Ning Rongrong and Chen Xin, Having Left Shrek; Yu Tianheng Watches from the Shadows

Her voice had a husky, magnetic quality.

She stole a glance at the young man before her, secretly astonished.

Grandfather said His Highness the Saint Son was young, but I never imagined he was this young. He looks a few years younger than me.

He was strikingly handsome, with refined features and an easy confidence in his eyes. Despite his youth, he carried an air that made others hesitate to meet his gaze.

What she found even harder to believe was that this young man had cured the serpent poison that had plagued the Dugu family for generations.

Her grandfather's poison, her own poison—

The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's venom, once thought incurable, had been dispelled as easily as an ordinary illness in the Saint Son's hands.

The entire Dugu family would remember that kindness.

"No need for formalities."

Fang Fan raised a hand slightly, his tone casual yet authoritative.

"Senior Dugu, how have you been?"

"Thanks to Your Highness, the Extreme Poison in this old man's body has been completely cleared. My Soul Power hasn't declined. It has even improved."

Gratitude filled Dugu Bo's face.

"The Dugu family will never forget Your Highness's great kindness."

Fang Fan nodded, his gaze passing over Dugu Bo.

The Poison Douluo did look much healthier. He no longer gave off the cold, poisonous aura he had before.

"Your Highness has only just arrived in Heaven Dou City. If you need anything, please call on this old man at any time."

Dugu Bo cupped his fists.

"If Your Highness doesn't mind, you could rest at my humble home. It would give me a chance to show you some hospitality."

Dugu Yan looked up too. Her jade-green eyes rested on Fang Fan, filled with curiosity and gratitude, along with a trace of shyness.

She said softly, "Your Highness saved my whole family. I've always wanted to thank you in person. It's a blessing to finally meet you today."

Fang Fan glanced at her. A faint smile touched his lips.

"You're too kind. Now that I'm in Heaven Dou City, there'll be plenty of chances to meet again."

Dugu Yan's jade-green eyes brightened. She lowered her head slightly, letting her dark-green hair hide half her face, but the tip of her exposed ear quietly turned red.

Fang Fan glanced at the bustling crowd around them, then back at Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan. He lowered his voice.

"There's no need to reveal that I'm the Saint Son in front of outsiders."

Dugu Bo's expression turned solemn at once. He bowed.

"Rest assured, Your Highness. This old man understands."

Dugu Yan nodded as well, understanding flashing through her jade-green eyes. She said softly,

"I'll remember."

As they spoke, Fang Fan sensed a hostile gaze fixed squarely on him.

He turned to look. A tall young man stood at a nearby street corner, his short dark-blue hair spiking upward. His face was resolute, and the faint aura of lightning rippled around him.

He wore a finely tailored dark-blue outfit, with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's emblem embroidered on the chest—

The young man was Yu Tianheng, a direct descendant of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Yu Tianheng did not look pleased.

He had come to find Dugu Yan. Both were students at Heaven Dou Royal Academy and gifted soul masters, and they spent a fair amount of time together.

But from a distance, he had seen Dugu Yan standing before a young man in white. The girl with the usually cool jade-green eyes had lowered her head slightly, the tips of her ears flushed. He had never seen that expression on her face.

Yu Tianheng clenched his fists and glared daggers at Fang Fan. He had already taken a step forward, ready to demand an explanation.

After just two steps, however, movement from the other side stopped him.

A girl in a pink dress skipped toward the young man in white, followed by an old man in white robes with white hair.

The old man stood with his hands behind his back, radiating sharp sword intent like an unmatched blade still in its sheath.

Yu Tianheng's pupils contracted. His feet stopped dead.

"Ning Rongrong? Sword Douluo Chen Xin?"

Yu Tianheng was startled.

Of course he knew Ning Rongrong, the treasured daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The white-haired elder was even more famous: a Super Douluo and the foremost swordsman on the continent.

Why were the two of them here, heading straight for that young man in white?

He could only suppress his anger and watch from where he stood.

"Hello! What a coincidence—we meet again!"

Ning Rongrong walked up to Fang Fan and Zhu Zhuqing with a bright smile. Her lively eyes lingered on Fang Fan before she gave Zhu Zhuqing a curious look.

Fang Fan was genuinely surprised to see Ning Rongrong.

When he had clashed with the Shrek group outside Suotuo City, she had stood to one side watching the spectacle and had even spoken ill of Dai Mubai with evident satisfaction.

Now she was in Heaven Dou City with Sword Douluo at her side. It seemed she had left Shrek.

Zhu Zhuqing stood beside Fang Fan, her cool gaze sweeping over Ning Rongrong's face.

She caught the brief spark in Ning Rongrong's eyes when she looked at Fang Fan—

Another girl drawn to my husband.

Zhu Zhuqing sighed inwardly. Her husband was too talented and too handsome for his own good. Wherever he went, he drew looks like that.

And it was not just Ning Rongrong. Dugu Yan kept stealing glances at Fang Fan too, and Zhu Zhuqing could clearly see the curiosity and gratitude hidden in her jade-green eyes.

When Dugu Bo saw Chen Xin approach, he drew his granddaughter back to Fang Fan's side. His expression tightened slightly as he nodded to Chen Xin.

Though he and Chen Xin were both Titled Douluo, Chen Xin was stronger, and they had never been close. A nod was about as much as either could expect from the other.

Chen Xin merely nodded back, his expression carrying a hint of aloof pride.

Fang Fan looked at Ning Rongrong and asked,

"Weren't you at Shrek Academy? What brings you to Heaven Dou City?"

At the mention of Shrek, Ning Rongrong's face fell. She pursed her lips and said with clear displeasure,

"Don't get me started. I couldn't stay at that academy any longer.

"They kept saying, 'A soul master who doesn't cause trouble isn't a good soul master.' Then there was Dai Mubai's bullying and Ma Hongjun's lechery. I couldn't stand it anymore.

"I hated the way they acted, so I left."

She paused, then added,

"Besides, conditions in that shabby village were awful. This princess couldn't put up with them."

Fang Fan nodded slightly, unsurprised.

Ning Rongrong was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. She had grown up surrounded by luxury, cherished by everyone around her.

An unconventional academy like Shrek had never suited her values. Add the fact that Dai Mubai had insulted her before, and it was only natural that she would leave.

"Right, we should introduce ourselves,"

Fang Fan said.

"I'm Fang Fan, and this is my wife, Zhu Zhuqing. This is Senior Dugu Bo, and his granddaughter, Dugu Yan."

He then looked at Chen Xin.

"And you must be Senior Sword Douluo."

Ning Rongrong smiled as she introduced him. "This is my Sword Grandpa, Chen Xin—the continent's greatest Sword Douluo!" Pride rang in her voice.

Chen Xin gave Fang Fan a slight nod. His gaze rested on the young man for a moment, and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Even with a Super Douluo's perception, he could not fully gauge this young man's strength. Interesting.

In all his years, he could count on one hand the young people he had been unable to see through.

"Young Master Fang, your cultivation is impressive for your age."

Chen Xin was a man of few words, but praise from Sword Douluo was no small thing.

"You flatter me, Senior Sword Douluo."

Fang Fan answered without either arrogance or deference, then turned to Ning Rongrong.

"We were just about to explore Heaven Dou City. There seem to be plenty of places worth visiting."

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she answered at once.

"I want to explore too! Why don't we go together? I'm practically half a local, so I could be your guide."

As she spoke, she looked at Fang Fan expectantly. Her eagerness made even Zhu Zhuqing raise an eyebrow.