A Show of Both Stick and Carrot, Her Heart Secretly Yielded

The Shrek Seven Devils gathered in full, the setting sun casting long shadows over the group.

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar stood with heads bowed and ears pricked, their usual arrogance and slackness entirely vanished; Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing stood quietly by Lin Chen's side, their eyes filled with trust; only Ning Rongrong hung her head, her fingers twisting her skirt hem repeatedly, her heart full of grievance and frustration.

As the pampered daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she had lived a life of luxury surrounded by servants since childhood. She had never endured such restrictions, let alone lived in a crude wooden shack, managed her own daily affairs, and followed a grueling training regimen.

The three rules Lin Chen had just set were harsh in every word. She dared not defy them, but the spoiled young miss temper in her heart had not been completely suppressed. The look she cast at Lin Chen, aside from fear, held a trace of subtle, awkward resentment.

Lin Chen took in every change in her expression but did not immediately make an issue of it. He simply said calmly, "Get settled. Gather at the training grounds in half an hour to begin our first collective training session."

As his voice fell, the group dispersed, the boys and girls heading to their respective dormitories.

Ning Rongrong shuffled into the girls' dormitory. Looking at the empty wooden shack and the crude wooden bed, her nose soured, and her eyes instantly turned red.

She slumped against the bed, the more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt, and she couldn't help but sob softly.

Why?

Why could Lin Chen order her around? Why did she have to suffer in this dump? She was the young miss of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect; even after coming to Shrek, she should have been pampered by everyone!

But at the thought of the icy pressure Lin Chen had used to crush her earlier, she didn't dare to cry out loud. She could only cover her mouth, her shoulders trembling slightly, her heart filled with the misery of being away from home and a mix of fear and annoyance toward Lin Chen.

On the other side, after briefly settling in, Lin Chen did not head to the training grounds but walked straight toward the girls' dormitory.

He knew clearly that Ning Rongrong had been spoiled since childhood; relying solely on harsh suppression would only breed rebellion. To truly conquer her and win her heart, he had to balance severity with kindness. Unrelenting strength was for intimidation, but well-timed gentleness was the key to breaking through her defenses.

Outside the girls' dormitory, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were just about to go in to comfort Ning Rongrong. Seeing Lin Chen approach, both were startled.

"Brother Chen, why are you here? Rongrong, she..." Xiao Wu spoke softly, wanting to plead on Ning Rongrong's behalf.

"I know." Lin Chen nodded slightly, signaling them to wait, and pushed open the door to the girls' dormitory alone.

Inside, Ning Rongrong was still sobbing softly. Hearing footsteps, she assumed it was Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing and didn't even look up, muttering through her tears, "Leave me alone, I just feel wronged..."

There was no response, only steady footsteps approaching slowly.

Ning Rongrong's heart skipped a beat. She looked up instinctively, and upon seeing that the person standing before her was Lin Chen, she instantly stifled her sobs, hurriedly wiped her tears, and sat up straight in a panic. Her eyes darted away, her face turned pale, and her whole body tensed up.

"I... I wasn't crying, I just..." She scrambled to explain, terrified that Lin Chen would think she was being dramatic, violating the rules, and crush her again.

Looking at the young girl before him, her eyes and nose red, like a kitten that had been wronged but dared not make a sound, completely devoid of her usual arrogance, Lin Chen's tense expression softened slightly. His tone shed its previous chill, replaced by a calm warmth.

"The conditions here are indeed incomparable to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. It is normal for you to find it difficult to adapt at first."

Ning Rongrong looked up sharply, her eyes full of surprise.

She had expected Lin Chen to reprimand her, but she never imagined he would say such things. For a moment, she forgot how to react, simply staring blankly at Lin Chen.

The setting sun shone through the window lattice, casting a warm glow over Lin Chen. His usually cold and sharp features now held less pressure and more softness, and the aura that had once terrified her now seemed steady and reliable.

"But you must understand, the halo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can protect you for a while, but it cannot protect you for a lifetime." Lin Chen walked slowly to her side, his tone earnest, devoid of any preaching, offering only genuine guidance. "Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is a top-tier support spirit in the entire continent; your talent far exceeds that of ordinary people. But you have no combat power of your own. Once you leave the sect and your servants, if you encounter danger, you will be at the mercy of others."

"I set the rules for you to temper your physique not to make things difficult for you, but to ensure you possess the ability to protect yourself, to make you worthy of your own spirit, rather than being a flower hiding in a greenhouse for the rest of your life."

These words, without accusation or suppression, struck right at the heart of Ning Rongrong.

She had grown up accustomed to the doting praise of her sect and the flattery of others. No one had ever dared to speak to her like this, and no one had ever so bluntly pointed out her shortcomings while genuinely looking out for her.

Yu Xiaogang taught Tang San utilitarian theories, Flender valued her spirit talent, and Dai Mubai and the others were wary of her sect background. Only Lin Chen had seen through her arrogance and awakened her from her confusion—it was not about her status, but about her own self.

Ning Rongrong looked into Lin Chen's earnest eyes. The grievance in her heart gradually dissipated, replaced by a trace of panic, a touch of emotion, and a flutter she hadn't even realized herself.

She clutched the corner of her dress and spoke softly, her voice no longer arrogant but carrying a hint of softness and guilt: "I... I know I was wrong. I won't be willful anymore. I will train hard and won't ask for special treatment."

Seeing her completely drop her guard and take the initiative to admit her mistake, a faint smile curled the corners of Lin Chen's lips. He then took a translucent, glowing crystal from his robe and handed it to her.

This was a Spirit-Calming Stone he had kept from his own cultivation; it could soothe the mind and assist in cultivation, proving highly beneficial for support-type spirit masters.

"Take this. Keep it with you; it can calm your mind, assist in the circulation of spirit power, and help you adapt to the harsh training here more quickly."

Ning Rongrong looked at the Spirit-Calming Stone in front of her, then looked up at Lin Chen. Her eyes turned red again, but this time, it was not from grievance, but from being moved.

She had received countless rare treasures in her life, but not one had moved her as much as this small Spirit-Calming Stone.

The youth before her, at times fierce and sharp, intimidating everyone, at other times gentle and guiding, treating her with sincerity—despite being of similar age, he possessed a steadiness, strength, and sense of responsibility far beyond his peers. Unknowingly, he had completely shattered the defenses in her heart.

She carefully took the Spirit-Calming Stone. Her fingertips brushed against Lin Chen's fingers, and she recoiled as if electrocuted. A blush crept onto her cheeks, and she lowered her head, her voice as thin as a mosquito's hum: "Th-thank you, Lin Chen."

Seeing the girl's shy appearance, Lin Chen understood, though his expression remained calm. He said lightly, "Rest well, don't let it delay your subsequent training."

With that, he turned and walked out of the girls' dormitory, leaving Ning Rongrong alone. Clutching the Spirit-Calming Stone, her heart beat uncontrollably, her cheeks burning. As she watched Lin Chen's departing back, there was no longer any fear in her eyes, only deep admiration and a budding affection.

Outside, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing had witnessed the scene and exchanged knowing smiles.

Half an hour later, at the training grounds.

Lin Chen appeared on time, and the Shrek Seven Devils were all present, without a single absence.

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar stood by respectfully; Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing were all smiles; and Ning Rongrong stood in the ranks, her posture upright. Gone was her former arrogance and awkwardness. The look she cast at Lin Chen was full of shyness and obedience; she had completely put away her young miss temper.

More importantly, there was a hint of a young girl's secret feelings in her eyes, silently resting on Lin Chen, her heart already pledged to him.

Lin Chen stood before them, his aura fully unleashed, still the unshakable core of the team, though a trace of imperceptible softness flickered in his eyes when he looked at Ning Rongrong.

Through a balance of severity and kindness, the spoiled daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been completely won over, willing to follow him wherever he went.

"Today's training is to temper team coordination. Ning Rongrong, you lead the support; I will control the rhythm. Everyone, coordinate with full effort!"

"Yes!"

The group responded in unison. Ning Rongrong also lifted her small face, her eyes firm. She immediately activated her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and the seven-colored light spilled forth. Her support spirit power flowed steadily, following Lin Chen's rhythm perfectly throughout.

The sun set completely, night shrouded the training grounds, and the sounds of the youths' training echoed through the forest.