"Yes."
Ning Fengzhi nodded.
"His reactions are quick, and so is his speed."
"What is his Martial Soul?"
"Mutated Sea Crocodile, Level 23, Second Ring."
"Level 23, Second Ring, and six years old."
Chen Xin murmured to himself.
"This child is no ordinary one."
"He certainly isn't."
Gu Rong picked up the thread.
"His second Soul Skill is called Flow-Severing. One sweep of his tail can forcibly interrupt the flow of an opponent's Soul Power. To do something like that with only two rings, his Martial Soul definitely isn't an ordinary Mutated Sea Crocodile."
"I know."
Ning Fengzhi nodded.
"But since Flender says it's a Mutated Sea Crocodile, we'll take it as one."
Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged a glance. They both understood what Ning Fengzhi meant.
Don't expose him, don't pry, don't recruit him. Just build a good relationship.
"And that child Oscar, too. The value of his Flying Sausages keeps rising."
Ning Fengzhi continued.
"One hundred Gold Soul Coins per sausage, with a long-term purchasing arrangement. What do you think of those terms?"
"Too little."
Gu Rong shook his head.
"Even a Seven-Ring Soul Sage can't catch up to a Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow. One hundred Gold Soul Coins for a life is far too cheap."
"Then let's raise it to one hundred and fifty."
Ning Fengzhi considered it.
"Rongrong is studying there, so her tuition, living expenses, and training fees should all be doubled."
"Sect Master, are you going there to shower them with money?"
Gu Rong couldn't help laughing.
"What's wrong with giving them money?"
Ning Fengzhi replied with complete justification.
"My daughter is studying there. What's wrong with giving them a little more?"
Gu Rong laughed and shook his head, saying no more.
Chen Xin stood up, read the intelligence report once more, then carefully folded it in half and tucked it into his robes.
"Uncle Jian, what are you..."
Gu Rong froze.
"A keepsake."
Chen Xin replied.
"Rongrong's record of her first run."
Gu Rong opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back down.
Watching Chen Xin, Ning Fengzhi felt a pang of sadness.
Uncle Jian's affection for Rongrong ran deeper than he had imagined.
"Sect Master, I have a request."
Chen Xin looked up at Ning Fengzhi.
"Go ahead."
"Next time you send an intelligence report, have someone bring some things along."
Chen Xin paused.
"Bring several skewers of the candied hawthorns Rongrong likes. No matter how good the food is over there, it can't compare to what she has at the sect. She's been a picky eater since she was little. I'm worried she won't be able to stomach their food."
"Uncle Jian, Flender said in his letter that Rongrong eats heartily at every meal."
Ning Fengzhi smiled wryly.
"Don't treat her like a child."
"In my eyes, she'll always be a child."
After saying that, Chen Xin turned and walked out.
Gu Rong watched Chen Xin's retreating back, sighed, and followed him out.
Only Ning Fengzhi remained in the hall.
He returned to his chair, picked up the intelligence report and read it again, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Rongrong, your father is proud of you."
Early the next morning, a carriage from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect appeared at the gates of Shrek Academy once more.
This time, Ning Fengzhi hadn't come in person. Instead, two Soul Masters dressed in the sect's uniform had arrived.
One carried a large bundle, while the other held a food box.
Flender stood at the gate, watching the gilded carriage, his brows knitting slightly.
"And you two are..."
"Dean Flender, our Sect Master ordered us to bring some things for Miss Rongrong."
The Soul Master carrying the bundle bowed. "These are Miss Rongrong's clothes for the changing season, along with some daily necessities."
Flender nodded and asked no more.
It was only natural for Ning Fengzhi to send things to his daughter.
"This food box contains Miss Rongrong's favorite candied hawthorns."
The other Soul Master handed over the food box. "The Sect Master said Miss Rongrong has been working hard at the academy and should have something sweet."
Flender took the food box and opened it for a look.
The candied hawthorns were neatly arranged, each skewer wrapped in oiled paper, with morning dew still clinging to them.
Even at full gallop, the journey from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to Suotuo City took two hours.
The candied hawthorns had been made before dawn and brought all the way here with Soul Power keeping them warm.
"Thank Sect Master Ning for me." Flender closed the food box. "Rongrong is training. I'll give it to her later."
"Thank you for your trouble, Dean." The two Soul Masters bowed, then climbed back into the carriage.
The carriage rolled away, disappearing at the end of the road.
Flender carried the food box and bundle into the academy, thinking to himself, Ning Fengzhi really does care for his daughter.
On the training ground, Ning Rongrong was running.
Today, Flender had raised the number of laps to thirty. Oscar and Ma Hongjun were running breathlessly, and Ning Rongrong was gritting her teeth and hanging on, too.
But she didn't stop. Her steps were slow, but she kept moving.
Flender stood by the training ground and called out, "Rongrong, come here."
Ning Rongrong stopped, wiped her sweat, and walked over. "Dean, what is it?"
Flender handed her the food box. "Your father sent someone to bring this."
Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then took the food box and opened it.
A whole box of candied hawthorns. Her eyes reddened at once.
But she bit her lip and didn't let the tears fall.
"Eat it later. Training isn't over yet," Flender said.
"Mm."
Ning Rongrong closed the food box and set it on a stone stump beside the training ground, then turned and started running again.
She didn't sneak a bite or whine that she was tired. She didn't even stop.
Flender watched her back and nodded.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun had already collapsed on the ground. When they saw Ning Rongrong running again, they exchanged a glance, shock in both their eyes.
This young miss was really pushing herself!
"What are you looking at? Keep running!" Flender roared.
Oscar and Ma Hongjun scrambled to their feet and hurried after her.
By the time she finished thirty laps, Ning Rongrong's legs were trembling.
She walked over to the stone stump, opened the food box, picked up a skewer of candied hawthorns, and took a bite.
The sweetness melted in her mouth, and at last, she couldn't hold back her tears. They streamed down her cheeks.
But she made no sound, just ate in silence.
"Rongrong, are you all right?" Ma Hongjun edged over and asked cautiously.
"I'm fine." Ning Rongrong wiped away her tears. "The candied hawthorns are just too sweet. So sweet they're making me cry."
Ma Hongjun opened his mouth to say something, but Oscar pulled him back.
Oscar shook his head, signaling him not to ask.
Ma Hongjun didn't understand, but he still closed his mouth.
Fu Wen stood in the distance, watching Ning Rongrong eat the candied hawthorns. He said nothing.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, council hall.
Ning Fengzhi sat in the seat of honor, holding another intelligence report.
This report was more detailed than the last, recording every little thing Ning Rongrong had done at Shrek.
Running thirty laps, volunteering to wash dishes, helping with laundry, not keeping food to herself, never slacking off during training...
Chen Xin and Gu Rong stood on either side, both waiting for Ning Fengzhi to speak.
"Rongrong ran thirty laps today."
Ning Fengzhi put down the report. "After she finished, she ate the candied hawthorns her Sword Grandpa sent."
The corners of Chen Xin's mouth lifted slightly.
"Did she cry?" Gu Rong asked.
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