Ning Fengzhi Regretted It; Gu Rong Wanted to Kill Zhao Linchuan

"Trash! A bunch of trash! What is the sect keeping you for?!"

"I told you again and again to protect Rongrong. Is this how you do your jobs?!"

"You just stood there and watched Rongrong be bullied like that?!"

The kneeling Guard shuddered from head to toe and hurriedly defended himself.

"Elder Gu, please hear me out! It was not that we failed to protect the young lady wholeheartedly. It was just... someone attacked us in secret!"

"Someone attacked you?"

"Yes, yes!" The Guard's voice trembled with fear as he hurriedly explained. "During the earlier conflict on the streets of Suotuo City, when I saw that things were going wrong and the young lady was being humiliated, I was already prepared to step in."

"But just as we tried to mobilize our Soul Power, our entire bodies suddenly went weak and limp, as if something had blocked our Soul Power. We simply couldn't summon any!"

"We could only watch helplessly..."

He swallowed and continued, "And it was the same at the Soul Arena!"

"We were clearly in the stands and saw the young lady fall into danger, yet it was as though we had been poisoned with some muscle-softening toxin. We could not move at all!"

"And strangely enough, once Zhao Linchuan and that Blonde Woman left the scene, the abnormalities in our bodies vanished on their own not long afterward, and we regained the ability to move."

"Elder Gu, every word of this is true. Please investigate it thoroughly!"

"Hmph! Excuses! In the end, you were simply incompetent and gave others an opening!"

Killing intent flashed through Gu Rong's eyes. Clearly, he did not entirely believe them—or rather, he needed something upon which to vent his anger.

"Enough, Uncle Gu." Ning Fengzhi raised a hand, stopping Gu Rong before he could erupt.

He glanced at the trembling Guard. "Let this matter rest for now. It may not be entirely bad for Rongrong to suffer a few losses and setbacks outside."

"Her willful temperament truly needs to be tempered."

He waved a hand at the Guard. "You may leave. Your negligence will not be pursued this time."

"Yes! Thank you for your mercy, Sect Master! Thank you for your mercy, Sect Master!" The Guard felt as though he had been granted a pardon. He repeatedly kowtowed, then practically scrambled out of the Seven Treasure Grand Hall.

After the Guard left, Gu Rong snorted and returned to his seat, his anger still unspent. "Fengzhi, that kid Zhao Linchuan is becoming more and more arrogant. He has utterly forgotten their former ties!"

"Rongrong grew up with him, after all. They were childhood sweethearts. It would have been one thing if he had merely stood by while someone attacked Rongrong, but he even humiliated her like that on the Soul Fighting Arena!"

"He is utterly ungrateful and heartless!"

Ning Fengzhi's expression darkened further at those words, and the fingers resting on his armrest unconsciously tightened.

A fourteen-year-old Soul King... defeating seven opponents alone on the Soul Fighting Arena, crushing every one of them within two minutes... What dazzling, terrifying talent!

That should have been an unparalleled genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!

According to his carefully laid plans, Zhao Linchuan would undergo trials and, in the end, marry Rongrong and have children with her.

He would gradually teach Rongrong how to use both tenderness and strategy to firmly bind this future guardian god to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Rongrong would stand in the light and command the sect.

Zhao Linchuan would remain in the shadows, becoming the sect's strongest guardian blade and deterrent, ensuring that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect flourished for centuries!

But!

All of that beautiful vision had been reduced to nothing because of his daughter's foolish capriciousness!

A genius capable of changing the sect's fate had simply left like that!

And the reason was so absurd—it was only because Rongrong thought he was "rigid" and wanted to "make him angry"!

An indescribable wave of regret and resentment surged through Ning Fengzhi's heart.

For one absurd instant, he even hated that he had not been born a woman!

If he had been a woman, then even if he had to bear infamy, he would have used every possible means to keep Zhao Linchuan!

He even regretted not arranging Zhao Linchuan and Rongrong's union sooner. Even if he had needed to use extraordinary methods to make it a done deal and leave them bound by a child, it would have been better...

Gu Rong grumbled indignantly at his side for quite some time, but Ning Fengzhi's thoughts were in turmoil, and he barely heard the rest.

"...Fengzhi, if you ask me, since Zhao Linchuan is so ungrateful and refuses to show the slightest regard for old ties, and since he was so ruthless even toward our Rongrong, then we should simply go all the way!"

A vicious gleam filled Gu Rong's eyes. "Find a suitable opportunity and kill him! Cut off all future trouble!"

The murderous words pulled Ning Fengzhi from his thoughts. He looked up at Gu Rong. "Uncle Gu, didn't you say before that the mysterious woman who took Lin Chuan away had two Titled Douluo-level experts serving as her Guards?"

Gu Rong snorted, his face full of disdain. "So what if they are Titled Douluo? Zhao Linchuan cannot possibly remain beside those two Titled Douluo every moment of every day. There will always be a time when he is alone!"

"If necessary, the old bastard and I can act together, while you support us from the side. With the combined strength of the three of us, can we not handle two opponents of the same level?"

"Even if they protect him to the death, they will still be unable to escape destruction!"

Chen Xin sat nearby with his eyes half-closed. From beginning to end, he said nothing, neither agreeing nor objecting, like a silent statue.

Ning Fengzhi lightly tapped the armrest with his fingers. He remained silent for a long time, the light of calculation constantly flickering in his eyes.

At last, he slowly raised his head, a trace of resolve flashing through his gaze. He said solemnly, "Very well. We will plan this matter according to Uncle Gu's wishes."

"However, the identity of the woman who took Lin Chuan away is unknown, and her strength is unfathomable. Unless necessary, avoid clashing with her to the death, lest we create further complications."

Meanwhile, inside a Luxury Hotel at the other end of Suotuo City.

Zhao Linchuan pushed open the door and entered. Qian Renxue, who had long been waiting in the room, immediately came forward. "Lin Chuan, how did it go...? That Tang Hao...?"

"He is dead." Zhao Linchuan's tone was calm. He casually took a wooden box from his Soul Tool and placed it on the table. "His head is inside."

At those words, a bright gleam instantly burst from Qian Renxue's eyes, carrying both the thrill of revenge and curiosity. She moved to open the wooden box and verify it.

"Hey, Xue'er." Zhao Linchuan caught her wrist and slightly shook his head, his tone carrying a warning. "I advise you not to look."

"Why?" Qian Renxue raised a brow in confusion. "What kind of sight have I not seen? Back when I personally led troops to wipe out a bandit stronghold, I saw things far bloodier than this..."

As she spoke, she stubbornly shook off Zhao Linchuan's hand and lifted the lid of the wooden box.

Just one glance!

"Ugh—!" A short cry escaped Qian Renxue's throat. Her face instantly turned deathly pale as she slammed the lid shut, reflexively covering her mouth. Her stomach churned violently, and she nearly vomited on the spot.