Choice

Outside Heaven Dou City, Shili Pavilion.

Impatience was written all over Ning Rongrong's delicate face. Forcing herself to remain composed, she deliberately softened her voice. "Brother Lin Chuan, will you come back with me?"

At the side, Gu Rong wore a solemn expression, his tone grave. "Lin Chuan, do not forget the Sect's kindness in nurturing you all these years."

Zhao Linchuan stood silently, his thoughts churning.

How could he fail to see through Ning Rongrong's superficial act?

What truly unsettled him was Gu Rong's pressure in the name of the Sect's greater good.

That invisible shackle made his steps feel unbearably heavy.

Just as his resolve began to waver, a cool female voice tinged with mockery rang out from beyond the pavilion.

"Nurturing? Hah, that sounds nice enough."

"Could the value Brother Zhao created for your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect truly not even offset that meager investment?"

Everyone turned toward the voice and saw a graceful figure in a pink-and-white gauze dress drifting over.

A golden veil covered her face, revealing only a pair of clear eyes as cold as winter pools.

Behind her stood two masked old men whose auras were unfathomable, like two mountains no one could cross.

Qian Renxue's gaze swept over Gu Rong and Ning Rongrong. Her words were blades, merciless and sharp. "What he brought you was hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, of Gold Soul Coins."

"And what did you give him? Nothing more than helping him obtain his first Soul Ring. After that, he fought and struggled for far more by himself."

"Now that you refuse to let him leave, it is merely because you covet his talent. You want to use your heir as a chain to bind him forever to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, turning him into a tool to protect your Sect!"

Her gaze shifted to Gu Rong as she said coldly, "If I am not mistaken, if Brother Zhao refuses to return with you today, then Zhao Linchuan will likely cease to exist on this continent."

"Or perhaps you would imprison him and find ten or eight female disciples from your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to steal away his Thunder Tyrant Prison Breaking Sword Martial Soul?"

"Bone Douluo, am I right?"

Gu Rong's brows furrowed tightly, his expression turning ugly.

Yet Ning Rongrong was enraged by the word "tool" and by the other woman's imposing presence. She blurted out, "Where did this old woman hiding her face come from? What happens between Brother Lin Chuan and me is none of your business!"

"Old... woman?" Beneath the veil, Qian Renxue's eye twitched slightly. Those three words nearly made her grind her teeth to pieces.

Suppressing her anger, she walked straight into the pavilion. No longer looking at that spoiled young lady, she fixed her eyes only on Zhao Linchuan, her tone sincere. "Brother Zhao, would you be willing to leave with me?"

She did not say "pledge allegiance," nor did she say "recruit." She said, "leave with me."

"From this day onward, I will walk your path with you."

"Your enemies, I will help you avenge."

"Your talents and ambitions—I will give you the greatest stage upon which to display them!"

Zhao Linchuan's brows were deeply furrowed.

He was an old acquaintance of this woman who called herself Qianqian. In the past, she had repeatedly tried to recruit him while posing as the daughter of a wealthy merchant, but he had politely declined every time.

Yet she always referred to herself as "little sister," which left him somewhat helpless each time.

"Zhao Linchuan, do not listen to an outsider's instigation! Do not forget the Sect's kindness in nurturing you!" Gu Rong spoke again, his voice heavy with warning.

He did not dare act rashly, because the two old men behind the woman had already locked onto him with their auras. Both were Titled Douluo!

"Exactly! Brother Lin Chuan, have you forgotten how carefully Father nurtured you?" Ning Rongrong chimed in, forcing herself to stay patient.

Qian Renxue sneered. "Bone Douluo, why keep using gratitude to coerce him?"

"How many resources did you truly give him that you dare call it 'nurturing'?"

She turned to Zhao Linchuan. "Brother Zhao, if you are willing to leave with me today, I alone will provide every resource you need for cultivation from now on!"

"I swear upon my Martial Soul that I will find you three Soul Bones no less than Seventy Thousand Year in age, and help you hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!"

With a light turn of Qian Renxue's slender hand, a right-arm Soul Bone radiating a purple glow appeared upon the stone table.

"This Bone Douluo keeps talking about how the Sect nurtured you," Qian Renxue said in a clear voice. "Setting aside whether Brother Zhao truly owes the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect anything, even if you do, I believe this Soul Bone is enough to repay it all."

Facing Zhao Linchuan, she sincerely extended her left hand. "Brother Zhao, come with me, all right? I will fulfill every word I have spoken today."

Seeing this, Gu Rong truly panicked. "Lin Chuan! Do not listen to her nonsense! Three Seventy Thousand Year Soul Bones? Hunting a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast? Do you know what that means?!"

"Even if my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect devoted all its strength, it would be absolutely impossible!"

"That's right! Brother Lin Chuan, do not let this Wild Woman of unknown origins deceive you!" Ning Rongrong hurriedly shouted.

"Frogs at the bottom of a well." Qian Renxue spat out four cold words, her eyes still locked on Zhao Linchuan. "Brother Zhao, I guarantee that every word I have said is true."

"Due to my identity, please forgive me for being unable to reveal my origins for now. But my promises carry the weight of mountains."

Zhao Linchuan's gaze passed over Gu Rong, whose anxious face revealed more possessiveness than concern. It then swept over Ning Rongrong, who was arrogant and believed that acting cute and throwing tantrums could solve everything. Finally, it settled on those sincere, resolute beautiful eyes.

Two utterly different paths lay before Zhao Linchuan. Return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, where relations had broken down, suspicion awaited him, and his growth would be constrained.

Or follow Qian Renxue, gain the finest resources and boundless horizons, but be swept into a vortex where survival was almost impossible.

After thinking for a long time, the struggle in his eyes finally gave way to clarity. A relieved smile touched his lips as he reached out and gently took Qian Renxue's jade-like hand.

"Very well. Since you have invited me so sincerely, it would be ungracious for Zhao to refuse again."

"Zhao Linchuan!" Ning Rongrong finally exploded. She had pleaded softly and patiently for so long, and just when she thought she was about to succeed, this woman had appeared out of nowhere and ruined everything!

She screamed and lunged at Qian Renxue, trying to separate them.

Qian Renxue shifted slightly and easily avoided her, then swung her hand in return.

Slap!

With a crisp slap, Ning Rongrong was sent flying straight out of the pavilion, crashing into the dust outside.

"Overestimating yourself." Qian Renxue's tone was indifferent.

"Ah—!" Ning Rongrong had never suffered such humiliation. Clutching her swollen cheek, she cried out hoarsely, "Zhao Linchuan! You and this Wild Woman have made me angry!"

She scrambled to her feet in a sorry state, her tone spoiled and threatening. "Zhao Linchuan, I'll give you one last chance!"

"Come back with me now, and I can pretend none of this ever happened!"

She turned around, facing away from him. Her voice trembled with anger and grievance. "Didn't you say before that you would protect me for the rest of your life?"

"I'll count to three. As long as you appear beside me right away, I... I'll agree to marry you!"

"One!"

"Two!!"

"Three—!!!"

She abruptly turned around, hoping that the familiar figure would appear before her as he had countless times before, helpless yet indulgent.

However, all she saw was Zhao Linchuan's calm, unruffled gaze.

He stood in the pavilion as though watching an insignificant farce.

"Ning Rongrong," he said softly, "what makes you think that just because you turn around, I will definitely appear?"

He no longer looked at her and gave Qian Renxue a slight nod. "Miss Qianqian, let's go."

Beneath her veil, an irresistible, radiant smile curved Qian Renxue's lips. "All right."

The two walked side by side. Qian Renxue naturally took his hand and led him toward the luxurious carriage not far away.

When they reached the carriage, she personally lifted the curtain for him and shielded him as he boarded.

The carriage slowly began to move, and the scenery outside the window rapidly receded. Qian Renxue parted her red lips. "Brother Zhao, what are your plans next?"

Zhao Linchuan was silent for a moment before saying, "Seven years."

"What seven years?"

"They spent seven years turning me into a qualified 'guardian.'"

"Then I will use the same amount of time to make them understand—"

"Losing me will mark the beginning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's century-long decline."

"And my name will stand at a height they can only look up to forever."

She said softly, "I am looking forward to it."

Outside Shili Pavilion, Ning Rongrong wept bitterly.

Gu Rong watched the carriage disappear into the horizon, then looked at the Soul Bone glowing purple on the stone table. In the end, he suppressed his urge to make a move.

He put away the Soul Bone, then hurried to Ning Rongrong's side and comforted her tenderly. "Rongrong, stop crying."

"Waaah... Grandpa Bone, did Rongrong do something wrong?" She threw herself into Gu Rong's arms and wailed loudly.

"How could it be Rongrong's fault?" Gu Rong patted her back and sighed. "That Zhao Linchuan simply does not know what is good for him. He has forgotten kindness and betrayed gratitude."

"Come, go home with Grandpa."

"Mmm..." Ning Rongrong answered through sobs.

Did she truly not know that she had done something wrong?

Perhaps she did.

Some truths could only be understood after everything had been completely lost, when the pain pierced deep into one's heart.