Maid?

Three hours later, Xia Ming walked out of the guest room and returned to the main assembly hall.

He could tell at a glance that Ning Tian's absorption of the immortal herb's medicinal power was nearing its end.

Before long, she would awaken.

And the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect would once again see the emergence of a Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda soul master, the second in ten thousand years.

However, before that, they had to handle another matter first.

Wu Long pulled an unwilling Wu Feng over to stand before Xia Ming and spoke solemnly:

"I know you will be staying in Heaven Dou City for a month. During this month, I hope you can temper my granddaughter's temperament."

"How does the senior wish for me to do that?" Xia Ming frowned and asked.

"I will have her serve as your attendant; please feel free to order this girl around as you please," Wu Long said sternly.

Hearing this, the expressions of everyone present changed drastically.

Everyone knew just how much Wu Long doted on his granddaughter.

To have her serve as an attendant to another child now?

One must know that even for the Young Sect Master, Ning Tian, she and Wu Feng were nominally superior and subordinate, but in reality, they were like sisters.

Yet, listening to Wu Long's words just now, he truly intended for this child to be an attendant for a month.

Xia Ming shook his head repeatedly: "The senior's granddaughter holds such a noble status; how could she possibly be my attendant?"

"It is precisely because I have spoiled her too much that she has become like this."

Wu Long sighed, "I ask that you do not look down upon my granddaughter."

Xia Ming's expression was somewhat complex; in truth, he was indeed a bit reluctant.

While the other party was quite good-looking, her personality was truly nothing to compliment.

But at Shrek Academy, what kind of beauties had he not seen?

If nothing else, Zhang Lexuan was a top-tier figure, and her personality was far better.

Just as Xia Ming was about to refuse, a voice transmission from Mu En suddenly reached his ears.

"Agree to it."

Teacher? He felt suspicious, but he nodded nonetheless and accepted this temporary attendant.

"Good!" Wu Long clapped his hands and shouted, "From today until you leave Heaven Dou City, this girl will follow you."

Xia Ming gave a bitter smile and said nothing more.

As for Wu Feng, whatever mental preparation she had been put through, although she looked completely unwilling, she still obediently stood by his side.

Just as this matter was settled, the aura around Ning Tian gradually stabilized.

Shortly after, she opened her eyes, her face filled with exhilaration.

She summoned her martial soul directly, and everyone present began counting like children.

"One, two, three... nine!"

"It really is nine levels! Tian'er, you succeeded!"

Ning Yunche even abandoned the composure befitting a sect master, his eyes brimming with tears.

After ten thousand years, the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect finally had another Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda soul master.

Ning Tian herself was excited beyond measure.

"I succeeded!"

Wu Feng, standing beside Xia Ming, appeared even more excited than Ning Tian herself.

Even in Mu En's eyes, a trace of excitement flickered.

After a long while, Ning Yunche finally managed to calm his emotions, wiped the moisture from the corners of his eyes, and took a deep breath:

"Alright."

His voice was slightly hoarse, yet carried an unprecedented brightness, "Today, let us celebrate for my Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!"

Subsequently, Ning Yunche and the sect elders remained in the main hall with Mu En and Zhang Lexuan.

Since the reappearance of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was confirmed, their previous promise to advance and retreat together with Shrek Academy was now officially on the agenda.

As for the three children, who were only seven years old, they were naturally shooed out of the hall.

Outside the hall, Wu Feng looked at Ning Tian, her lips moving several times, but she only managed to squeeze out a few broken syllables:

"Young Sect Master, I..."

"Sister Feng, what is it?" Ning Tian blinked, feeling a bit strange.

Usually, Wu Feng would have already rushed over to hook her arm and chatter incessantly.

To be so hesitant and stuttering today was truly abnormal.

"Wuu—Young Mistress, I have failed you!" Wu Feng finally managed to choke out, her eyes turning slightly red.

"Huh?"

Ning Tian, conversely, was even more bewildered.

Seeing this, Xia Ming stepped forward slowly and calmly recounted the entire sequence of events: from Wu Feng blocking his path and provoking him, to their duel and her defeat, and finally, her punishment of serving as his maid.

After hearing his account, the look in Ning Tian's eyes as she gazed at Wu Feng gradually grew complex: "Sister Feng, you..."

"My apologies." She sighed softly, turned to Xia Ming, and offered a solemn bow, "I must apologize to you on Sister Feng's behalf."

Wu Feng opened her mouth, her face flushing a deep red, but she ultimately dared not argue.

"It is of no consequence." Xia Ming shook his head, "The apologies that were due have already been made."

Ning Tian, however, insisted on shaking her head. She took a translucent white card from her bosom and held it out toward Xia Ming:

"This matter started because of me, so I must take responsibility. This is a Gold Soul Coin card containing one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins; it is all the pocket money I have left."

One hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in pocket money?

Xia Ming's expression turned complex. The resources he had consumed in the year since entering Shrek certainly far exceeded this amount.

But this was not resources; this was hard, cold cash!

Even as the future of Shrek, Xia Ming did not have this kind of sum in Gold Soul Coins on hand.

Seeing Xia Ming fall silent, Ning Tian assumed he thought it was too little. She bit her lip, her eyes earnest:

"When I receive my next allowance, I will give you another fifty thousand! If that is still not enough, just wait a little longer, and I will scrape together another hundred thousand!"

Hearing this, Xia Ming finally snapped out of his daze and hurriedly waved his hands: "No, no, it is just that one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins is truly far too much."

"Ah? Is it too much?" Ning Tian's pretty face flushed, and she felt a bit embarrassed.

As the Young Sect Master of the wealthiest sect on the continent, she truly lacked a sense of the value of money.

"Yes, it is too much." Xia Ming gently pushed the card back into her hand, his tone peaceful, "Since this matter is settled, there is no need to measure it in Gold Soul Coins. I accept your good intentions."

Ning Tian clutched the returned card, staring at him in a daze, her earlobes gradually tinged with a faint red.

So, there really were people in this world who would think they had too much money.

Meanwhile, Wu Feng, standing to the side and watching the natural flow of their conversation, felt a sudden, inexplicable tightness in her chest.

She quietly gripped the hem of her clothes, but dared not interrupt their exchange.

As Xia Ming's maid, if she were to rashly interject now, she feared she would face another heavy punishment upon returning.

Wu Feng knew all too well that her grandfather had truly been enraged this time.

Moreover, the atmosphere between the two before her was far too natural and harmonious; an outsider could not find a single gap to intervene.

Wu Feng lowered her gaze and stood half a step away, watching Xia Ming's profile as he leaned slightly to listen to Ning Tian, then looking at Ning Tian's gently curved eyes and the light smile on her lips.

She ultimately pressed her lips into a thin line and watched in silence.

In this atmosphere, Xia Ming and Ning Tian chatted with increasing enjoyment until the hall doors opened and Mu En, Ning Yunche, and the others walked out with smiles.

"Next time, I will come to Heaven Dou City to find you." Ning Tian said softly.

"Very well." Xia Ming nodded with a faint smile.

There were no superfluous promises, just that ordinary sentence, yet it caused a strange stagnation in the heart of Wu Feng, who was waiting behind them.

She followed Xia Ming silently out of the sect and back to that Royal Hotel.