"Let's put this lesson on hold for now, Tang San."
Teacher Zhao returned to the Training Ground with the register in his arms. Sweat covered his forehead, but his steps were steadier than before.
The Fine Needle had nearly rolled to the students' feet. If he pretended not to see it again, even the dean wouldn't be able to protect him when he returned.
"The public demonstration is suspended. Tang San, file a safety report first. Until its safety is confirmed, you are forbidden from using other students as targets."
Tang San stood beside the wooden post, looking aggrieved.
"Teacher Zhao, I was only demonstrating how to control its trajectory. I didn't hurt anyone."
Teacher Zhao closed the register.
"No one was hurt because Su Hang reacted quickly."
The watching students nodded at once.
"That's fair."
"If that needle had gone just a little farther, it would've punched a hole through my foot."
"Before a control-type Soul Master tries controlling other people, he should get a handle on his own grass."
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward half a pace, his sleeves swishing sharply.
"Teacher Zhao, Soul Master training always carries risks. Xiao Chenyu was moving too quickly, and Tang San lacked experience. That was what caused the coordination to go awry."
Xiao Chenyu immediately took offense.
"Hey, Grandmaster, you're pretty good at passing the buck. So it's my fault for running fast?"
Wang Sheng held his breakfast bag and chimed in from the side.
"Next time, I suggest we blame the wooden post. It can't talk back."
Laughter rippled through the students again.
Yu Xiaogang suppressed his anger, keeping up his air of a respected teacher.
"I'm talking about factors in the training, not blaming Xiao Chenyu."
Ning Rongrong came out from beside the wooden railing, the Seven Treasures Token at her waist lightly tapping against her skirt.
"Grandmaster, stop beating around the bush."
She stopped beside Teacher Zhao and pointed at the Fine Needles beneath the wooden post.
"Spirit Skill backlash, Hidden Weapons falling to the ground, Poison Needles going out of control. Everyone here saw those dangers with their own eyes."
Teacher Zhao glanced at Ning Rongrong and immediately straightened his back.
The Seven Treasures Little Princess had spoken. He couldn't pretend to be deaf.
Ning Rongrong pressed on.
"Can you just brush aside the fact that a Poison Needle nearly hurt someone by calling it a lack of experience?"
Yu Xiaogang's sleeve froze in midair.
"Miss Ning, Tang San is only a new student."
Ning Rongrong cut him off.
"So new students are allowed to send Poison Needles flying around?"
"Shouldn't new students be even more careful to follow the rules?"
Xiao Wu immediately moved to stand beside Su Hang.
"Exactly! Don't pin this on new students. That's insulting to new students."
Tang San smoothed his cuff and stepped forward half a pace.
"Miss Ning, Su Hang has influenced you too much. You're no longer seeing things clearly."
The laughter on the Training Ground faded at those words.
Ning Rongrong didn't answer right away.
Tang San continued.
"Su Hang has been targeting me from the very beginning. He's also been stirring up your wariness toward me."
Xiao Wu instantly bristled, jabbing her toe forward.
"Tang San, whenever something goes wrong, you blame someone else. Yesterday, your Hidden Weapon ambush was the rules' fault. Today, your Poison Needles flying around were because of someone's speed. And now Su Hang is supposedly influencing Rongrong."
She lifted her chin.
"So the whole continent has to accommodate you while you grow, huh?"
Xiao Chenyu immediately clapped.
"That one hit hard, Sister Xiao Wu."
Wang Sheng chimed in.
"On Tang San's path to greatness, everyone else's job is to dodge."
Tang San didn't look at them. He kept his eyes fixed on Ning Rongrong.
"I'm only reminding you that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect shouldn't get involved in what's between Su Hang and me."
Ning Rongrong rested her fingertips on the Seven Treasures Token but didn't speak at once.
Yu Xiaogang seized the opportunity and turned to Teacher Zhao.
"Teacher Zhao, Su Hang has repeatedly stirred up conflict among the students, insulted his classmates and teachers, and interfered with Tang San's normal training."
He raised a hand and pointed at Su Hang.
"If the academy only deals with Tang San while letting Su Hang off, it'll be hard for anyone to accept that decision."
Teacher Zhao was stuck again.
Su Hang hadn't been in a hurry from beginning to end. He simply stood beside Xiao Wu.
Ning Rongrong turned and looked at him.
Su Hang didn't speak for her.
Xiao Wu also looked at Su Hang, her hand already resting on his sleeve.
She wanted him to say something.
But Su Hang only raised his teacup slightly, his expression calm.
Ning Rongrong had to make this choice herself.
Outside the Training Ground, a middle-aged man in gray passed through the students and hurried to Ning Rongrong's side.
"Miss."
Ning Rongrong recognized him without turning around.
"Uncle Ning Chuan, you're here again?"
Ning Chuan lowered his voice.
"The sect master has given orders. The Seven Treasures Secret Line is only here to protect your safety. We shouldn't get directly involved in the dispute at Notting Academy."
Ning Rongrong didn't move.
Ning Chuan added, "Miss, this isn't the sect's inner courtyard. If you display the Seven Treasures Token too openly, plenty of people outside will start watching you."
The students at the edge of the Training Ground couldn't hear much, but they saw the Seven Treasures Secret Sentry appear, and one by one, they fell quiet.
Yu Xiaogang also stopped speaking.
The Seven Treasures Secret Sentry's warning favored him.
If Ning Rongrong backed down even a little, Su Hang would lose one layer of protection today.
Tang San stood in place, his sleeve hanging at his side as he fell silent.
Ning Rongrong looked down at the token in her palm.
Whenever she made a decision before, her father had her back, Sword Grandpa had stood up for her, and Bone Grandpa had cleaned up after her.
But last night, Su Hang had told her not to hand her choices over to someone else.
Xiao Wu suddenly spoke.
"Ning Rongrong, if you don't want to get involved, go back to the side room and have some pastries."
Ning Rongrong looked up and glared at her.
"Who said I don't want to get involved?"
Xiao Wu snorted.
"Then hurry up. This young lady's waiting to see what you'll do."
Provoked by Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong pushed her hesitation aside.
She walked to the center of the Training Ground and raised the Seven Treasures Token.
Sunlight fell on it, clearly illuminating the patterns of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda.
Teacher Zhao immediately stood up straight.
Ning Chuan raised a hand as if to stop her, but in the end, he halted halfway.
Ning Rongrong spoke each word clearly.
"Su Hang is an honored guest of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
The whole Training Ground erupted.
"An honored guest?"
"Recognized by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect itself?"
"Who'd dare investigate Boss Su now?"
Xiao Chenyu leaped right up.
"Boss Su is amazing!"
Wang Sheng waved his breakfast bag too.
"Certified by the Seven Treasures Token! That's top-tier academy treatment!"
Ning Rongrong ignored the commotion, keeping the token raised in front of her.
"Anyone who wants to go after him for some ridiculous reason will have to answer to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect first."
Yu Xiaogang's sleeve stiffened.
Tang San stood beside the wooden post. The few tattered strands of Blue Silver Grass at his side were blown flat against the ground.
Su Hang had already claimed the Seven Treasures' support.
Teacher Zhao immediately tucked the register under his arm.
"Since Miss Ning has vouched for him, the academy won't take action against Su Hang without good reason."
He turned to Tang San.
"Tang San, your demonstration is suspended. Continue completing the safety filing for your Hidden Weapons."
The students had completely sided with Su Hang.
"That's the right decision."
"File the Poison Needles first. Stop always trying to investigate other people."
"I get it now. Boss Su really does have people backing him."
The System Panel appeared in front of Su Hang.
[Ning Rongrong's Affection: 22%→30%.] [Reward: 700 Diary Points.] [Bonus Reward: One-time Mall Discount Coupon ×1.]
Su Hang glanced at it but didn't use it.
Standing beside him, Xiao Wu watched Ning Rongrong raise the token and felt a little jealous.
But this time, she didn't snap at anyone.
Ning Rongrong lowered the token into her palm and walked over to Su Hang.
"Su Hang, I'm putting it on the line today. If you can really help me protect the Seven Treasures, I'll stand by your side to the very end."
Before you continue