Ning Rongrong's little schemes were never going to escape Xiao Yexuan's notice.
Still, Xiao Yexuan didn't call her out. He simply smiled and nodded, thanking her for being willing to share the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's research on pills with him.
As for what to do next, Xiao Yexuan rubbed his chin, his gaze flickering slightly. He had already made other plans.
He looked up at the others and spoke directly:
"I heard the family with the deepest knowledge of medicinal herbs is the Nine Hearts Begonia Clan. I'm planning to visit them this afternoon and exchange ideas."
"The Nine Hearts Begonia Clan?"
Ning Rongrong seemed to know quite a bit about the clan. She quickly picked up the conversation, her eyes brightening as she said,
"They do produce quite a few pills."
"But those pills are only a tiny bit more effective than ordinary medicinal baths."
"At least you don't have to soak for ages like you do in a medicinal bath. You can start cultivating as soon as you've taken one, which saves a lot of time."
"That's why so many Soul Masters go crazy for them, scrambling over each other just to get their hands on a pill."
After hearing Ning Rongrong's explanation, Xiao Yexuan nodded lightly. A glint of understanding flashed in his eyes, and his resolve to visit the Nine Hearts Begonia Clan grew even firmer.
Once Xiao Yexuan made up his mind, he rarely changed it.
The three women didn't try to stop him. Instead, they happily accompanied him as they left Blue Tyrant Academy together.
Sunlight fell on them, sketching out a relaxed, carefree scene.
The moment Xiao Yexuan and the others stepped through Blue Tyrant Academy's gates, two furtive figures slipped out of the shadows at the street corner and quietly followed them.
They were Tang San and Dai Mubai.
Both wore sinister smiles, their eyes brimming with scheming malice, like wolves stalking their prey.
Xiao Yexuan had finally left Blue Tyrant Academy!
Now that he was no longer under the protection of Liu Erlong, a powerful Soul Saint, they could finally teach him a lesson!
Both men had been nursing a grudge. They didn't just want to beat Xiao Yexuan to a pulp—they also wanted to seize the power he possessed, the power that made women lose themselves in him.
Then they could take Xiao Yexuan's place and become the men with the most luck with women in the world!
Time passed quickly.
Xiao Yexuan and the others chatted and laughed as they walked. When they passed a secluded alley, Tang San and Dai Mubai finally found their chance to strike.
The two of them suddenly charged out from around the alley's corner, their feet pounding against the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust as they blocked Xiao Yexuan, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.
They wore malicious smiles, their vicious eyes fixed on Xiao Yexuan.
"Tang San, Dai Mubai, what are you two doing here?"
The moment Xiao Wu saw them, her brows knitted together. Her pretty face darkened, and open disgust showed on her face as she spoke with a note of caution.
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing. She hurried straight to Xiao Yexuan and shielded him firmly behind her.
In her eyes, Xiao Yexuan was the weakest of them all. She had to protect him, afraid that Dai Mubai and Tang San might attack him from behind.
Her gaze was especially fixed on Tang San, wary to the point that she wouldn't leave even the tiniest opening.
Tang San had plenty of Hidden Weapons that could catch people off guard. She couldn't let him take the opportunity to ambush Xiao Yexuan.
If Xiao Yexuan got hurt because of her, she would never forgive herself.
When Ning Rongrong saw the two men blocking their way with ill intent, she showed not the slightest panic. Instead, a mocking smile tugged at her lips.
Without hesitation, she reached into the Storage Soul Tool at her waist and pulled out a specially made firework, no bigger than her thumb.
She gently tugged the fuse. With a sharp pop, a dazzling golden firework shot into the sky and burst open with a roar, transforming into a gigantic Glazed Lotus.
Though it was broad daylight, the firework still blazed brilliantly, standing out against the clear sky.
For the people of the Douluo Continent, a firework this beautiful was something most had never seen before.
The firework bloomed in all its splendor overhead. It was the highest-level distress signal reserved for Ning Rongrong by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
And this was Heaven Dou City, where the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had countless people stationed throughout the streets and alleys.
It wouldn't be long before Soul Masters came rushing over in droves to protect them.
Besides, plenty of powerful Soul Masters knew the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's distress signal.
Even if they only showed up to put on a display of strength and help the sect out of a tight spot, they could still earn a generous reward from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Ning Rongrong, you bitch! You really had to use a distress signal like that?"
Dai Mubai recognized the signal Ning Rongrong had sent at a glance. He began trembling with fear, his face as pale as paper, his voice thick with resentment.
He never imagined Ning Rongrong would go to such lengths just to protect a useless nobody like Xiao Yexuan!
Tang San's face turned deathly pale as well. The hand gripping his Hidden Weapon trembled. He didn't dare linger.
Tang San and Dai Mubai didn't dare stay another second. They fled in a panic, bolting away as fast as their legs could carry them. In the blink of an eye, they vanished at the end of the alley.
Watching them run off in such a sorry state, Ning Rongrong put her hands on her hips, her chest rising and falling slightly. She snorted and pursed her lips.
"They ran away already? How boring!"
Surrounded by the others, Xiao Yexuan watched Tang San and Dai Mubai flee in disarray and secretly rejoiced.
But he immediately put on a look of deep sorrow and dejection. He let out a soft sigh and spoke in a low voice:
"It seems my strength... my strength is still far too weak... Thank you for protecting me today..."
"My lord, there's no need to thank us!"
Zhu Zhuqing hurried to comfort him, her voice earnest. She gently patted Xiao Yexuan on the shoulder,
"Most of the reason you ran into trouble like this is because of us."
"And, my lord, your potential is incredible. You don't need to put yourself down like that."
"I believe it won't be long before you surpass them!"
"Exactly!"
Xiao Wu quickly nodded in agreement, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Xiao Yexuan, her voice full of admiration,
"My lord, it's not just your potential that's incredible. You also have a kind heart!"
"My lord, you went out today to study pills, so you could bring happiness to the people of the Douluo Continent."
Ning Rongrong put her hands on her hips again and added indignantly, her brows drawn together,
"Someone as righteous as you gets envied by scoundrels like Tang San and Dai Mubai. They even try to assassinate and bully you—they're worse than beasts!"
"I'm going to expose every last one of their crimes!"
Before you continue