The Incompetent Qian Renxue

"Have they arrived?"

Chen Ling casually stored the two visiting cards in his Soul Tool, then turned to Liu Erlong beside him, his gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

The visits had been scheduled for the morning, but his morning training with Xiao Wu had already delayed them for quite a while.

Yet when he looked over, he was left somewhat speechless.

Why were you blushing like a teapot?

At that moment, Liu Erlong's cheeks were as red as ripe peaches. Her eyes wandered, and she kept sneaking glances at him and Xiao Wu, looking utterly absentminded.

It had to be said that this slightly shy appearance unexpectedly carried a rather alluring charm.

After all, the world could not afford to lose married women who looked like young girls, young girls who looked like married women, or loli mothers, just as the West could not afford to lose Jerusalem.

Liu Erlong was the classic young girl with the charm of a married woman, possessing both a maiden's innocence and the refinement of time.

Noticing Chen Ling's gaze upon her, Liu Erlong panicked inwardly. She hastily withdrew her wandering gaze and instantly cast aside all distracting thoughts.

"Your Highness, the people from the two major factions have been waiting in the reception hall for quite some time," she said, her expression turning serious and her tone respectful.

"Then let's go."

Chen Ling spoke lightly, then led Xiao Wu and Liu Erlong toward Blue Tyrant Academy's reception hall.

At that moment, the reception hall appeared peaceful on the surface, though undercurrents churned beneath it.

The two parties sat facing each other separately, and the atmosphere was subtly strange.

On one side were Ning Fengzhi and his daughter, along with Sword Douluo and a somewhat uneasy Zhu Zhuqing.

On the other sat a refined young man, none other than Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue's disguise.

For a while, neither side spoke. Only the master and disciple, whose temperaments were so alike, confronted each other in silent opposition.

Xue Qinghe truly had not expected the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to move so quickly.

She had clearly acted in advance, doing everything she could to intercept all relevant information from Heaven Dou Royal Academy that day. She had even found ways to delay the messages headed for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, intending to seize the initiative and recruit Chen Ling first.

Little did she know that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had not used its usual intelligence personnel at all. Another group had always been handling the investigation and intelligence regarding whether Chen Ling had appeared.

What Ning Fengzhi had guarded against was precisely someone else getting there first. Thus, although he showed no reaction to Xue Qinghe's swift actions, he found them somewhat strange inwardly.

The atmosphere throughout the hall was stiff and stagnant, with Ning Rongrong as the sole exception.

The little girl had not noticed the undercurrents between the adults in the slightest. She only kept chattering away with her good friend, her delicate face filled with excitement. Her lively appearance eased much of the oppressive mood.

Just then, a clear set of footsteps sounded from outside.

The stagnant air was instantly broken. Everyone in the hall turned their eyes toward the entrance, waiting for the newcomer to appear.

Chen Ling entered the room with Xiao Wu and Liu Erlong following behind him.

"Brother Chen Ling!"

The instant Chen Ling stepped through the door, a pink figure lunged at him and threw herself directly into his arms.

Like a clingy, soft pink kitten, she buried herself in Chen Ling's embrace and rubbed affectionately against his chest. Her little hands tightly wrapped around his waist, unwilling to let go for a long while.

Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi's lips curled into a faint, smug smile. He discreetly glanced at Xue Qinghe across from him, as though his eyes were saying, Your teacher is still your teacher in the end.

Meeting Ning Fengzhi's gaze, Xue Qinghe maintained her refined and gentle appearance, but inwardly spat in annoyance, growing somewhat irritated.

That old bastard was actually using a honey trap. No wonder Ning Rongrong and another stunningly beautiful girl had come along—they had come with this plan in mind.

However, upon realizing this, she was not worried in the slightest.

When it came to looks, Qian Renxue was extremely confident and did not believe she would lose to anyone.

But after glancing at the terrifying sight on Zhu Zhuqing's chest in the distance, she silently crossed that particular area off the list. She really could not compare in that regard.

"Alright, Rongrong. There are so many people here," Chen Ling said, rubbing Ning Rongrong's long pink hair with affection in his voice.

Though the little princess had received rather mixed reviews in his previous life, to Chen Ling, she had always been an adorable little pink cake. There was nothing wrong with being love-struck, anyway—he, Chen Ling, was the one benefiting from it.

"Mmm, okay."

Ning Rongrong obediently responded. Remembering that her father and so many elders were present, a bashful blush rose to her cheeks. She hurriedly withdrew from Chen Ling's arms, then quietly reached out and took his hand.

As warmth enveloped her palm, Ning Rongrong immediately broke into a sweet, radiant smile and introduced everyone present to Chen Ling one by one.

"Brother Chen Ling, this is my father, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This is Grandpa Sword, and this is Big Brother Crown Prince."

Chen Ling politely nodded and greeted each of them. A few gentle words instantly livened up the entire hall, sweeping away the previous stiff atmosphere and making the scene warm and harmonious.

Ning Fengzhi's gaze remained fixed on Chen Ling. Once his initial scrutiny faded, all that remained was undisguised admiration and satisfaction. He was looking at him exactly as one would look at a son-in-law.

He did not say anything else at all, merely asked one question after another.

"I wonder when you plan to settle your marriage with Rongrong, Chen Ling? There is no need for you to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. When the time comes, I will also fund the construction of your academy."

Ning Fengzhi's tone was filled with sincerity, as though they were already close family. There was not the slightest hint of arrogance from a sect master.

Chen Ling lowered his head and glanced at Ning Rongrong beside him, whose eyes hid a trace of anticipation. He spoke gently, neither directly refusing nor agreeing, deftly using her age as a buffer. "Sect Master Ning is too polite. Rongrong is still young, so there is no need to rush this matter."

She truly was too young, especially compared to Xiao Wu now and Zhu Zhuqing in the distance.

"Haha, not young, not young at all. You needn't be so formal with me. Just call me Uncle Ning from now on. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come find me."

Ning Fengzhi laughed twice, showing none of an old fox's manner. He seemed entirely sincere.

Though Ning Fengzhi usually liked to throw around slogans and maintain good relations with all sides, he could still distinguish priorities.

As a merchant, he liked investing in everything a little and keeping on good terms with everyone. But with such an obviously profitable deal right in front of him, how could he possibly hesitate?

As for Xue Qinghe, watching this unfold, she was anxious despite herself, like a helpless wife who still had to keep smiling.

"Then thank you, Uncle Ning." Chen Ling blinked and accepted the relationship. Calling him uncle was no loss, anyway. He intended to win Ning Rongrong over, and Ning Fengzhi was, after all, his future father-in-law.

Besides, given Ning Fengzhi's current attitude, Chen Ling could hardly put on a sour face. That would be somewhat ungrateful.

They said one should not strike a smiling face. When someone was not only smiling at you but also voluntarily offering money and his daughter, that was a little different.