At dinner, Yang Wudi didn't sit at the table.
He sat on the sofa, holding the bottle of medicinal broth and staring at it as if it were some rare treasure.
Ning Rongrong held her bowl, eating while sneaking glances at him. She could usually eat two bowls of rice with Zhang Mo's braised pork, but today she only ate half a bowl—Yang Wudi was sitting nearby, and she couldn't eat in peace.
Yang Wudi suddenly looked up at her.
Ning Rongrong quickly lowered her head and shoveled rice into her mouth.
Yang Wudi said, "Little girl, how long can that Soul Power of yours last?"
Ning Rongrong froze for a moment and put down her bowl. "What?"
"When you were refining medicine," Yang Wudi said. "How long can you sustain that output of Soul Power?"
Ning Rongrong thought it over. "About fifteen minutes if I go all out."
Yang Wudi frowned. "Fifteen minutes is too short."
He stood up and paced around the room twice, then suddenly stopped.
"That Spirit Bone of yours—is it related to the mind?"
Ning Rongrong nodded.
Yang Wudi said, "Take it out and let me have a look."
Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhang Mo. He nodded.
She closed her eyes and activated the Illusion Wisdom Skull. A faint purple light flickered at the center of her brow.
Yang Wudi stared at the purple light for several seconds.
"Not bad," he said. "It can strengthen your mental power. But your Soul Power is too weak to bring out its full potential."
Ning Rongrong pressed her lips together and said nothing.
Yang Wudi thought for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"How do you usually cultivate?"
Ning Rongrong said, "I just... follow the sect's method. I meditate every day and circulate my Soul Power."
Yang Wudi let out a scornful laugh.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's methods have been outdated for ages," he said. "People in your sect only know how to boost others. They don't know how to train their bodies. What good is it if your Soul Power improves but your body can't keep up?"
Ning Rongrong froze.
Yang Wudi continued, "In the Breaking Clan, anyone who makes medicine has to train their body first. If your body isn't strong enough, you can't withstand the medicinal power. Someone like you would be exhausted in half an hour if you tried refining a batch of potent medicine."
Ning Rongrong lowered her head and looked at her hands, saying nothing.
Yang Wudi suddenly stood up and walked over to her.
"Hold out your hand."
Ning Rongrong instinctively shrank back a little.
Yang Wudi frowned. "What are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat you."
Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhang Mo. He nodded again.
She slowly held out her hand.
Yang Wudi took her wrist and closed his eyes, sensing it for a while.
"Your meridians are all right." He let go of her hand. "You're just too weak."
He walked back to the sofa and sat down. After thinking for a moment, he said:
"Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you a body-tempering technique."
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.
Yang Wudi said, "Don't get excited yet. That technique is brutal. Most people can't stick with it."
Ning Rongrong opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she only murmured:
"Thank you, Uncle Yang."
Yang Wudi froze.
Then he waved a hand. "Don't call me uncle. Just call me Old Yang."
Ning Rongrong glanced at Zhang Mo, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
After dinner, Ning Rongrong went to wash the dishes. Zhang Mo and Yang Wudi sat in the living room.
Yang Wudi stared at the two medicinal ingredients on the coffee table and suddenly said:
"When that old man gave you this, did he say anything else?"
Zhang Mo thought for a moment, then repeated the old man's words.
Yang Wudi fell silent for a long time after hearing them.
"Changbai Mountain..." he murmured. "A snake guarding it... This thing has a spirit of its own..."
He looked up at Zhang Mo.
"That old man was probably a cultivator too."
Zhang Mo froze for a moment.
Yang Wudi said, "This world may not have Soul Power, but some places are rich in spiritual energy. Medicinal ingredients with a spirit of their own attract spiritual animals to guard them. That snake was guarding the medicine."
He paused, then added, "That old man must be no ordinary person if he managed to snatch this from a snake's jaws."
Zhang Mo was silent for several seconds before asking:
"Why did he give it to me?"
Yang Wudi thought it over. "Maybe he could tell you know your medicine. Or maybe he could tell you're no ordinary person."
He stared at Zhang Mo's right eye.
"He could sense what's inside your eye."
Zhang Mo said nothing.
Yang Wudi suddenly smiled.
"Interesting," he said. "This world is more interesting than I thought."
Ning Rongrong came out after washing the dishes. She was a little surprised to see the two of them sitting and chatting.
She walked over and sat down beside Zhang Mo.
Yang Wudi glanced at her and suddenly said:
"Little girl, do you know how strong a Titled Douluo is?"
Ning Rongrong nodded.
Yang Wudi said, "Then do you know that the three of us together still couldn't beat a single Titled Douluo?"
Ning Rongrong froze.
Yang Wudi continued, "A Titled Douluo above level ninety-five could blast this whole building to rubble with one full-power strike."
He looked at Zhang Mo.
"That sword of yours might work on Huyan Li. Against a Titled Douluo? It won't even pierce their defenses."
Zhang Mo was silent for several seconds before asking:
"Then what do we do?"
Yang Wudi said, "Two options. First, hide. Hide somewhere they can't find you."
Zhang Mo shook his head.
Yang Wudi smiled. "I knew you'd shake your head."
He stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the night outside.
"The second option," he said, "is to get stronger before they arrive."
He turned around and looked at the two of them.
"I'm level eighty-three. The little girl is level forty-two. You—" He looked at Zhang Mo. "You don't have a level, but with two Spirit Bones and that strange purple light, you just about count as a Soul King."
He paused.
"The three of us together would have less than a one-in-ten chance against a level-ninety-five Titled Douluo."
Ning Rongrong's face turned pale.
Yang Wudi said, "But against one at level ninety-two, our odds could reach three in ten."
Zhang Mo froze. "What do you mean?"
Yang Wudi said, "There's a huge difference in strength between Titled Douluo of different levels. If we could make them come at a lower level—"
He suddenly stopped and looked at Zhang Mo.
"Can that system of yours control the level they descend at?"
Zhang Mo shook his head. "No."
Yang Wudi frowned.
He thought for a moment, then suddenly said:
"Then kill a few lower-level ones before they arrive. Doesn't your system delay the timer every time you kill one?"
Zhang Mo nodded.
Yang Wudi said, "The longer you delay it, the lower their level will be when they arrive. If a level-ninety-seven one is delayed for a year or so, maybe they'll drop to level ninety-five."
He stared at Zhang Mo.
"What do you think of that plan?"
Zhang Mo thought it over and said:
"It could work."
Yang Wudi smiled.
He walked back to the sofa and dropped heavily into it.
"Then that's settled," he said. "Starting tomorrow, we'll prepare to kill people while refining medicine."
He paused, then added:
"By the way, when's the next enemy coming, according to your system?"
Zhang Mo brought up the panel and took a look.
[Countdown to next Crisis Summon: 5 days] [Target: Unknown] [Level: Unknown]
Yang Wudi leaned over to look and frowned.
"This lousy system doesn't know anything?"
Zhang Mo said, "It only tells us a day in advance."
Yang Wudi clicked his tongue.
He stood up and picked up the Soul Breaking Spear leaning against the wall.
"I'll go out and look around for the next few days," he said. "Get familiar with this world. And see if I can find anything good."
Zhang Mo paused. "Where are you going?"
Yang Wudi said, "What was it called... Changbai Mountain?"
He looked at Zhang Mo.
"I want to see where the stuff that old man gave you came from."
Zhang Mo was silent for several seconds before saying:
"It's a long way away."
Yang Wudi waved a hand. "So what if it's far? I walk fast."
Zhang Mo thought it over, then pulled a map out of a drawer and pointed out the route.
Yang Wudi stared at the map, his brow furrowing into a knot.
"What are all these twists and turns?"
Zhang Mo said, "The route. You take a train."
Yang Wudi froze. "A train?"
Early the next morning, Yang Wudi set off.
Zhang Mo walked him downstairs and pointed out the way to the train station.
With the Soul Breaking Spear on his back, Yang Wudi strode off. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Zhang Mo.
"Keep those two medicinal ingredients safe for me," he said. "I'll refine them when I get back."
Zhang Mo nodded.
Yang Wudi then turned to look at Ning Rongrong, who was standing in the doorway.
"Little girl, I'll teach you the technique when I get back. For now, practice your horse stance on your own."
Ning Rongrong nodded.
Yang Wudi turned and left.
After a few steps, he stopped again and said without looking back:
"If that old man really is no ordinary person, I'll bring him here."
With that, he strode away.
Ning Rongrong stood in the doorway, watching his back disappear at the end of the alley.
She turned to look at Zhang Mo.
"Will he... really come back?"
Zhang Mo thought for a moment and said, "He will."
"Why?"
"Because the medicinal ingredients are still here."
Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then smiled.
She turned to go back inside. After taking two steps, she suddenly said:
"Zhang Mo, what if he really does bring that old man here—"
"Then we'll have two helpers," Zhang Mo said.
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up.
She came bounding up the stairs.
Halfway up, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Zhang Mo.
"Zhang Mo."
"Hmm?"
"That cultivation technique—will he really teach me?"
Zhang Mo thought for a moment, then said, "He will."
"Why?"
"Because he also needs your help refining medicine."
Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then smiled.
In the morning light, her smile was especially beautiful.
She continued bounding upstairs, her skirt swishing back and forth.
Zhang Mo stood downstairs, watching her retreating figure.
The morning light fell on her, gilding her from head to toe.
He suddenly remembered what Yang Wudi had said last night.
"The three of us together have less than a one-in-ten chance against a Titled Douluo."
He looked away and gazed at the distant sky.
It was a deep blue, with a few white clouds drifting across it.
He murmured, "One in ten it is."
Then he turned and went upstairs.
Upstairs, Ning Rongrong was rummaging around in the kitchen.
"Zhang Mo, what are we having for breakfast?"
Zhang Mo walked in and tied on an apron.
"What do you want?"
Ning Rongrong thought for a moment, then said, "Steamed buns."
Zhang Mo nodded and began kneading the dough.
Ning Rongrong leaned against the doorframe, watching him work.
The morning light spilled into the kitchen, warm and golden.
Birds chirped outside the window, and downstairs a vendor called out his wares.
Everything was just as it usually was.
But Ning Rongrong knew someone was rushing around for their sake.
For the unknown enemy who would come five days from now.
And for the even more terrifying enemies waiting in the future.
Watching Zhang Mo's back, she suddenly said, "Zhang Mo."
"Hmm?"
"When Yang Wudi comes back, I'll train hard."
Zhang Mo turned to look at her.
She stood in the morning light, her eyes shining.
"When the time comes, I'll help you."
Zhang Mo looked at her in silence for a few seconds, then nodded.
"All right."
Ning Rongrong smiled.
She turned and bounded out of the kitchen.
Her voice rang out from outside. "I'm going to fold the blankets! Your sofa's too hard. We need to add another blanket today..."
Hearing her voice, Zhang Mo's lips curved slightly.
He continued kneading the dough.
The flour worked between his fingers, slowly becoming a smooth ball of dough.
Outside the window, the sun shone bright.
On the third day after Yang Wudi left, the system's warning came.
That afternoon, Ning Rongrong was downstairs holding a horse stance. Before leaving, Yang Wudi had instructed her to do it for an hour every day, for seven days straight, until he returned to check on her.
Her legs were trembling, and sweat ran down her cheeks, but she gritted her teeth and held her stance.
Zhang Mo sat beside her with a book in his hands, occasionally looking up at her.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, scattering patches of light across the ground. The alley was quiet, with only the occasional sound of a car in the distance.
Ning Rongrong suddenly spoke. "Zhang Mo."
"Hmm?"
"What time is it?"
Zhang Mo glanced at his phone. "You've been at it for forty minutes."
Ning Rongrong's face fell. "Only forty minutes? It feels like I've been doing it for a whole hour."
Zhang Mo said nothing.
Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and kept holding the stance.
After another ten minutes, she couldn't take it anymore. She plopped down on the ground and gasped for breath.
"I can't do it, I can't do it... My legs are going to break..."
Zhang Mo handed her a bottle of water.
She took it and gulped down a few mouthfuls. Then, as if remembering something, she looked up at him.
"Do you think Yang Wudi will really come back?"
"He will," Zhang Mo said.
"It's already been three days."
"Changbai Mountain is far away. It takes time to get there and back."
Ning Rongrong gave a quiet "Oh" and drank a few more mouthfuls.
She looked down at her legs and suddenly said, "This cultivation technique is brutal. Much harder than training in our sect."
"Hardship is what makes you improve," Zhang Mo said.
Ning Rongrong glared up at him. "Why do you talk just like Yang Wudi?"
Zhang Mo said nothing.
Ning Rongrong huffed and continued drinking.
Just then, a sharp pain suddenly stabbed through Zhang Mo's right eye.
A purple screen appeared on its own:
[Warning--] [Fourth "Crisis Summon" detected, about to trigger--] [Target: Chen Xin] [Identity: Sword Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, wielder of the Seven Kill Sword Martial Soul] [Soul Power Level: Titled Douluo, Level 96] [Spirit Rings: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black] [Traits: Sword Dao grandmaster, tremendous attack power, incredible speed] [Arrival Time: 48 hours from now] [Arrival Location: SH City District] [Mission: Kill Chen Xin] [Reward: World Origin Points ×1000, random Spirit Bone ×1] [Failure Penalty: Dual World Collision accelerated by 120 days]
Zhang Mo stared at the lines of text, his expression changing.
Ning Rongrong saw his face and leaned over to look.
Then her expression changed, too.
"Grandpa Sword..." she murmured, her voice trembling.
Zhang Mo turned to look at her.
She stared at the name, her eyes slowly reddening.
"Grandpa Sword is coming..." she whispered. "He's coming to kill us..."
Zhang Mo said nothing.
Ning Rongrong suddenly grabbed his sleeve, gripping it tightly.
"Zhang Mo," she said, her voice trembling. "What do we do?"
Zhang Mo was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Stick to the original plan."
Ning Rongrong froze.
"Use the medicinal herbs to lure him," Zhang Mo said. "Just like we lured Yang Wudi."
Ning Rongrong shook her head. "It won't work. Grandpa Sword isn't Yang Wudi. He has no interest in medicinal herbs."
Zhang Mo fell silent.
Ning Rongrong continued, "There are only two things Grandpa Sword cares about in this life—the sword, and me."
Her voice grew softer and softer.
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