The Art of Patience Is Letting Go

Beside a carriage parked at the foot of Heavenly Dragon Sect's mountain.

Nan Qiuqiu spoke somewhat reluctantly. "A-Ming, do I really not need to come with you this time?"

"Qiuqiu, whether I was going home or heading out before, hadn't I always brought you along?"

"This time, I can just take my little sister back with me. I'll bring you next time." Su Ming's stance was very clear.

"Alright." Nan Qiuqiu looked rather gloomy.

Of course, the reason for her unhappiness was ultimately that Su Ming was taking Lan Fozu with him this time.

Especially that smug little look Lan Fozu had given her just now—it truly infuriated Nan Qiuqiu.

After soothing Nan Qiuqiu a little, Su Ming turned to Jiang Nannan and instructed her:

"Nannan, while I'm away, keep a personal eye on those tasks."

To Su Ming, Jiang Nannan was not merely his personal maid; she was also an outstanding secretary he had trained.

Moreover, in daily life, Jiang Nannan was the girl who gave Su Ming the least cause for concern.

She rarely engaged in the fierce clashes that Lan Fozu and Nan Qiuqiu did. She was always gentle and considerate, thinking from Su Ming's perspective.

It could not be denied that, for Su Ming, this arrangement was indeed very comfortable.

"Don't worry, Young Master." Jiang Nannan nodded, speaking with great confidence.

Over the past year or so, she had benefited enormously from staying by Su Ming's side.

Her initial gratitude and slight fondness had also become the admiration and affection she felt now.

However, Jiang Nannan understood her own circumstances very well, which was why she kept those feelings buried deep in her heart and dared not reveal them.

But Jiang Nannan had never stopped making little moves or indulging in little schemes.

One day, Young Master will be mine alone.

Jiang Nannan discreetly glanced at Lan Fozu and Nan Qiuqiu, who were still "confronting" each other nearby, her heart filled with disdain.

Go on, fight. That would only improve how Young Master saw her.

And it would be even better if they both came away badly hurt, leaving her to reap the benefits for nothing.

But in a few years, I'll be enrolling at Shrek Academy. I wonder what Young Master is thinking. I really don't want to leave him.

The thought made Jiang Nannan feel a little distressed.

Had she not met Young Master, she truly would have longed to attend this so-called number one academy in the world.

But now, she only wanted to remain by Su Ming's side.

Although Su Ming had said that he was only sending her to Shrek ahead of time.

Once he reached the age to enroll, he would go to Shrek Academy as well.

Even so, Jiang Nannan still felt miserable.

She was two years older than Su Ming. In other words, once she went to study at Shrek Academy, there would be a two-year gap.

Even if she could return during holidays, she would still spend less time at Su Ming's side than Nan Qiuqiu and Lan Fozu did.

If Su Ming alone went to Shrek two years later, Jiang Nannan would actually be quite happy.

After all, in that case, neither Nan Qiuqiu nor Lan Fozu could be her rival.

But the problem was that while Nan Qiuqiu would not enroll at Shrek Academy, Lan Fozu would follow Su Ming.

Ah, having one less rival during those two years is still something I can accept.

Thinking of this, Jiang Nannan could only comfort herself inwardly.

"Alright, you can head back now. Little Lan and I are leaving."

Amid repeated farewells, Su Ming boarded the carriage with Lan Fozu.

The carriage slowly began moving, heading toward the northern city gate.

"Brother, are you going to directly absorb a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring on this spirit hunt?!"

As soon as they entered the carriage compartment, Lan Fozu could not help starting a conversation.

Everyone else thought that she and her brother Su Ming were merely leaving Heavenly Dragon Sect for an ordinary outing.

But only Lan Fozu knew that Su Ming's Soul Power had broken through level thirty, allowing him to hunt his third Spirit Ring in the ocean.

Hearing Lan Fozu's question, Su Ming nodded.

"That's right. It's time for my third Spirit Ring to be at the ten-thousand-year level."

Su Ming's physical constitution had always been powerful, especially after the Demon Empress's sacrifice, when it had been enhanced across the board by an unknown number of times.

And over the past year or so, he had eaten quite a bit of Whale Rubber to further strengthen his body.

But after eating it for a while, Su Ming stopped.

That so-called strengthening effect had been very minor on Su Ming from the start, and eventually ceased having any effect at all.

There were two reasons for this:

The first, and most important, was that Su Ming's physical constitution was simply too strong.

Whale Rubber of ordinary ages no longer had any effect on him.

The second was that higher-aged Whale Rubber was difficult to find.

By Su Ming's estimation, even that ten-thousand-year Whale Rubber Huo Yuhao had stumbled upon at the Treasure Appraisal Fair in the original story would not improve him by much.

Still, no matter how minor the effect was, he would definitely pick it up if he found it.

As the saying went, even a mosquito was still meat.

"Besides hunting a Spirit Ring, we should stay in the nearby coastal cities for a while and see whether we can purchase some Whale Rubber."

"For the vast majority of soul masters, the more of this stuff, the better."

Immediately afterward, Su Ming spoke to Lan Fozu about another matter.

This time, he had also brought purchasing funds provided by the sect.

Besides helping the sect procure a batch of Whale Rubber, Su Ming wanted to see whether he could find some high-aged Whale Rubber at a bargain for his own use.

Su Ming estimated that it would still be very difficult.

After all, the effects of Whale Rubber were no secret among the major powers.

High-aged Whale Rubber was often priceless and unavailable.

Anyone who understood even a little of Whale Rubber's value would not simply sell high-aged Whale Rubber for money.

Trading it with a major power or consuming it oneself... either option was guaranteed to be worthwhile.

"Whale Rubber..." Lan Fozu looked a little unhappy upon hearing the term.

After all, her true form, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, was also a type of whale.

Although Lan Fozu knew what Su Ming truly meant, she still wanted to make a small issue of it so that Su Ming would comfort her.

"Alright, why are you getting upset just from thinking about it?"

Seeing this, Su Ming picked Lan Fozu up and comforted her gently.

"Once I've absorbed the Spirit Ring, not only will we stay in the nearby cities for a few extra days, but I'll also specifically set aside a day to go shopping with you."

"That's more like it." Nestled in Su Ming's arms, Lan Fozu gave a soft hum, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.

That was right. This had been her true goal all along.

Lan Fozu was naturally obedient around Su Ming in daily life, and especially in front of others, she was exceptionally considerate of his dignity.

But when the two of them were alone, showing a little tsundere side from time to time could also deepen their bond.

After officially entering the human world and living among humans, Lan Fozu had learned many things.

That also gave her even more confidence that she could defeat everyone else and have Su Ming all to herself.