Flying Rongrong

Fu Wen didn't know.

But he knew one thing.

No matter how the story changed, his path wouldn't change.

Cultivate the China Divine Crocodile, inherit a godhood, and protect those around him.

As for everything else, he'd adapt as he went.

"Brother Wen, are you asleep?" Ma Hongjun's voice came from nearby.

"No."

"Do you think that Ning Rongrong will be hard to get along with later?"

"No." Fu Wen said, "She's just all talk. She's not a bad person."

Ma Hongjun thought it over and decided that made sense. "True. She even helped me wash the dishes today."

"She helped you wash the dishes?"

"Yeah. I told her my hand hurt, so she washed them for me."

Ma Hongjun grinned. "Actually, my hand didn't hurt. I just wanted to slack off."

Fu Wen rolled his eyes, too lazy to respond.

"But, Brother Wen, do you think she'll stay? I mean, will she get fed up one day and run back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"No." Fu Wen sounded certain.

"Why?"

"Because she promised her father." Fu Wen closed his eyes. "She won't go back on a promise."

Ma Hongjun murmured his acknowledgment and asked no more.

Early the next morning, Ning Rongrong was back on the training field.

This time, she was there earlier than anyone.

By the time Flender arrived, she had already run five laps.

"Why are you here so early?" Flender asked, surprised.

"I couldn't sleep." Ning Rongrong kept running. "I might as well do something instead of sitting around."

Flender glanced at her and said nothing more.

But in his heart, his opinion of the girl improved a little.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun arrived at the training field one after the other. When they saw Ning Rongrong already running, they both froze.

"When did she get here?" Oscar asked Fu Wen.

"I don't know." Fu Wen shook his head. "She was already running when I arrived."

"She's really going all out," Oscar muttered. He hurriedly warmed up and joined the run.

Ma Hongjun followed behind him, but after two laps, he was already gasping for breath.

"I can't do it, I can't do it. I can't run anymore."

"If you can't run, walk." Flender's voice came from nearby. "Walking still counts."

Remembering how Ning Rongrong had been treated the same way on her first day, Ma Hongjun gritted his teeth and kept running.

After finishing twenty-five laps, Ning Rongrong stopped and wiped away her sweat.

She glanced at Ma Hongjun, who was still running, and the corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

That fat guy was lazy, but at least he hadn't given up.

Not bad.

Fu Wen finished his last lap and walked over to Ning Rongrong.

"You're half a tea break faster than yesterday."

"You timed me?" Ning Rongrong asked, surprised.

"No." Fu Wen shook his head. "I guessed."

Ning Rongrong pursed her lips and didn't answer.

But she felt a strange sensation in her heart.

This annoying guy had actually been paying attention to her progress.

"Rongrong, you're in good shape today." Flender walked over. "You can start this afternoon's training early."

"What's the task?"

"Practice against Fu Wen."

Ning Rongrong froze and looked at Fu Wen.

Fu Wen's expression was calm and unreadable.

"Practice against him? I'm an auxiliary type, and he's a Power Attack System. How are we supposed to spar?"

"I'm not asking you to fight him." Flender pushed up his glasses. "You'll support Oscar while he fights Fu Wen."

Ning Rongrong thought it over and nodded.

Supporting Oscar was something she was good at.

Oscar heard this and turned green.

"Dad, you want me to fight Brother Wen? You're not joking, are you?"

"I'm not joking." Flender's expression remained impassive. "Rongrong will support you. Attack with all your strength. Xiao Wen can only defend; he can't fight back."

Oscar breathed a sigh of relief. "That's not so bad."

"Don't get too excited." Flender glanced at him. "Xiao Wen can't fight back, but his defense is so strong that you might not even be able to hurt him."

Oscar's mouth twitched. He didn't want to say anything anymore.

That afternoon, on the training field.

Oscar stood to one side, with Ning Rongrong behind him.

Fu Wen stood opposite them, his hands behind his back and his expression calm.

"Begin," Flender ordered.

"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!" Ning Rongrong released her Martial Soul. The phantom of a seven-tiered pagoda appeared behind her, and two yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath her feet.

"The Seven Treasures are renowned: first, Strength." The pagoda in Ning Rongrong's hands shone brilliantly, enveloping Oscar in golden light.

Oscar felt his strength surge, and his confidence soared.

"Flying Sausage!" He ate a Flying Sausage first, unfurled his blue Light Wings, and flew into the air.

Then he took a bite of a Big Sausage to restore his strength.

"Brother Wen, here I come!"

Oscar dove from the sky and threw a punch at Fu Wen.

Fu Wen didn't move.

The punch landed on his chest with a muffled thud.

Fu Wen didn't budge.

Oscar's fist throbbed with pain.

"W-what kind of defense is that?"

Oscar shook his hand, baring his teeth in pain.

"Again." Fu Wen's expression remained impassive.

Oscar gritted his teeth and charged again.

This time, he gave it everything he had.

Fu Wen still didn't budge.

"No, no. I can't hurt him."

Oscar landed and panted heavily.

Ning Rongrong was stunned too.

Her strength boost hadn't worked on Fu Wen at all?

"Your strength boost is powerful." Fu Wen looked at Ning Rongrong. "But Oscar's basic strength is too weak. Boost him once, and he's still weak. Boost him twice, and he's still weak. That's not your problem. It's his."

Oscar rolled his eyes. "Brother Wen, could you at least spare me a little dignity?"

"No." Fu Wen's expression remained impassive.

Ning Rongrong looked at Fu Wen, her gaze complicated.

This annoying guy really was strong.

"Brother Oscar, give me a Flying Sausage."

Ning Rongrong walked up to Oscar and held out her hand.

Oscar froze. "You want to fly too?"

"Why not?" Ning Rongrong lifted her chin. "You can fly. Why can't I?"

Oscar looked to Flender, who nodded.

"Give her one."

Oscar took a Flying Sausage out of his Soul Tool and handed it to Ning Rongrong.

"Once you eat it, your Light Wings will unfold automatically. Just control your direction. Don't fly too fast the first time. Start low and get used to it."

"Got it, got it. You're so long-winded."

Ning Rongrong took the sausage and bit into it.

Blue Light Wings suddenly unfolded behind her, startling her as they carried her up into the air.

"Ah!!!"

Ning Rongrong flailed in panic, completely unable to control her direction.

The Light Wings beat sharply, and she shot off sideways like a kite with its strings cut.

"Rongrong!" Oscar tried to chase after her, but it was too late.

Ning Rongrong was hurtling toward the crown of a large tree. She squeezed her eyes shut and instinctively curled into a ball.

The next moment, a pair of arms caught her securely.

Ning Rongrong opened her eyes and saw Fu Wen's impassive face.

"You! When did you get over here?"

Ning Rongrong's face instantly turned red.

"I was beside you the whole time." Fu Wen set her down. "It's your first time flying. Don't rush upward. Find your balance with the Light Wings first."

Ning Rongrong steadied herself and lowered her head, the tips of her ears burning.

That had been so embarrassing.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Fu Wen didn't reply. He turned and walked back to the training field.

Ning Rongrong watched him go and bit her lip.

This annoying guy didn't seem quite so annoying after all.