On the Eve of the Heaven Dou Palace Coup

The next day, Ning Rongrong woke groggily to find Gao Yang watching her with a half-smile.

Last night had been so wild that she had learned exactly how great the physical gap was between a Battle Soul Master and a support Soul Master.

Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda's boost could not make up for it.

"Awake?" Gao Yang brushed a fingertip across the young woman's tender cheek. "Now will you tell me what's going on?"

He had not had a chance to speak all night.

As she had put it, mouths at night were not for talking!

Ning Rongrong tried to dodge his hand, but her whole body ached. Instead of pulling away, she seemed to nuzzle his fingers.

"Hmph. Move over. I don't want to talk to you!" Red-faced, she tried to push him away.

"Hey, tossing the donkey aside once the millstone's turned? That's not what you said last night!" Gao Yang murmured by her ear.

"Last night was last night. Today is today!" Ning Rongrong said, her face flushed pink and her expression stern.

"Tsk, tsk. They say one day as husband and wife earns a hundred days of affection. We haven't even put our clothes on, and you're already pretending you don't know me?" Gao Yang put on a look of utter heartbreak.

"If I told you, you'd be over the moon!" She knew he was only pretending to be pitiful, but the sight of his expression softened her voice anyway.

"Then don't tell me. I'd rather grow old with you." His fingertips skimmed her fair cheek, making her lashes tremble.

"Smooth talker." Blushing, Ning Rongrong nestled against his chest. "Since you look so pitiful, I'll be generous and tell you. Congratulations, Brother Gao Yang. His Imperial Majesty has taken a liking to you and wants to marry Princess Xue Ke to you! Well? Your heart must be blooming with joy!"

"Oh..."

Gao Yang smiled wickedly and drew her close. "No wonder my beautiful, gentle, graceful wife seemed like a different person last night. You were planning to wear me to death so the emperor would give up the idea! Ning Rongrong, Ning Rongrong, who'd have thought you could hide such wicked thoughts behind that innocent face?"

"Don't talk nonsense! I wasn't trying to wear you to death!"

"Oh, so you just wanted the whole feast to yourself before Xue Ke married me!"

"Ah!! You rotten Gao Yang!! What are you saying?!"

Her face turned as red as rose petals. With an indignant huff, she raised her little fists and began hitting him.

Her punches tickled, and Gao Yang let her pummel him.

Seeing her indignant face stirred him. He bent down and kissed her soft red lips.

Ning Rongrong stiffened and instinctively reached up to push him away. But halfway there, her hands changed course and gently wound around his neck.

A long while passed before she finally had a chance to catch her breath.

"Save some for Xue Ke, future imperial son-in-law!"

With that, Ning Rongrong abruptly sat up and pushed Gao Yang away, heedless of her fair, delicate body exposed to the air.

She had thought it through. If Gao Yang married into the imperial family, both Heaven Dou and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would benefit!

She was the only one who would have to bear any grievance.

But for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to rise again, she would bear it willingly!

So what if she had to be a concubine?

She would do it!

Her family had let her be its little princess for so many years. It was only fair that she become Gao Yang's concubine for the family's sake!

Gao Yang patted her back, then sat up and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He nibbled her ear as he spoke.

"Silly girl. Xue Ye may want to marry off his daughter, but that doesn't mean I want to marry her."

"Boasting! I don't believe you!" Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she felt lighter at once, though she kept a skeptical look on her face. "Would you dare defy an imperial decree? Careful, or you'll lose your head!"

"Why would I boast about that?" Gao Yang smiled fondly. "Heaven Dou has only that old snake Douluo worth mentioning. With your support, I could kill him in minutes. So what's old Xue Ye going to use to take my head or force me to marry his daughter?"

"That's true..."

Ning Rongrong nodded.

Ning Fengzhi had been right: a support Soul Master ought to find a Battle Soul Master.

It felt wonderful not to be at anyone's mercy!

"Don't worry. You're all I need in this life. Even a god couldn't make me give you up!"

For some reason, Ning Rongrong felt there was more to his words.

"Hmph. Smooth talker!" She bit her lip and whispered, "But I'm very pleased with that answer. As a reward, you can give me all the love you were saving for Xue Ke!"

Blushing, Ning Rongrong pushed Gao Yang down.

"Damn it, Ning Rongrong! This is how you repay me?"

A long while later, Ning Rongrong sat before the dressing table, leisurely doing her hair and makeup.

In the mirror, the young woman looked like a ripe peach, nourished by love.

Even she was a little startled by how much the look in her eyes had changed lately.

At the same time, her love for Gao Yang seemed to deepen.

True, they had begun with schemes of their own, but she had to admit that Gao Yang was a good man: mature, steady, and powerful!

And after sharing a few nights of passion with him, she knew she would never forget him.

"Rongrong, hurry up. Let's leave early."

"Okay."

Ning Rongrong smiled sweetly. At that moment, she felt inexplicably happy.

Gao Yang had just decided to take her to the Star Dou Great Forest first and bring Xiao Tian back.

With Xiao Tian there, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could count on four Titled Douluo-level fighters.

Even Spirit Hall would have to think twice before challenging strength like that.

But what made Ning Rongrong happier still was that Gao Yang really had begun avoiding the Heaven Dou Imperial Family for her sake.

As long as they were not in the Imperial City, Emperor Xue Ye could not find Gao Yang to decree a marriage.

Once they were ready, Gao Yang took a sect carriage out of the city and headed for the Star Dou Great Forest.

Gao Yang had originally wanted to travel by Sword Control, but Ning Rongrong preferred a leisurely journey. She could enjoy the scenery—and stop among the maple woods at dusk to enjoy something more.

Gao Yang had agreed the moment he heard her reason...

Sect affairs had worn him out lately. He took the chance to get some proper rest.

A carriage bearing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's emblem rolled slowly down the official road.

Whenever it reached a lonely stretch, bursts of laughter and other happy sounds drifted from within...

Meanwhile, at the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace!

"Renxue greets Sixth Grandfather and Seventh Grandfather."

Inside the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, Xue Qinghe respectfully bowed to two old men.

"No need for ceremony, Young Master. After our eldest brother received your letter, he sent the two of us here overnight. Fourth and Fifth are a little slower; they should arrive tomorrow."

"Thank you for making the journey, Grandfathers. Renxue will take you to rest."

"There's no hurry, Young Master. Our eldest brother asked me to put a question to you: why bring the palace coup forward?"

"Alas, I had no choice. Someone means to dig up Spirit Hall by the roots!" Xue Qinghe sighed.

He then explained the plan for the Blood Robe Edict.

One old man was furious when he heard it. The other was alarmed.

"That's why the coup must happen sooner, Grandfathers!" Xue Qinghe continued. "But that foolish woman Bibi Dong let the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect escape! The Heaven Dou Imperial Family now has three Douluo protecting it. Renxue had no choice but to ask you grandfathers for help!"

"No matter! Jian Chen is an old opponent. It would be stranger if those useless fools from the Elder Hall had managed to kill him!"

"Four of us brothers from the Worship Hall have come this time. No matter how strong Ning Fengzhi's boosts are, how fierce Jian Chen's sword is, or how much punishment Bone Dragon can take, none of them will leave the palace alive!"

Xue Qinghe had no doubt the old man was right!

These men were Spirit Hall's ultimate trump card. Even Seventh Grandfather was now a Level 95 powerhouse!

"Renxue is counting on you, Grandfathers!"

"You're too polite, Young Master. By the way, where are Snake Lance and Pufferfish? Why aren't they protecting you?"

"Oh, I sent them to kill two people."

"Hm? Who would require two Douluo to deal with?"

"Gao Yang and Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"