The Contrast

"Jiao Maiden?"

Wu Feng wiped her eyes after hearing that, and once she confirmed she hadn't misread it, she immediately retorted:

"Isn't that a mermaid among the Sea Soul Beasts?"

"She doesn't look anything like one!"

"Don't you go taking advantage of me just because I haven't read much!"

After looking the girl up and down, so pleased with herself at having found a mistake, Ning Huan couldn't help letting out a long, mournful sigh.

Then he looked toward Ning Tian with sympathy in his eyes.

With a "wise" sister like that, her days must be hard.

Wasn't that how it had gone in the original story, too?

She'd had a pretty good start.

But because Wu Feng was arrogant and hot-tempered, she'd completely shut down any chance of getting on good terms with Huo Yuhao early on.

And then there was the [Qiankun Asking Love Valley].

One reckless, blunt move after another, until she'd driven her master to the point of wanting to kill herself.

Tsk, tsk. What a miserable tale.

At the edge of the ring, Ning Tian noticed the pitying gaze from nearby and couldn't help pressing a hand to her forehead with a sigh.

Then she gave him a rueful smile and quietly explained:

"Ah, Feng Mei, is it possible that the 'jiao' Brother Ning Huan meant was the jiao in 'flood dragon'?"

"The lecturer covered that in one of our recent lessons."

"Seems I've been too lenient lately, and you've grown rather lax. Starting tomorrow, your free time is cut in half!"

In just three sentences, she'd gone from gently explaining things to firmly deciding on a punishment.

Wu Feng, who had been gloating just moments earlier, froze on the spot, her expression rigid.

Heaven knew, she really had been studying hard lately.

But a Jiao Maiden was rarer than those so-called precious Soul Beasts!

There might not even be a handful of them across the entire Douluo Continent!

Who would dare confidently identify one at first glance?

But her young mistress had already given the order. No matter how unwilling she was, she could only grit her teeth and accept it.

"Yes..."

"So what should you be doing now?"

The instant the words left Ning Tian's mouth, Wu Feng relit her First Soul Ring without another word.

As flames surged, two streaks of blue light swept past in perfect time, making her aura grow even stronger.

"This is all your fault for getting me punished! Take this! Dragon Fire!"

The next second, flames and water collided once more.

An even thicker mist than before instantly spread across most of the ring.

"Hey, what's this? Sneaking in a hit, are we?"

Although Ning Huan had been watching the show the whole time, the attack still caught him off guard.

But the absolute gap in their cultivation, strength, and attributes meant he didn't need to worry about any attack.

"Water Prison. Seal."

At the command, Cang Lan casually waved her hand, and water rapidly gathered around Wu Feng.

In the blink of an eye, a ball of water one meter in diameter had formed.

The red-haired girl, who had been baring her claws and waving her arms, was trapped inside, unable to move.

Only her head, spared from the prison, remained above the surface.

She glared at the culprit before her, gritting her teeth.

"I really don't know what you were thinking. You know water and fire counter each other, yet you still charged at me head-on."

"Though, I guess you'd have lost even if you hadn't charged."

Seeing the fury on Wu Feng's face, Ning Huan finally couldn't help laughing.

"Quit talking! What the hell is this thing? Why can't I circulate my Soul Power?!"

Hearing her demand, Ning Tian, who had just been carried over by the water, looked curious as well.

If she remembered correctly, the Jiao Maiden shouldn't have any sealing abilities.

"It's a developed extension of Cang Lan's water-control abilities."

"Through physical or Soul Power contact, she infuses her own Soul Power into the other person's body."

"That disrupts the circulation of their Soul Power and can even 'seal' it."

Ning Huan didn't hide much about it. He explained it right there.

After all, the Soul Ring restriction meant he couldn't use Cang Lan as a trump card.

At least until he could increase her Soul Ring's age without any restrictions, she could only bully weaklings like Wu Feng.

Of course.

She might be nothing but a pretty face for now.

But as a Spirit Body with such unusual abilities, he'd always had high hopes for her.

After all, she wasn't a vicious Soul Beast, yet the Soul Beasts of Star Dou had still rejected and hunted her. That was truly strange.

So she had to possess some special ability he didn't know about!

Remembering how he'd first met Cang Lan, Ning Huan was overcome by mixed feelings.

Ah, I really don't know if this is a blessing or a curse...

"Hey! What are you thinking about? Hurry up and let me down!"

The sudden sharp cry broke the somewhat heavy atmosphere.

Ning Huan snapped out of his reverie, dispelling the worry lingering in his heart for the moment.

Where there was a will, there was a way.

Once he was strong enough—

Even if Star Dou still rejected Cang Lan and brought powerful enemies down on them, he wouldn't fear them.

Once his thoughts had settled, Ning Huan pulled himself together, his tone unconsciously turning a little teasing.

"I can let you down, but first you have to say you're convinced."

"Convinced? What are you talking about? Why would I be convinced by you?!"

"Then you can stay in there."

"Ahhhhh! You bastard! Just you wait—try sleeping with your eyes open tonight!"

In that moment, the boy suddenly understood why adults used to love teasing children until they cried.

It really was fun!

But in this situation, he obviously couldn't take it too far.

Her young mistress was right here, after all.

He glanced at Ning Tian, who had been deep in thought for some time, and an idea struck him.

Then he silently marveled at how much this girl had on her mind.

She wasn't even in the position to make decisions, yet she worried about affairs of state.

Wasn't that exhausting...?

Snap!

Suddenly feeling a little bored, Ning Huan snapped his fingers, and the water ball burst apart.

Completely unprepared, Wu Feng dropped straight to the ground and let out a pained cry.

"You're such a nasty person!"

"Oh? Do you want to spend some more time in there?"

Cang Lan obediently puckered her lips, putting on a fierce expression that somehow looked rather cute.

Frightened by the human and Soul Beast, Wu Feng shivered and didn't dare provoke them again.

That helpless feeling of crying to heaven with no answer and calling to the earth with no response was something she really didn't want to experience again.

Hmph!

A wise woman didn't fight when the odds were against her. Just wait and see!

Only after the two had finished their roughhousing did Ning Tian slowly step forward.

The close interaction between the boy and the Spirit Body made her expression even more complicated.

"More than four years ago, there were rumors of a Jiao Maiden appearing on the outskirts of Star Dou Forest. It caused quite a stir across the continent."

"My father sent people to search for it, too, but after spending months and a great deal of manpower, they came back empty-handed."

"Some people even thought it had all been a hoax. I never expected it to end up in your hands."

Ning Huan was taken aback by her words, but he quickly recovered.

"It was just a lucky coincidence."

"But you seem to know a lot about Cang Lan."

"Hm? You don't know?" Ning Tian looked genuinely surprised.

This young man, who could talk about anything with her father, actually had something he didn't know?

"Uh... should I know?"

"And I feel like you might have the wrong idea about me."

Seeing the girl's astonished expression, Ning Huan understood almost immediately.

She really does think I know everything.

Being able to talk with your fox of a father is just thanks to the memories from my previous life.

When it comes to basic knowledge, I'm not even as good as Wu Feng right now!

At the same time, Ning Tian remembered that Ning Huan hadn't come from a particularly distinguished background, so she quickly changed the subject.

In the end, a deep foundation wasn't something talent could entirely make up for.