Boys Need to Protect Themselves When They Go Out

Gu Rong's withered face displayed an incredibly colorful expression, shifting from astonishment to annoyance, and finally to a pitiful gaze directed at Ning Fengzhi, attempting to salvage the situation: "Fengzhi, this... I..."

"Uncle Bone," Ning Fengzhi interrupted with a smile, his tone gentle yet indisputable, "Besides, Uncle Sword's temperament is more steady, and the sect truly has matters recently that require you to personally hold the fort."

Chen Xin crossed his arms over his chest. His cold, aloof face showed no particular expression, yet the slightly upturned corners of his mouth and the "victor's" glint in his eyes as he swept a glance toward Gu Rong betrayed his mood. He gave a slight nod: "Sect Master, rest assured."

Gu Rong was completely deflated. He cast a resentful look at Ning Rongrong, then glared fiercely at Chen Xin, finally letting out a long sigh: "Sigh... Rongrong, listen to your Sword Grandpa on the road, don't run around, watch your safety..." He rambled on, looking exactly like a worried grandfather sending his granddaughter off on a long journey.

Ning Rongrong nodded perfunctorily: "I know, I know! Bone Grandpa, you must take care to rest when you return to the sect!" As she spoke, she couldn't wait to run to Tang Yin's side, tugging at his sleeve: "Let's hurry and set off!"

Tang Yin sighed helplessly and bowed to Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong in farewell: "Sect Master Ning, Senior Bone Douluo, this junior takes his leave."

Ning Fengzhi smiled and nodded, his gaze shifting to Ning Rongrong as he said softly: "Rongrong, once you reach Heaven Dou City, remember to see your senior brother first and deliver the letter to him."

"I know, Daddy!"

Gu Rong was still standing there watching them with longing eyes. Ning Fengzhi patted his shoulder: "Uncle Bone, it is time for us to return as well."

Chen Xin had already walked to Ning Rongrong's side and said indifferently to Tang Yin: "Let's go."

The three figures soon disappeared at the exit of the valley.

Ning Fengzhi watched the direction they departed in, the gentle smile on his face gradually fading, a trace of profound contemplation flashing in his eyes.

"Fengzhi, are you really at ease letting that Old Sword Man take Rongrong alone? That brat..." Gu Rong leaned in, still feeling somewhat disgruntled.

Ning Fengzhi, however, ignored Gu Rong's nagging and instead sounded a bit reproachful: "Uncle Bone! Rongrong has grown up. In the future, she must become the next Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. You shouldn't continue to spoil her like this."

The journey to Heaven Dou City was far more "lively" than Tang Yin had imagined.

With Ning Rongrong, the little heiress, present, there was naturally no need to trek over mountains and through rivers like ordinary travelers.

After leaving the canyon and returning to Sword City, Tang Yin, Rongrong, and Chen Xin returned to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's branch in Sword City to arrange a luxurious carriage. Even the horses possessed a trace of soul beast bloodline, capable of traveling a thousand miles a day.

Inside the carriage, Ning Rongrong and Tang Yin sat on opposite sides, with Sword Douluo sitting in the center.

"Rongrong, are you still angry at Sword Grandpa?" Chen Xin abandoned his usual cold demeanor, his words filled with attempts to appease her.

"Sword Grandpa didn't do anything wrong, did he? How would Rongrong dare to be angry at Sword Grandpa?" Ning Rongrong, however, showed no appreciation. She crossed her arms and turned her face to the side, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"In the end, Bone Grandpa still loves me the most!"

"Nonsense, I absolutely love you more than that Old Bone!" Upon hearing Ning Rongrong mention Gu Rong again, Chen Xin felt his teeth itch with irritation. It felt as if two students had agreed to be slackers, only for that old fellow Gu Rong to secretly attend tutoring sessions and get praised by Teacher Ning Rongrong for scoring high marks.

How could this be allowed?

Thinking of this, Chen Xin glanced at Tang Yin, who was meditating with his eyes closed beside them, and an idea struck him. He had to sow discord against that old fellow; rather than working hard to improve his own favorability in Rongrong's heart, suppressing others was far more immediate in its effect.

"Rongrong, you don't know, but this time when you snuck out, it was Old Bone who discovered it first and tattled on you..."

Several days later, a towering pass appeared on the horizon.

The walls of the pass rose high into the clouds, constructed from massive obsidian, the surface covered in mottled marks left by war.

On both sides of the pass were continuous, steep mountain ranges that even birds found difficult to cross, acting like a natural chasm that severed the northern and southern lands.

Above the gate, three iron-drawn, silver-hooked characters could be seen clearly even from a distance—Jialing Pass.

"Brother Lan Yin, this is Jialing Pass."

Inside the carriage, to the sight of Chen Xin's darkened expression, Ning Rongrong was currently sitting on one side with Tang Yin, introducing it to him through the window: "This is the most important gateway in the south of the Heaven Dou Empire, a throat for north-south traffic. It is guarded by heavy troops year-round, and there are even soul master legions stationed here. We must undergo strict inspections to enter the pass, let's get off the carriage!"

After saying this, Ning Rongrong pulled Tang Yin's arm and stepped out of the carriage.

"So this is Jialing Pass!" Looking at the site of the final divine battle in the original story, Tang Yin felt an indescribable sensation.

Approaching the pass, one could feel its majesty and murderous aura even more intensely. Banners fluttered on the hundred-zhang-high city walls, and soldiers clad in bright armor patrolled back and forth with sharp gazes. The massive city gates were wide open, but people, carriages, and horses entering and exiting all had to undergo rigorous checks, resulting in a long queue.

At the city gate, a squad of fierce-looking soul masters, dressed in uniform dark red leather armor with a crossed sword-and-shield emblem on their chests, was particularly eye-catching.

Their gazes were like lightning, scanning every person entering the pass, and the faint fluctuations of soul power emanating from their bodies indicated that they were at least Soul Elders.

"It's the Martial Soul Hall's Knights Order," Sword Douluo Chen Xin came to their side, his voice flat, revealing no emotion.

"Hmph, detestable Martial Soul Hall!" Influenced by Ning Fengzhi since childhood, Ning Rongrong naturally did not like the Martial Soul Hall.

Especially since she had heard some rumors about Bishop Salas when she once visited Heaven Dou City, she had even less affection for the Martial Soul Hall.

Tang Yin naturally understood the implications. As the most powerful soul master organization on the continent, its tentacles had long since infiltrated every aspect of the empire.

In a strategic location like Jialing Pass, the Martial Soul Hall would naturally want a hand in it. Nominally, they were assisting the empire with defense, but in reality...

"Brother Lan Yin, what do you think of the Martial Soul Hall?" Ning Rongrong suddenly asked Tang Yin, and even Chen Xin, who had been ignoring him along the way, looked at him at this moment.

"I don't have much of an opinion?" Tang Yin shook his head: "After all, I am a commoner from a small village and don't understand the relationships between the major powers. I only know that my martial soul was awakened by the Martial Soul Hall, and I also receive a Gold Soul Coin subsidy from them every month."

"This is the manifestation of the Martial Soul Hall's ambition." Chen Xin was not surprised by Tang Yin's words; it wasn't just Tang Yin—the vast majority of commoner soul masters on the Douluo Continent thought much like him.

"The Martial Soul Hall awakens martial souls for commoner soul masters purely to buy hearts and recruit talent. As for the monthly subsidies for soul masters, the money is originally allocated by the empire; the Martial Soul Hall is merely borrowing flowers to offer to Buddha."

After all, since this was someone Ning Rongrong valued, Chen Xin felt it necessary to correct Tang Yin's thinking.

"Oh, so that's how it is!" Tang Yin feigned surprise, as if he had been awakened by a kind person after being deceived.

When he lacked strength, Tang Yin would naturally not be foolish enough to reveal his true thoughts to outsiders.

"Sword Grandpa is right. Brother Lan Yin, let me tell you, once you go to Heaven Dou City, you must be careful of a bad person named Salas. He is the bishop stationed in Heaven Dou City by the Martial Soul Hall. There are rumors that he swings both ways and likes beautiful little boys like Brother Lan Yin the most." Ning Rongrong felt goosebumps all over just thinking about those disgusting rumors regarding Salas.

"Such immense evil!" This time, Tang Yin was truly shocked. The original work did indeed portray Salas in a somewhat negative light, but was he really this monstrous?

Ning Rongrong, upon hearing this, put on a serious expression, stood on her tiptoes, and patted Tang Yin on the shoulder: "Boys need to protect themselves well when they are out and about, especially boys as good-looking as Brother Lan Yin."

Chen Xin, standing to the side, felt speechless in his heart after hearing Ning Rongrong's words.

The rumors that members of the church had a penchant for young boys were well-known across the continent and were not entirely without basis, though there was no shortage of nobles fanning the flames; after all, some nobles truly did keep young boys.

With Martial Soul Hall there to take the blame, the noble lords naturally wanted to give it a secret push.

However, Chen Xin knew a thing or two about Salas. He was indeed lecherous, but the stuff about young boys was pure slander, yet he did not step forward to offer any explanation.

It was better not to let the sordid dealings between the empire's nobles and Martial Soul Hall sully his precious Rongrong.