Flender's Rebuke

Su Ge also turned his gaze to Deng Jilin.

"Since I called you back this time, don't rush off again. Stay by my side. I need your help."

"Okay."

"After some time, I'll have another great opportunity for you."

"Okay."

"Can't you say a few more words?"

"I can."

Su Ge looked at Deng Jilin, whose mood had turned cold and hard again after he finished explaining the situation, and smiled helplessly. He really didn't know what to do with him.

"Forget it, forget it. Let's eat first. Afterward, come with me to see if the Whale Rubber I ordered has arrived."

"Okay."

"..."

After eating and drinking their fill, it was about time to go. Deng Jilin had already settled the bill, so Su Ge took him straight out of the private room.

But when he pushed the door open, Su Ge spotted someone he knew.

Ning Rongrong stepped out of a private room nearby. His expression paused; he hadn't expected such a coincidence.

Ning Rongrong saw Su Ge too, and surprise flashed across her eyes.

"Ning Rongrong?"

"Su Ge!"

Deng Jilin glanced at Ning Rongrong, then looked away. He wasn't very interested in most things.

After that one glance, he lowered his eyes and paid no further attention.

"Su Ge, what a coincidence! I didn't expect you to be here too. Who's this?"

Ning Rongrong came over, looking at Su Ge with delight in her eyes. Then she glanced at the man behind him and asked curiously.

"It really is a coincidence. This is my friend Deng Jilin. He doesn't talk much, so don't mind him."

"But why are you here? Didn't the dean keep you behind for special training?"

At Su Ge's question, Ning Rongrong's anger flared. Dissatisfaction gradually rose in her eyes.

"Don't get me started. It's all because of that Flender. He told Oscar and me to run twenty laps around the village for some kind of physical training."

"That distance is impossible to finish. He even said we couldn't have lunch if we didn't complete it. By the time we were done running, we probably wouldn't get dinner either."

"And Oscar, he..."

As Ning Rongrong rambled on, Deng Jilin couldn't help glancing at her again. Then he turned to Su Ge, his meaning unmistakable.

Could you make this person be quiet?

Su Ge sighed and had no choice but to interrupt Ning Rongrong's complaints.

"Rongrong, have you ever considered that Flender is the dean, and his Martial Soul is a Cat-Eagle? Could he have noticed you were gone?"

"Maybe he even knows all about you coming to Suotuo City to eat and drink your fill."

He gave Ning Rongrong a warning, successfully bringing her complaints to a halt.

"You mean he's spying on me?"

"It's just a guess, but it can't be ruled out."

Su Ge shrugged. He neither confirmed nor denied it.

But those words thoroughly set Ning Rongrong's temper off!

She stamped her foot. The thought of being watched made her furious. How dare Flender, a mere Soul Saint, spy on her?!

Flender was nothing but a Soul Saint. How dare he spy on her?!

With that thought, she left without even saying goodbye, striding away without looking back.

Su Ge shrugged, then said to Deng Jilin, "It's quiet now. Let's go."

Deng Jilin nodded. After Su Ge picked up the item he'd ordered, the two parted ways.

Deng Jilin stayed in Suotuo City for the time being, while Su Ge retraced his steps and returned to the academy.

Perhaps because he had come back early, he could hear Flender and Ning Rongrong arguing from far away.

Oscar, meanwhile, was running toward him.

Seeing Su Ge had just returned, Oscar didn't say much. His expression was a little strange.

"Su Ge, hurry back. Everyone's gathered already. Tonight's lesson is a practical fight at the Great Soul Arena."

After saying that, he was about to keep running, but Su Ge took a roast chicken from his hand and placed it in Oscar's.

"Eat something before you run. Otherwise, you won't have the strength. Don't worry, I'll take responsibility if anything happens."

Oscar looked at the roast chicken in his hand and nodded to Su Ge. Then he took it and continued running in silence as he ate.

He, Oscar, would remember this kindness.

Watching Oscar run off, Su Ge headed into the academy.

Though he had spoken with Ning Rongrong, he hadn't been the one to start this whole mess, so there was no need to worry.

Following the sounds, he returned to the main training ground.

At that moment, every student except Su Ge and Oscar had gathered. Flender and Ning Rongrong stood facing each other in the middle of the field, the air thick with tension.

At the noise, everyone turned to look at Su Ge. Tang San and Xiao Wu repeatedly gestured for him to hurry over.

But Su Ge paid no mind to their hints. He met Flender's gaze without haste and returned to his place.

Seeing Su Ge walk up, Flender immediately felt a headache coming on. It was already difficult enough to keep Ning Rongrong in line.

Now Su Ge had arrived, even harder to manage. He suddenly felt that this was the most difficult class the academy had ever had!

He looked at Ning Rongrong again and continued, "And then there's Su Ge. Not only does he have Innate Full Soul Power, but at twelve years old, he's already a level forty-four Soul Ancestor with this Soul Ring Configuration. Whether or not it's unprecedented, it's certainly unmatched."

"Besides, you saw him fight Zhao Wuji at the start of the term. Have you ever seen a Soul Ancestor with that kind of strength?"

At Flender's words, Ning Rongrong finally couldn't hold back. She gave Su Ge a long look, then forced back her tears and left the academy without looking back.

Watching Ning Rongrong's retreating figure, a thoughtful look flashed through Su Ge's eyes. But Flender spoke again.

"Su Ge, why are you so late? Didn't I make myself clear earlier?"

"I had some personal matters to take care of, so I lost track of time. Please forgive me, Dean."

Su Ge gave Flender a gentle smile as he explained.

"Is that an excuse?"

Flender's words made the smile on Su Ge's face falter. It slowly faded as he looked at Flender with an impassive gaze.

"I don't think I'm that late, and I don't believe a fight at the Great Soul Arena would do me any good."

Flender had already made up his mind to lecture Su Ge. After all, the moment Su Ge enrolled, he had fought Zhao Wuji, giving the entire academy a show of force!

If Su Ge wasn't disciplined, how could the lessons that followed go on?

"What makes you think that? Perhaps your strength is great, but a Soul Master needs to develop versatility and combat experience."

"Do you think that because you're strong, you'll never stumble?"

Flender's expression darkened too. He had just dared to reprimand the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. What was Su Ge to him?

But he had forgotten that he had the authority to discipline Ning Rongrong and the strength to keep her in check. Against Su Ge, he had neither!