"Which side to take? You really don't mince words."
Xiao Wu leaned against the table, lightly kicking the leg of a stool with her toe.
"If she heard you, she'd definitely start arguing with you again."
Su Hang put the diary away in a drawer.
"She can argue all she wants, but the choice is hers to make."
A faint sound came from the side room, then quickly fell silent.
Xiao Wu glanced that way and lowered her voice.
"Then do you hope she stays?"
Su Hang stood and pressed the talisman paper by the window back into place.
"Hoping won't help. Anyone who wants to stay has to be able to handle the trouble first."
Early the next morning, a small merchant caravan entered through Notting City's south gate.
The carts were loaded with cloth and medicinal herbs. There were few guards, and the middle-aged man leading them wore an ordinary iron badge at his waist, though the soles of his boots were suspiciously clean.
Outside Xiao Chenyu's little courtyard, Wang Sheng was squatting by the entrance, gnawing on a flatbread.
The middle-aged man stopped at the mouth of the alley and casually held out a copper coin.
"Hey, young man, can you point me toward Notting Academy?"
Wang Sheng looked him up and down.
"You're standing in the back alley behind the academy, and you're asking how to get to it?"
The man paused, then quickly changed his question.
"Then where does Su Hang live?"
Wang Sheng immediately tucked his flatbread back against his chest.
"If you want to see Boss Su, you'll have to wait in line. Who are you?"
The courtyard gate swung open from within.
Ning Rongrong stepped out. She had changed her dress and neatly combed her hair, but she still looked drowsy, as if she hadn't gotten enough sleep.
"Uncle Ning Chuan, stop pretending. That act of yours might fool Wang Sheng, but that's about it."
Wang Sheng immediately took offense.
"Seven Treasures Little Princess, that's hurtful!"
Ning Chuan removed the iron badge from his waist, revealing a small Seven Treasures Pattern hidden inside.
"Miss, the sect master sent me to bring you back."
The courtyard fell silent.
Xiao Wu had just brought out a pot of tea. At those words, she immediately set it down on the table.
"Taking her back? Great. Hurry up and go."
Ning Rongrong turned to look at her.
"You're that eager for me to leave?"
Xiao Wu folded her arms.
"You're staying in the side room and stealing the snacks. Of course I want you to leave."
Ning Rongrong gave a huff.
"Then I'll just take my time leaving."
Su Hang came out of the house and glanced at the Seven Treasures Pattern at Ning Chuan's waist.
"Sect Master Ning reacted pretty quickly."
Ning Chuan cupped his hands toward Su Hang. His manners were impeccable, but he kept his distance.
"Young Master Su, the sect master asked me to pass along his thanks. You looked after the young miss last night, and the Seven Treasures will remember it."
Xiao Chenyu had just come in carrying a tea tray. He stopped in his tracks.
"The Seven Treasures remembering a favor? That's worth a lot."
Wang Sheng added under his breath, "Don't go trying to get a piece of that. You might get buried under a pile of Gold Soul Coins."
Ning Chuan turned to Ning Rongrong, his expression softening.
"Miss, the sect master's meaning is clear. You should return to the sect first."
Ning Rongrong didn't answer.
Ning Chuan continued.
"The sect will keep investigating Su Hang and Tang San, and the secret line will remain in Notting City. If you stay here, you'll only give outsiders ideas."
Xiao Wu sat down beside Su Hang and hurriedly chimed in.
"You heard him. It's safer back home. You'll have people protecting you, good food, and Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa doting on you."
Ning Rongrong watched her for a moment.
"Why are you so good at persuading me today?"
Xiao Wu nudged the teacup toward herself.
"I'm afraid you'll refuse to leave."
But after saying that, she pushed half a piece of snack toward Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong looked down at the half-piece of snack and didn't take it right away.
Ning Chuan noticed these little gestures. He cupped his hands toward Su Hang again.
"Young Master Su, the young miss is still young. If she has offended you, I hope you won't take it to heart."
Su Hang sat down beside the stone table.
"If she wants to go back, I won't stop her."
Ning Rongrong immediately looked up.
"That's your reaction?"
Su Hang poured himself a cup of tea.
"Once you're back, you'll still be the Seven Treasures Little Princess. You'll have people to take care of all your needs, and Sect Master Ning will help you investigate a lot of things."
Ning Rongrong pressed the Seven Treasures Token onto the table.
"And then?"
Su Hang lifted the lid of his teacup.
"If you stay, you'll have to bear the consequences yourself. Tang San will keep an eye on you, Yu Xiaogang will try to get close to you, and the Seven Treasures Secret Line will get dragged into it too."
Ning Chuan's hand paused at the edge of his sleeve.
"Young Master Su certainly doesn't hold back."
Ning Rongrong glared at Su Hang, then angrily pushed the snack back onto the plate.
"Can't you say something nice for once?"
Xiao Wu immediately cut in.
"That's just how he is. Did you only meet him today?"
Ning Rongrong protested.
"I vouched for him. Can't he at least try to comfort me?"
Su Hang set down his teacup.
"If you want to save the sect, you can't just listen to pleasant words."
Ning Rongrong was about to snap back, but the words stopped on her lips.
A breeze swept through the courtyard, lightly flipping the pages on the table.
Ning Chuan let out a soft sigh.
"Miss, the sect master is only afraid you'll suffer."
Ning Rongrong picked up the Seven Treasures Token and pressed her fingertip against the character Ning on its back.
"Back at the sect, all I ever heard was, 'Don't be afraid, your father's here. Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa are here.'"
Xiao Wu didn't interrupt this time.
Ning Rongrong looked at Ning Chuan.
"But Su Hang told me the Seven Treasures will bleed, Tang San will use the sect's resources, and Immortal Herbs can make the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda evolve."
Ning Chuan's expression turned cautious.
"Miss, you can't just believe things like that."
Ning Rongrong nodded.
"That's why I want to see for myself."
Ning Chuan stepped forward.
"The sect master's order is that you must return to the sect first."
Ning Rongrong held the Seven Treasures Token up in front of him.
"Then I'm using the Seven Treasures Token to give you an order too. Go back and tell Father I'm staying here for now."
Ning Chuan looked at the token, troubled.
"Miss, you can't use the token like that."
Ning Rongrong straightened her back.
"I used to be willful and let you clean up after me. This time, I'll take responsibility myself."
Xiao Wu picked up the half-piece of snack and put it in front of Ning Rongrong again.
"Fine. I'll give you this, since you've got a little backbone."
Ning Rongrong picked up the snack and took a bite.
"Don't think this means I'll stop fighting you for a spot."
Xiao Wu immediately glared at her.
"Try it."
Su Hang tapped the table.
"Stop arguing for now. After Ning Chuan goes back, don't leave too many people from the Seven Treasures in Notting City."
Ning Chuan looked at him.
"Why?"
Su Hang's tone was even.
"The more people there are, the more Tang San and Yu Xiaogang will want to get close."
Ning Rongrong chimed in at once.
"Listen to him. Leave only the essential people from the secret line. Don't let Tang San get a lead on the Seven Treasures."
Ning Chuan was silent for a moment, then finally bowed his head.
"I'll report everything to the sect master."
Not far outside the courtyard, Tang San stood beneath the trees and watched the whole scene.
The Seven Treasures Secret Sentry had been courteous to Su Hang and troubled by Ning Rongrong, but hadn't shown the slightest contempt for her.
That meant the Seven Treasures had already placed Su Hang among those they needed to investigate seriously.
Yu Xiaogang approached from behind, his sleeves still damp with morning dew.
"Did you see that?"
Tang San replied quietly.
"The Seven Treasures have already started listening to Su Hang's advice."
Yu Xiaogang stopped beside him.
"The Seven Treasures' resources are extremely valuable: materials, intelligence, Soul Master connections. They could save you a lot of detours."
Tang San lowered his hand. There was a lot of empty space at his cuff now.
"After my Hidden Weapons were registered, I needed new proof."
Yu Xiaogang lowered his voice.
"Ning Rongrong wants proof. Then let her see what you can really do with control."
Tang San looked toward the Training Ground, then slowly came to a stop.
"If Ning Rongrong wants to see the truth, then let her witness a real display of control."
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