Rongrong Lashes Out at Yu Xiaogang, and the Little Witch Holds Nothing Back

"That first team battle was well fought."

Yu Xiaogang set the tone, then turned to Tang San, admiration plain in his voice.

"Little San made excellent decisions on the fly. His Blue Silver Grass divided the battlefield at the decisive moment, showing exactly what a control-type Soul Master brings to a fight."

Tang San answered modestly, "Everyone worked well together."

Yu Xiaogang looked at Dai Mubai. "Mubai held the front line against two opponents and kept our formation steady. That's the toughness an assault-type captain needs."

Dai Mubai puffed out his chest and acknowledged the praise.

Yu Xiaogang went on to praise Ma Hongjun's suppressing fire and Oscar's supplies. He even mentioned Xiao Wu's and Zhu Zhuqing's charges.

But when his gaze reached Ning Rongrong, his smile faded.

"Even so, there was still a serious tactical flaw in that battle."

Yu Xiaogang tapped the table, raising his voice.

"Ning Rongrong, your timing with your support was fine, but your positioning was terrible."

"Once the fight began, you barely moved. You made no attempt to adjust your position as the battle changed."

"If they'd had an agility-type Soul Master who was good at stealth circle around and attack from behind, you would've been eliminated."

"As a support-type Soul Master, you can't leave your safety entirely to your teammates. Your combat awareness is severely lacking. You even slowed the back line's ability to react."

His words were harsh, and a gloom settled over the room.

Xiao Wu frowned and was about to speak, but Ning Rongrong raised a hand to stop her.

Ning Rongrong stood where she was, her chest rising and falling.

She had grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, doted on by everyone around her. When had anyone ever scolded her like this in front of a crowd?

Besides, throughout that fight, she had kept Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing boosted without a break. Their opponents had not even come within ten meters of her.

The old man was plainly looking for faults to pick, trying to embarrass someone close to Lin Xuan.

Ning Rongrong set her cup down hard on the table and gave a cold snort.

"Grandmaster, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda has a fixed range. As long as my teammates are inside it, I stand wherever my Soul Power circulates most steadily."

"The edge of the arena was behind me, and Tang San's Blue Silver Grass guarded both sides. Staying put gave them the least chance of surrounding me."

"If you think my positioning was so bad, then tell me: according to your brilliant theories, where should I have run?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted. He clearly had not expected Ning Rongrong to challenge him to his face.

He said coldly:

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's approach to support may suit the way your sect's guards work together, but on my team, everyone follows the tactical rules."

Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back and lifted his chin, striking the pose of a man dispensing wisdom.

Ning Rongrong laughed in disbelief.

All her life, even the two Titled Douluo grandfathers of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been reluctant to raise their voices at her. Which of the sect's elders did not indulge her?

She had given everything she had to boost her teammates in the arena today. Instead of a word of praise afterward, she had been accused of poor positioning and holding everyone back.

"Rules?"

Ning Rongrong took a step forward, lifted her fair face, and sneered.

"Who do you think you are, lecturing me about rules?"

"Not one of them came within ten meters of me the entire fight. The boosts on Dai Mubai, Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu never dropped for a second!"

"Nothing went wrong with the tactics, and we won. But you still had to find fault."

"My Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has stood for hundreds of years. Our support-type Soul Masters have more experience with positioning than you've had hot meals!"

Hands on her hips, Ning Rongrong fired back without pause.

"Do you really think you're some great master of theory?"

"When all's said and done, you're just a useless Soul Grandmaster pushing fifty who'll never break through level thirty!"

"You can't even get past level thirty yourself. What gives you the right to lecture me on the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's methods?"

The words came fast, each one striking Yu Xiaogang where it hurt most.

Who was she? She was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—the little witch!

Lin Xuan might show Yu Xiaogang respect for Tang San's sake, but Ning Rongrong had no intention of doing the same!

Yu Xiaogang's face twitched. It went from flushed red to ashen, then dark as the bottom of a pot.

Level twenty-nine was the wound he could never bear to have touched.

Now a young girl had ripped it open in front of Flender, Tang San, and every student. His chest heaved, and his fingers shook with rage.

"Insolence! Utter insolence!"

Yu Xiaogang slammed the table and roared at Flender.

"Flender! Is this the kind of student your academy admits?"

"No respect for her elders! Arrogant beyond belief!"

"Has she thrown every rule about respecting teachers to the dogs?"

Standing at the back, Flender rubbed his throbbing temples, embarrassment all over his face.

He wanted to smooth things over, but Ning Rongrong had the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Ning Fengzhi behind her. Yu Xiaogang had little ground to stand on, either. Flender was caught between them.

Before Flender could speak, Yu Xiaogang snatched his notebook from the table. Without looking at anyone, he swept out in a fury and slammed the door behind him.

The room was quiet for a second. Then Xiao Wu burst out laughing.

"Oh, wasn't someone supposed to be the greatest theorist around? How did a couple of comments send him running?"

Xiao Wu laughed so hard she clutched her stomach, then tugged Ning Rongrong's arm.

"Rongrong, it felt so good hearing you tell him off!"

Ning Rongrong tipped her pointed chin high, dusted off her hands, and snorted. "I'm no pushover. If he wanted to make an example of me, he should've thought about who he was dealing with."

Tang San stood there, torn.

He looked at the door Yu Xiaogang had slammed, then at Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu, who seemed entirely unbothered.

Yu Xiaogang was his teacher. Whatever his teacher had done wrong, Tang San could not let him leave alone and humiliated.

Tang San turned and went up to Lin Xuan, speaking quietly.

"Lin Xuan, I'm sorry. I'm going to check on my teacher."

Lin Xuan nodded calmly. "Go on. Take care on the way."

Tang San acknowledged him, pulled the door open, and hurried after Yu Xiaogang.

Flender let out a long sigh and waved to the others.

"All right, enough. We won tonight's team battle. Head back to the academy and get some rest. You'll have tomorrow morning off."

With that, Flender hurried out after Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.

Once the adults were gone, the mood in the lounge immediately lightened.

Ma Hongjun rubbed his belly as he sidled up to Dai Mubai, waggling his eyebrows and bumping his shoulder.

"Boss Dai, now that we've won the team battle, shouldn't we go have some fun in that alley on the south side of Suotuo City? I hear they've got some new girls there. Real lookers."

Dai Mubai caught sight of Zhu Zhuqing fastening her wrist guards in the corner. His face tightened, and he shoved Ma Hongjun away.

"Go by yourself. I'm not coming."

Ma Hongjun paused, scratched his round head, and blurted out in confusion.

"That's strange. Boss Dai, aren't you usually the first to go? Didn't you brag to me and Little Ao last time that women were resources, not people, and we ought to enjoy ourselves while we're young? What's changed today?"

The room seemed to turn cold.

Dai Mubai's face went green. He wanted nothing more than to slap Ma Hongjun's filthy mouth shut.

By the door, Zhu Zhuqing stopped moving.

She did not even turn around. She spat out two words in an icy voice:

"How disgusting."

Then Zhu Zhuqing opened the door and walked straight out.

"Zhuqing, wait for me!"

Xiao Wu skipped after her, catching hold of Lin Xuan's sleeve on the way.

"Lin Xuan, let's go."

Ning Rongrong hurried up on Lin Xuan's other side and said with a grin:

"Lin Xuan, when we get back to the academy, can you give me another Clear Mind Talisman? I'll pay good money for it!"

With a girl on either side of him, Lin Xuan walked out of the lounge.

Zhu Zhuqing was a few steps ahead. Though she said nothing, she noticeably slowed down, falling into step with the three of them.

All three girls, each striking in looks and bearing, left gathered around Lin Xuan.

Only Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar remained in the lounge.

Dai Mubai stared at the empty doorway. Furious, he punched the wooden cabinet beside him, leaving a deep dent in its side.

Ma Hongjun shrank back. "Boss Dai, what are you so angry about...?"

Dai Mubai glared at him and growled through clenched teeth:

"Fatty, Little Ao, let's go! Everything's on me tonight!"

Meanwhile, on the main road to Shrek Academy.

The night breeze stirred the leaves along the roadside with a soft rustle.

Ning Rongrong walked with her hands behind her back, lightly kicking pebbles along the road. The satisfaction had yet to leave her face.

Lin Xuan glanced at her and smiled. "Rongrong, you really gave him what he deserved in the lounge today."

Ning Rongrong arched her brows and looked at him.

"Of course. I can't stand people who have no real ability but love to put on airs."

Then she blinked her big eyes and asked curiously:

"But Lin Xuan, he deliberately stuck you on the bench a few days ago. He was obviously targeting you. How did you put up with it?"

Xiao Wu leaned in and nodded along.

"Exactly! You're too good-natured, Lin Xuan. If it had been me, I'd have thrown him off the training field with an Explosive Eight-Stage Fall on the first day."

Lin Xuan shook his head helplessly.

"Little San and I have known each other since Holy Soul Village. Later, we spent six years together at Notting Academy."

"I backed down the other day because I didn't want to put Little San in a difficult position. Yu Xiaogang is his teacher, after all. I wanted to show Little San some consideration."

"But there's a limit to anyone's patience."

"After today, being Little San's teacher won't help him anymore."

Ning Rongrong smiled even more brightly and patted Lin Xuan on the shoulder.

"That's more like it! If he dares bother you again, I'll be the first to tell him off!"

Zhu Zhuqing walked beside them, quietly listening. Without realizing it, the tension in her body eased.

The four of them chatted and laughed all the way back to the village entrance of Shrek Academy.