By My Years of Experience

With a soft sigh, Ning Yurong stepped forward, grabbed Xue Mingqing's wrist, and led him toward the carriage behind them.

Caught by Ning Yurong's slender hand, Xue Mingqing's body instinctively stiffened. Somewhat awkwardly, he followed her forward.

He had never been particularly good at interacting with girls.

"Don't be nervous. I won't eat you."

Noticing Xue Mingqing's tension, Ning Yurong teased him with a Xiao.

Seemingly realizing his own embarrassment, Xue Mingqing coughed awkwardly. He truly did relax a little, then followed Ning Yurong into the carriage.

Seeing this, the six people led by Wang Chao, standing over twenty meters from the carriage, blinked in confusion. None of them could figure out what Ning Yurong was thinking.

Among them, Ma Han, whose face was covered in a thick beard, stroked his chin as though he had understood something.

Beside him, Wang Chao noticed the gesture, raised a brow, and nudged Ma Han with his shoulder.

"Looking at you... you figured something out?"

Stroking his beard, Ma Han pondered.

"By my years of experience..."

After a brief pause that thoroughly whetted everyone's appetite, Ma Han blurted out—

"That little girl will probably become our young mistress..."

Inside the carriage, Xue Mingqing and Ning Yurong stood facing each other. He rubbed his nose and put on a profound expression.

"So... ahem, Sister Yu Rong, what did you want to say?"

Since Ning Yurong called him little brother, it was only natural for Xue Mingqing to call her big sister.

Hearing how Xue Mingqing addressed her, Ning Yurong's gaze softened further.

"I called you over because I wanted to return this to you..."

As she spoke, her delicate hand swept over the storage Soul Tool at her waist, taking something out.

Xue Mingqing lowered his gaze, and his pupils suddenly contracted!

Lying in Ning Yurong's hand was unmistakably a Soul Bone!

Judging by its appearance, it was even a right arm bone with a considerable cultivation age!

"What does this have to do with me?"

Raising his head in confusion, Xue Mingqing now understood why Ning Yurong had sent Wang Chao and the others away.

There had always been a saying that wealth moved people's hearts. To Soul Masters, however, a Soul Bone was a treasure more precious than any riches.

If Ning Yurong had really taken this thing out in front of everyone, who knew what might have happened!

Seeing Xue Mingqing's uncertain expression, Ning Yurong gave a faint Xiao. She stepped forward, took his hand, and placed the Soul Bone in his palm.

"Take it. It dropped when you instantly killed that Four-Eyed Demon Fox earlier. You were unconscious at the time, so I kept it for you because I was afraid something might happen."

Hearing this, Xue Mingqing gave Ning Yurong a deep look. His opinion of her character rose another notch.

A Soul Bone's allure to Soul Masters was fatal, and Xue Mingqing was no exception.

Even he had felt the urge to claim it for himself the instant he saw it.

But Ning Yurong...

Thinking of this, Xue Mingqing could not help but give a Xiao. He casually stored the Soul Bone in his storage Soul Tool, then patted Ning Yurong on the shoulder.

"Thank you. You're a good person."

"..."

Ning Yurong's pretty face stiffened slightly at his words, and she gave Xue Mingqing a helpless look.

She said nothing more.

For a moment, the carriage fell into a somewhat delicate silence...

When someone focused intently on something, time passed quickly.

That was especially true for Xue Mingqing's group, who were focused on traveling.

Even with Ning Yurong joining them, their pace was not disrupted. Instead, she gave the mercenaries a reason to tease Xue Mingqing during meals.

As for what they teased him about...

Naturally, it was all sorts of topics that made both Ning Yurong and Xue Mingqing blush furiously.

Several days of travel passed in the blink of an eye, seemingly proving Xue Mingqing's earlier words—

Gamblers would not lose every day, children would not cry every day, and he was not Conan either.

After setting out again, they truly did not encounter any unusual situations.

The journey was completely smooth and unhindered. By the time they stopped once more—

They had arrived before a magnificent, bustling, prosperous city—

And this was Nine Treasures City, a city established by the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect near Sky Soul City.

Standing before Nine Treasures City's gates, a trace of reluctance appeared on Ning Yurong's usually calm and composed, stunningly beautiful face.

She looked at Xue Mingqing's group, but her gaze rested solely on Xue Mingqing.

She spoke again. "Little Brother Mingqing, are you really not coming in to sit for a while? At least let me fulfill my duties as a host."

Seeing this, Wang Chao and the others considerately moved away, leaving space for Xue Mingqing and Ning Yurong.

It was fine to joke around and tease them a little with Xiao during the journey, but they knew how to read the situation.

Ning Yurong clearly only had something to say to Xue Mingqing. If they went over now, they would simply be lacking in manners.

Hearing Ning Yurong's words, Xue Mingqing, seated cross-legged on the carriage seat with a gentle Xiao, merely shook his head.

"No, Sister Yu Rong. We still need to continue on to Shrek, so it wouldn't be convenient for us to stay too long."

At that, Ning Yurong's rosy eyes dimmed slightly.

She looked at the boy who had remained so gentle and refined throughout, while beneath her flowing sleeves, her delicate fingers slowly clenched.

Yet her face still wore that calm and generous composure as she nodded lightly.

"I... understand."

Taking in Ning Yurong's reaction, Xue Mingqing's eyes lowered slightly as well.

To be honest, now that the moment of parting had truly arrived, he felt somewhat reluctant too.

He could not quite tell what he felt toward Ning Yurong now.

At first, he had saved Ning Yurong solely for the possible reward money.

But after truly saving her and spending so many days with her, he had long since stopped caring about that reward.

Because he had already come to regard Ning Yurong as a friend, or perhaps...

As something more than a friend?

Still, even if Xue Mingqing truly had fallen for Ning Yurong, he would not find it strange.

After all, she was beautiful, had an exceptional figure, and possessed a poised, generous personality with an ethereal coolness that made her seem detached from the mundane world.

Even if he truly had fallen for Ning Yurong, he would not find it surprising.

But then, who could say?

He was only six years old now, and she was only nine. They still had plenty of time ahead of them, so talking about such things now was a little premature.

Besides.

Xue Mingqing truly could not sort out his feelings. So—

He did not want to force himself to understand them either. He would leave everything to time. Time would provide the answer.

With a light Xiao, a mischievous Xiao appeared on Xue Mingqing's lips. He waved at Ning Yurong.

"Alright, don't be too sad, little miss. The world is vast, but those with fate will meet again. If we're destined to, we'll see each other again."

"Wang Chao, let's go."

"Right away, Young Master."

Calling out in response, Wang Chao quickly ran forward. He nodded to Ning Yurong as a farewell.

Then he jumped onto the carriage. With the help and escort of the mercenaries, he slowly, slowly—

Drove the carriage away from Nine Treasures City's gates with Xue Mingqing aboard, continuing toward the center of the continent.

And Ning Yurong?

She merely stared blankly at the departing figures of Xue Mingqing's group, paying no mind to his calling her "little miss."

Her eyes held only an indescribable loneliness.

"The world is vast, but those with fate will meet again..."

Murmuring softly, Ning Yurong watched as Xue Mingqing's group gradually disappeared at the end of the road. Yet the corners of her soft pink lips curved upward.

"I won't wait for fate, because..."

"I will catch up to your footsteps..."

After speaking to herself, Ning Yurong turned around. Her expression returned to its usual calm, unruffled composure as she prepared to enter Nine Treasures City.

But just as she lifted her foot—

A frivolous, teasing child's voice rang out.

"Oh my, who has our little princess so preoccupied...?"