"No need. Rongrong was the one who asked me to come. If you want to thank anyone, thank her."
As he spoke, Chen Xin even pushed the girl behind him forward.
Xia Ran didn't put on airs. He thanked Ning Rongrong as well.
"Thank you."
The sight surprised Ning Rongrong. The guy who usually gave her the cold shoulder had just thanked her, and she felt a strange flutter of excitement.
Her delicate face broke into a playful, lovely smile.
"Hehe, if you want to thank me, make me more delicious food."
Seeing this, Chen Xin felt a little jealous.
The little princess he'd raised seemed to have really taken a liking to someone else.
Ever since they'd been in the lounge, Ning Rongrong had been talking to Chen Xin about Xia Ran.
It was the first time he'd seen the little princess praise someone so much.
"Young friend, would you be interested in talking with an old man like me?"
"Don't joke, senior. Let's go to the lounge."
Faced with such a courteous invitation from a Titled Douluo, Xia Ran felt a little ill at ease.
He'd told himself that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was nothing special, and imagined what he'd be like once he grew stronger.
But facing Chen Xin in person felt different.
He could sense that Chen Xin was even stronger than Tang Hao.
The three returned to the lounge, while Tang San and the others' match began.
Since Ning Rongrong was a support Soul Master, she hadn't entered the one-on-one competition. She had to wait in the lounge until Zhu Zhuqing finished her match, then take part in the two-on-two competition.
Inside the private room, Chen Xin spoke first.
"Rongrong, go look around for a while. Your good classmate and I have something to discuss."
###
As soon as she heard that she was being asked to leave, Ning Rongrong pouted in displeasure.
She'd wanted to use Chen Xin's presence to watch Xia Ran suffer a few more times.
"What is it that I can't hear?"
"Be good, Rongrong. I snuck out this time, so I can't stay here for long."
Chen Xin's meaning was clear: he was telling her to stop being difficult.
"Hmph. Fine, I won't listen."
Ning Rongrong stomped her foot reluctantly, shot Xia Ran a glare, then turned and pushed open the door.
The door slammed shut. Only Chen Xin and Xia Ran remained in the room, and the air fell silent.
Chen Xin didn't speak, and Xia Ran didn't dare either. He remembered that the sects on the Douluo Continent were fond of eliminating geniuses.
It wasn't self-deprecation. Among Ning Rongrong's peers, Xia Ran was absolutely the strongest fighter. If Chen Xin really had some ill intent, it wouldn't be surprising.
"Aren't you curious about who I am?"
The silence broke. As expected, Chen Xin had put on a cold expression.
Xia Ran could only remain respectful and hope that his connection to Ning Rongrong would keep Chen Xin from attacking him outright.
"I wouldn't dare ask!"
Chen Xin turned to the screen, where Tang San and Zhu Zhuqing were fighting.
"Who do you think will win?"
"Tang San!"
Apparently dissatisfied with Xia Ran's answer, Chen Xin said nothing more. Instead, he fixed him with a piercing stare.
Xia Ran had no choice but to explain further.
"A control-type Soul Master counters an agility-type Soul Master. Tang San's Soul Power is also higher than Zhu Zhuqing's. There's almost no suspense in this fight."
After hearing him out, Chen Xin studied Xia Ran thoughtfully.
"And what about you?"
Xia Ran suddenly felt uneasy. He knew it—none of these old guys was any good.
"I am Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Rongrong told me about you. Would you be interested in joining my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"The sect would devote substantial resources to you. I guarantee you'll become a Titled Douluo before you turn thirty-five."
Chen Xin no longer hid his intentions. He laid them out plainly and dangled a tempting promise before Xia Ran.
"Senior, I..."
"Don't rush to refuse. Young people act rashly and focus only on what's right in front of them. Think it over first, then give me your answer."
As they spoke, Zhu Zhuqing lost, failing to last even three rounds against Tang San.
Xia Ran was about to say something more, but when he turned around, Chen Xin had already disappeared.
"Ah!"
He sighed and leaned back in his chair, his gaze unfocused and his eyes vacant.
He felt a weight in his heart.
This feeling of being threatened... Did he have to join a faction?
As he pondered, Zhu Zhuqing returned to the lounge. She gave Xia Ran a meaningful look, then sat alone in a corner without saying a word.
Xia Ran had no idea that his one fight had completely changed the course of the original story.
Once everyone had finished their matches, they gathered in the lounge to head back to Shrek Academy.
Ma Hongjun suddenly darted over and slung an arm around Dai Mubai's shoulder, grinning slyly.
"Boss Dai, let's go!"
"I heard the place has a new girl with a smoking-hot figure, and she's also... You know!"
Ma Hongjun's chubby cheeks squeezed his eyes into slits, but even so, the lewd look in them was plain to see.
"Don't talk nonsense. I'm not going to a place like that!"
Dai Mubai looked tense, as if he were eager to clear something up.
But Ma Hongjun found his expression baffling.
"Huh? What are you talking about, Boss Dai? Are you sick or something?"
As he spoke, Ma Hongjun reached out and felt Dai Mubai's forehead with the back of his hand.
Dai Mubai impatiently swatted his hand away.
"If you want to go, go by yourself. Get lost!"
"Hmph! What's gotten into him?"
Then, looking confused, he left the group and headed toward the city.
Xiao Wu had misunderstood Ma Hongjun before, so she knew what kind of place he was going to.
She also knew Dai Mubai was no good, but for some reason, he'd suddenly changed his ways today.
She turned and clung to Tang San's arm, looking pleased with herself.
"Our Xiao San is the best. Stay away from them from now on, or they'll lead you astray."
Tang San glanced at Dai Mubai's awkward expression, then gave Xiao Wu a reassuring look.
"Don't worry!"
The mood seemed cheerful, but undercurrents ran beneath the surface.
Zhu Zhuqing was the first to leave the group. She headed straight for the academy, casting Dai Mubai a contemptuous glance.
"Disgusting!"
Those two short words made Dai Mubai's face turn bright red.
Ever since learning Zhu Zhuqing's identity, Dai Mubai had kept himself in check.
"Zhu Zhuqing! Stop right there!"
He raised his right hand, brilliant white light flickering in his palm.
Dai Mubai knew he was in the wrong and hadn't dared give Zhu Zhuqing a hard time. But his domineering nature, ingrained over many years, made it impossible for him to hold back any longer.
"You still want to fight?"
A look of contempt flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's lovely eyes once again.
[Zhu Zhuqing's hostility toward Dai Mubai: 100%] [Quest complete: Reward—Second Martial Soul: Annihilation Eye]
As the system notification faded, a powerful aura slowly awakened within Xia Ran.
The sudden change startled Xia Ran, who'd been lost in thought. He hurriedly activated Martial Soul Possession and used Shadow Escape to slip away from the group.
The commotion drew everyone's attention, and the white light in Dai Mubai's hand faded.
Ning Rongrong looked a little dazed. Why had that guy suddenly run off?
"What's he doing?"
Tang San was at a loss.
"Who knows?"
"Should we wait for him to come back?"
"He knows the way. If you want to wait, go ahead."
Before you continue