Several days later!
Shrek Academy · Lin Yan's dormitory.
"Lin Yan!"
Ning Rongrong burst through the dormitory door, her face anxious.
She seemed to have run all the way there. The moment she entered, she grabbed the doorframe and began panting heavily.
The sudden commotion startled Lin Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, who were testing their newly developed Martial Soul Fusion Skill, so badly that they nearly collapsed.
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing was suspended in the air by several strands of Blue Silver Grass, her limbs bound behind her back.
She should have been completely unable to resist the impact...
Yet when she saw Ning Rongrong suddenly burst in, she managed to complete her Martial Soul Possession and forcibly break free, quickly hiding in Lin Yan's arms.
Lin Yan's heart was pounding. He'd made sure everyone else from the academy had gone to Suotuo City to participate in Soul Fighting before he and Zhu Zhuqing had paired up in the dormitory. He'd never expected someone to suddenly barge in, and the fright had nearly scared him to death...
Fortunately, he quickly saw that it was Ning Rongrong, and managed to keep his composure.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and shut the door!"
Lin Yan snapped at Ning Rongrong, who was still frozen in a daze.
Only then did the girl come to her senses. She hurriedly shut the door and entered the room.
When Zhu Zhuqing saw that it was Ning Rongrong, the body trembling in Lin Yan's arms gradually relaxed.
Thank goodness it was only Ning Rongrong...
Honestly, she'd nearly wanted to die in that moment. If someone had seen her in such a humiliating position, she might as well have moved to another planet.
Lin Yan steadied his breathing and asked Ning Rongrong, "Why are you back so soon? Have you gotten your Soul Ring?"
"Oh, right!" Ning Rongrong seemed to suddenly remember something. Her dazed, astonished expression turned anxious again.
"You two, hurry up and get dressed. My father and Sword Grandpa are here."
"What? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Lin Yan's large hands, which were gripping Zhu Zhuqing's ample backside, suddenly squeezed hard, making the girl let out a pained groan.
Usually, that groan might have stirred the desire of all three people in the room, but right now Lin Yan felt as if disaster were looming.
"What's going on? Didn't you go Soul Hunting? Why did you bring your family back with you?"
His voice rose several notes with agitation.
Ning Rongrong didn't answer. Instead, she began searching around on the floor.
"Get dressed first! What if my father and Sword Grandpa come in because they get tired of waiting?"
"Zhuqing, hide in the room for a while. Lin Yan and I will go out first."
As she spoke, she gathered up all the clothes scattered across the floor and tossed them to Lin Yan.
Zhu Zhuqing came to her senses as well and began searching nearby for her clothes.
The room was soon filled with the rustling sounds of people getting dressed.
As Lin Yan pulled on his clothes, he pondered why Ning Fengzhi and the others had come here.
He quickly realized what the key issue was.
"Damn it, you didn't tell them about the Talisman, did you?"
Lin Yan pulled on his last jacket and looked at Ning Rongrong in shock.
Ning Rongrong looked guilty and said nothing. Her expression made it obvious that she had already let the secret slip.
Lin Yan was both angry and exasperated. "I can't believe this! Didn't I tell you to keep quiet?"
How could Lin Yan not have warned Ning Rongrong against spreading the Dragon Talisman's abilities around? It had power that surpassed even a Soul Bone!
On the Douluo Continent, not even a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone could give a support Soul Master the ability to fight. The Dragon Talisman could, and its power could even grow. Even if Ning Rongrong advanced to Soul Saint, she could still face Soul Masters of the same rank in battle.
Lin Yan knew how important this was. Though he hadn't specifically told Ning Rongrong not to spread the secret when she left, he'd certainly drilled into her the importance of keeping secrets time and again.
And now he was hearing that Ning Fengzhi—that meddlesome bastard—knew about it! Ning Fengzhi, of all people!
Lin Yan's fair face turned as ugly as if he'd just eaten a fly. He didn't speak for a long while.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Both girls could see that Lin Yan was truly angry this time.
Zhu Zhuqing got dressed and knelt quietly on the bed.
Ning Rongrong lowered her head guiltily.
"Oh no, Xiao Wu!"
As Lin Yan worked himself into a frenzy thinking about Ning Fengzhi and Sword and Bone Douluo, he suddenly realized that Xiao Wu would be returning to the academy soon.
If the others ran into her, her identity as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast would inevitably be exposed.
"This is such a mess. Before one thing's settled, another crops up!"
Lin Yan muttered to himself. Zhu Zhuqing asked, "What does this have to do with Xiao Wu?"
Lin Yan didn't explain. Instead, he began giving her instructions.
"Zhuqing, when no one's paying attention, go to Suotuo City and tell Xiao Wu that Ning Rongrong has returned with her family."
"You don't need to say anything else. Xiao Wu will understand what you mean."
"Why?"
"I'll explain later. Make sure you find Xiao Wu!"
With that, he turned to Ning Rongrong.
"Things might get complicated later. So tell me: if you, your father, and Sword and Bone Douluo all fell into the water, who would you save first?"
"Huh?"
Ning Rongrong's mouth fell open in surprise. She hadn't expected Lin Yan to ask her that now!
If they all fell into the water, who should she save first? How was she supposed to answer that?
"Forget it! After today, I don't care who you'd save first. But today, if all of us fell into the water, you have to save me first."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
Seeing that Ning Rongrong hadn't understood the point of his question, Lin Yan decided to spell it out.
This was the most effective way out of an impossible situation. Ning Fengzhi had undoubtedly come here because of the Dragon Talisman—or even the secret behind Ning Rongrong's rapid increase in strength.
And right now, Lin Yan was only a Soul Elder.
If a few old monsters standing at the peak of the continent wanted information from an insignificant nobody, it couldn't be more natural.
Imagine an adult eyeing the gold brick in a child's hands. If no one else were around, what would he do?
The answer was obvious: he'd snatch it!
So Ning Fengzhi and Sword and Bone Douluo's arrival would undoubtedly spell disaster for Lin Yan.
For now, only Ning Rongrong could help him turn things around...
In the room, Lin Yan held Ning Rongrong by the shoulders, his expression utterly solemn and serious.
"No matter what happens later, you have to stand by my side and stay with me. Understand?"
"I... I understand."
Ning Rongrong hadn't grasped Lin Yan's intentions at all, but at least she now had one guiding principle: stand by Lin Yan.
Perhaps her father and the two grandpas would give Lin Yan a hard time. Perhaps a conflict would break out. But all she had to do was stand by Lin Yan.
That was right. When she was with Lin Yan, if they both fell into the water, she'd save Lin Yan first.
The confusion on the girl's face gave way to resolve. Seeing this, Lin Yan breathed a small sigh of relief.
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