Something Fishy!!!

Zhu Zhuqing looked shy, with a trace of guilt on her face.

After fidgeting for a long while, she finally managed to squeeze out a single sentence.

"Thank you, Xia Ran!"

Neither of them knew what to say, and the atmosphere was awkward.

Suddenly, another knock sounded from outside the door.

"Oh! I'll get it!"

Xia Ran acted as if he'd grabbed a lifeline. Seeing him like this made Zhu Zhuqing smile to herself.

She hadn't expected this cold-faced man to have such a cute side.

When he opened the door, he found Ning Rongrong standing there in adorable pink pajamas that... fit her very well.

"Zhuqing? Why are you in Xia Ran's room? Didn't you say you were going to look at the stars?"

As soon as Ning Rongrong opened the door, she saw the two of them looking guilty—especially Zhu Zhuqing, whose nightdress was a little rumpled.

She thought back to what had happened on the way back to the academy...

"You two talk. I'm going back to sleep."

Caught red-handed, Zhu Zhuqing dropped that line and fled the scene.

That left Xia Ran alone with Ning Rongrong.

Before leaving, she even turned back to twist the knife: "I'll come find you again tomorrow!"

Ning Rongrong was stunned. She seemed to have stumbled upon some shocking secret.

"Dai Mubai... seems to have been cheated on..."

Xia Ran froze. If you're leaving, then leave—but why emphasize that you'll come find me again tomorrow!!!

Something Fishy!!!

(Adding a picture of Zhu Zhuqing in her nightdress)

"What are you here for this time?"

Xia Ran eyed Ning Rongrong suspiciously. At least Zhu Zhuqing had come to see him for a reason. What could this girl possibly want at this hour?

Clearly displeased with Xia Ran's attitude, Ning Rongrong pretended to be angry and pouted.

"Can't I come over for no reason? Can't I just want to chat with you?"

After what had just happened with Zhu Zhuqing, Xia Ran was feeling flustered and had no time to deal with this Little Demoness.

Besides, his fingers were still stiff...

"I'm busy. I still have to cultivate."

He started to close the door, but Ning Rongrong hurriedly put her hand in the way and nearly got it caught.

"Wait! What's going on with Zhuqing?"

"What do you mean, what's going on? I'm going to cultivate. Goodbye!"

Seeing Xia Ran's guilty expression, Ning Rongrong found it amusing.

Then she spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"Oh, our esteemed Chief Examiner Xia is repaying a young lady for saving his life like this?"

When he heard that, Xia Ran's expression twisted into a knot.

This Little Demoness was seriously hard to deal with.

"Tsk."

"If you have something to say, hurry up."

"I don't!"

"Fine."

Xia Ran had really had enough this time, and immediately went to shut the door.

But Ning Rongrong squeezed through the gap with her flat figure.

Then she gave him a mischievous grin.

"Hehe, what did Grandpa Sword say to you?"

Xia Ran answered without the slightest hesitation.

"He asked me to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Did you agree?"

"No."

Ning Rongrong looked astonished. As one of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had countless people fighting tooth and nail to join, yet still failing to get in.

And it was her Grandpa Sword who had personally invited him. Once Xia Ran joined the sect, he'd surely be treated as a core disciple.

And he'd actually refused!

"Why?"

"I'm used to being alone."

"Bull! You must have some secret you don't want anyone to know."

The Little Demoness did have a sharp intuition.

Naturally, Ning Rongrong didn't believe Xia Ran's answer, but she didn't press him.

Still, Xia Ran's impatient attitude annoyed her. Their back-and-forth felt like he was just humoring her.

But the more he acted that way, the easier it was for the Little Demoness to let her true nature out. She was determined to torment him.

"Then why did Zhuqing come to see you?"

"To ask me to teach her how to cultivate."

None of that was a secret, and Xia Ran had no reason to hide it.

If Ning Rongrong wanted to ask, he'd tell her everything. Otherwise, this girl would keep pestering him.

All Xia Ran wanted now was to get this Little Demoness out of here as soon as possible, because the fingers gripping his teacup were still stiff...

"Did you agree?"

"Yeah!"

"Why?"

Again with the same question. Xia Ran could tell that Ning Rongrong was deliberately tormenting him.

His attitude grew more and more impatient, and his answers increasingly perfunctory.

"I had nothing better to do."

By now, Ning Rongrong was getting annoyed too.

She was the little princess of the dignified Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. When had anyone ever treated her like a nuisance?

Her voice rose a few notches.

"Xia Ran, can you talk to me properly?"

Xia Ran was hunched over a little, trying to make his awkward predicament less obvious.

His face showed a pained expression. He was practically begging Ning Rongrong to hurry up and leave.

"Come on, I am talking to you properly!"

Only then did Ning Rongrong soften her attitude a little, but she still refused to let the matter go.

"Then teach me how to cultivate tomorrow too."

"No."

"Why not? You'll teach Zhuqing but not me?"

"I'm your lifesaver!"

Xia Ran now knew that this girl hadn't come to see him for anything important. He immediately began pushing her toward the door.

"Come on, go back to sleep! I still have to cultivate!"

As Ning Rongrong was pushed along, she kept looking back.

"Then promise to teach me. I want to be like you."

"You're a support-type Soul Master. Just take out your little pagoda and fiddle with it when you have nothing better to do. What could I teach you?"

"So what if I'm a support-type? I can use weapons! Didn't you use one today, too?"

"Fine, fine. I'll teach you once you find a blade better than mine. Happy now?"

"Hey, don't push me..."

Once Ning Rongrong was outside, Xia Ran shut the door hard.

"Phew..."

But just as he let out a breath of relief, Ning Rongrong's voice came through the door again.

"Don't you dare go back on your word! I'll have someone look for one tomorrow!"

"..."

Only after the hallway had gone completely quiet did Xia Ran loosen his belt and let his fingers relax.

That girl just had to make trouble at a time like this. Luckily, she hadn't noticed. Otherwise, Xia Ran really would have had to consider "silencing" her!

He circulated his Soul Power through several cycles to suppress the Evil Fire in his lower abdomen.

But as soon as he relaxed, the steamy scene from earlier came back to mind.

Those two snow-white mounds...