Keep This Up and I'll Start Screaming

On the roof of a towering building somewhere in Sword City stood three figures side by side. One was a pale, middle-aged man, tall and thin, with thick knuckles and a gloomy look in his eyes.

"Damn brat! How dare he treat our precious little Rongrong like that!"

"Hmph, Old Bone, how can you say that with a straight face? Rongrong's spoiled because you've pampered her." Beside him stood a white-haired young man with sharp brows and bright eyes, his expression cold.

"Old Sword Man, you've got some nerve saying that!" Bone Douluo's eyes widened, his already sunken eye sockets seeming to sink even deeper.

"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, please stop arguing. We're all responsible for Rongrong turning out this way." Standing between them, Ning Fengzhi shook his head with a wry smile.

Instead, that only made the two quarrelling Douluos turn their attention on him.

"Fengzhi, we could have stopped that brat before he made a move. Why did you stop me? How could we let our Rongrong suffer such humiliation?"

"Exactly, Fengzhi. If you don't give us a good explanation, Old Sword Man and I are going to have words with you today."

Ning Fengzhi felt a headache coming on as he faced the two Guardian Douluos, who were demanding an explanation.

Rongrong had once been a sweet, obedient little girl, but after just three years of being spoiled by these two, she'd turned into the Little Demoness she was now.

"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, Rongrong's been getting more and more spoiled over the years. This time, she even ran off without telling anyone. Letting her suffer a little isn't necessarily a bad thing."

"Hmph! She might as well not have suffered at all," Sword Douluo said with a cold snort.

"Oh? Old Sword Man, what do you mean by that?" Bone Douluo asked, unable to hold back after hearing Chen Xin's comment.

"Old Bone, Rongrong's always been quick-witted. Do you think she didn't know we were following her?" Sword Douluo Chen Xin said with a look of contempt.

Bone Douluo pursed his lips, annoyed, but couldn't think of anything to say in response. He turned away and fell silent.

"Then I really did miscalculate!" Ning Fengzhi realized it too.

If Ning Rongrong knew someone was secretly protecting her, then the supposed lesson of her trial wouldn't do much good.

Ning Fengzhi felt a little troubled. Having a daughter who was too clever could be a real nuisance!

"Speaking of which, that brat's technique for restraining Rongrong just now had some merit," Sword Douluo said, recalling Tang Yin's movements.

"Hmph! I'll teach that brat a proper lesson later." Bone Douluo's eyes narrowed slightly.

"What? You're a Titled Douluo, and you want to pick on a little kid who's a Level 23 Soul Grandmaster?" Chen Xin gave Bone Douluo a bemused look.

"Pick on him? I'm simply offering a junior a little guidance as an elder." Bone Douluo didn't look the least bit embarrassed.

"Damn it!"

Ning Fengzhi's sudden shout interrupted the two Douluos. They both turned to look at him.

Ning Fengzhi no longer looked like the refined gentleman he usually was. He seemed utterly flustered and furious.

Meanwhile, Tang Yin was breaking out in a cold sweat.

Tang Hao, you've done me dirty! You old bastard, you've done me dirty!

He stared at Ning Rongrong before him, feeling utterly helpless.

"What's your name?" Ning Rongrong's jade-green eyes shifted as she rubbed her chin and circled halfway around him, studying him.

"Lan Yin."

The stronger party called the shots. With his Soul Power completely suppressing him, Tang Yin could only do his best to placate the Little Demoness.

"Laaaan Yinnn." Ning Rongrong seemed to draw out the first syllable on purpose. She stared at Tang Yin, who couldn't move, with a teasing smile.

"What's the problem?" Tang Yin frowned. Something about Ning Rongrong had suddenly changed.

Ning Rongrong didn't answer his question. Instead, she brought up something else. "In the Soul Master World, every Soul Master has a Spirit Master Handbook. Where do you keep yours?"

As she spoke, Ning Rongrong rubbed her hands together and looked Tang Yin up and down.

Tang Yin's expression darkened.

The Spirit Master Handbook issued by Spirit Hall was essentially a continent-wide Soul Master ID, recognized by every Soul Master on the continent, as well as the Upper Three Sects, the two great empires, and many other forces. It served as both identification and proof that a Soul Master's status was legitimate.

Without a Spirit Master Handbook, a Soul Master could hardly take a step anywhere on Douluo Continent. Naturally, Tang Yin carried his with him.

Although he hadn't updated his handbook yet and it still listed him as Level 12, it clearly stated his Innate Soul Power, Martial Soul, name, date of birth, and birthplace.

This Little Demoness was trying to dox him!

"Hehe, here I come!" Ning Rongrong ignored Tang Yin's dark expression and actually planned to search him in public.

"Don't do anything stupid! Keep this up and I'll start screaming!"

"Go ahead! Scream all you like. Nobody would risk offending the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to save you, even if you screamed your lungs out!"

"Outrageous! Rongrong, what are you doing?"

Ning Fengzhi could feel his blood pressure rising.

His precious daughter had certainly given him a huge surprise today.

The daughter of the dignified Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was trying to search a man in public.

What kind of behavior was that?

"Rongrong, you've really gone too far this time. Your Sword Grandpa and I won't help you either!" Bone Douluo said, covering half his face with one hand. He couldn't bear to look.

Sword Douluo beside him gazed up at the sky and, for once, didn't argue with Old Bone.

"Dad, Sword Grandpa, Bone Grandpa, you finally showed up!" Ning Rongrong's lips curled up at Ning Fengzhi's scolding, revealing a look of triumph.

Ning Fengzhi shot Ning Rongrong a sharp glare, then looked toward a corner.

"Elder Liu, return to the sect first."

"Yes, Sect Master!" An elderly man with graying hair appeared from the corner. He cupped his hands to Ning Fengzhi, then left with the trembling maid.

As soon as the man was gone, Tang Yin felt his whole body loosen. At last, he was free to move again.

But he didn't relax at all. He could guess who the three people who had just appeared were.

He'd just collected the starter pack and left the beginner's village, only to run into a Level 90 boss after a few steps. If you knew, you knew.

"Young man, my daughter offended you just now. I'd like to apologize on her behalf." Ning Fengzhi was now the picture of grace and courtesy, without a trace of a sect leader's airs.

"Think nothing of it, Sect Master Ning. I also offended Miss Ning Rongrong just now, albeit unintentionally. I hope you won't hold it against me." Tang Yin finally felt a little relieved. At least it seemed his life wasn't in danger for now.

"Hmph! Brat, Rongrong made a mistake, and the Sect Master has already apologized to you. Now we need to talk about you stealing money and bullying Rongrong just now." Bone Douluo's sinister voice made Tang Yin's heart lurch just as he'd begun to relax.

So it wasn't going to be that easy to get off the hook!

Tang Yin looked at Ning Fengzhi. In the end, he was the one who got to decide.

"I think there may have been some misunderstandings between Rongrong and you, young man. Consider that money an apology to you. However..." Ning Fengzhi changed tack.

"You attacked my daughter without a word just now. We can't simply let that slide."

"Oh? Then what would you have me do, Sect Master Ning?" Tang Yin raised an eyebrow.

Ning Fengzhi smiled without replying. Bone Douluo spoke up beside him.

"Brat, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll suppress my Soul Power to Level 20 and won't use any Soul Skills. If you can last thirty seconds against me, I'll let you leave unharmed."

Tang Yin forced an ugly smile at Bone Douluo's words, but cursed him inwardly for shamelessness.

The old bastard made it sound so generous, suppressing his Soul Power to Level 20. But no matter how much a Titled Douluo held back, he'd still crush a Level 23 Soul Grandmaster like Tang Yin.

This was obviously just an excuse to beat him up. But there was nothing he could do except swallow the insult.

"I accept!"

"I don't agree!"