Xue Qinghe Ascends the Throne

As if their hearts were in tune, Ning Rongrong looked up and met a burning gaze.

A blush rose from her snow-white neck all the way to the tips of her ears.

"You shameless rogue!"

Ning Rongrong scolded him playfully. She stopped helping him dress, stamped her foot, and ran out of the cave.

Gao Yang dressed with a pleased grin, then followed her out.

The young woman's beautiful eyes lit up when she saw her beloved emerge.

"These clothes are gorgeous. I have such good taste!"

"You're only praising the clothes? What about the man wearing them?"

"The man..." Ning Rongrong flashed a sly smile. "Looks like a dog dressed up as a gentleman! Heehee!"

With that, she scampered into the forest, leaving a trail of laughter like tinkling silver bells.

"Ning Rongrong, you'd better not let me catch you!"

Gao Yang followed at an unhurried pace.

He watched the spirited figure ahead of him, every movement brimming with youthful energy.

A moment later...

"Brother Gao Yang, I was wrong! Go catch a Soul Beast to eat, not Rongrong... Rongrong doesn't taste good..."

She ran ahead, pouting her rosy lips and looking pitiful enough to melt anyone's heart.

But Gao Yang caught a glint of excitement in her eyes.

Oh no. This was exactly the sort of scene that suited her peculiar taste.

And not just hers. Even Gao Yang felt a faint thrill in the air.

After playing around for a while, Gao Yang took Ning Rongrong to the Lake of Life.

As he built a fire and roasted a Soul Beast, he told her how he had fought two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts here.

Nearby, Xiao Tian gnawed on a Bear-Type Soul Beast, grunting between bites.

As if to say that he had only survived that fight thanks to her.

But when the two drew closer and closer as they talked, Xiao Tian rolled her eyes and vanished again...

"Brother Gao Yang, do you know who I envied most back at Shrek Academy? Xiao Wu."

Full and content, Ning Rongrong sat on a rock by the lake, her fair feet dipped into the clear waters of the Lake of Life.

"Xiao Wu?" Gao Yang lay with his head on her soft, springy thighs. "What's there to envy about her?"

"Once, I saw Brother San combing her hair." A wistful look crossed Ning Rongrong's face. "Xiao Wu asked him what he'd do if someone wanted to kill her."

"Oh? What did Brother Tang say?"

"He said they'd have to step over his corpse first."

"I have to say, Brother Tang was a real man. He proved it during the Soul Master Tournament."

Gao Yang had heard how Tang San had stepped forward when Xiao Wu's identity was exposed.

"Then, Brother Gao Yang, what if lots of people wanted to kill Rongrong?" Ning Rongrong suddenly looked at him with hopeful eyes.

"That depends on whether I can beat them. If I can, I'll kill them all."

"And if you can't?"

"Then I'll join them... Ow! I'm joking, I'm joking!"

Before Gao Yang could finish, Ning Rongrong bit his shoulder.

"Then tell me what you'd really do!"

"Whatever Brother Tang did, I'd do!"

"That's more like it!"

Ning Rongrong wrinkled her delicate nose in triumph, looped her arms around his neck, and rested her head on his chest.

But when she saw the deep teeth marks she had left, her heart ached a little.

She rolled up her sleeve and held her pale arm out to him.

"Want to bite me back?"

"I don't eat pork."

"Hmph..."

"..."

"Brother Gao Yang..."

"What?"

"Does it hurt?"

"What do you think?"

"Then let me blow on it."

Ning Rongrong sat up, pursed her lips, and gently blew around the bite mark.

Her breath was fragrant as orchids. Before Gao Yang knew it, his heart began to race.

They were so close that Ning Rongrong clearly noticed. A rosy flush slowly spread across her cheeks.

Yet she did not pull away. Instead, she lowered her head further, her lips barely brushing his skin.

Gao Yang's throat went dry. He pushed her away on instinct.

"That's enough, Rongrong. It doesn't hurt anymore."

"But it hurts me..." Ning Rongrong slid closer, bringing her face before his. Her lips pressed together as she gazed at him from inches away, her eyes misty.

"Husband, you're having a hard time right now, aren't you?"

"You know perfectly well..."

"I'm sorry. I..." Ning Rongrong's face reddened further. "After we're married, you can give Rongrong a few more little sisters."

"Huh?"

"Why that look? I have nine older brothers and seven little stepmothers." Ning Rongrong looked proud. "Father's only a Soul Saint, and he has that many. Brother Gao Yang, you're already a Soul Douluo. You should have at least as many as Father!"

"There's no need. Rongrong, you're enough for me."

"No, I'd like to live a couple more years!" Ning Rongrong shot him a playful glare. "You wear me out enough as it is. I want some rest."

"Rongrong..."

"Oh, come on. I don't mind, so why are you being so shy?" Ning Rongrong bared her little canine teeth and declared fiercely, "But right now, you're mine!"

She straddled Gao Yang, her eyes shimmering as she slowly lowered her head and pressed her rosy lips to his.

Her kiss was still clumsy and hesitant, full of the tenderness of first love.

Gao Yang returned it gently. Warmth welled up in his heart, and he could not help holding her tighter.

"Rongrong..."

Her sweet, innocent scent swept away the last of Gao Yang's thoughts.

"Don't talk, Brother Gao Yang~"

Ning Rongrong's voice was sweet, with a note of excitement. Still kissing him, she deftly gathered and tied back her loose hair...

Xiao Tian returned, took one look at the lakeshore, and left again...

"Brother Gao Yang, the Lake of Life is so beautiful. Let's stay and have fun for two more days before going back."

The flush had yet to fade from Ning Rongrong's face as she rested her head on Gao Yang's chest.

"Mm..."

Gao Yang gave a vague reply. He was busy admiring the prize in his arms with a victor's satisfaction: her figure was gracefully proportioned, without an ounce of excess flesh.

"Brother Gao Yang, are you listening!?"

"Mm? Huh? What did you say, Rongrong?"

"I said, let's stay two more days!"

"No." Gao Yang heard her clearly this time.

"Huh? Why?"

"Near the Heaven Dou Capital, Spirit Hall has elders and even Enshrined Elders." Gao Yang frowned. "I'm worried they haven't given up and might still target the sect. Sorry, Rongrong. I can't agree this time."

"It's fine. Rongrong isn't upset." Ning Rongrong held his arm, her face full of happiness.

With the sect at stake, she put aside her desire to play.

Now that they had found Xiao Tian, they ought to hurry back.

By Gao Yang's reckoning, the Blood Robe Edict plan would soon be put into action.

Ning Fengzhi was probably working himself to the bone these days.

Even so, the two spent the night asleep in each other's arms near the Lake of Life.

With Xiao Tian there, virtually no Soul Beast was foolish enough to bother them.

The next day, the two of them and one tiger used Sword Control to travel to the city nearest the Star Dou Great Forest, where they would stop.

They planned to rest and resupply, then head straight back to Heaven Dou Imperial City.

The countless tender moments they shared along the way need no recounting.

Once inside the city, Ning Rongrong's youthful curiosity took over. She pulled Gao Yang from one shop to the next.

Whenever something new caught her eye, she could not resist playing with it. Gao Yang was happy to see her laughing like a flower-laden branch swaying in the breeze and did not hurry her.

As he paid, Gao Yang glanced casually at a notice board. His brows immediately drew together.

"Brother Gao Yang, what's wrong?"

Seeing his expression change, Ning Rongrong prepared to release her Martial Soul.

"Xue Ye is dead. Xue Qinghe has ascended the throne," Gao Yang said calmly.

"What? Really? How do you know?"

"There. It's written in the official announcement."