Gift of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile!

"Correct."

Ning Fengzhi nodded.

"Fast reactions, and fast speed."

"What is his Martial Soul?"

"Mutated Sea Crocodile, two rings, level twenty-three."

"Two rings, level twenty-three, at six years old."

Chen Xin muttered to himself.

"This child is no simple matter."

"Indeed, he is not."

Gu Rong took over the conversation.

"His second soul skill is called Flow-Severing; with one sweep of his tail, he can forcibly interrupt an opponent's Soul Power flow. To be able to do such a thing at only two rings, his Martial Soul is definitely not an ordinary Mutated Sea Crocodile."

"I know."

Ning Fengzhi nodded.

"But since Flender says it is a Mutated Sea Crocodile, we shall treat it as a Mutated Sea Crocodile."

Chen Xin and Gu Rong exchanged glances, both understanding Ning Fengzhi's intent.

Do not expose, do not inquire, do not recruit; only maintain good relations.

"And there is that child named Oscar; the value of his Flying Sausage is becoming higher and higher."

Ning Fengzhi continued.

"One hundred Gold Soul Coins per piece, long-term acquisition. What do you think of this offer?"

"Too low."

Gu Rong shook his head.

"The speed of a Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow is something even a seven-ring Soul Saint cannot catch up to. Buying a life for one hundred Gold Soul Coins is far too cheap."

"Then let us increase it to one hundred and fifty."

Ning Fengzhi thought for a moment.

"Rongrong is studying there; her tuition, living expenses, and training fees should all be doubled."

"Sect Master, are you just going there to hand out money?"

Gu Rong could not help but laugh.

"What is wrong with handing out money?"

Ning Fengzhi sounded perfectly justified.

"My daughter is studying there, so what is wrong with me giving them a bit more money?"

Gu Rong laughed and shook his head, saying nothing more.

Chen Xin stood up, took the secret report to read it once more, then carefully folded it and tucked it into his robes.

"Uncle Sword, what are you..."

Gu Rong was stunned.

"Keeping it as a memento."

Chen Xin said.

"A record of Rongrong's first time running."

Gu Rong opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed it back down.

Ning Fengzhi watched Chen Xin's actions, a wave of bitterness washing over his heart.

This Uncle Sword's affection for Rongrong was even deeper than he had imagined.

"Sect Master, I have a request."

Chen Xin looked up at Ning Fengzhi.

"Please, speak."

"Next time you send a secret report, have someone bring some things over."

Chen Xin paused.

"Bring a few more strings of the candied haws that Rongrong likes to eat. No matter how good the food is over there, it cannot compare to what we have in the sect. She has been a picky eater since she was small; I fear she won't be used to the food."

"Uncle Sword, Flender mentioned in the letter that Rongrong eats every meal with great appetite."

Ning Fengzhi gave a wry smile.

"Please, stop treating her like a small child."

"In my eyes, she will always be a child."

Chen Xin finished speaking, turned, and walked out.

Gu Rong watched Chen Xin's retreating figure, sighed, and followed him out.

Only Ning Fengzhi remained in the grand hall.

He sat back in his chair, picked up the secret report to read it once more, and the corners of his mouth curled upward slightly.

"Rongrong, Daddy is proud of you."

Early the next morning, a carriage from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect appeared once again at the gates of Shrek Academy.

This time it was not Ning Fengzhi himself, but two Soul Masters dressed in the sect's attire.

One carried a large parcel, while the other held a food box in his hand.

Flender stood at the gate, looking at the gilded carriage, his brows slightly furrowed.

"And you two are..."

"Dean Flender, the Sect Master has ordered us to deliver some items to Miss Rongrong."

The Soul Master carrying the parcel bowed in salute: "These are Miss Rongrong's seasonal clothing and some daily necessities."

Flender nodded, not asking further questions.

It was perfectly reasonable for Ning Fengzhi to send things to his daughter.

"This food box contains the candied haws that Miss Rongrong loves."

The other Soul Master handed over the food box: "The Sect Master said that Miss Rongrong has been working hard at the academy, so he wanted her to have something sweet."

Flender took the food box and opened it to take a look.

The candied haws were arranged neatly, each skewer wrapped in oil paper, still glistening with the morning dew.

From the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to Suotuo City, it took at least two hours even at a gallop.

These candied haws had been made in the early hours of the morning and kept warm with Soul Power all the way here.

"Thank Sect Master Ning for me." Flender closed the food box: "Rongrong is in training; I will give it to her in a while."

"We have troubled you, Dean." The two Soul Masters bowed and turned to board the carriage.

The carriage drove away, disappearing at the end of the road.

Flender carried the food box and the parcel into the academy, sighing to himself: Ning Fengzhi truly dotes on this daughter.

On the training ground, Ning Rongrong was running.

Today, Flender had increased the laps to thirty. Oscar and Ma Hongjun were panting heavily, and Ning Rongrong was also gritting her teeth to hold on.

But she did not stop; her pace was slow, yet she did not cease.

Flender stood at the edge of the field 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 had someone bring this for you."

Ning Rongrong was stunned for a moment, then took the box and opened it.

Candied haws, a full box. Her eyes turned red instantly.

But she bit her lip, not letting the tears fall.

"Eat it later; training isn't over yet," Flender said.

"Mm."

Ning Rongrong closed the food box, placed it on a stone pedestal at the edge of the field, and turned to continue running.

She did not sneak a bite, nor did she act spoiled or complain of fatigue; she didn't even pause.

Flender watched her retreating figure and nodded.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun were already sprawled on the ground. Seeing Ning Rongrong start running again, they exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

Is this young lady really going that hard?

"Still looking? Keep running!" Flender roared.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun scrambled to their feet and hurried off to run.

After finishing the thirty laps, Ning Rongrong's legs were trembling.

She walked to the stone pedestal, opened the food box, picked up a skewer of candied haws, and took a bite.

The sweetness melted in her mouth, and her tears finally could not be held back, streaming down her cheeks.

But she made no sound, simply eating in silence.

"Rongrong, are you okay?" Ma Hongjun leaned in and asked cautiously.

"I'm fine." Ning Rongrong wiped away her tears: "It's just that the candied haws are too sweet—so sweet they made me cry."

Ma Hongjun opened his mouth to say something, but was pulled back by Oscar.

Oscar shook his head at him, signaling him not to ask.

Although Ma Hongjun didn't understand, he still shut his mouth.

Fu Wen stood in the distance, watching the back of Ning Rongrong as she ate her candied hawthorn, saying nothing.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, assembly hall.

Ning Fengzhi sat in the main seat, holding another secret report in his hand.

The contents of this report were more detailed than the last, recording every little thing Ning Rongrong had done at Shrek.

Running thirty laps, washing dishes voluntarily, helping with the laundry, not eating alone, 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 running, she ate the candied hawthorn her Sword Grandpa gave her."

The corners of Chen Xin's mouth lifted slightly.

"Did she cry?" Gu Rong asked.