Zhao Wuji: I'll Survive, Won't I?

"Teacher, did we pass?"

Zhu Zhuqing pointed at the burned-out incense and asked Zhao Wuji. With Ning Rongrong's intervention, she was the least injured of the four.

"We passed, we passed."

Zhao Wuji replied casually. He didn't want to stick around, so he turned to Dai Mubai.

"Mubai, arrange accommodations for these four new students. Classes start tomorrow. Don't touch the weapons on the ground. Wait until Tang San wakes up and let him clean them up himself."

With that, Zhao Wuji turned and left.

Dai Mubai looked at the mess strewn across the ground and shook his head. He walked toward Zhu Zhuqing, but she was still exchanging concerned words with Ning Rongrong. The moment he approached, Zhu Zhuqing glared him back with a murderous look.

In theory, Ning Rongrong was injured, while Zhu Zhuqing hadn't really been hurt. He couldn't very well say anything, and there were still two people on the ground anyway.

"Oscar, carry Xiao Wu back. I'll carry Tang San."

"Huh? Oh!"

In the dead of night, at Zhao Wuji's residence.

Zhao Wuji had just changed his clothes and was still thinking about how to train Tang San from now on.

"Zhao Wuji."

A sudden voice sounded beside his ear. As a Level 76 Soul Saint, his perception was exceptionally keen, but he couldn't sense anyone within range.

"Who?"

Zhao Wuji sprang to his feet and asked in alarm.

"Come out."

A killing intent locked onto him. Zhao Wuji broke out in a cold sweat, readied himself for battle, and went outside.

Whoosh!

He had only just stepped outside. Before his Soul Rings could even light up, a flying sword had already plunged into the wall beside him.

Across from him, a figure approached, with white hair and beard, dressed in a snow-white robe and carrying a sheathed sword.

This man was well known throughout the continent. Just from his silhouette, Zhao Wuji knew the answer—

Sword Douluo, Chen Xin.

Chen Xin had been keeping track of Ning Rongrong's aura all along. Not long ago, he discovered that she had actually been seriously injured, so he rushed over from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect at once. After tracking down Zhao Wuji, he'd waited for the dead of night, ready to give him a thorough lesson.

"Do you know what you did wrong?"

Zhao Wuji trembled all over.

"I know, I know! I'll definitely..."

He bowed and apologized, but Chen Xin's killing intent didn't let up.

A few days earlier, Chen Xin and the others had watched Ning Rongrong leave the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but Ning Fengzhi had stopped him and Gu Rong.

"Rongrong probably needs to go out and get some experience before she'll learn to behave."

That was what Ning Fengzhi had said. For Rongrong's sake, he and Gu Rong hadn't interfered.

But! They couldn't just let it slide if something happened to Ning Rongrong.

"Haha, Your Excellency, you see, it was all a misunderstanding—"

Flender could no longer sit by. Afraid that if he came any later Zhao Wuji would be sent flying to the heavens, he hurried out ahead of time.

"Zhao Wuji lost control. It was an accident, and your esteemed daughter came through it safe and sound, didn't she? Your Excellency can go see for yourself."

"I already have."

Chen Xin had confirmed long ago that Ning Rongrong was fine, though he did find it strange. But wasn't there always something strange happening to Ning Rongrong? He'd gotten used to it.

"In that case, Your Excellency, could you do me a small favor?"

Chen Xin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"But I have one condition."

Chen Xin looked at Zhao Wuji.

"I won't use my Martial Soul. Zhao Wuji, last one incense stick's time in a fight with me, and I'll let you off."

Ten breaths later, Zhao Wuji lay on the ground, screaming.

Chen Xin brushed the dust from his hands and turned to Flender.

Flender pointed at himself, a little surprised.

"Did you need something from me too?"

"The sect master asked me to pass on a message: you're to be strict when disciplining Rongrong... Don't pretend you don't understand."

Flender nodded.

So he had to be strict, but not too strict, either!

"Good. You understand."

Chen Xin stepped aside, satisfied.

Flender found it a little odd, but then he understood.

Chen Xin's appearance had been unexpected in the first place.

His real purpose today was—

"Zhao Wuji, get up. I won't use my Martial Soul. Last one incense stick's time against me."

Right, this was the black-clad man, Clear Sky Douluo. It was obvious who he'd come for: Tang San.

Zhao Wuji lay on the ground, looking at yet another black-clad Titled Douluo who'd shown up. Regret washed over him.

If only he'd known, he would've let Dai Mubai deal with them.

Another round of screams rang out.

After Tang Hao had vented his anger, Flender dragged Zhao Wuji away.

Zhao Wuji was so weak he couldn't even manage to complain, "Flender, why'd you leave me out there?"

Tang Hao walked toward the depths of the forest, but Chen Xin stopped him.

"Wait."

"So that's why Sword Brother stayed nearby. Did you need something from me?"

"Since the Holy God incident, the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall have formed an alliance again. Everyone can accept your return..."

"Are you here to persuade me?" Tang Hao stopped and turned to face Chen Xin. "The Holy God incident... was nothing but Spirit Hall worrying that its rule would be disrupted. Hah, calling the killing of a genius an incident to purge a calamity—the Holy God incident. That's just like them. But what does that have to do with me? My relationship with them ended in a fight to the death long ago."

"Very well."

Chen Xin nodded and turned to leave. Tang Hao left as well.

On this quiet night, no one could have guessed what had happened, except...

Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong was sleepy, but Lu Ma wasn't.

In no hurry to log off, he controlled Ning Rongrong and sneaked out, running to Suotuo City to open a bunch of chests and unlock a bunch of teleportation points.

He'd accumulated 14 bottles of Experience Potion in his inventory, along with 5 Holy Soul Coins.

He happened to witness this scene on his way back. It was pretty much what he'd expected.

Of course, he'd only seen the two figures. He had no idea what the Holy God incident was about.

He went to bed, and after a cutscene, dawn arrived.

Ning Rongrong woke up early, but Zhu Zhuqing had woken up even earlier.

In fact, she hadn't slept at all. All night, she'd been wondering why her roommate had sneaked out, and why she'd come back looking so excited. What had she experienced outside?

Zhu Zhuqing couldn't figure it out. Having fled here from the Star Luo Empire, she knew nothing besides cultivation.

So she stopped thinking about it and began cultivating.

A while later, Ning Rongrong woke up too. She climbed out of bed with practiced ease, stared at Xiao Wu for a bit, then quietly left.

Zhu Zhuqing's thoughts were thrown into disarray.

Why stare at her and not me?

She couldn't figure it out. She cultivated even faster; only by keeping herself busy could she settle down.

As soon as he stepped outside, Lu Ma noticed a middle-aged man wearing square-framed glasses.

The man was practically blocking the doorway. He was hard to miss.

"Ning Rongrong, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Flender, the dean of this academy, and a Level 78 Soul Saint."

Ning Rongrong looked the man over from head to toe, then nodded. He looked much like the Flender she remembered, so he was probably the genuine article.

"Dean, what do you need?"

"It's like this: you're already Level 30, so you're missing a Soul Beast, right?"

Ning Rongrong nodded hesitantly.

"Normally, students at our academy train together for a while before going to hunt Soul Beasts together and build teamwork. But that would take too long. Since you've already enrolled, I plan to have you go hunt a Soul Beast on your own first."