The Empress Dowager Magnanimously Accepts Ning Tian, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect Submits

Aren't you jealous?

"Why are you jealous?" Zhu Lu scoffed. "Having someone else to help you makes things easier for me. Besides, I'm not blind to Ning Tian's feelings for you."

Dai Huabin smiled and said, "Then come talk to me tomorrow."

Zhu Lu nodded. "I was planning to go anyway."

Ice Empress's voice came from the next room; it could be heard clearly even through the walls.

"Could you please keep your voice down? Some people are trying to sleep."

Then came Snow Empress's gentle voice. "Bing'er, stop making noise, close the window."

Dai Huabin shook his head and put down his teacup.

There's still room for discussion tomorrow.

Ning Qiushui is a shrewd person and will not be satisfied with just an empty promise like "I'll give it to you when the time comes".

She will definitely ask for details: When to go? How to get there? What kind of cooperation is needed?

He already had the answers to these questions in his heart.

But right now, there's something else that concerns him more than the Aromatic Silk Beauty.

He saw something in the treasure pavilion of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.

Ning Tian mentioned it briefly during his introduction, but Dai Huabin remembered that location.

If they could get their hands on that item, it would be of great help to Zhu Lu's fifth Soul Ring.

"Tomorrow." Dai Huabin turned off the light and lay down on the bed.

Zhu Lu lay down beside him, leaning closer as usual.

What's going on tomorrow?

"Tomorrow, I need to make Ning Qiushui bleed a little more."

Zhu Lu chuckled softly, "You're really not being polite."

"It's business," Dai Huabin said, closing his eyes. "She wants the future of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda; I want what I want. A fair trade."

A night breeze slipped through the window cracks, causing the lid of the teacup on the table to rattle softly.

Ning Qiushui was still awake.

She sat in the sect leader's study, a yellowed ancient book spread out in front of her. It recorded the entire process of Ning Rongrong's Martial Soul transformation after consuming the Aromatic Silk Beauty ten thousand years ago.

"The Aromatic Silk Beauty ..." Ning Qiushui murmured to herself, her fingers tracing the words on the ancient book.

It's been ten thousand years.

For ten thousand years, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect sent out countless spies, offered astronomical sums of gold coins as rewards, and even negotiated with the Soul Beast of the Star Dou Great Forest, but they still couldn't find a second one.

A twelve-year-old boy told her that he knew where it was.

Ning Qiushui closed the ancient book and leaned back in her chair.

If it's true...

She closed her eyes.

If it were true, she would be willing to marry Ning Tian to him, or even give herself to him.

Early morning.

Dai Huabin opened his eyes and turned his head to look at Zhu Lu, who was still fast asleep beside him. She lay quietly, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow on her face, her breathing steady.

He leaned down and gently kissed her forehead.

Zhu Lu's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes, her dark pupils still showing a hint of sleepiness.

"Awake?" Dai Huabin's voice was very soft.

"Mmm," Zhu Lu responded, snuggling closer to him and finding a comfortable position.

Did you sleep well last night?

"I sleep well whenever you're by my side." Zhu Lu's voice had a slightly languid nasal tone.

She looked up at Dai Huabin's chin and suddenly said, "With Sister Xiaotao gone, you're feeling a bit empty around me again. I think it's time to find you a few more sisters to help me out."

Dai Huabin was taken aback, then chuckled, "What are you talking about? You make it sound like I'm some kind of hot potato."

Isn't that so?

Zhu Lu sat up, her long black hair sliding down her shoulders.

"You're quite the ladies' man. If I don't keep an eye on you and help you win over a few reliable women, who will I complain to if some unknown woman gets ahead of me?"

She said it half seriously and half jokingly.

Dai Huabin pinched her cheek. "Don't worry, no one can take your position away from me."

He paused, then added with a smile:

"But if you really don't mind, you might have a lot of sisters in the future."

Zhu Lu her eyes at him, exuding charm.

"More would be better, then we can have several tables for playing cards later."

The two joked around in bed for a while before getting up to wash up.

The breakfast at the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was extremely lavish, with a long table laden with all sorts of exquisite breakfast dishes, filled with spiritual energy.

Di Lingxi held a golden bun in one hand and stuffed a piece of pastry into her mouth with the other, her cheeks bulging from eating.

Ice Empress sat next to her, then moved away with a look of disgust.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you."

Dai Huabin placed a crystal shrimp dumpling on Zhu Lu's plate, Zhu Lu naturally opened her mouth to accept it, a faint smile on her face.

This scene, witnessed by Wu Feng not far away, made her feel a tightness in her chest.

She held a bowl of spirit rice porridge, sipping it slowly, but her gaze kept drifting towards Ning Tian.

Ning Tian was talking to Snow Empress with his head down, his profile appearing exceptionally gentle in the morning light.

Wu Feng suddenly felt envious.

She also wanted to be like Ning Tian, having him set the table for her in the morning and watch her eat.

But she couldn't.

She was Ning Tian's bodyguard and best friend, but she could never cross that line.

And Dai Huabin...

Wu Feng's gaze fell back on Dai Huabin, this time with a hint of scrutiny and resentment.

What makes this man so special that he has won the young master's favor?

Just because he knew the whereabouts of Aromatic Silk Beauty?

Just because he's talented?

After breakfast, Ning Qiushui sent someone to invite them.

The location was still the Purple Cloud Hall from last night.

This time, there were only four people in the hall.

Ning Qiushui, Ning Tian, Dai Huabin, and Zhu Lu.

As Ning Tian's guard, Wu Feng stood outside the door with his back straight, but his ears involuntarily perked up, trying to hear what was happening inside.

"Huabin, Zhu Lu, please sit down." Ning Qiushui's attitude was even more enthusiastic than yesterday, with a perfectly timed smile on her face.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu took their seats.

Ning Qiushui personally poured tea for the two of them before sitting down in the main seat.

"After a night of consideration, I've discussed it with several elders within the sect," Ning Qiushui said bluntly. "My suggestion from last night still stands."

She looked at Dai Huabin and said sincerely, "As long as you can help Xiaotian complete his Martial Soul Evolution, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect is willing to offer our utmost sincerity."

She didn't mention the marriage alliance again, but the meaning behind her words was self-evident.

Dai Huabin picked up the teacup, but didn't drink it; he simply rubbed the rim of the cup gently.

He didn't speak, but instead turned his gaze to Zhu Lu beside him.

This subtle movement startled both Ning Qiushui and Ning Tian.

Ning Qiushui, being the kind of person she was, instantly understood Dai Huabin's meaning.

He left the decision to Zhu Lu.

A ripple of emotion stirred within Ning Qiushui as she re-examined the seemingly docile and quiet black-haired girl before her.

It seems that her status in this small group is higher than she imagined.

Zhu Lu felt Dai Huabin's gaze and also noticed Ning Qiushui and her daughter's stares.

She put down her teacup, the bottom of which made a crisp, light sound as it struck the table.

She raised her head and looked at Ning Qiushui, her face still bearing that calm and gentle expression.

"We appreciate Sect Master Ning's kindness."

Zhu Lu's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire Purple Cloud Hall.

"Ning Tian is a wonderful girl; her family background and character are both excellent. It's Huabin's good fortune to have won her favor."

Ning Tian's cheeks flushed slightly upon hearing this, and he lowered his head.

Zhu Lu changed the subject and continued:

"If Ning Tian is willing, then we will be family from now on. As her older sister, I will naturally treat her well and never let her suffer any injustice."

Upon hearing this, Ning Qiushui finally calmed down.

It's done!

Zhu Lu's words not only accepted Ning Tian, but also directly positioned Ning Tian as her "younger sister".

This is both an affirmation and a clarification of priorities.

Zhu Lu possesses such composure and magnanimity, and can speak so flawlessly—something Ning Qiushui herself couldn't have done in her youth.

"Good! Good!" Ning Qiushui said "good" twice, her smile no longer able to be hidden. "With you saying that, I'm relieved!"

She stood up from her seat and bowed respectfully to Dai Huabin.

"Huabin, from this day forward, our Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will follow your lead!"

This statement resonated deeply.

This means that, from this moment on, the number one support sect on the mainland is completely bound to Dai Huabin's chariot.

Wu Feng was outside the door, stiffened upon hearing this.

Wu Feng knew that the situation was hopeless.

Her best fate might be to become a maidservant in her dowry.