Ning Rongrong Wants to Protect Her Home, Xiao Wu Starts Protecting Others

"It will, but it depends on who is handing him the blade."

Su Hang stood outside the wooden railing of the training grounds.

Ning Rongrong stood by his side, the Seven Treasures Token at her waist gently brushing against her dress.

"You mean that if the Seven Treasures support were to fall on Tang San, it would actually help him suppress others?"

Xiao Wu immediately chimed in.

"Does that even need asking? He dares to use poison darts even in a sparring match; if you buff him, he'll only fight more ruthlessly."

For once, Ning Rongrong didn't snap back at Xiao Wu.

Inside the training grounds, Tang San was still tidying up the short arrows beside the wooden stakes.

Yu Xiaogang gave low-voiced pointers, his hands occasionally gesturing the path of the Blue Silver Grass.

Su Hang turned and walked toward the small courtyard.

"The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda itself is not at fault; the fault lies in who you entrust it to."

Ning Rongrong followed, her pace slower than when they had arrived.

"Then can the bloodshed in the Seven Treasures' future be changed, too?"

"It can be changed."

Upon hearing these two words, Xiao Wu first looked up at Su Hang.

Su Hang continued forward.

"The future is never set in stone. Whether it can be changed depends on whether you dare to judge people correctly first."

Ning Rongrong shifted her small bag on her shoulder.

"Judge people? You talked about this last night, and you're still talking about it today."

Su Hang stopped by the roadside and turned to the side.

"Because you are the most likely to fall for that very thing."

Ning Rongrong lifted her chin, unconvinced.

"This young lady is very clever. I can tell who is sincere and who is fake at a single glance."

Xiao Wu gave a soft huff.

"Then why did you sneak off to Nuoding in the middle of the night?"

The retort on the tip of Ning Rongrong's tongue was swallowed back down.

She had indeed been impulsive on this trip.

If Su Hang were truly a bad person, she might not even have had an easy time finding her way back to the Seven Treasures.

Su Hang didn't expose her, simply continuing to walk forward.

"Some people will wrap self-interest in the guise of affection, frame schemes as brotherhood, and call taking your things 'for the greater good'."

Ning Rongrong's footsteps faltered.

"Are you talking about Tang San?"

"Guard against whoever fits the description."

Xiao Wu walked on Su Hang's other side, her fingers hooked into his sleeve.

"Brother Su Hang, you're being too polite with that statement."

Ning Rongrong glanced at Xiao Wu.

"You hate Tang San that much?"

Xiao Wu answered quickly.

"I do."

Ning Rongrong wanted to press further, but Xiao Wu had already shut the conversation down.

"Don't ask for the reason; I can't be bothered to explain."

Walking past the academy path, the small courtyard belonging to Xiao Chenyu lay ahead.

Wang Sheng and Xiao Chenyu had already run back to tidy up the stone table, which was now set with tea and dried fruit.

As soon as Xiao Chenyu saw them return, he immediately straightened the teacups.

"Boss Su, the tea was just changed, and the snacks are fresh."

Wang Sheng clutched a bag of dried fruit, grinning as he interjected.

"Little Princess of the Seven Treasures, do you need to pay extra? Our courtyard's service has been upgraded."

Ning Rongrong swept a glance at him.

"You certainly have the nerve to charge."

Wang Sheng immediately put the dried fruit down.

"Just kidding, just kidding. I was mostly afraid that Xiao Chenyu would go broke paying for the bed."

Xiao Chenyu kicked the leg of his stool.

"Don't bring up things that shouldn't be brought up."

Su Hang sat down at the stone table.

Xiao Wu sat beside him as usual and pushed another stool toward the opposite side.

Ning Rongrong didn't fight for the spot this time and sat directly across from them.

She placed the Seven Treasures Token on the table, her fingertip pressing against the edge of the medallion.

"Su Hang, I still want to ask about Oscar."

Xiao Wu immediately perked up her ears.

"The one who sells sausages?"

Ning Rongrong glared at her.

"Can you not say it so naturally?"

Xiao Wu pulled the plate of dried fruit toward herself.

"That's how it's written in the diary."

Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth and looked back at Su Hang.

"Why would I have any connection with a Food-type Spirit Master?"

Su Hang poured a cup of tea.

"You will leave that greenhouse called the Seven Treasures eventually."

Ning Rongrong was displeased.

"A greenhouse? Are you saying I'm too pampered?"

"You know the answer to that yourself."

Xiao Wu almost laughed out loud and quickly used a piece of dried fruit to cover her mouth.

Ning Rongrong tapped her fingers on the tabletop.

"If I leave the Seven Treasures, will I run into Oscar?"

Su Hang didn't go into detail.

"There aren't that many people outside who will indulge you or coddle you."

Ning Rongrong huffed.

"I'm not afraid of hardship."

Xiao Wu shot her a sideways glance.

"You even complain that the academy cafeteria is too oily."

Ning Rongrong immediately retorted.

"That's called having normal standards. The food I eat at the Seven Treasures is naturally better."

Xiao Chenyu muttered from the side.

"I believe that. The Seven Treasures are truly wealthy."

Wang Sheng nodded.

"With that kind of 'money power' on the table, even a plain steamed bun would feel inferior."

Ning Rongrong didn't laugh this time.

She looked down at the Seven Treasures Token.

"It's not hardship that I'm afraid of."

The dried fruit in Xiao Wu's hand paused.

Ning Rongrong tucked the token back into her waist and lowered her voice.

"I'm afraid that after I leave the Seven Treasures, my father will still have to clean up my messes."

The people in the courtyard quieted down.

Ning Rongrong continued.

"I'm also afraid that Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa will be standing in front of me, while I'm still throwing tantrums behind them."

Xiao Wu stared at her for a long moment.

She picked up a piece of dried fruit from the plate and held it out toward Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong was stunned.

"For me?"

Xiao Wu placed the dried fruit in front of her and immediately changed the subject.

"I'm only doing this because I pity you, it has nothing to do with Brother Su Hang."

Ning Rongrong's fingertips brushed against the dried fruit, and this time, she didn't snap back.

After a moment, she picked up the piece of fruit and took a small bite.

"It's alright."

Xiao Wu immediately lifted her chin.

"Of course it is, I picked it out."

Xiao Chenyu added in a low voice.

"It was clearly me who bought it."

Wang Sheng immediately dragged him to the side.

"Say less, unless you want to live longer."

Ning Rongrong finished the piece of fruit before looking at Su Hang again.

"You said I would leave the greenhouse and witness the cruelty of the outside world."

Su Hang nodded.

"That is a path you will have to walk sooner or later."

Ning Rongrong pursed her lips.

"Then can I choose not to walk the path laid out for me?"

"You can."

Su Hang pushed the teacup toward her.

"Don't be in such a rush to prove you can endure hardship."

Ning Rongrong took the tea.

"Then what should I do first?"

"Learn to say no."

Ning Rongrong didn't quite understand.

Su Hang added, "Refuse to let others arrange your growth for you, and refuse to let others bind you with sentiment."

Xiao Wu listened intently from the side.

These words struck a chord with her as well.

Her original future had also been one where she was pushed along, forced to make choices, and in the end, she had even surrendered her life.

Ning Rongrong bit the edge of her teacup, thinking for a long while.

"So when you said last night not to sell myself to fate, that's what you meant?"

"More or less."

Xiao Wu immediately interjected.

"Also, don't go around trying to buy Brother Su Hang for half a day."

Ning Rongrong nearly choked on her tea.

"You're still hung up on that?"

Xiao Wu was righteous and confident.

"Of course I am."

Ning Rongrong set down her teacup and deliberately leaned closer toward Su Hang.

"What if I offer a high price?"

Xiao Wu immediately scooted her stool right next to Su Hang.

"Not a chance."

Su Hang raised his hand and pressed down on the tabletop.

"That's enough."

Everyone in the courtyard held back their laughter.

Ning Rongrong was only teasing her this time; she didn't actually intend to compete.

Night slowly descended, and the voices in the academy faded away.

Xiao Chenyu finished tidying up the side room, where the bedding had been freshly changed.

Su Hang looked around the courtyard.

"You can stay tonight."

Ning Rongrong blinked.

"Really?"

Xiao Wu looked at him immediately.

Su Hang continued.

"You can only stay in the side room; don't disturb Xiao Wu's rest."

Xiao Wu was satisfied at once.

"Did you hear that? The side room."

Ning Rongrong deliberately drew out her words.

"Have you two always been living like this?"

The tips of Xiao Wu's ears turned hot instantly, and her hand moved away from Su Hang's sleeve.

"What are you thinking about? Brother Su Hang is just protecting me."

Ning Rongrong crossed her arms.

"I haven't even said anything yet, what are you rushing for?"

Xiao Wu stood up and circled around to the front of Su Hang.

"Where am I rushing?"

Su Hang took out a Breath Concealment Talisman, pressing his fingertips against the edge of the paper.

A faint layer of soul power enveloped the courtyard, even shutting out the sound of the wind beyond the walls.

The soul beast aura on Xiao Wu's body was still fluctuating slightly.

The traces left by Tang Hao's pressure last night had not fully dissipated, but after the Breath Concealment Talisman was applied, those fluctuations finally stabilized.

Su Hang put the talisman away.

"Don't run around these next two days."

Xiao Wu became more obedient.

"I'll listen to you."

Ning Rongrong watched the two of them interact, the teasing from earlier slowly fading away.

She recalled the mention of Xiao Wu's sacrifice in the diary, and also remembered Su Hang's words from just a moment ago about the future being changeable.

There was one piece of dried fruit left on the table.

Ning Rongrong pushed it toward Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu looked down at it.

"What for?"

Ning Rongrong tapped the edge of the table lightly.

"Returning it to you."

Xiao Wu didn't take it.

"I don't take back things I've given away."

Ning Rongrong paused, then suddenly asked, "Xiao Wu, have you ever been frightened by the future, too?"