Sword Douluo Chen Xin walked at the front, his steps steady and powerful.
Ye Qingzhou followed behind Ye Shuyuan, quietly sizing up his surroundings.
Led by Chen Xin, Ye Qingzhou and the others passed one small hall after another, finally stopping in front of a magnificent main hall.
Looking at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's main hall before them, Chen Xin raised his head and said slowly, "We're here."
Ye Qingzhou, Ye Shuyuan, Luo Feng, Dugu Bo, and the others said nothing, waiting for Chen Xin's next move.
Chen Xin stepped forward and pushed open the main hall's doors.
The doors swung wide, and Chen Xin led Ye Qingzhou and the others inside.
Ye Qingzhou looked up. The hall's furnishings were luxurious without being gaudy.
The tables and chairs were made of golden-threaded nanmu, the floor tiles gleamed with golden light, and nine colored-glass palace lanterns hung from the vaulted ceiling, each one worth a fortune.
In the very center of the hall, a huge round table was laden with delicacies from land and sea. Just one glance was enough to whet anyone's appetite.
At the far end of the hall were three seats.
One in the middle, one on the left, and one on the right.
Each seat was engraved with its owner's name, and two people were already sitting in the middle and on the right.
The inscription on the middle seat read, "Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi."
Ning Fengzhi sat in his seat. He looked to be in his fifties, with an elegant face and a gentle smile on his lips. His whole presence was as warm and refreshing as a spring breeze.
The seat on the left belonged to "Sword Douluo Chen Xin," while the one on the right belonged to "Bone Douluo Gu Rong."
Besides the two of them,
two more figures sat on either side of the round table.
Yu Luomian of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Across from Yu Luomian sat a girl about Ye Qingzhou's age. She swung her legs back and forth beneath her chair.
The daughter Sect Master Ning Fengzhi had finally gotten after fathering more than a dozen sons—Ning Rongrong.
Hearing the main doors swing open, Ning Rongrong's bright, lively eyes turned toward the entrance.
She curiously sized up Ye Qingzhou as he walked in alongside her Sword Grandpa.
After observing him for only a few seconds, she curled her lip in disdain and looked away.
Ye Qingzhou paid her no mind, ignoring Ning Rongrong altogether.
Seeing Ye Shuyuan and Dugu Bo arrive, Yu Luomian rose and went to greet them.
"Medical Saint, Poison Douluo, I've long admired your reputations. I'm Yu Luomian of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Meeting you both today is truly an honor."
He had still told Yu Yuanzhen about Liu Erlong.
Yu Yuanzhen's response had been that his illegitimate daughter should deal with the trouble she'd gotten herself into, but he could use his connections to help—namely, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, second among the Upper Three Sects.
After exchanging some intelligence useful to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi had agreed to help him.
He had specially invited the two Titled Douluo over by hosting a banquet.
Whether he succeeded or not was entirely up to him.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could only do this much for him.
Even with two powerful figures like Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong holding down the fort, they still didn't dare casually offend a Titled Douluo.
Especially when those two Titled Douluo were Ye Shuyuan and Dugu Bo.
Looking at Yu Luomian's obsequious smile, Ye Shuyuan could hardly miss his little scheme.
"Mr. Yu, you're too kind. I'd heard long ago that the Soul Masters of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan possess a dragon's pride."
"Seeing it for myself is worth more than hearing about it a hundred times. We old fellows certainly got a taste of it a few days ago."
Yu Luomian's smile gradually stiffened. What was he hinting at? It was hard to guess. He waved a hand and said, "Not at all, not at all. A dragon's pride is nothing worth mentioning. In the end, strength is what counts."
The moment Yu Luomian and Ye Shuyuan began speaking, the atmosphere around them turned awkward.
Ning Rongrong, seated in her chair, wasn't listening to the adults' conversation at all.
If her old father hadn't forced her to stay here today, she would've run off long ago to have fun with her little lackeys in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
She reached out, picked up a grape nearby, peeled it, and popped it into her mouth.
Ning Fengzhi rose from his seat and stepped between Ye Shuyuan and Yu Luomian, smiling as he eased the tension.
"Medical Saint, Poison Douluo, it's been so long. Fengzhi has missed you both dearly."
His gaze settled on Ye Qingzhou, who was looking around. "This little friend must be Mr. Ye's grandson, Ye Qingzhou."
"You certainly live up to your reputation. With such bearing, you're sure to achieve great things someday."
Luo Feng, standing behind Ye Qingzhou, casually bonked him on the head.
Ye Qingzhou covered his head and rubbed it, glaring at Luo Feng before greeting Ning Fengzhi.
"Sect Master Ning, you flatter me. I'm Ye Qingzhou. It's an honor to meet you, Sect Master Ning."
"He has a good temperament, too." Ning Fengzhi turned and looked at Ning Rongrong, who was sitting in her chair eating grapes. "And this is my daughter, Ning Rongrong. Rongrong, come over and say hello."
Hearing her old father call her, Ning Rongrong swallowed her last grape and went over to Ye Shuyuan and the others, performing the special greeting reserved for direct-line members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect when receiving guests.
Her gaze swept over Ye Shuyuan and the others, and she spoke softly and politely.
"Medical Saint, Poison Douluo, and..."
The moment she looked at Luo Feng, Ning Rongrong froze a little.
She'd never seen this person before, whether by title or appearance.
Following Ning Rongrong's gaze, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, Bone Douluo Gu Rong, and Yu Luomian only then noticed the fourth person, who shouldn't have been there.
Luo Feng smiled and replied, "Luo Feng. Just call me Luo Feng. I'm Ye Qingzhou's father."
After learning Luo Feng's identity, the confusion on Ning Rongrong's and the others' faces vanished.
Once the introductions were over, Ning Fengzhi arranged seats for Ye Qingzhou and the others in turn.
Ning Fengzhi sat at the head of the round table.
Chen Xin and Gu Rong sat on either side of Ning Fengzhi.
Ye Shuyuan and Luo Feng sat behind Chen Xin, while Dugu Bo and Yu Luomian sat behind Gu Rong.
As for the two children, Ye Qingzhou and Ning Rongrong, they sat at the very end. Ning Fengzhi had deliberately placed them beside each other.
Sitting at the head of the table, Ning Fengzhi smiled and said, "Come, come, let's eat first. If we don't, the food will get cold."
"We can discuss anything important after a few rounds of drinks."
At Ning Fengzhi's words, Ye Shuyuan and the others began eating in turn after he picked up his chopsticks.
As Ye Qingzhou ate, he watched everyone's reactions from the corner of his eye.
Yu Luomian seemed focused on his food, but his eyes kept cautiously darting toward Ye Shuyuan and Luo Feng.
Everyone else really did seem to be focused on eating.
As for Ning Rongrong beside him, she acted like a typical child.
Not worth paying attention to.
Ning Rongrong glanced at Ye Qingzhou and gave a soft huff.
So this guy wasn't anything special after all. He was miles behind the others.
If not for being the grandson of a Titled Douluo, how could he ever have gotten into their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
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