Little Witch Ning Rongrong

Ning Rongrong led Zhang Fei out of the main hall and headed east along the corridors.

The interior of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was even larger than Zhang Fei had imagined.

Corridors connected to more corridors, courtyards enclosed other courtyards, and every turn revealed an entirely different view.

Zhang Fei took it all in with dazzled eyes, his gaze constantly shifting about.

But Ning Rongrong had clearly grown tired of the sights around her home. Her pace quickened, as though she were in a hurry to get somewhere.

After walking for about the time it took to burn an incense stick, she suddenly slowed down and glanced sideways at Zhang Fei.

Her bright, watery eyes rolled twice, and a sly smile curled at the corner of her lips.

"Hey, Zhang Fei, how about I take you somewhere fun?"

Zhang Fei was examining an unusually shaped plant to his right. Hearing that, he casually replied, "I'll follow Miss Ning's arrangements. Wherever you take me, I'll go."

Ning Rongrong gave a satisfied hum, turned, and headed down a side path.

Naturally, Zhang Fei had no idea what she was plotting. It was not as if a little girl could sell him off, right? He casually followed after her.

After Ning Rongrong led him through several twists and turns, the view suddenly opened up before them, revealing a broad, level training ground.

The training ground was over a hundred meters across, its surface paved with hard bluish-gray stone slabs.

Quite a few Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples were training there at the moment, ranging from seven- or eight-year-olds to teenagers. Some practiced alone, while others sparred in pairs. The clashing of weapons and bursts of shouts rose and fell without end, making the place lively indeed.

Ning Rongrong stopped and glanced back at Zhang Fei. Then, without hesitation, she reached out and hooked her arm around his.

Zhang Fei's entire body suddenly stiffened.

The little girl's arm was soft, carrying a faint, elusive fragrance.

Ning Rongrong naturally hung from Zhang Fei's arm, leaning against him so closely that her head rested on his shoulder, looking exceptionally intimate.

She raised her face and flashed Zhang Fei a sweet smile. "Come on, I'll show you around inside."

Zhang Fei's head buzzed.

This little loli actually took the initiative to hold my arm? Have I become this handsome already?

Then with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's enormous estate...

Zhang Fei had even started imagining what to name their future children. Would their surname be She? Or Zhang? It could not possibly be Ning, right?

But before he could decide, Ning Rongrong had already dragged him into the center of the training ground.

He immediately felt dozens of gazes land on him in unison, and the disciples who had been training all stopped.

Everyone's eyes first fell on Ning Rongrong, then swiftly shifted to Zhang Fei, whose arm she had been holding. Their expressions were far from friendly.

Their fists cracked as they clenched them, and they stared straight at Zhang Fei as though he had stolen their family heirloom.

Zhang Fei swept his gaze around and quickly understood.

Ning Rongrong had grown up among these disciples. She was beautiful, of noble status, and the Sect Master's only beloved daughter, so naturally she had no shortage of admirers and followers.

Zhang Fei lowered his head and glanced at Ning Rongrong, who was hanging onto his arm with an innocent expression. The smug delight in his heart instantly vanished.

This girl had deliberately put on this act to make everyone hate him.

She was simply bored and using him for entertainment. A clever, mischievous little princess who had been pampered since childhood loved seeing people fight over her.

The corner of Zhang Fei's mouth twitched. Just as he was about to pull his arm away, Ning Rongrong had already released him.

With her hands clasped behind her back, she smiled at the boy in the crowd with the ugliest expression. "Zhao Qiang, you're training today too? What a coincidence."

The boy called Zhao Qiang looked to be around nine years old. He was quite sturdy for his age, with broad shoulders and clearly defined muscles on his arms.

Zhao Qiang's tone was thick with jealousy. "Miss Rongrong, who is this? Why haven't I seen him before?"

"Oh, his name is Zhang Fei. He's a guest brought by His Highness the Crown Prince, and he's really interesting." Ning Rongrong put on an act as if she liked Zhang Fei very much.

Zhao Qiang sized Zhang Fei up and down. He was half a head shorter than Zhao Qiang and nowhere near as solidly built. The only thing was that his face was especially handsome, fair and clean.

The fire in Zhao Qiang's heart flared even brighter. Damn it! He's just some pretty boy. What use is he besides having a good-looking face? Why does he get to—?

Zhao Qiang's tone became noticeably less polite. "Since he's a guest, why did he come to our training ground? This isn't a place for sightseeing."

Before Zhang Fei could answer, Ning Rongrong beat him to it. "Brother Fei said that since our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is one of the Upper Three Sects, he wanted to see how capable our disciples really are, so I brought him here."

The corner of Zhang Fei's eye twitched.

That "Brother Fei" sounded so tender and heartfelt. To Zhao Qiang's ears, it was practically fuel on the fire.

And that line about wanting to see how capable the disciples were—wasn't she plainly pushing him into the fire pit?

Zhang Fei glanced at Ning Rongrong beside him. The sly smile on her lips was almost impossible to suppress.

I've been played. Just as expected of the little witch famous in the original story. Like father, like daughter—they're both old foxes.

Zhang Fei silently sighed.

He did not want to cause trouble for Xue Qinghe, so he quickly said, "Miss Ning said she wanted to show me around, so I followed her here. If I've disturbed everyone's training, I'll leave now. Farewell."

Just as he was about to turn away, Zhao Qiang took a large step sideways and blocked his path.

"Stop." Zhao Qiang's voice was provocative. "Looking at you, you should be a Soul Master too, right? Since you're here, don't be in such a hurry to leave. How about coming up and sparring with me? Let us see just how capable His Highness the Crown Prince's man is."

As soon as he finished speaking, the disciples around the training ground gathered closer, their jeers rising one after another.

"Yeah, have a spar!"

"Let's exchange pointers!"

"Don't tell me you're scared?"

Before Zhang Fei could speak, Ning Rongrong stepped forward first and deliberately stood in front of him. "Zhao Qiang, Brother Fei is my guest. You're not allowed to bully him."

It sounded as though she were defending Zhang Fei, but the implication was plainly that Zhang Fei did not dare accept.

Zhang Fei had already ground this little girl into the dirt a thousand times in his mind.

Zhao Qiang's face darkened even further. Seeing that Zhang Fei still did not respond, he provoked him even more. "What? Are you even a man? If you've got guts, don't hide behind a girl."

Damn it! Now he's making it about gender.

I've already transmigrated to Douluo Continent. How can I let a nine-year-old kid walk all over me?

If I back down today, I won't just disgrace the Crown Prince—I won't be able to hold my head up anywhere on this continent in the future!

He shoved aside Ning Rongrong, who was standing in front of him and barely holding back her laughter, then stepped forward half a pace. "Fine. Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Zhao Qiang immediately revealed a triumphant smile and sneered. "Good. You've got guts! There's an arena over there. Please."

"Yay, yay! There's going to be a good show!" Ning Rongrong finally could not keep up the act any longer. Wearing an eager expression, she skipped toward the arena.