Will Rongrong Surpass Me?

At night, in the dormitory.

Ning Rongrong lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

She was thinking about what Flender had said.

"You're a support, not a commander."

In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, everyone listened to her.

If she said east, no one dared go west. Whatever she said, went.

But at Shrek, that wouldn't work.

Because no one here would listen to her.

Not Flender. Not Zhao Wuji.

Not Oscar or Ma Hongjun, and Fu Wen certainly wouldn't.

She had to learn to be a support, not a commander.

"Rongrong, are you still awake?"

Oscar's voice came from the bed beside hers.

"Yes."

"Still thinking about what happened today?"

"Mm."

Oscar was silent for a moment, then said, "Dean Flender was right. You're a support, not a commander. But when you gave me orders today, I didn't feel uncomfortable. You were right to give them."

Ning Rongrong froze for a moment.

"You told me to attack from the side, so I did. You told me to force him to make a move, so I did. Your judgment was right."

Oscar paused.

"So I think you're not only a support. You can be a commander, too."

Ning Rongrong sat up and looked at Oscar. "Brother Oscar, are you serious?"

"Completely."

Oscar nodded.

"But Dean Flender was right, too. Your first duty is to provide support, not to command. You only need to speak up when necessary. The rest of the time, just do your own job."

Ning Rongrong thought it over, then nodded. "I understand."

"Then go to sleep."

Oscar rolled over.

"We have training tomorrow."

"Mm."

Ning Rongrong lay back down and closed her eyes.

Her mind was still replaying the battle from that day.

Support. Commander.

She had to do both jobs well.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Night had fallen, but the lights were still on in Ning Fengzhi's study.

He sat at his desk, holding the confidential report that had just arrived from Shrek. His brows alternately relaxed and furrowed as he read.

The report was more detailed than any before it, recording Ning Rongrong's performance in a recent small-scale match.

She had observed and analyzed the situation, then directed Oscar to find a blind spot in Fu Wen's Flow-Severing. In the end, Oscar had managed to touch Fu Wen's clothes.

Ning Fengzhi set the report down and took a sip of tea. It had already gone cold, but he didn't notice.

"Sect Master, you're still up?"

Gu Rong pushed open the door. Seeing Ning Fengzhi still at his desk, he couldn't help frowning.

"I can't sleep." Ning Fengzhi put down his teacup. "Rongrong's performance today surprised me a little."

"Surprised? Didn't she do well?"

Gu Rong walked over and picked up the report from the desk. He skimmed it, his eyes lighting up. "That girl actually found a blind spot in Flow-Severing? How long has she been there? Less than half a month, right?"

"Half a month." Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Flender says her combat instincts are excellent, better than Oscar's and Ma Hongjun's."

Gu Rong put down the report and was quiet for a moment before speaking. "Sect Master, you used to worry about Rongrong's temper and feared she'd never change. Seeing her like this, you should be relieved."

"Relieved? When have I ever been relieved?" Ning Fengzhi gave a bitter smile. "She runs thirty laps, and I worry about her. She falls from the sky, and I worry about her. She helps other people wash their clothes, and I still worry about her. I know she needs to go through all this, but I can't help worrying."

Gu Rong said nothing.

He was a Titled Douluo. He had seen countless deaths and killed countless enemies; his heart was harder than iron.

But when it came to Rongrong, his heart was softer than anyone's.

He felt everything Ning Fengzhi had said just as deeply.

"Gu Rong, do you think Rongrong will hate me someday?" Ning Fengzhi asked suddenly.

"Hate you? Why?"

"Hate me for being cruel and sending her to suffer in a place like that."

Gu Rong thought it over, then shook his head. "She won't. Rongrong may be willful, but she isn't stupid. She knows you're doing it for her own good."

Ning Fengzhi was silent for a long time and said nothing more.

Gu Rong knew what the sect master was thinking, so he didn't disturb him further. He turned and walked out.

Shrek Academy, dormitory.

Fu Wen lay in bed with his eyes closed, but his mind was still on the battle that day.

Ning Rongrong had found the blind spot in Flow-Severing.

He hadn't expected that.

The blind spot in Flow-Severing did exist.

His tail swept from back to front, and covering the side required him to turn around.

In a high-speed battle, that moment of turning really was an opening.

But it took tremendous speed to seize it.

Oscar's Flying Sausage was fast enough. Ning Rongrong had spotted the opening, Oscar had carried out the tactic, and the two of them had worked together successfully.

Oscar's punch hadn't hurt him at all, but the tactic itself had succeeded.

Fu Wen opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling.

The young miss was improving much faster than he had expected.

Not just in strength, but in her mindset.

She was no longer the spoiled little princess she had once been. She was becoming a Soul Master who could think, observe, and work with others.

Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

Fu Wen thought it over and decided it was a good thing.

The stronger Ning Rongrong became, the stronger Shrek would be as a whole.

The stronger their future enemies were, the stronger their companions would need to be.

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

"No."

"Do you think Rongrong will surpass me someday?" Ma Hongjun asked, a trace of worry in his voice.

"Wouldn't it be perfectly normal for her to surpass you?" Fu Wen said flatly.

"What kind of thing is that to say?" Ma Hongjun sat up. "I'm a genius, too, you know! Evil Fire Phoenix! A top-tier Beast Martial Soul!"

"You're a genius, too." Fu Wen glanced at him. "But your genius is in fighting. Hers is in her head."

Ma Hongjun froze for a moment. He thought it over, then lay back down.

"That actually makes some sense."

Fu Wen didn't reply. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

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

Today she was even earlier than Fu Wen.

By the time Fu Wen arrived, she had already run ten laps.

"Why are you here so early today?" Fu Wen asked, surprised.

"I couldn't sleep." Ning Rongrong kept running. "I thought about what happened yesterday all night."

"And what did you come up with?"

"I realized Flow-Severing has another blind spot besides the side."

Fu Wen raised an eyebrow. "What blind spot?"

"Below you." Ning Rongrong stopped and looked at Fu Wen. "Your tail sweeps horizontally, so it can't reach the ground. If someone attacks your lower body from ground level, Flow-Severing won't help you."

Fu Wen fell silent.

Ning Rongrong was right.

Flow-Severing's range covered the waist and above. It did have a blind spot against attacks from ground level.

But the problem was, who would attack him from the ground?

"I know what you're thinking."

Ning Rongrong said, "You think no one will attack you from the ground because all your opponents fight standing up. But what if you come across an opponent skilled in earth-walking techniques someday? Or a Soul Beast that can attack from underground?"