Refusing Ning Rongrong

[Current enrollment progress: 4/5.]

Ye Qiong stared at the panel visible only to him.

As long as I recruit one more person, I'll know if this system has what I'm looking for.

Thinking this, Ye Qiong turned his head to look at Ning Rongrong, his brows furrowing instantly.

Although her appearance here was somewhat unexpected, it was within reason.

He had set up a stall to recruit students right across from Shrek Academy, and the commotion he'd caused was not small.

It was perfectly normal for Ning Rongrong to be drawn over by the bustle.

However, while he could recruit anyone else present, it absolutely could not be Ning Rongrong.

It wasn't about the plot or anything of the sort; it was because the system had long since told him that only tasks completed by his own hand would yield rewards.

If he recruited Ning Rongrong into the academy, it would break the rules.

After all, Ning Rongrong was the young lady of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, and he also hailed from the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.

Sure enough, the next second, Ye Qiong watched as Ning Rongrong summoned her martial soul.

In her hand, a seven-storied glazed pagoda slowly rotated, its light shimmering and drawing the sidelong glances of many present.

"My name is Ning Rongrong, martial soul Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, twelve years old, level twenty-six."

As Ning Rongrong spoke, she lifted her chin triumphantly.

She was waiting for Ye Qiong to ask her to stay, so she could reject him to his face.

Upon hearing the name, everyone present was shocked.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda—wasn't that...

At this moment, Jiang Zhu was also stunned, nearly dropping the pen in her hand.

Ye Qiong looked back at Jiang Zhu.

"Jiang Zhu, take it down."

"Ah? Oh, oh, right away, Teacher."

Jiang Zhu immediately snapped back to reality and hurriedly lowered her head to record the information.

But Ning Rongrong wasn't having it.

"Hey, hey, this Dean, this is the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, you know what that represents, right?"

Ye Qiong remained calm.

"I know, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, right?"

"Since you know, then why are you still..."

"Why am I what? Are you trying to ask why I didn't recruit you directly?"

Ye Qiong pointed behind Ning Rongrong.

"Look behind you. There are so many people waiting to register; I cannot make an exception for you. That would be unfair to them."

Ning Rongrong swept a disdainful glance behind her.

"Tch, do I even need to look? Can these commoners from the countryside compare to my talent?"

As soon as these words left her mouth, the expressions of the crowd changed.

A few with hot tempers had their fists clenched so tightly they were creaking.

If not for the reputation of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, someone would have likely rushed up on the spot.

Watching Ning Rongrong's behavior, Ye Qiong couldn't help but shake his head.

"I'm very sorry, but this is my academy, and these are the enrollment rules I have set."

"If you aren't satisfied, you are free to leave immediately. We cannot accommodate a 'great Buddha' like you here."

Hearing Ye Qiong's words, a few bold individuals in the crowd instantly cast aside the last shred of fear they held for the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect.

They stepped forward one after another, shouting aloud:

"That's right, I support the Dean! So what if you're from the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect?"

"Exactly! The Dean already said to follow the rules, why should you be special?"

"Go wait in line for the results; what are you putting on airs for here?"

Listening to the growing chorus of discussion around her, Ning Rongrong's face flushed red instantly.

She bit her lip, glaring daggers at Ye Qiong.

From the time she was small until now, when had she ever been treated like this?

In the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, who didn't pamper her and coax her?

Even Sword Grandpa and the others had never spoken a harsh word to her.

Although they pampered Ye Qiong even more than they did her.

Yet this guy before her actually dared to make her lose face in front of so many people?

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath and glared at Ye Qiong with a cold face:

"Ye Qiong! Don't you forget, you are also a disciple of our Seven Treasures Glazed Sect!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked.

What?

The Dean of this Omphalos Academy was actually a disciple of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect?

Then wouldn't this woman before them be...

A terrifying thought suddenly surged into everyone's minds.

Thinking of this, the crowd immediately scattered like birds and beasts.

What a joke, why wouldn't they run? Wait to be purged by the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect?

They had all, to a greater or lesser extent, said some unpleasant things just moments ago.

In the blink of an eye, only Ye Qiong, Ning Rongrong, and a few others remained on the scene.

Ye Qiong watched the crowd that had already run off, his brows knitting tighter and tighter.

He hadn't expected Ning Rongrong to be so indiscreet, ruining his recruitment mission with a single sentence.

Consequently, the gaze Ye Qiong leveled at Ning Rongrong gradually turned cold:

"Ning Rongrong, don't be too self-righteous. My opening this academy has nothing to do with the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect."

"If you don't believe me, feel free to write a letter to Sword Grandpa and the others and see how they respond."

"As for whether I will recruit you, I am very sorry, but our Omphalos Academy only recruits those with upright character and a determined, enterprising spirit."

"And you do not meet that requirement."

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong was so angry that her entire body trembled.

She pointed at Ye Qiong's nose and shouted abusively:

"Ye Qiong, what do you think you are?!"

"You are nothing more than a dog raised by our Seven Treasures Glazed Sect; do you really think you're someone important?"

"If it weren't for you clinging to our Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, someone like you wouldn't even be fit to carry my shoes!"

Her words immediately drew the attention of Ye Qiong's four students.

Jiang Zhu opened her mouth, wanting to stand up and defend Ye Qiong, but he pressed her back down.

The next second, a vast pressure erupted from Ye Qiong's body, instantly making it impossible for Ning Rongrong to catch her breath.

"Ye Qiong, you..."

"Ning Rongrong, mind your words, otherwise..."

Faced with Ye Qiong's warning, Ning Rongrong was so frightened that she immediately shut her mouth.

Seeing this, Ye Qiong's mood shifted, and he slowly withdrew his pressure:

"For the sake of Uncle Ning, I will not hold this against you. Get lost."

Ning Rongrong cast a resentful glance at Ye Qiong and turned to leave, but not before dropping a harsh threat:

"Ye Qiong, I hope your academy never recruits another new student."

Ye Qiong stood still, ignoring her harsh words.

He had always been indifferent toward Ning Rongrong, even though she was his fiancée.

Furthermore, he understood perfectly well that given the personality Ning Rongrong had developed since childhood, she would never have any affection for this so-called fiancé of hers.

Even if he were a sixteen-year-old Spirit Emperor, unrivaled among the younger generation, she would never spare him a second glance.

Thus, he was happy to be left alone; during his ten years of cultivation at the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, he had barely seen Ning Rongrong a few times.

It was only just before he left the sect that Ning Fengzhi had handed him that marriage contract.

"Qiong'er, you and Rongrong have both grown up. This is a marriage contract set in childhood. I know you have lofty ambitions and that your path differs from that girl Rongrong's, so I am handing this contract to you now. How you choose to handle it is entirely up to you."

"I only hope that if the time comes when it is absolutely unavoidable, please, for the sake of us, spare her life."

Thinking of this, Ye Qiong couldn't help but sigh.

Because of this scene caused by Ning Rongrong, everyone had run off, and he would have to go elsewhere to recruit.

"Tsk, what a nuisance."

Ye Qiong clicked his tongue.

Forget it, he would just take things one step at a time.

Jiang Zhu cautiously approached him: "Teacher... are we still going to continue recruiting?"

Ye Qiong glanced at the empty little plaza and shook his head:

"Let's wait a little longer. If no one else shows up, we'll head somewhere else."

A sturdy-looking student walked over.

"Teacher, I don't think anyone else is coming."

Jiang Zhu glared at him, annoyed.

"Wang Sheng, if you don't know how to speak properly, then just don't speak at all."

Ning Rongrong was planning to go to Shrek, so she walked with a brisk pace.

However, she had not gone far before she brushed past a woman.

She instinctively turned her head to look at the stranger.

Yet, the next second, a scene that left her utterly astonished unfolded.

She saw that woman walk straight up to Ye Qiong.

"Excuse me, may I register for Omphalos Academy?"

Ye Qiong looked up, and upon seeing the woman, he was instantly startled.

"It's you?"