Her Disguise Nearly Fell Apart

Flender cleared his throat and turned his solemn gaze toward Ning Rongrong and the other three newcomers. "I'm sure the four of you saw Dai Mubai and the others running this morning, right?"

Ning Rongrong, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing all nodded.

"Good. Starting tomorrow, you'll join them as well. Also, the four of you will make up today's fifty laps later."

"Fifty laps?!" Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.

"Any problem?" Flender's eyes narrowed slightly behind his lenses.

"Fine... no problem." Ning Rongrong pouted.

Flender turned his head. "Mubai, supervise them here."

"Yes, Dean!" Dai Mubai replied.

Flender nodded in satisfaction and gave his final instructions. "After you finish running, go back and rest. Recover to your best condition as much as possible. Today's first class will begin tonight."

With that, Flender turned and left.

After Flender had gone some distance away, Dai Mubai turned around. "Four junior brothers and sisters, let's begin."

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing and dashed out first.

Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged a glance, then exerted themselves and followed at the same time.

Ning Rongrong pouted, her face full of reluctance. But for the sake of her pride, she still forced herself to start moving.

Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar arrived beneath an old tree at the edge of the field and watched the four girls listlessly.

"Boss Dai," Oscar came over and asked in a lowered, bashful voice, "what do you think about me pursuing Ning Rongrong? Do I have a chance?"

Dai Mubai was secretly startled, but his expression remained unchanged. He had to dispel Oscar's idea as quickly as possible.

He patted Oscar on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Forget it, Little Ao. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has a very important rule. Soul Masters with the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul must find a battle Soul Master as their spouse."

"Huh? There's... there's actually a rule like that?" Oscar looked as if he had been struck by lightning.

Dai Mubai nodded, wearing an expression that said he was doing this for Oscar's own good. "Absolutely. It's their sect's rule. It protects the safety of their direct descendants while also bringing combat strength to the sect. Your talent is pretty good, but you aren't a battle Soul Master."

Oscar immediately deflated like a punctured ball, his face filled with dejection. "Then... let's forget it."

Dai Mubai smiled. "Little Ao, with your talent, as long as you cultivate properly, are you really worried about not finding a girlfriend? Someone like Ning Rongrong isn't someone you can handle."

After saying that, Dai Mubai added inwardly, I'll do it myself, then.

"I understand, Boss Dai." Oscar felt that Dai Mubai's words made sense and nodded.

Ma Hongjun, standing nearby, snickered. "Boss Dai, what about me? Do I have a chance?"

Dai Mubai's heart jolted when he heard that.

That fellow Ma Hongjun came from a commoner family and had impressive talent, along with the rare Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul. Although his Martial Soul had a slight flaw, if that flaw were resolved...

Actually, Ma Hongjun was quite suitable—a perfect standard live-in son-in-law and "phoenix man."

Dai Mubai immediately couldn't find a suitable excuse. He fell into thought, inwardly extremely anxious.

After a moment, under Ma Hongjun's expectant gaze, Dai Mubai shook his head. "Difficult! When a noble girl like her chooses a partner, she cares a lot about his past. Your talent is pretty good, but because of your Evil Fire problem, you still have to vent it occasionally. She probably wouldn't be able to sincerely accept you unless she wanted to use you as a stud!"

Ma Hongjun chuckled. "I was just asking! If she looks down on me, I still look down on her. I prefer the feeling of being free and unfettered."

After saying that, his eyes shifted. "Now that you mention it, Boss Dai, doesn't that make you the most suitable?"

Dai Mubai was momentarily speechless. His disguise had nearly fallen apart, so he waved his hand. "Ah, enough, enough. Go back to the dorms and cultivate. Stop screwing around here."

"Sure!" Ma Hongjun replied, pulling Oscar toward the dormitories.

Dai Mubai sat cross-legged beneath the tree, suppressed the unrest in his heart, and entered a meditative state.

On the field, four figures ran beneath the morning light.

Zhu Zhuqing ran at the front, while Tang San and Xiao Wu maintained an even pace.

Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, grew slower and slower, gradually falling more than half a lap behind.

Before long, Ning Rongrong's footsteps fell completely out of rhythm.

She braced herself on her knees and gasped heavily, her chest rising and falling violently. Even her delicate makeup had become somewhat disheveled.

She stomped her foot and said angrily, "This is too tiring! I'm not running anymore! Whoever wants to run can run!"

With that, she turned around and started walking toward the dormitories.

Sensing Ning Rongrong's every move, Dai Mubai thought to himself, She's finally showing her true colors.

"Stop. Where are you going?"

Dai Mubai called out to Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong turned around and said indignantly, "It's too tiring! I can't keep going!"

"Everyone else is persisting. Why can't you?"

Dai Mubai stood up and walked toward Ning Rongrong.

Ning Rongrong lifted her chin, displaying the arrogant bearing of a young lady. "You're all battle Soul Masters. I'm only an auxiliary-type Soul Master! Why should an auxiliary-type Soul Master suffer like this?"

Dai Mubai stopped in front of her and stared straight at her. "Auxiliary Soul Masters need to train even more. On the battlefield, auxiliary Soul Masters are the most fragile and the first targets the enemy attacks. Do you think hiding behind the team will keep you safe and sound?"

"But this isn't a battlefield! It's only an academy!"

Ning Rongrong argued, her voice carrying a hint of willfulness.

Dai Mubai nodded. "That's right, this is only an academy. But why did you come to this academy? Was it merely to escape your sect's control and continue being a young lady somewhere else?"

Ning Rongrong's expression changed.

Dai Mubai raised a hand and pointed toward the figures on the field. "Look. Every student here is stronger than you. Do you really want to disgrace your Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul?"

"You're talking nonsense!" Ning Rongrong's eyes instantly reddened. She retorted loudly, "My father said I'm the most outstanding auxiliary Soul Master! I'm a once-in-a-century genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

"A genius?" Dai Mubai sneered. "Take a look. Who here are you stronger than? Don't use being an auxiliary Soul Master as an excuse. Oscar is only a food-type Soul Master, and he's a food-type Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power. His talent is higher than yours, and he's already at rank thirty-three. He can run fifty laps while carrying ten kilograms of weight. Can you?"

"I! I..."

Ning Rongrong opened her mouth, but she was left speechless.

Tears welled up in her eyes. In the end, she couldn't hold them back. "Sniff... sniff... you're bullying me!"

Ning Rongrong could no longer keep herself together. She squatted on the ground, covered her face with both hands, and burst into tears.

Dai Mubai knew clearly that this girl had been spoiled rotten and had grown accustomed to hearing praise. Without giving her some pressure, she would never see the gap between herself and a true genius.

After Ning Rongrong had cried enough, Dai Mubai crouched down and continued to manipulate her.

He placed one hand on Ning Rongrong's trembling shoulder and softened his voice slightly. "You don't want your parents to feel disappointed in you when you return home someday, do you?"

Ning Rongrong's sobs paused slightly.

Dai Mubai continued, "If you can't even endure this little hardship, how will you inherit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future? How will you face the sect's responsibilities?"

Ning Rongrong slowly lifted her head and looked at him through tear-filled eyes. Her delicate, pretty face was covered in tear stains, and the tip of her nose was flushed red. At that moment, she looked like a fragile little girl.