Glancing at Zhu Zhuqing's retreating figure, Ning Rongrong grinned and patted Tang Yin on the shoulder.
"Tang Yin, you're amazing!"
"What was that move just now? Was it your Self-Created Soul Skill?"
As Tang Yin headed off the platform, he smiled. "You certainly know a lot."
Ning Rongrong lifted her chin and grinned. "Of course!"
She'd received the finest training in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect since childhood, with two Titled Douluo at her side. Things that ordinary people could hardly get near were practically within her grasp.
"Tang Yin!"
Xiao Wu had been waiting in the competitors' passage. The moment she saw Tang Yin return, she hurried over to greet him.
Tang Yin opened his arms and gathered Xiao Wu into his embrace. He spun around twice with her, beaming.
"Me too! Me too!" Ning Rongrong blurted out at the worst possible time.
The next second.
Tang Yin froze with Xiao Wu in his arms. The two of them stared at Ning Rongrong, equally bewildered.
Ning Rongrong's bright eyes shifted slightly. She stepped forward, pulled Xiao Wu out of Tang Yin's arms, then hugged her just as Tang Yin had and spun around twice with her.
Tang Yin and Xiao Wu were both utterly baffled, their expressions strange.
"To celebrate my first victory, let's go have a couple of drinks!" Ning Rongrong cheered after setting Xiao Wu down.
"Drinking again?" Tang Yin rubbed his brow.
"What's wrong with a grown man having a drink? Tang Yin, don't tell me you can't handle it?" Ning Rongrong poked him in the chest and narrowed her eyes with a grin.
"Rongrong, you've got that wrong. Tang Yin is very impressive," Xiao Wu said, her cheeks flushed as she clung tightly to his arm.
"He was the one who got drunk before!" Ning Rongrong put her hands on her hips, wiped her nose with one finger, and looked smug.
Xiao Wu didn't argue with Ning Rongrong again.
Those who knew, knew. And she couldn't explain it to those who didn't. It was too embarrassing.
After collecting their points and rewards, the three of them prepared to leave the Soto Great Soul Arena.
However...
Flender, Yu Xiaogang, their earlier opponents Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, as well as Ma Hongjun and Oscar, were all there.
They seemed to be waiting for them.
When they saw Tang Yin, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong approach, Flender stepped forward.
Tang Yin glanced at Dai Mubai in the crowd. His face was pale, and his clothes were in disarray.
That was thanks to Tang Yin holding back.
Otherwise...
Tang Yin looked away and fixed his gaze on Flender, speaking first. "Hello. Is something the matter?"
Flender hesitated, then pointed at Ning Rongrong and said gravely, "I'm here for her."
At that, Tang Yin and Xiao Wu both looked at Ning Rongrong. She furrowed her brows slightly.
"Weren't you the one who said I was useless and kicked me out?"
"I'm not a student at Shrek Academy anymore!"
"Tang Yin, Xiao Wu, let's go!"
Ning Rongrong raised her head with a huff and led Tang Yin and Xiao Wu around Flender, heading for the exit.
Flender turned to watch them go, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Tang Yin!"
Just then, Yu Xiaogang suddenly spoke. "Your father came to see me."
At those words,
Ning Rongrong stopped in her tracks and looked at Tang Yin along with Xiao Wu.
Tang Yin turned back, half believing him and half doubting him.
"Your father hoped you would join Shrek Academy and let me teach you."
"And in this world, I'm the only one who can solve the biggest problem you're facing with your cultivation."
Yu Xiaogang was naturally referring to Twin Martial Souls.
Tang Yin understood what Yu Xiaogang meant, but he was inclined to doubt the first part of what he'd said, perhaps out of prejudice.
Seeing the suspicion on Tang Yin's face, Yu Xiaogang frowned. "You don't believe me? I still have a letter your father left for you. You can take a look!"
Before he'd finished speaking, Yu Xiaogang took out a letter and held it out.
Tang Yin raised an eyebrow.
"Tang Yin, just take it and see," Xiao Wu said quietly.
"Xiao Wu, what does Tang Yin's father do?" Ning Rongrong whispered.
"I'll tell you when we get back," Xiao Wu replied.
Ning Rongrong gave a slight nod.
After thinking it over, Tang Yin casually sent out a Blue Silver Emperor vine. It coiled precisely around the letter and brought it back to him.
Yu Xiaogang's eyebrows lifted slightly at the sight. "It seems... you've reached a very deep level of mastery in using your Martial Soul. Not bad."
Tang Yin ignored Yu Xiaogang and opened the letter. He recalled the letter Tang Hao had once asked Old Jack to pass on to him, then compared the handwriting on the two. The letters weren't merely similar—they were exactly the same.
It was all clearly a deception.
But even if the letter really had come from Tang Hao, Tang Yin still had no intention of following Yu Xiaogang. He said, "I'm doing just fine as I am, and I've grown used to living without restraint."
"Here, take your letter back."
"Let's go."
Tang Yin tossed the letter toward Yu Xiaogang and paid him no further attention. He took Xiao Wu by the hand and turned to leave. Ning Rongrong made a face at Flender, then hurried after Tang Yin.
Flender's face darkened, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
In the end, he still hadn't managed to carry out the task Ning Fengzhi had given him.
Yu Xiaogang clutched the letter tightly, his fingertips turning white. His brows furrowed as he said, "Let's go back."
At Shrek Academy, in Flender's office.
"Xiaogang, your plan failed. Is there anything else we can do?"
Flender poured himself a cup of cold tea, downed it in one go, then let out a long sigh.
That's right...
The letter Yu Xiaogang had produced earlier was fake...
It hadn't been written by Tang Hao. Yu Xiaogang had written it himself...
He'd thought he could trick Tang Yin, but he hadn't expected... it to be utterly useless!
"I'm out of ideas, too."
"Besides the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Yin has no other family around him. Xiao Wu is the only one who's usually by his side, so he's long since learned to stand on his own."
"It seems... he and I truly aren't meant to be teacher and student..."
Yu Xiaogang shook his head and sighed.
Flender sat down nearby, his face drawn with worry.
For a while,
the only sounds in the room were their sighs.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The main hall.
Ning Fengzhi sat in the seat of honor while a disciple dressed in white knelt on one knee and reported respectfully. "Reporting to the sect master, miss... she left Shrek Academy less than two days after joining. Recently, she's been spending all her time with a young man and a young woman."
"Oh? Did anything happen?" Ning Fengzhi frowned when he heard that things hadn't gone according to his plans. A trace of worry appeared on his refined, handsome face.
"There was one incident. Shortly after miss arrived in Suotuo City, a hooligan harassed her, but we killed him. Later, miss went with those two to Star Dou Forest. We lost track of them along the way, but found them again in a small town a few days later."
"This subordinate failed in his duty. Please punish me, sect master."
The disciple lowered his head deeply.
"Never mind. You may leave."
Ning Fengzhi waved his hand.
The disciple backed away slowly and left the main hall.
"Fengzhi, look at what you've done!"
"If anything happens to Rongrong out there, I'll never forgive you!"
Chen Xin rode in on his sword and scolded Ning Fengzhi, showing no deference to the sect master.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head with a bitter smile.