Setting Out

Bang!

"What?!"

"You're planning to go to the Star Dou Forest alone, and take Tian'er along to study abroad at Shrek Academy?!"

The sound of a palm slamming hard against the solid wood table was followed by Wind Douluo's deafening roar.

He never would have expected that after spending three years tirelessly rushing around the continent, so exhausted his beard had nearly fallen out,

he'd return to the academy and not even have time to warm his seat—

before the young master came rushing over, brimming with excitement, to say he was taking another little ancestor on a trip.

And where were they going? To the home of their imagined enemy!

What old man could possibly put up with that?

"Uh, what's the problem...?"

"What's the problem? Sect Master! You'd better rein in this brat!"

Looking at the youth sprawled on the sofa, as limp and stubborn as a lump of rolled dough,

Wind Douluo knew he couldn't argue with him, so he quickly turned toward the seat of honor, his face full of pleading.

Please, Sect Master, don't agree!

Otherwise, this old man will have to rough it on the road with him again!

On the other side, Ning Hao, who had sensed what Wind Douluo was thinking, was just as troubled.

If he had a choice, he wouldn't want "Yellow Hair" leading his daughter to a place like Shrek Academy, either.

The risks were high, the gains low,

and it would delay her cultivation of the sect's secret arts. It simply wasn't worth it.

But aside from Ning Tian and Zhang Lexuan, Ning Huan was the person he spoke with most.

He knew very well that the boy never acted without a reason.

So he had most likely received some information and, worried that his subordinates couldn't handle things, decided to step in himself!

In the end, Ning Hao gave an almost imperceptible shake of his head, making Wind Douluo's heart sink.

The Sect Master wouldn't... agree, would he...?

Unfortunately, as the saying went, whatever you feared most was sure to happen~

The Nine Treasures Glazed Sect, already too far down this road to turn back, wouldn't halt its progress for the sake of one man's labor.

"Uncle Feng, don't get worked up. If Xiao Huan has brought up a request to travel, he must have his reasons. Let's hear him out first."

As soon as the words fell, Wind Douluo's vision went dark, and he felt as if all hope had abandoned him.

His helpless air, as if he'd lost every means of resistance, made the other two elders chuckle to themselves.

"Old Feng, you really should get your body moving more. You have a Wind Martial Soul, after all. It's no good staying cooped up in the academy all day."

Shield Defense Douluo had barely finished speaking when Sword Douluo, who had been watching the show all along, chimed in.

"Exactly. It'll keep you from spending all day in the academy, playing with cats and walking birds. You don't act like an elder at all."

"Then why don't you two go?"

"Listen to yourself. My Martial Soul is the Armored Dragon Heavy Shield. I'm naturally not fond of moving around. As for Old Sword, he's the strongest, so he has to protect the Sect Master at all times. He can't leave."

Wind Douluo: "..."

Well, well!

The two of them had teamed up to bully an old man!

Fine!

Once this kid's plan got underway, you two would suffer for it!

While the three elders traded jests, Ning Hao, who had somehow taken a seat across from Ning Huan, finally voiced his question.

"Xiao Huan, can you tell me what you're thinking? What made you, after three years of keeping to yourself, decide to come out?"

"And why is it so... well, ambitious?"

There was no helping it. Supporting him was one thing, but not understanding him was another.

After all, in Ning Hao's eyes, the two things Ning Huan planned to do were too risky and too irrational.

They didn't seem like decisions he would make.

Going to the Star Dou Forest was one thing.

A fifty-seventh-level Soul King, with a whole arsenal of unfathomable tricks.

As long as he didn't trespass into the core area or provoke a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, nothing was likely to go wrong.

But [taking Ning Tian to study abroad at Shrek Academy] left him utterly baffled.

Who on earth was at Shrek?!

Ning Hao seemed to suddenly think of something.

His eyes narrowed, and several seemingly unrelated pieces of information instantly connected in his mind.

Then, almost unconsciously, he looked up at the youth before him, clicking his tongue in shock.

Could the Second Young Master of the White Tiger have been Ning Huan's doing?!

Could he be going there this time to keep an eye on him?

It's possible!

By contrast, when Ning Huan noticed Ning Hao's change in expression, he looked utterly helpless.

He felt that the things he'd arranged over the past three years had been completely nonsensical.

Without knowing what had come before, anyone would be at a loss.

And yet Ning Hao could still guess more or less what was going on...

Smart people were truly a pain!

"Uncle Ning, just keep it to yourself. Don't get me into trouble."

"Get out of here! I'm not a child. I know what's important!"

"Uh, I'm not worried about you. What I'm concerned about is..."

Ning Huan couldn't help looking out the window.

Beyond it lay the private training ground reserved for the Sect Master's family.

At that moment, the three elders were already fighting fiercely in the air.

There was no sign at all of the solemn dignity expected of titled elders.

"..."

Ning Hao's face darkened, and he fell silent. Only after a long while did he speak again.

"I understand. I'll find some pretext to explain things to Uncle Feng. Don't worry."

"As for you... be careful in everything!"

"Remember, if things go wrong, you must keep yourself and Tian'er safe."

"Keep the green hills, and you'll never run out of firewood!"

"Okay."

Seeing Ning Hao's worried expression as he repeated his warnings, Ning Huan felt a sudden warmth in his heart.

Thinking back on their time together over the past three years, he realized that without noticing, he had already come to regard the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect as his home.

At first, I only meant for us to help each other out...

Forget it. Who can ever make sense of feelings...?

After silently grumbling to himself, Ning Huan stood and straightened his clothes, then headed for the door.

"No time to waste. I'll set out first. You can make whatever arrangements you like for Shrek Academy and Tian'er. I just need to stay for three months."

"I understand. Aren't you going to say goodbye to Tian'er and the other girl before you leave?"

"No. It's only a month. That's not long."

"What about supplies?"

"They're ready. See you... Uncle Ning."

"...See you."

Thud.

The muffled sound of the door closing drifted through the reception room.

When it faded, silence followed.

A moment later, a breeze stirred.

"Sect Master, the brat's gone?"

"Mm. Young people have their own ideas. We can't keep them under our wings forever."

"Should this old man go with him?"

This time, Ning Hao didn't answer directly. He returned to his desk and took out a sheet of letter paper as he spoke:

"Uncle Feng, I know you're the closest to Xiao Huan in private, but he has to move forward on his own."

"The Star Dou Forest is the best proving ground for his first true steps onto the continent."

"Besides, with his cleverness and tricks, who could harm him?"

As he spoke, a hint of amusement and anticipation suddenly appeared on his usually impassive face.

"Just wait and see. Before long, Shrek will have some amusing story to tell~"

At those words, Wind Douluo's hand froze mid-stroke as he stroked his beard.

Sensing that something was terribly wrong, he had just started to slip away when Sword Douluo and Shield Defense Douluo grabbed him by the shoulders together, leaving him unable to move.

"Just right, Uncle Feng. Run another errand and deliver this letter to Yan Shaozhe. I imagine his expression will be quite something."

"Uh, Sect Master, can I not go?"

But the only response was Ning Hao's sly grin.