, I'm going." Wang Chuan replied. Though somewhat puzzled, he did not delay and quickly headed toward the sect's main hall.

The moment he entered, he sensed that something was wrong—the Sect Master Ning Fengzhi sat rigidly upon his seat, an unsettling severity radiating from him. His brows and eyes seemed covered in frost as he silently looked down below. Ning Rongrong, Wen Jingran, and the three children who had taken part in last night's siege were all kneeling neatly in the hall, like a litter of kittens that had done something wrong.

Wen Jingran and the others hung their heads, their faces filled with guilt, even their shoulders slightly slumped like eggplants wilted by autumn frost. Ning Rongrong alone was different. Her eyes were red, grievance written across her face, her little lips pursed slightly. She looked so pitiful that it seemed as though, if she knelt for another moment, crystalline tears would roll down like pearls from a broken string.

At the sight, Wang Chuan immediately understood—Ning Fengzhi must have learned about what happened in the courtyard last night. He wondered to himself, Who told on us? Wen Jingran looks honest enough, so it was probably him. As for Rong Rong, with her personality, she probably wouldn't voluntarily admit that she had gathered fellow disciples to bully someone, would she?

Seeing Wang Chuan arrive, Ning Fengzhi finally spoke, though his tone remained grave. "Xiao Chuan, I already know everything that happened in the courtyard last night. Rong Rong has been spoiled by me and everyone in the sect since she was little, and her temperament has become unruly. She was in the wrong this time. I apologize to you on her behalf."

Chen Xin and Gu Rong beside him also wore dark expressions. Though they doted on Ning Rongrong, this offense had crossed a line. She had gathered four children older than Wang Chuan to gang up on a fellow junior disciple who was only six years old. If word got out, it would not only disgrace the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but also make outsiders question the sect's upbringing.

What left Ning Fengzhi even more helpless was that Ning Rongrong herself had "exposed" the matter. Last night, she had run crying back to her chambers. When Ning Fengzhi questioned her, she tearfully complained that "Wang Chuan bullied people," making her look exactly like a foolish little child turning herself in. Ning Fengzhi had been both angry and amused at the time, and for the first time, he found himself questioning his own daughter's intelligence.

Later, under the intimidation of Chen Xin and Gu Rong, coupled with Wen Jingran's truthful account, the three of them quickly pieced together the full story. After Bone Douluo Gu Rong learned the details, he was so furious that he blew his beard and glared. "You brat, Wen Jingran! Bullying a fellow disciple was bad enough, but you even brought a group to gang up on him! What's most infuriating is that so many of you still couldn't beat Xiao Chuan alone! Aren't you ashamed?"

Seeing Ning Rongrong kneeling on the ground, Wang Chuan's heart softened. He stepped forward and said, "Uncle Ning, please don't blame them anymore. Rong Rong is still young. She made a mistake in a moment of confusion, so it's understandable. Please don't be too harsh on her. Besides, I didn't suffer any loss last night. If anything, I got to stretch my muscles a little."

He knew perfectly well that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was Ning Fengzhi's territory. If this matter became a big deal, it would benefit no one. It was better to make a major issue minor and let a minor issue pass.

"Xiao Chuan, this is not about whether you suffered any loss." Ning Fengzhi shook his head, his tone firm. "You were unharmed because you are strong enough. But if Rong Rong bullied other disciples weaker than herself, what would those children do? She must learn her lesson this time, or she will make even bigger mistakes in the future!"

At this point, Ning Fengzhi changed the subject and looked at Wang Chuan, expectation appearing in his eyes. "So, Uncle has a request—I want you to discipline Rong Rong. What do you think? Chen Xin, Old Bone, and I have spoiled her too much. We truly cannot bear to punish her. The other disciples do not dare discipline her because she is the Sect Master's daughter. In the entire sect, only you can both keep her in line and refuse to indulge her."

"No!" The moment Ning Rongrong heard this, she panicked. She hurriedly climbed to her feet and tugged on Ning Fengzhi's sleeve, acting coquettishly. "Dad, I know I was wrong! I'll never dare do it again! Grandpa Sword, Grandpa Gu, Rong Rong really knows she was wrong! Please, put in a good word for me!"

Chen Xin and Gu Rong had long been helpless against Ning Rongrong's coquettish pleading. Seeing this, they immediately closed their eyes and pretended to meditate, even secretly sealing off their hearing, wearing expressions that said they preferred not to see it. Afraid that his heart might soften, Ning Fengzhi simply raised a hand and used Soul Power to seal Ning Rongrong's throat. The little girl instantly became unable to make a sound. She could only stomp her feet where she stood and throw a tantrum as she cried, tears streaming down her face, yet not a single sob could be heard.

Watching this unfold, Wang Chuan said with some difficulty, "Uncle Ning, I'm afraid this isn't appropriate, is it? Rong Rong and I are of the same generation, and she is your daughter. How could I possibly discipline her?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Ning Fengzhi interrupted him, his tone brooking no argument. "From today onward, treat her as an ordinary sect disciple. Teach her what should be taught, punish her when punishment is due—if she acts up again, even if you spank her, I won't stop you! It's settled!"

Wang Chuan still wanted to say something, but Ning Fengzhi had already slammed his hand on the table and made the decision. Just like that, he muddleheadedly took on the task of "disciplining Ning Rongrong." Behind him followed a little girl with an unwilling expression and tear-reddened eyes, whom he led out of the hall as she looked back every few steps.

Inside the main hall, Chen Xin watched the two figures recede into the distance and could not help asking, "Feng Zhi, do you think the two of them will understand your intentions with this arrangement?"

Ning Fengzhi let out a soft sigh, his gaze filled with meaning. "Perhaps they do not understand now, but they will someday."

In his heart, Ning Rongrong was destined to inherit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and become its future Sect Master. Wang Chuan, meanwhile, possessed extraordinary talent and the support of Twin Martial Souls. In the future, he would surely become a Titled Douluo capable of protecting the sect. These two children—one the sect's backbone, the other its guardian—had to build a trust as solid as steel between them, one that would allow them to entrust their backs to each other without reservation. Even if they became husband and wife someday, it would only be natural.

More importantly, Ning Fengzhi had never given up on finding a way for Wang Chuan to escape the fate of a Self-Extinguisher. He had searched through countless records and repeatedly pondered the words Huang Quan had left behind, finally finding a faint clue. Huang Quan had also been a Self-Extinguisher, yet she had endured for a long time. Perhaps the key lay in "emotion"—whether it was hatred that seeped into one's bones or love engraved upon one's heart, as long as there was an emotion vital to Wang Chuan, burning in his life like a flame, perhaps it could free him from the tragic fate of "quietly fading away." Letting Wang Chuan and Ning Rongrong spend more time together might be the first step in cultivating that emotion.