Xiao Wu Came Knocking Too? Ning Rongrong Hid in the Bed and Eavesdropped!

"I couldn't sleep."

Ning Rongrong walked over to the desk and lowered her head, immediately seeing the open notebooks covered in densely packed writing, along with several sketches of meridian pathways.

One page bore her name, with "Qi Sea Vortex Construction Plan" noted beside it. Below were listed the initial rotation speed, interception ratio, daily increase rate—every item precise to one decimal place.

The ink was still fresh, and several places had been crossed out and revised. It was obvious that he had gone over them again and again.

Ning Rongrong stopped in her tracks.

So late at night, Gu Qing was still writing plans for them. Not some vague "overview," but genuinely helping them analyze and plan things out step by step.

Since childhood, Ning Rongrong had been cherished by everyone in her sect. They all spoiled and adored her, but that was because she was Ning Fengzhi's daughter.

Yet this person before her was neither family nor friend. They had known each other for less than a day, and he was already repeatedly reviewing their Martial Soul information deep into the night.

Gu Qing walked to the desk and sat down, casually closing the two notebooks and setting them aside. "We have to get up early tomorrow. What is it that can't wait until daytime?"

"Brother Gu."

Ning Rongrong's voice suddenly became much gentler. "You're still revising the plans this late... You didn't write all this just tonight, did you?"

"There were several details in your Soul Power vortex and Zhu Zhuqing's Netherworld Absolute Kill that needed working out. I happened to have time tonight, so I wrote them together."

"If you have a question, ask."

Ning Rongrong sat in the chair across from Gu Qing. An indescribable warmth rose within her. She did not offer any more words of thanks, merely lowering her eyes and remaining quiet for a long while.

"Brother Gu Qing, may I ask you something?"

She raised her head, her gaze falling upon Gu Qing's right hand.

"When you were fighting Zhao Wuji on the training ground during the day, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda inside me kept growing hot."

"I was cultivating in my room just now, and that resonance appeared again. Brother Gu Qing, what exactly is your Martial Soul?"

Gu Qing looked into her earnest eyes, fell silent for a moment, then slowly extended his right hand.

A Black-Gold Lotus emerged from his palm and slowly spun. Layer upon layer of petals overlapped, each edge gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, while a faint violet-gold radiance seeped from the lotus heart.

Ning Rongrong's pupils abruptly widened. It was as if the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda inside her had been violently tugged by something. An unprecedented hum burst forth from deep within her dantian. This was no mere faint heat—it was the entire pagoda shaking violently.

That trembling was neither fear nor rejection, but an almost urgent craving.

"This is it..." Ning Rongrong rose to her feet involuntarily, taking one step forward, then another.

She was nearly pressed against Gu Qing. Ning Rongrong extended her hand, her fingertips hovering only an inch from the petals. She did not touch them, only quietly felt their presence.

Golden motes swirled around Ning Rongrong's fingertips. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda hummed endlessly within her, and the resonance was so intense that her fingers trembled slightly.

Ning Rongrong felt an urge to touch that lotus and see what would happen, but she held herself back.

She was afraid that the moment she touched it, the lotus would disappear. Or worse, that her Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda would do something beyond even her control.

Gu Qing watched Ning Rongrong's reaction, then lowered his gaze to the Buddha Wrath Tang Lotus. The mechanism patterns on its petals were faintly glowing. He had not activated them; this was an instinctive response from the Martial Soul itself.

Combined with the frequency and intensity of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda's trembling as Ning Rongrong had described it, this was probably not ordinary Martial Soul affinity.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda was the continent's number-one support Martial Soul, while the Buddha Wrath Tang Lotus's primary ability was all-around enhancement.

If two support-type Martial Souls resonated, there was a high chance it was not a one-sided attraction, but mutual complementarity.

A Martial Soul Fusion Skill!

And one that stacked enhancement upon enhancement, while simultaneously covering both attack and support modes—a composite fusion skill!

If this guess was correct, then the coordination between his and Ning Rongrong's Martial Souls would be a trump card capable of changing the entire situation at a critical moment!

Just then, a set of light footsteps sounded in the corridor outside. They skipped along cheerfully, accompanied by Xiao Wu's uniquely crisp humming.

Ning Rongrong's pupils contracted sharply, and she pulled her fingers back as though she had been burned.

She swiftly looked around. There was too little room under the desk, the corner was piled with old files, and the only place someone could hide was the wooden bed hung with a dusty cloth curtain.

Without a word, Ning Rongrong turned and ran two steps to the bed. She lifted the curtain and slipped inside. One corner of her sleeping robe snagged on the curtain, so she gave it a hard tug, curled herself beneath the quilt, and pulled the curtain shut again.

The whole sequence flowed without pause, faster than she had ever moved when displaying Soul Skills on the training grounds.

The curtain had barely fallen when Xiao Wu's voice sounded outside the door. "Brother Gu! Your room's light is still on! I'm coming in!"

Curled up beneath the quilt, Ning Rongrong's heart pounded like a drum. She clamped a hand tightly over her mouth and cursed Xiao Wu bloody in her heart.

Stupid Xiao Wu, you stinking Xiao Wu! You could have come earlier or later, but you had to come now!

I was only a tiny bit away from touching Brother Gu Qing's Martial Soul! Do you know how beautiful that lotus is?!

Do you know how comfortable it feels when the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda grows hot? You know nothing! All you know is how to ruin things for me!

The door was pushed open, and Xiao Wu slipped inside. Her pink ponytail hung over her shoulder as her lively eyes swept around the room. "Brother Gu, you're still awake?"

Xiao Wu sniffed, frowning in confusion. "Why does your room smell fragrant? Like a girl's scent? Forget it, forget it. That's not important!"

Xiao Wu bounced over to Gu Qing, clasping her hands behind her back. Her gaze finally settled on his face, and her expression suddenly turned serious.

"Brother Gu, there's something I've been holding in all day. If I don't ask you clearly, I won't be able to sleep."

She stared into Gu Qing's eyes, pressed her lips together, and seemed to gather great resolve before speaking. "What do you think of Ning Rongrong?"

Behind the bed curtain, Ning Rongrong abruptly held her breath. Curled beneath the quilt, she tightly gripped its edge, straining her ears.

She could hear obvious wariness in Xiao Wu's tone. The image of Xiao Wu bristling as she stood in front of Gu Qing during the day resurfaced in her mind.

Ning Rongrong silently thought, This girl's possessiveness toward Brother Gu is way too strong. But I can't blame Xiao Wu either. Brother Gu is so outstanding, after all.

But I only want to figure out the Martial Soul Resonance. I'm not here to steal anyone. Then again, Brother Gu really is rather handsome, and he's so smart. He's also so attentive toward me...

No, no, Ning Rongrong, what are you thinking? You're the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. How can you compete with Xiao Wu for a man? But Xiao Wu isn't Brother Gu's girlfriend either. Why would it count as stealing him?

No, no, what am I thinking? Calm down! Calm down!

"Ning Rongrong?" Gu Qing leaned back in his chair, his tone teasing.

"She has good talent and sufficient comprehension. The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda has far more potential than what she has currently displayed. Her sect has protected her too well, so she hasn't experienced real combat. Temper her a little, and she may be able to stand on her own."

Inside the bed curtain, Ning Rongrong silently curled her lips into a smile. She covered her mouth, afraid she would laugh aloud.

"Who asked about that?" Xiao Wu puffed out her cheeks and poked Gu Qing's chest with a finger. "I'm asking whether you have that kind of interest in her?"