Something Was Obviously Wrong

"Rongrong, Sword Grandfather has already discussed it with Boss Tang. From now on, you'll study under her."

Sword Douluo sat by the window, smiling as he watched Ning Rongrong browse through the dresses across from him. His voice was gentle.

Ning Rongrong, who had been absorbed in the new dresses, quickly looked up at his words and asked in delighted surprise, "Really? Does that mean I can study with Sister Lingling not just during this training trip, but from now on too?"

"Of course it's true. When has Sword Grandfather ever lied to you?" Sword Douluo nodded with a smile, then looked at her with feigned anger.

Seeing this, the girl across from him hurriedly set down the dress and grabbed the old man's arm. "Thank you, Sword Grandfather! Hehe, it's just that Bone Grandfather scared me with all his lies."

Sword Douluo smiled and tapped Ning Rongrong on the forehead, his tone carrying a stern note of warning. "Boss Tang is gifted and clever beyond measure. Just treat her normally when you're around her.

"And she is especially good to her junior brother. I know that when you like someone, you want to stick to them. But we're students, and compared to her junior brother, we're another step removed.

"You need to mind your boundaries!"

"Don't worry, Sword Grandfather! Other than the first day, I haven't been that clingy." Ning Rongrong nodded cheerfully, then lowered her voice to complain. "Tang San is really stingy.

"The day I arrived, I only stuck to Sister Lingling and talked to her a little more. At dinner that night, he separated us!

"But it's fine. Brother Xue has a lively personality, and we get along well too."

"Then when you're all together, don't cling to Boss Tang so much." Sword Douluo recalled the scene from dinner when he heard that.

The moment he entered, he saw Rongrong sprawled across Boss Tang's back, whispering away. Meanwhile, the black-haired youth sitting opposite them was staring so hard that he seemed ready to bore holes through someone.

"Yes, sir! I'll remember Sword Grandfather's words!" Ning Rongrong stood straight and gave a playful salute, then smilingly picked up the dresses from the couch and put them into her bag.

As she packed, she said, "It's getting late, Sword Grandfather. You should rest first! I'll go back to my room and pick through them carefully!"

"Alright!" Sword Douluo replied with a smile, getting up to see her out. "Rongrong, you should sleep early too. You need to be well-rested to train properly."

"I know~ Good night, Sword Grandfather!" Ning Rongrong picked up her large bag and ran excitedly toward the rear courtyard.

Since it was already late after dinner, Tang Ling arranged for Sword Douluo to stay in the east wing of the second courtyard.

Sword Douluo watched Ning Rongrong's departing back, as well as the streetlamps stretching all the way toward the rear courtyard, then returned to his room at ease.

In the middle of the night, a carrier pigeon flew out from the second courtyard. Shortly afterward, the lamp that had burned in the wing room for so long finally went out.

"Sword Grandfather, don't worry! I'll train properly!"

Several carriages stood quietly beneath the shade of trees by the rear gate of Tang Estate, waiting for their passengers.

A girl dressed in a long cyan top and trousers stood at the gate some distance away, looking solemnly at the white-haired old man before her.

"Sword Grandfather believes in you! But don't forget to stay safe during training. Don't be stubborn, and listen carefully to Boss Tang's arrangements." Sword Douluo patted the girl's head reluctantly, then looked toward the approaching group.

"Uncle Sword, there's no need to worry. Rongrong is very obedient too." Tang Ling walked over with a handbag in hand, smiling as she rubbed Ning Rongrong's hanging hair.

"That's right, Sword Grandfather. I'm the most obedient!" Ning Rongrong tilted her head back with a grin and solemnly raised a hand to swear.

Sword Douluo burst into laughter at her antics. He looked up at the calm person standing behind his little princess and nodded gravely.

"Then we'll be leaving first. It isn't hot in the morning, so it's good for traveling." Seeing his worries ease, Tang Ling called for the others to board the carriage.

This time, there was one large carriage and one small one. The larger carriage was for passengers, while the smaller one carried supplies. Although the supplies would be transferred into storage space after they left the city, they still needed to keep up appearances.

Under the watchful eyes of Sword Douluo and Steward Roger, Tang Ling and the other three boarded the large carriage. Tang Ersui took the reins and slowly set the carriage in motion. Tang Yiyin, wearing a veiled hat, followed behind at an unhurried pace.

"Aren't we entering through the main entrance this time?" Xue Qingxi looked curiously at the unfamiliar scenery outside the carriage, then turned back with a question.

"No. The entrance controlled by the royal family is too safe. What you lack right now is combat awareness and the ability to fight.

"So I spoke with my uncle. We'll be entering through the smuggler's passage." Tang Ling pulled herself away from her paperwork and leisurely told them what she had forgotten to mention earlier.

"What's a smuggler's passage?" Ning Rongrong's focus was rather unusual as she blinked her large eyes at Tang Ling.

"The Star Dou Great Forest refuses entry to fugitives, but there are always people who secretly enter to hunt Soul Beasts when they need to advance." Tang Ling lowered her head to sort through the documents as she answered.

"Then that means it'll be really dangerous!" Ning Rongrong covered her chest with one hand and cried out dramatically. Then she looked at Tang Ling with pleading eyes. "Sister Lingling, you have to protect me!"

"That won't do." After finishing up, Tang Ling took out a bag of fruit juice and had a sip. She smiled at the girl's antics. "I won't be taking part in the fighting. Only the three of you will be training."

As she spoke, she winked at her. Ning Rongrong instantly collapsed onto her seat.

Xue Qingxi chuckled and patted Ning Rongrong on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Rongrong. Third Brother and I are both assault-type Spirit Masters. Protecting you will be easy!"

Ning Rongrong nodded pitifully, then slowly took two bags of dried fruit from her necklace pendant and handed one to each of them. "Protection fees! If you eat them, you have to keep your promise!"

Xue Qingxi laughed loudly at her actions, then snatched the "protection fee" from her hand. Tang San smiled and accepted his as well.

Seeing this, the girl eagerly took out another bag and stuffed it into Tang Ling's hands. Then she happily pulled open the carriage curtain and watched the scenery pass by as she ate.

Tang Ling accepted the snack with an amused smile. She took a few pieces before putting it back into her storage space.

It seemed the girl had become quite adept at using it now. Unlike when she had first started, when she had nearly failed to open the space because she could not control her consciousness properly.

After leaving Suotuo City, Tang Ling had given Ning Rongrong the necklace she had prepared.

To participate in the Spirit Master Tournament, they needed seven people. Since they would be spending every day together, storage space was the hardest thing to hide.

Moreover, all storage devices distributed by Tang Ling bore a mark. Other than their owners, no one else could use them, and they would self-destruct if anyone tried.

So Tang Ling had sorted through several medium-grade storage devices she had previously linked together, intending to give one to each team member she recruited.

"Miss, we should be there." Tang Ersui's somewhat low voice came from outside the carriage.

"Have we reached the ancient tree?" Tang Ling lifted the curtain by the carriage window and looked outside. Then she called out, "Get out, children. We'll be traveling on foot from here."

At her words, Ning Rongrong was the first to rush out of the carriage. She stood on the ground excitedly, surveying the dense thickets not far away.

"That's the entrance. Once we pass through those thickets, we'll be in the Star Dou Great Forest." Tang Ling got down from the carriage, smiled at the excited girl, and pointed out the direction.

Ning Rongrong looked over, the smile on her face unchanged. "It looks like the smuggler's passage isn't that dangerous after all. Those thickets look perfectly ordinary!"

Standing behind her, Xue Qingxi and Tang San exchanged a look, wisely choosing not to dampen her enthusiasm.

The girl was still too naive. Senior Sister/Teacher was extremely strict about cultivation. Those thickets obviously had something wrong with them!

"Alright, put away the carriages and sit down to eat! We'll go in after we're full." Tang Ling turned around with a smile and called to Tang Ersui and Tang Yiyin.

After hearing her, the two promptly got to work.

Half an hour later, the six well-fed people slowly walked toward the thickets, which looked nearby and seemed perfectly safe.