The Little Witch's Growing Pains! Bestie's In Love?

Inside the pink-decorated girl's room.

Ning Rongrong sat before the vanity mirror.

Looking at her slightly pale face in the reflection, she let out a soft sigh.

Today was supposed to be like any other day, going to Heaven Dou City to "fish for trouble" and catch a few bad guys.

She had played this game many times before.

She would deliberately duck into secluded alleys, baiting those blind thugs into taking the hook.

Then, the guards hidden in the shadows would step in to take them down.

Every time she saw those arrogant, overbearing hoodlums kneeling and begging for mercy, she felt a special sense of satisfaction.

But today was different.

Today, those three thugs had come for her.

If that man and woman hadn't acted first, her guards would have intercepted them at the very last moment.

But that black-haired youth did not wait for the guards.

He acted immediately.

No nonsense, no hesitation.

The moment the cyan flames ignited, three human lives turned into three charred corpses.

It was the first time she had seen living people turn into corpses right in front of her.

True, tangible death.

Skin and flesh charred and curled in the flames.

Blood congealed and froze in the cold air.

The dying screams were so short they were cut off before they could even be fully uttered.

The image was branded into her mind like a red-hot iron, impossible to shake off.

Ning Rongrong buried her face in her palms and let out a muffled sigh.

If I had known, I wouldn't have gone out today.

"Knock, knock!"

A knocking sound echoed.

Followed immediately by Ning Fengzhi's gentle voice.

"Rongrong, may Daddy come in?"

"Daddy?"

"Um... come in."

Ning Fengzhi pushed the door open and entered.

He had already changed out of his formal attire into a simple, plain-colored robe.

The moment his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses landed on his daughter's pale face, a flicker of heartache crossed his eyes.

He sat down on the edge of the bed.

He reached out and placed his hand on Ning Rongrong's forehead.

He only withdrew his hand after confirming she didn't have a fever.

"Daddy knows about what happened today."

Ning Fengzhi's voice was as gentle as ever.

There was no scolding, no lecturing.

"Daddy, I..."

Ning Rongrong bit her lip. "Those three people died so miserably."

"They wanted to hurt you."

Ning Fengzhi said calmly, "Whether it was that youth who acted or the guards by your side, they deserved to die."

"Rongrong, this world has light and it has darkness; it has good people and it has bad people."

"What you saw today was merely the punishment those bad people deserved."

"So, there is no need to feel guilty for their deaths."

Ning Rongrong remained silent for a long while, then gave a light nod.

Although the discomfort in her heart hadn't completely dissipated, her father's words made her feel a little better.

Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she grabbed Ning Fengzhi's hand.

"Daddy, help me find those two people!"

Ning Fengzhi was slightly taken aback, then a meaningful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"Looking for them?"

"Could it be that our Rongrong wants to cause trouble for them?"

Ning Rongrong widened her eyes, then pursed her lips and rolled her eyes.

"In Dad's eyes, am I really that unreasonable?"

Ning Fengzhi didn't commit, lifting his teacup to gently blow away the foam.

That expression made Ning Rongrong even more annoyed.

Yet, she had no way to refute it.

In the eyes of everyone up and down the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she, Ning Rongrong, was indeed a spoiled little demoness.

Relying on the doting affection of her father, Sword Grandpa, and Bone Grandpa, she spent her days acting lawlessly, doing whatever she pleased.

Thinking about it carefully, her reputation really didn't seem that great.

Ning Rongrong blushed.

Her voice lowered involuntarily.

"I'm not trying to cause them trouble."

"I just... want to thank them."

"Regardless of anything else, they saved me; I can't let good people feel discouraged."

The hand Ning Fengzhi used to hold the teacup paused slightly.

He looked up at his daughter's slightly flushed cheeks and earnest gaze, a surge of indescribable gratification rising in his heart.

This girl, Rongrong, was finally starting to become sensible.

He set the teacup aside.

He reached out and gently rubbed the top of his daughter's head.

"Alright, Dad promises you."

"I will have people look into their whereabouts."

"Once they are found, Dad will personally take you to thank them."

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously.

Watching his daughter's face regain its radiance, Ning Fengzhi suddenly felt that today's incident might truly be an unexpected gift.

That young man had not only made Rongrong face the cruelty of this world for the first time, but had also taught her how to be grateful.

Based on these two points alone, when he found that young man, the reward from him, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, would not be light.

Of course.

If he could incidentally figure out just how much skill that little fellow actually had, that would be even better.

Ning Fengzhi adjusted his glasses, a smile that only he understood appearing at the corners of his mouth.

Moonlight spilled over the magnificent gates of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

This world-renowned institution appeared grand and imposing even in the early morning.

The names of outstanding students from past generations were carved into the towering archway.

The stone pillars on both sides shimmered with a faint luster under the sunlight.

Ye Qing stood at the academy entrance and couldn't help but sneeze.

"Achoo!"

He rubbed his nose, his brows furrowing slightly.

With his current constitution, possessing Hundred Poisons Immunity, he was impervious to water and fire.

Let alone a common cold, even if he were thrown into an ice cellar for the night, he wouldn't catch a chill.

This kind of baseless sneeze was likely someone talking about him behind his back.

The old geezer?

Or those three pieces of trash who went to hell last night?

"What's wrong?"

Dugu Yan stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him.

"Nothing."

Ye Qing shook his head and withdrew his gaze from the academy gate.

"You go on in first."

"You've been on leave for over three months; your dorm room is probably covered in dust. Go back early and tidy it up."

"..."

Dugu Yan did not respond.

She stood where she was, her emerald eyes fixed on Ye Qing, her gaze filled with an indescribable, indefinable emotion.

Ever since they returned to the hotel last night, she had been in a bit of a daze.

They were about to part ways for a while.

Even though it was only temporary, she still felt a sense of emptiness in her heart.

This feeling was unfamiliar, awkward, and not at all like her usual self.

Watching her expression, the corners of Ye Qing's mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

"Don't make that face. Anyone who didn't know better would think you couldn't bear to leave me."

"Who can't bear to leave?" Dugu Yan retorted reflexively.

"Then is it that you can't bear to leave my body?"

Dugu Yan froze for a moment before she realized what he meant. Her face flushed crimson instantly, and she raised her hand to strike him. "Ye Qing! You're asking for a beating!"

Ye Qing laughed and hopped backward to dodge her slap.

He then walked back over and reached out to ruffle the top of her hair.

"I'm just joking."

"I just saw you looking so reluctant and wanted to help you lighten the mood."

"Go on, we'll see each other again tomorrow."

Dugu Yan was silent for a moment, then suddenly stood on her tiptoes and gave him a light peck on the lips.

The movement was so fast it was almost impossible to see.

The sensation of her lips was soft and slightly cool, carrying her unique, faint fragrance.

Before Ye Qing could even react, she had already turned and trotted into the academy gate.

Her long emerald hair traced a beautiful arc in the morning breeze.

Once she reached the inside of the gate, she stopped and turned back to wave at him.

That smile was exceptionally bright in the morning light.

Then, she turned and hurried away, disappearing deep into the academy.

Ye Qing touched the lingering sensation on his lips, watched her back disappear at the end of the academy path, and couldn't help but smile.

How strange.

Even though they had already done everything there was to do in the hotel.

Why did her taking the initiative to kiss him in broad daylight give him a fluttery feeling like a first love?

This feeling was actually quite nice.

He took his enrollment certificate out from his robes to confirm it, then turned and left as well.

Meanwhile, behind an arched stone pillar on the other side of the academy gate, a blue-haired girl stood frozen in place.

She had long blue hair that cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall.

Her eyes matched her hair, clear and bottomless, without a trace of impurity, like the purest sapphires.

Dressed in a simple, plain-colored gown, she possessed an elegant and ethereal temperament.

She was holding a thick pharmacology book in her arms.

A bookmark made of a dried flower was tucked between the pages; she had just come from the library.

Ye Lingling felt that her eyes must have played a trick on her.

She had only been passing by the academy gate.

She had glanced outside unintentionally, only to see a scene that shocked her.

Yanzi, who wouldn't even give the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Yu Tianheng the time of day, had actually taken the initiative to kiss a boy at the academy gate!

And she had smiled so... sweetly?

Ye Lingling rubbed her eyes.

She looked at the black-haired boy's retreating figure, then at the direction in which Dugu Yan had disappeared, and whispered to herself, "Was that really... Yanzi?"

Her tone was full of uncertainty.

What on earth had Yanzi experienced over these past three months?

When she had taken her leave, she had said in a rush that she needed to go home to ask her grandfather about something, and there had been no news of her since.

Now she had suddenly returned.

Her entire temperament had softened.

She was even kissing a man goodbye at the main gate.

Ye Lingling closed the pharmacology book in her hands.

She decided that, no matter what, she had to go to Yanzi's dormitory today and get to the bottom of this.