"If it feels nice, I'll reward you with lots and lots of Gold Soul Coins."
Ning Rongrong spoke with haughty confidence.
"Lots and lots of Gold Soul Coins?"
Looking at Ning Rongrong's smug little face, which practically screamed, "Hurry up and thank me," Meng Chen could not help twitching the corner of his mouth.
He immediately crossed his hands over the rabbit ears atop his head, lifted his chin slightly, and refused without hesitation in his childish voice.
"No! Gold Soul Coins aren't food, and these ears grow on my head. Why should I let you touch them?"
"You... you actually dare refuse me!"
Ning Rongrong's big, dark eyes went perfectly round, and she froze in disbelief.
In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, from her father Ning Fengzhi, the sect master, to her two grandpas, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, Titled Douluo whose might shook the continent, who did not cradle her in their palms and spoil her like a treasure?
Even the gifted children of the sect's direct lineage scampered after her, eager to please her.
Now she only wanted to touch some rabbit ears, yet this little brat not only refused to appreciate her favor, he even dared look disgusted!
"No! I'm touching them today, no matter what!"
Her willful temper roused, the Little Demoness stamped her foot and snapped. Rolling up her two gold-embroidered cuffs, she lunged at Meng Chen with her hands clawing the air.
"Hey! Will you listen to reason?"
Startled, Meng Chen nimbly sidestepped, easily dodging Ning Rongrong's flying tackle.
In terms of physical strength, he could send ten Ning Rongrongs flying on the spot.
But... he could not get serious!
This was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, an indispensable ally in Qian Renxue's scheme to seize the Heaven Dou Empire's throne.
If he failed to hold back and hurt this Little Demoness-even a single hair on her head-a rift would immediately open between Qian Renxue and Ning Fengzhi.
All this strength, and I can't even fight a little girl... this is suffocating!
Meng Chen inwardly lamented his plight and could only flee through the garden corridors surrounded by blooming flowers.
"Stop! You little rabbit brat, get back here!"
Ning Rongrong missed her tackle and grew even more furious with embarrassment.
Accustomed to a pampered life, how could she possibly outrun the powerfully built Meng Chen?
After chasing him for ages, she had not even touched the hem of his clothes. Instead, she was left panting and drenched in sweat.
Yet the more Meng Chen dodged, the more wildly Ning Rongrong's stubborn determination to get her way burned.
Her little hands clawed frantically at the air as she chased Meng Chen back and forth between the rockeries and blue-stone paths, refusing to let up.
"Ah!"
Just as Meng Chen rounded a jagged Taihu rock rockery, a panicked cry came from Ning Rongrong behind him.
She had been chasing him too eagerly and accidentally stepped on the hem of her pleated skirt. Losing her balance in an instant, she screamed and pitched forward!
Directly in front of her lay a sharp rock.
With Ning Rongrong's delicate body, disfigurement would be the least of her worries if she struck it. She might even seriously injure her muscles and bones.
"Look out!"
Hearing the commotion, Meng Chen whipped his head around.
Damn it! If something really happens here, Brother Xue's entire scheme will go down the drain!
In that critical moment, Meng Chen had no time to think. Soul power surged through his body, and a barely audible thud burst from the blue-stone paving beneath his feet as he reversed direction and shot back like an arrow loosed from a bow.
Just before Ning Rongrong struck the rock, Meng Chen slid in on his knees, unhesitatingly placing his small body in her path.
He caught Ning Rongrong in his arms, then used his momentum to roll hard toward the lawn beside them!
Thud!
A dull impact rang out.
Meng Chen's broad, sturdy back slammed squarely into the rockery wall. Then they both tumbled onto the soft lawn, rolling three full turns before coming to a stop.
Meng Chen had become a "human cushion" to protect Ning Rongrong.
Of course, with his powerful physique, that impact was no different from a tickle.
Ning Rongrong, on the other hand, was terrified despite being held securely in his arms. Her eyes were squeezed shut, her little face was deathly pale, and she clutched his collar as her entire body trembled.
"Hey, you little prima donna. You didn't fall to your death, did you?"
Meng Chen let out a long breath and gave the little girl in his arms an exasperated pat.
Only upon hearing his voice did Ning Rongrong shakily open her eyes.
Once she saw their surroundings and realized she was lying in Meng Chen's arms, she immediately understood that this boy had saved her.
The shaken Little Demoness's chest heaved. She was about to instinctively thank him when her gaze suddenly landed on the two rabbit ears quivering right before the tip of her nose!
The fear in Ning Rongrong's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a gleam of mischief!
Then she said with a giggle,
"Hehe! Got you!"
With a delighted laugh, Ning Rongrong completely disregarded the danger she had just escaped. Her hands darted out like spirit snakes from their dens, and before thunder could leave time to cover one's ears, she seized the pair of fluffy ears atop Meng Chen's head!
They felt warm, supple, and silky in her hands-so wonderful that she could hardly resist moaning!
"Ah! So soft! This feels amazing!"
Sprawled across Meng Chen's chest like a little treasure-hoarder who had snatched her favorite toy, Ning Rongrong gleefully and shamelessly kneaded his ear tips and cartilage.
"Ngh...! L-let go of me!"
His ears were among the most sensitive and vulnerable parts of Meng Chen's bloodline. Under Ning Rongrong's wild rubbing, an intensely tingling current instantly swept through every limb and bone in his body.
Meng Chen went limp, his pretty face flushing scarlet in an instant. Even most of his strength to struggle drained away, leaving him only able to grit his teeth and growl in furious frustration.
Meanwhile, not far away, inside an elegant lakeside pavilion.
With the window half-open, Ning Fengzhi held a celadon teacup and chatted with Qian Renxue, smiling.
Yet his gaze had passed through the carved window, taking in every detail of the perilous scene that had just unfolded on the lawn.
He had seen Ning Rongrong nearly strike the rock and injure herself, as well as the entire sequence of Meng Chen unhesitatingly risking himself to serve as a cushion and save Rongrong in that hairbreadth moment.
Ning Fengzhi's slender fingers paused slightly around his teacup, and a rare flicker of emotion and approval crossed his deep eyes.
Calm in the face of danger, willing to sacrifice himself to protect another... not only is he exceptionally agile, but even rarer is the sincerity and steadfastness of his character.
Ning Fengzhi took a light sip of Spirit Mist Tea and inwardly nodded, developing a measure of fondness for this little boy he had just met.
A pure heart that instinctively protected others in a moment of life and death was truly far rarer than many a genius in the soul master world, where everyone schemed and deceived one another.
Then Ning Fengzhi rose, and seeing this, Qian Renxue followed him over.
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