Deng Tianxin, Toyed with by Two Women

How could a figure like her have taken on a disciple who looked no older than seven or eight?

But on second thought, only a child like that could live up to Bibi Dong's expectations.

After all, there probably wasn't a second person on the entire continent who could tame a seven-thousand-year-old Violent Bear at that age.

"I see," Tang Xiao said, nodding thoughtfully.

Ning Fengzhi smiled and stepped aside, gesturing invitingly. "Since fate has brought us together today, why not watch a few Soul Fighting matches in a private box? Young Master Deng has come from far away. Let me, as your host, do the honors."

Just as Ning Fengzhi had said, the private box offered an excellent view.

An entire wall of curved floor-to-ceiling windows faced the Soul Fighting Arena, giving them a crystal-clear view of everything on the stage.

Ning Fengzhi took the seat of honor and invited everyone to make themselves comfortable.

The attendants soon laid out the tea and snacks, filling the entire tea table with exquisite porcelain plates.

Almond pastries, osmanthus cakes, candied kumquats, crystal shrimp dumplings—each delicacy was small and dainty, befitting the hospitality of Heaven Dou City's premier Soul Fighting Arena.

Ning Fengzhi and Tang Xiao sat by the window, quietly discussing the state of the continent and the latest news from their sects.

Tang Hao lounged in a corner chair with his legs spread wide. His gaze shifted back and forth between the Soul Fighting Arena and Deng Tianxin, clearly still miffed that he hadn't gotten to see the Violent Bear fight today.

At the other end of the tea table, however, the atmosphere was a little delicate.

Tang Yuehua carried a plate of almond pastries and gracefully took the seat to Deng Tianxin's left.

She speared a pastry with a silver pick, holding her left hand beneath it to catch any crumbs, then steadily brought it to Deng Tianxin's lips.

"Tianxin, try this. The Great Soul Arena makes its almond pastries with sweet almonds from the northern outskirts of Heaven Dou City. They're crisp outside and soft inside—nowhere else makes them like this."

Before Deng Tianxin could even open his mouth, a hand holding a crystal shrimp dumpling reached in from his right.

At some point, Liu Erlong had edged over too. The silver pick in her hand nearly poked Tang Yuehua's sleeve.

She wasn't nearly as particular. She skewered the dumpling and simply thrust it toward Deng Tianxin's lips, her movements brisk and blunt.

"What's so good about pastries? They don't fill you up. Here, have a shrimp dumpling. Those shrimp look fresh."

Deng Tianxin sat trapped between them, an almond pastry to his left and a crystal shrimp dumpling to his right. The two women's hands hovered on either side of his mouth like two city gates about to slam shut, squeezing him tight between them.

"Uh..." Deng Tianxin's little hands hung helplessly in midair.

He looked first at Tang Yuehua's gentle, smiling face, then at Liu Erlong's utterly matter-of-fact expression. It felt as though two invisible strings were pulling his head in opposite directions.

There was no right choice.

If he ate Tang Yuehua's first, Liu Erlong would surely feel slighted.

If he ate Liu Erlong's first, Tang Yuehua wouldn't say anything, but there might well be a thorn hidden in that gentle smile.

But Deng Tianxin was Deng Tianxin, the little rascal personally trained by the Saintess of Spirit Hall. His mind worked faster than anyone's.

Without changing his expression, he opened his mouth and, in the blink of an eye, bit into both treats at once. His cheeks instantly bulged into two little buns.

Deng Tianxin mumbled through his food, "Thank you, big sisters."

Tang Yuehua stared at his puffed-out cheeks and the way he struggled to chew. She froze for a moment, then covered her mouth and giggled. The way he ate reminded her so much of the hamster she'd had as a child. It kept stuffing food into its cheeks even when there was no room left, making her want to poke them.

As she thought this, her hand was already reaching out.

Her pale, slender index finger gently prodded Deng Tianxin's bulging right cheek. It felt soft and springy, more resilient than the finest glutinous rice cake. With an arched smile, Tang Yuehua prodded him once more, then gave his cheek a little pinch, followed by a rub. She said nothing, but the light in her eyes gave everything away.

"Mm-mm?" With his mouth full, Deng Tianxin could only protest in muffled nasal sounds. But with Tang Yuehua pinching his cheek, he couldn't even turn his head. All he could do was glare at her with big, round eyes, silently accusing her of a sneak attack.

But before he could escape Tang Yuehua's clutches, his left cheek was pinched too.

Liu Erlong's fingers joined in, her grip a little firmer than Tang Yuehua's and her technique more practiced.

After all, she'd pinched him countless times over the past few days and knew his cheeks' springiness and texture by heart.

"Your other cheek's puffed up more. It's uneven," Liu Erlong said, brazenly making things up as she tugged his cheek outward. "I'll even it out for you."

"Mm-mm-mm!" Deng Tianxin's little hands flailed wildly, trying to swat away the two mischievous hands.

But he couldn't break free of Liu Erlong's grip alone, let alone with Tang Yuehua joining in.

Deng Tianxin struggled to swallow his food and finally freed his mouth. "No pinching—pfft—"

As soon as he spoke, Tang Yuehua's finger prodded his cheek at just the right moment, squeezing his face into a fish mouth and cutting off his protest.

At that moment, a saying came to Deng Tianxin's mind.

Poor Tom, toyed with in the palm of their hands.

At that moment, he was in much the same predicament as Tom.

The three of them weren't making a huge racket, but they were making enough noise to draw Ning Fengzhi's attention from the other end of the private box.

Holding his teacup, Ning Fengzhi tilted his head and watched the scene on the sofa across from him. His expression shifted slowly from surprise to a knowing smile.

"How interesting," Ning Fengzhi murmured, taking a sip of tea. His gaze swept between Tang Yuehua and Liu Erlong before settling on Deng Tianxin, whose cheeks were being kneaded between them.

He set down his teacup and shook his head with a smile. The young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect prided himself on being a keen judge of people, but even this scene surpassed his expectations.

Two stunning beauties doting on a seven-year-old child like this—few people would believe it if they heard about it.

Ning Fengzhi privately thought that if he had a daughter, he would definitely have her win Deng Tianxin over.

Through certain channels, he knew that Deng Tianxin had extraordinary potential. Even Qian Xunji, the Pope of Spirit Hall, thought very highly of him. Deng Tianxin might very well become the next-next Pope.

And even if Deng Tianxin failed to become Pope in the future, the connections he would have by then would still be extremely useful to Ning Fengzhi.

The cheek-pinching commotion in the private box finally came to an end.

It wasn't that Tang Yuehua and Liu Erlong had found their consciences. Rather, the opening gong for the first Soul Fighting match of the day rang out from the arena.

The heavy bronze gong sounded, its deep peal reverberating beneath the vaulted roof of the Soul Fighting Arena and instantly drowning out the uproar of tens of thousands of spectators.

Tang Yuehua reluctantly withdrew her hand, the warmth and softness of Deng Tianxin's cheek still lingering on her fingertips.

Liu Erlong released him too and sat up straight to watch the Soul Fighting Arena through the window, though the corner of her eye kept drifting back to Deng Tianxin.