Little Girl, Don't Tell Me You've Fallen for Me?

Half an hour passed.

"Xiao Chen, take good care of Rongrong from now on."

Jiang Chen smiled faintly. "Uncle Ning, don't worry. Rongrong will shine brilliantly even in the God Realm someday..."

"Come, let me toast you."

Jiang Chen raised his cup and drained it in one gulp.

Ning Fengzhi also raised his cup and drank it dry.

"Uncle Chen, a toast to you."

Jiang Chen filled his cup again and said to Sword Douluo Chen Xin.

"Uncle Gu, a toast to you."

Light blossomed around Ning Rongrong, and she slowly opened her eyes.

A nine-tiered pagoda slowly appeared in Ning Rongrong's hand. "It... it really became the Nine-Treasure Glazed Pagoda?!"

Ning Rongrong's face was full of shock. "My Soul Power has increased by five levels too!"

"Dad, my Martial Soul has become the Nine-Treasure Glazed Pagoda!"

Ning Rongrong shouted happily.

But there was no response. Ning Rongrong looked into the distance and saw her father, her two grandfathers, and Jiang Chen clinking cups and chatting merrily.

"Xiao Chen, come on, drink, drink, drink!"

"Uncle Ning, I'll finish mine. Drink as you please!"

"..."

They were clearly already drunk. From time to time, they even threw their arms around one another's shoulders and urged each other to drink. Ning Rongrong could already picture what would happen next: they would slam the table and become sworn brothers, making her call Jiang Chen Uncle.

"Dad, stop drinking!"

Ning Rongrong marched to the table in a huff and shouted at Ning Fengzhi.

"Rongrong, what's wrong? You won't even let your father enjoy himself?"

Ning Fengzhi looked at Ning Rongrong with a slightly reproachful tone.

Ning Rongrong felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her father had always doted on her—how had he become like this after drinking?!

"Hey, Uncle Ning, Rongrong is still young and doesn't understand. Come, let's continue. I'll finish mine; you drink as you please!"

Jiang Chen raised his cup and drained it.

"Since Xiao Chen finished his, then I'll drink two cups at once!"

Jiang Chen gave him a thumbs-up. "Uncle Ning, impressive!"

"Hahaha!"

Ning Rongrong was so angry her lungs nearly exploded. I'm the one who doesn't understand?!

"Rongrong, how is your Martial Soul now? How much did your Soul Power increase?"

Jiang Chen picked up a piece of fish, put it in his mouth, spat out the bone, and looked at Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong was still deeply grateful to Jiang Chen. She knew the limit of her Martial Soul herself: she could only cultivate to level eighty in her lifetime and would never be able to obtain an eighth Soul Ring.

Yet the immortal herb Jiang Chen had given her had elevated her Martial Soul into the Nine-Treasure Glazed Pagoda, completely resolving that flaw.

Ning Rongrong's gratitude toward Jiang Chen went without saying.

"Brother Chen, I'll remember this kindness. I'll definitely repay you someday."

Ning Rongrong spoke with a serious expression, her tone solemn and resolute.

Jiang Chen merely waved his hand calmly. "Rongrong, if you really want to repay such a small favor, then... we can talk about it later."

Jiang Chen looked at Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and Gu Rong, who were already thoroughly drunk, then cupped his hands. "Uncle Ning, I'll be leaving first."

Ning Fengzhi wanted to persuade him to stay, but Jiang Chen hurriedly refused. "I still have important business to attend to. It truly wouldn't be convenient for me to delay."

Hearing that, Ning Fengzhi could not say much more. At that moment, Ning Rongrong timidly called out, "Brother... Brother Chen..."

Jiang Chen looked at Ning Rongrong. The words Ning Rongrong had been about to say caught in her throat like a fishbone.

Jiang Chen smiled at her and transmitted his voice through spiritual power. "Little girl, don't tell me you've fallen for me?"

A faint blush appeared on Ning Rongrong's pale yellow face. She clenched her fists and glared at Jiang Chen with shy indignation.

Jiang Chen summoned the Zhuxian Sword, turning into a streak of light as he shot into the sky.

Only Jiang Chen's carefree figure and his final words remained in Ning Rongrong's eyes.

Ning Rongrong did not know what kind of feelings she had for Jiang Chen. Covering her heart, she could not help but ask herself.

Did she like him?

As Jiang Chen flew along, he suddenly felt his whole body drifting. "Fuck, the alcohol's hitting me!"

Jiang Chen's figure swayed as he flew on his sword in a crooked, wavering path, the sword tip bobbing up and down without direction.

"Damn it, why is my head... so dizzy!"

Jiang Chen focused his mind, forcing himself to remain awake as he sped onward. Before long, he returned to Wuhun Hall.

"Oh? You still knew to come back?!"

The moment Jiang Chen returned to Autumn Pavilion, he heard a teasing voice. Looking up, he saw his bargain-bin teacher, Bibi Dong, with his senior sister Hu Liena—the woman whose first kiss he had stolen—standing behind her.

So they had been waiting here for him all this time?!

Jiang Chen swayed unsteadily. He understood what was going on, but still pretended to be clueless as he smiled and asked, "Teacher, Senior Sister, what are you doing here?"

Jiang Chen's cheeks were crimson, and his eyes narrowed as he spoke. If he were out on the street, anyone could tell at a glance that he was a drunkard.

Bibi Dong walked forward, carefully examined Jiang Chen, then said in an unfriendly tone, "You've been drinking. There's even a woman's fragrance on you?!"

"You're the Holy Son of Wuhun Hall, yet you go out fooling around every day. What kind of behavior is that?!"

Originally, when Jiang Chen returned, Hu Liena had planned to persuade her teacher and speak up for him. But upon hearing that Jiang Chen carried the scent of another woman, she felt that Bibi Dong's attitude could be even fiercer. Someone who damaged his reputation like this ought to be tied up and whipped!

Otherwise, it would be impossible to serve as a proper punishment!

Jiang Chen frowned and opened his eyes, casting a pleading look toward Hu Liena. Hu Liena turned her head aside, pretending not to see him.

Jiang Chen: Being powerful didn't mean he could avoid punishment?

Ever since Jiang Chen had kissed Hu Liena that time, their relationship had become subtle. It was neither good nor bad, and it was truly tormenting!

Seeing Bibi Dong about to tug his ear, Jiang Chen immediately explained, "Teacher, I really went out to handle something important."

Bibi Dong spoke coldly. "Drinking with courtesans?!"

"Hey, Teacher, it really wasn't..."

Jiang Chen then explained what had happened at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, though he left out some details.

"You're quite something, kid. You drank Ning Fengzhi and those two old fellows under the table." Bibi Dong teased him for no apparent reason.

"Teacher, I'll go back first... and rest."

Jiang Chen carefully watched Bibi Dong's expression, then clutched his forehead and said with a pained look, "Teacher, I really can't take it anymore."

Bibi Dong supported Jiang Chen, then turned to Hu Liena and said, "Nana, prepare a bowl of sobering soup and bring it over."

"Yes, Teacher."

Hu Liena glanced at Jiang Chen, who had his arm around Bibi Dong and was half leaning against her chest, then left Autumn Pavilion.

"You're in this state, yet you still dared to fly back on your sword. Why didn't you just fall to your death on the way?" Bibi Dong helped Jiang Chen upstairs.

Jiang Chen narrowed his eyes, inhaling the unique fragrance of a mature woman from Bibi Dong. He looked at her with a smile. "Teacher, could you bear to let me... die?"

"If I died, would you... be sad?"

Jiang Chen asked two questions in succession. Bibi Dong's heart trembled, but she did not answer.

Bibi Dong helped Jiang Chen lie down on the bed, her exceptionally alluring gaze resting on him. But Jiang Chen had already drifted half asleep; otherwise, he surely would have used the alcohol as an excuse to steal a kiss.

After all, alcohol gave cowards courage.

Bibi Dong looked at her treasured disciple, sighed softly, and sat by the bed, quietly keeping watch.