Master, I've Understood

The Dream Realm is said to be a cycle, but it does not require one to live out an entire lifetime.

Just like with Izanami, once the objective is achieved, it can be closed.

Zhu Zhuqing held Ning Rongrong's hand as they walked toward the designated exit; sensorially, it felt as though they had been walking for a very, very long time.

When they opened their eyes again, the sky remained the same, which left both Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing feeling somewhat disoriented.

After steadying herself, Zhu Zhuqing realized she was not beside Chen An, but next to Ning Rongrong. While she was still dazed, Ning Rongrong threw herself into a hug, sobbing.

"Senior Sister, QAQ."

The sight of the young girl on the verge of tears was most moving, and Zhu Zhuqing instinctively patted Ning Rongrong on the back.

Tsk, this scene is truly wonderful. I imagine Ning Rongrong won't dare to be so arrogant in the future, and it even strengthened the bond between the disciples.

Not bad, really not bad.

"Alright now, Master is still watching."

Zhu Zhuqing said softly while continuing to pat Ning Rongrong.

Hearing this, Ning Rongrong slowly composed herself, though the expression on her face remained somewhat haggard—what one might call maturity.

"Master."

Ning Rongrong tidied her expression, though her face could not hide a sense of guilt; in the Dream Realm, she had done quite a few things that wronged Chen An.

Chen An smiled without saying much. He could be considered a blunt man, and he didn't really know how to comfort girls.

He simply spoke from the perspective of a teacher.

"Not bad, you regained your senses in half an hour."

It was not convenient for him to say whether it was real or fake, but at least the general trajectory of the events inside was modified by him based on the original plot.

"Zhuqing, take her back to the dormitory to rest first. I still have some matters to attend to."

Seeing that Ning Rongrong had recovered a bit, Chen An spoke up.

As they were about to leave, something crossed Ning Rongrong's mind, and she hurriedly asked.

"Master, I would like to ask, were the events in the illusion real?"

In the Dream Realm, she had personally experienced the decline of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As the place that gave birth to her and raised her, and where her blood relatives resided, she had always been deeply concerned.

Chen An fell silent, contemplating how to answer this question.

If he said it would happen, he had no evidence; if he said it wouldn't, that was exactly how the plot was unfolding.

Martial Soul Hall would inevitably strike at the three great sects; after all, it concerned the Spirit Hall Empire's plan for unification.

"Do you think Martial Soul Hall and the other powers will remain at peace forever?"

Now it was Ning Rongrong's turn to be silent, and even Zhu Zhuqing beside her fell into deep thought.

With their level of insight, they could naturally understand what Chen An meant.

If they tried to argue against it, the words wouldn't come; even they felt such a thought was naive.

"You shouldn't be considering this problem right now. This is a matter for adults to worry about; your primary task is to become stronger."

Chen An hadn't originally intended to be so blunt, but he feared they might go down the wrong path if he didn't speak up.

After he finished, both girls gained some understanding, but it didn't seem like the right time to say more; the more one says, the greater the chance of error.

"Think it over carefully after you go back."

He had never been one for strong control, and even now that he was a teacher, he upheld the mindset of letting the children develop freely.

Watching the two children leave, he departed as well; there was so much to do today.

Although he had arranged things in advance, he was still incredibly busy, and now he had to go oversee the new student enrollment.

Back in the dormitory, both Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong had things on their minds.

Earlier, both Zhu Zhuqing and Luo Xiaoshi had moved dorms, and seeing that Ning Rongrong had practically finished her apprenticeship, Zhu Zhuqing had generously invited her to share a room.

"Senior Sister, I have some worries."

The two were lost in their own thoughts in the dormitory, the atmosphere heavy and stifling, until Ning Rongrong finally broke the silence.

Perhaps influenced by the Dream Realm, she subconsciously felt a sense of reliance on Zhu Zhuqing.

"I'm struggling with whether or not to tell my family about certain things."

After this incident, she intended to write a letter home, but she hesitated over whether to mention that Martial Soul Hall would go to war with the world.

Zhu Zhuqing recalled the story she had just seen and understood what Ning Rongrong was talking about.

She was actually also wondering whether she should inform the Zhu Family over in Star Dou.

It was the same sentiment: it was the place that gave birth to her and raised her, so she still held some lingering affection.

However, her thoughts cleared relatively quickly, and by the time Ning Rongrong asked, she had already decided not to write it.

"I believe Master wouldn't care if you mentioned it, but if you write it truthfully, your family will certainly come over in a great rage."

Zhu Zhuqing calmly analyzed the situation for Ning Rongrong.

She then continued to explain to Ning Rongrong.

"Even if we spoke up now, it wouldn't change anything; you and I are still only Soul Grand Masters."

Once this was said, Ning Rongrong began to understand.

That was true; they were both only Soul Grand Masters, and on the battlefield, they would be nothing more than cannon fodder, let alone facing a behemoth like the Martial Soul Hall.

However, thinking of the flaws in her own martial soul, Ning Rongrong sighed and said.

"But, Senior Sister, I could never have the ability to change the battlefield."

No one in the history of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had ever been able to break through to level eighty; it was rumored that the pagoda itself could not contain an eighth soul ring.

"Don't be discouraged; when the time comes, Master will help you solve it."

Zhu Zhuqing smiled when she heard this; in her eyes, there was nothing Chen An could not accomplish.

Ning Rongrong was very puzzled, her little face filled with doubt, as she questioned Zhu Zhuqing's blind faith in their master.

Seeing this expression, Zhu Zhuqing patiently explained.

"Do you remember that senior brother who caused a scene at the gates of Shrek?"

Ning Rongrong nodded, not understanding why she had suddenly brought up Luo Xiaoshi.

"He joined on the same day as me; he was level 13 back then, and in one year, he cultivated to level 21."

These words already surprised Ning Rongrong; eight levels in one year could be considered a gifted talent.

"He had the Stone Monkey martial soul at the time, so logically, he shouldn't have had very high achievements, right?"

Zhu Zhuqing was following Ning Rongrong's line of thinking to illustrate the fact.

After she nodded in response again, Zhu Zhuqing continued.

"But he has now evolved into a Spirit Stone Monkey, and his second soul ring is over nine hundred years old."

Presenting this fact after the buildup made it even more shocking.

"But isn't the limit for a second soul ring...?"

"I asked Master the same thing back then, but he said..."

She briefly recounted what Chen An had said at the time, which still gave Ning Rongrong quite a fright.

"So, Senior Brother became so powerful all because of Master?"

"Yes."

"Then, what about you, Senior Sister?"

The young girl's train of thought was diverted by other matters, but before she could finish, Zhu Zhuqing said with a hint of playfulness.

"It's a secret."

As she spoke, she placed her index finger to Ning Rongrong's lips in a gesture for silence.

"Wow, Senior Sister, that's so mean."

After a moment of inexplicable bickering, the two girls began to play around, which actually made Ning Rongrong feel much better.

"(^▽^)"

Once they settled down, Ning Rongrong began to write a letter home.

"Seeing these words is like seeing my face..."

Zhu Zhuqing had no habit of peeking, so she waited quietly on the side, watching Ning Rongrong's beautiful little face.

Having this junior sister is really not bad at all.

Ning Rongrong wrote rapidly, reporting her whereabouts, the things that had happened, and sending greetings to her father and her two grandfathers.

She also included a note for her father to be more vigilant regarding outside forces in the sect's management; naturally, she did not mention Chen An, writing instead that it was based on what she had seen and heard on her journey.

"Senior Sister, I'm done writing. Would you like to accompany me to mail the letter?"

Zhu Zhuqing was slightly stunned; if this had been a few hours ago, this certainly would not have happened.

But now, she felt that this feeling was truly wonderful, and she smiled as she said.

"Alright."

And so, Ning Rongrong linked arms with Zhu Zhuqing and they headed out together.