The Duke, I'm Back

"You really want to fight him, Uncle Jian?" After hearing that, Ning Fengzhi immediately looked at Chen Xin in surprise.

"Of course. Why else would I still be here? It's just that I'm worried he'll refuse," Chen Xin said, shaking his head.

"He probably won't," Ning Fengzhi said after thinking it over. "What worries me is if he really does agree, and you end up injured, Uncle Jian. You should know Uncle Bone still hasn't recovered from that exchange three years ago."

Ning Fengzhi was not afraid that Wriothesley would refuse. He was afraid Wriothesley would fail to hold back.

That was what had happened last time. Gu Rong had sparred with him, and Wriothesley had failed to restrain himself, slamming him straight into the city wall.

Luckily, Gu Rong was a defensive-type Title Douluo, and Wriothesley had still been holding back. Otherwise, Tang Hao's condition last night would have been Gu Rong's fate.

Although he had blocked it, because of the force of the impact, Gu Rong's Martial Soul had still cracked a little, causing him to spend these past few years nursing his injuries.

And according to Uncle Bone, that had been the worst beating he had ever taken in his life.

If Chen Xin sparred with Wriothesley now, and they agreed to it, then if Wriothesley failed to hold back for even a moment, wouldn't that mean...

Ning Fengzhi did not want his sect's guardian elder to be injured because of a spar with Wriothesley.

Moreover, in Ning Fengzhi's view, the chances of Chen Xin defeating Wriothesley were probably not even one percent.

Unless Wriothesley went easy on him—no, unless he went extremely easy on him—Chen Xin probably would not be able to succeed.

And if Wriothesley failed to hold back, then things would truly go very badly.

So in truth, Ning Fengzhi was more inclined to hope Wriothesley would not agree to this.

But he did not know how to say that to Chen Xin, so he could only turn his gaze to Chen Xin and see how he would handle it.

"Don't worry. Man proposes, heaven disposes," Chen Xin said with a calm expression.

Hearing this, Ning Fengzhi gritted his teeth and could only nod.

He could only pray that Wriothesley would hold back a little.

But now came the problem. They had only just finished visiting him, and immediately calling on him again seemed a little impolite!

But Chen Xin was clearly somewhat unable to wait. If Chen Xin was made to keep waiting like this, he probably would not even sleep well.

Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly thought of something, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth before he turned and walked back.

Looking at Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin, who had returned after leaving, Wriothesley slowly set down his teacup and said, "Sect Master Ning, you've returned so soon. May I ask what brings you back?"

"Your Excellency Wriothesley, there is something I would like to ask you about," Ning Fengzhi said as he walked up to Wriothesley.

"Oh? What would Sect Master Ning like to ask me?" Wriothesley asked, looking at Ning Fengzhi with interest.

"I have a friend who has heard of Your Excellency's profound martial skill and has come specially to ask for your guidance," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile, cupping his hands.

He did not directly name Chen Xin, but instead said—I have a friend.

But would Wriothesley believe his nonsense? The fighting intent in Chen Xin's eyes behind him was almost impossible to suppress.

So even the sect master of the second-ranking sect among the Upper Three Sects could invent a friend out of thin air, huh?

"Asking for guidance?" Ning Fengzhi raised an eyebrow and glanced at Chen Xin, then looked at Wriothesley, his gaze somewhat guilty.

There was no way around it. He truly could not find any other excuse, so he could only get straight to the point.

To be honest, if Chen Xin were not the sect's guardian elder, he would never have wanted to do something so embarrassing. A trace of unease flashed through Ning Fengzhi's heart. He knew that by bringing this up, he had completely pushed Chen Xin into the eye of the storm. He sighed inwardly, constantly calculating how the next conversation should go. Wriothesley's eyes revealed a hint of slyness, as though he had seen through their intentions.

Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin exchanged a look. Seeing the fighting intent Chen Xin could not suppress, Ning Fengzhi could only smile helplessly. He knew better than anyone what kind of temperament his own elder had.

"Requesting your guidance?" At this moment, Chen Xin also looked at Wriothesley with an excited expression, the light in his eyes dazzling.

"Sect Master Ning, there's no need to beat around the bush like this," Wriothesley said with a smile, shaking his head. Being fixated on a certain goal was a good thing; it could keep one's life from falling into confusion.

He admired both Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi greatly in this regard, but he still could not help making a couple of remarks.

However, one must never be controlled by obsession and step onto a dangerous path. Otherwise, obsession would become an inner demon, and that was not something to be taken lightly.

"In that case, we won't say any more. Please grant me your guidance, Your Excellency Wriothesley!" A delighted smile appeared on Chen Xin's face. He had originally thought he would have to wait a day, but he had not expected to be able to spar with Wriothesley so quickly. How could he possibly be in a bad mood?

"Very well. It isn't as if I can make much progress in a short while anyway," Wriothesley agreed readily. Although he also knew sparring with Chen Xin probably would not produce any result, it was better than nothing. He still hoped to make progress.

"Your Excellency Wriothesley, please grant me your guidance!" Chen Xin cupped his hands, his expression incomparably solemn.

Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi naturally cupped his hands as well. "Please instruct us!"

Although Wriothesley was also good at "persuading people with virtue," when it came to someone as stubborn and fixated as Chen Xin, it was more straightforward to get right to the point, so he readily went along with it.

"This isn't the place to spar. Let's go outside the city," Wriothesley said. With that, he rose to his feet, then called to Sigewinne in the inner room, "Head Nurse, I won't be back at noon."

"Duke, remember to eat on time. Otherwise, it's bad for your stomach," Sigewinne replied when she heard Wriothesley's voice.

"I know, don't worry about me," Wriothesley said with a doting smile.

Although he knew Sigewinne would not truly worry about him, his heart still felt warm.

"Then let's go."

Seeing the warm, tender exchange between Wriothesley and Sigewinne, ripples stirred in Chen Xin's heart.

He had never married in his life, as though the gears of fate had long been locked onto the glory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. From the moment Ning Fengzhi recruited him, he had devoted everything he had to this sect.

The years had left countless marks upon him, but when it came to the gentle and beautiful affection between Wriothesley and Sigewinne, he could not help feeling a wave of envy in his heart.

Although he had no children of his own, Ning Rongrong's arrival had brought some comfort to his and Gu Rong's lives, even if that comfort was a little hard to put into words and somewhat far from the ideal image in his heart.

Ning Rongrong was like a delicate little flower, quietly blooming in their lives, though her mischievous antics often left people torn between laughter and tears.

"Mm."

Chen Xin nodded.

After that, the group left Wriothesley's estate and went to the plains in the suburbs.

Ning Fengzhi, however, followed behind the two of them, looking as if he had no intention of making a move.

Of course, there was no way for him to make a move either.

What was a support-type like him supposed to do if he went up?

Get beaten, or get himself killed?

"All right, thank you for waiting. Please, make your move!" Chen Xin said with a cupped-fist salute, a modest smile on his face and sincerity in his tone.