A new task

Several days later, after bidding farewell to Old Zhu and his wife, Ning Chengyi went to the Nightglow Tower and found the Snake Lance Douluo. The two then returned to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy.

Su Yao saw Ning Chengyi return, her eyes showing a hint of happiness, but she didn't rush to find him.

It was night when Su Yao arrived at Ning Chengyi's door, carrying a bowl of porridge.

"So you know how to come back?"

Despite her harsh tone, she had already shoved the bowl into his hands. "Drink it first, it's almost cold."

Ning Chengyi bowl of porridge and drank it as he walked around the room. Su Yao followed beside him, asking him every now and then if it was cold in Star Dou Town, and every now and then if any Soul Master had hurt him. She chattered on and on for almost a quarter of an hour.

Ning Chengyi yawned, and she abruptly stopped talking, her face slightly flushed, snorted, and turned to leave.

"Get some rest, tomorrow's training will be doubled!"

"Yes, yes, yes..."

After exchanging pleasantries and asking about each other's well-being, they reluctantly left.

But before Ning Chengyi could rest for long, Xue Qinghe's mission came up again, which puzzled him.

The next day, Ning Chengyi promised.

The Heaven-Class Room in the Nightglow Tower.

Xue Qinghe sat behind the tea table as usual. When he saw him arrive, he got straight to the point.

"We don't need to go to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy for now. You already knew that yesterday, right?"

Ning Chengyi plopped down in a chair, poured himself a cup of tea, and nodded. "What kind of work is it now?"

"Go to the Moonlight Pavilion."

Ning Chengyi paused in his actions, looked up at him. "What exactly is this Moonlight Pavilion? He didn't explain it clearly last night."

"A place for nobles to learn." Xue Qinghe picked up his teacup and took a slow sip. "You have a high cultivation level now, but once you leave Heaven Dou City and stand in front of those truly established nobles, you'll sound like a country bumpkin. Moonlight Pavilion teaches this: etiquette, conversation, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, and social rules. If you can gain a foothold in the Moonlight Pavilion and win the favor of the Pavilion Master, you'll have access to far more resources in the future."

Ning Chengyi, who had been leaning back in his chair, straightened up slightly upon hearing the word "resources."

"How many?"

"Let's see what you can do." Xue Qinghe smiled. "Tang Yuehua, the mistress of the Moonlight Pavilion, isn't someone who can catch her eye easily. If you can gain her favor, the doors to the noble circles of Heaven Dou City will be half open to you."

Ning Chengyi remained silent for a moment, then picked up his teacup and drank it all in one gulp.

"I'll go."

at the same time.

Inside the Spirit Hall, in the Papal Palace.

Bibi Dong sat behind her desk, holding a secret letter that had just been sent back from Star Dou Town.

The letter contained mostly trivial details: the current situation of Old Zhu and his wife, the progress of the town's reconstruction, and when Ning Chengyi left and where he went.

She turned the letter over and over twice, finally stopping at the last line.

"He has returned to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy with Snake Lance Douluo."

Bibi Dong put down the letter, picked up the tea beside her, took a sip, and smiled slightly.

She remembered that night when the boy stood in front of her and said, "I'll go, but not now."

He's only at level 23, but he speaks with such confidence.

She pulled out a blank sheet of paper, wrote a few words, then stopped, crumpled the paper, and threw it aside.

"Yue Guan."

A figure emerged from the shadows. "Your Eminence."

"Keep an eye on Heaven Dou City. I need to know what Moonlight Pavilion will do in the next two and a half years."

Yue Guan responded, stole a glance at Bibi Dong's expression, and without daring to ask any further questions, quietly withdrew.

But as soon as they stepped out of the palace, he started whispering with Ghost Douluo: "What's wrong with His Your Eminence lately? He's been asking that Ning Chengyi question every few days. He's investigated the Star Dou Town matter several times already, isn't that enough?"

Ghost Douluo chuckled but didn't reply.

Meanwhile, in Suotuo City, at the Shrek Academy.

Zhu Zhuqing sat by the dormitory window, holding a small bell in her hand, looking at it over and over.

The bell was made of brass, polished to a shine from her handling. It had a crooked little cat engraved on it, which she had carved herself with a knife. The carving was clumsy, but she just couldn't bear to replace it.

"Thinking about that Ning Kitten again?" Xiao Wu poked her head in from outside the door, holding two skewers of grilled meatballs, and handed one to her.

Zhu Zhuqing put the bell back in her palm, her face stern. "No."

"You're lying." Xiao Wu sat down next to her, took a bite of a meatball, and mumbled, "You always squeeze that bell when you miss him. I've seen it several times. Why don't you go find him? Heaven Dou City isn't far."

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a while, then tucked the bell into her bosom, her voice muffled. "He didn't say when he'd be back when he left. Where am I supposed to find him?"

Didn't you say he went to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?

"That was before." Zhu Zhuqing stood up, walked to the window and looked out. Shrek Academy's courtyard was dilapidated, a world apart from places like Heaven Dou City. "I heard he left the academy a long time ago, and I don't know where he went. I can't possibly go door-to-door asking, can I?"

Xiao Wu blinked. "If you're too shy to ask, I'll ask Third Brother to inquire for you. He has a lot of connections."

"No need," Zhu Zhuqing refused immediately, her tone curt. "I have nothing to do with him, why would I bother asking about him?"

Xiao Wu pursed her lips and said nothing more.

But as Zhu Zhuqing stood by the window, looking at the empty courtyard outside, she couldn't suppress the feeling of emptiness in her heart.

She recalled the scene of her bumping into him swimming by the stream that night, his cheeky manner as he applied medicine to her, the ruthlessness he displayed when killing the Evil Soul Master, and the slight smile on his lips when he spoke.

The more I think about it, the more annoyed I get.

"You little brat," she muttered under her breath, taking the bell out again and squeezing it even tighter.

Moonlight Pavilion is located in the Heaven Dou City, built by the lake, with white walls and black tiles, quiet and elegant.

Two weeping willows stand at the entrance, their branches drooping all the way to the water's surface, rustling softly in the wind.

Ning Chengyi stood at the door and looked down at himself.

Xue Qinghe prepared a moon-white long robe for him, made of excellent material, but something just didn't look right on him.

He was used to walking with a swagger, taking big strides and swinging his sleeves, which was completely out of place with the atmosphere of this place.

Sure enough, on their very first day, they made a fool of themselves.

The maid who led the way spoke softly as she led him through the corridor, which was lined with private rooms on both sides. From time to time, the sounds of zither music, reading, and quiet conversations could be heard.

Ning Chengyi, with his sharp ears, overheard someone in the next cubicle saying, "This is the one recommended by His Highness the Crown Prince," their tone carrying a mixture of curiosity and scrutiny.

He remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he clicked his tongue in disapproval.

Xue Qinghe's arrangement was clearly intended to use him as a target, either to make a name for himself or to be looked down upon.

Tang Yuehua was in the music room at the deepest part of the Moonlight Pavilion.

When Ning Chengyi entered, she was playing the piano with her back to the door.

The music was very faint, as faint as the mist on a lake, and it was easy to lose focus while listening to it.

Ning Chengyi didn't rush to speak. He just stood at the door and waited for her to finish playing the piece before bowing with his hands clasped in an awkward manner.

"Ning Chengyi greets the Pavilion Master."

Tang Yuehua turned her head.