Why Are You Looking at Me?

"Little Jian, what are you doing?"

Bone Douluo Gu Rong was stunned when Sword Douluo Chen Xin actually stepped in to stop him.

After all, although the two constantly bickered in private, spoiling Rongrong had always been their unspoken agreement.

Everything that had just happened, along with Ning Fengzhi's words, had made even him uncomfortable. He refused to believe Chen Xin could stomach it.

"Old Bones, don't be so impulsive."

"Why are you sticking your nose into young people's affairs?"

Sword Douluo Chen Xin said.

"What do you mean, sticking my nose in?"

"What if that brat really does something out of line to Rongrong?"

"Who can guarantee that brat will keep his hands to himself?!"

Gu Rong shot back.

"I don't think so. That child has a reasonably good sense of boundaries, and he might not even like Rongrong."

"Besides, Rongrong is used to running wild. Having someone rein her in would be a good thing."

"If they truly love each other, we won't have to worry about Rongrong having no one to protect her in the future."

"What Uncle Jian said is exactly what I wanted to say."

As soon as Sword Douluo Chen Xin finished, Ning Fengzhi spoke up at the right moment. "We will grow old eventually. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will still have to pass into Rongrong's hands."

"As her elders, we can't protect her for her entire life."

"Wouldn't you agree, Uncle Gu?"

With those words from Ning Fengzhi,

silence fell over the council hall once again.

"Fine, fine."

"But there's one thing: if that brat dares treat Rongrong badly, I won't let him off!"

Meanwhile.

Inside the Star Dou Great Forest.

Five days had passed since those two messengers had set out to report back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

The Shrek Academy group, who had originally planned to return at daybreak the following morning, had turned back just as they were about to leave the Star Dou Great Forest.

That was because Oscar had worked through the crux of his problem, and his soul power had broken straight through to rank thirty.

And so,

everyone had begun searching for his third soul ring.

"This soul ring is way too hard to find."

Ma Hongjun plopped down on a large rock, flapping his shirt to fan himself, utterly exhausted. "Little Ao, what kind do you actually want?"

"I... I'm not sure either."

Oscar was torn as well.

He had already realized that the gap between him and Yang Jian was not something their ages could account for.

He also understood that they were soul masters on completely different levels.

Even so, he still wanted a soul ring that combined attack, defense, and speed.

That way, his support capabilities would improve enormously.

He would also have more to contribute to the team.

Thus, his apparent indecision was merely because some things were difficult to say aloud.

"Little Ao, I hate to say it."

"You want your third soul ring to give you attack and defense, while also covering speed. Aren't you just making fools of us?"

At that point, Dai Mubai

paused, then turned toward Yang Jian, who was playing with Xiaotian off to the side as though none of this concerned him. "Old Yang, you started this unhealthy trend. You've skewed everyone's standards!"

"Huh?"

"How is this my fault too?"

Yang Jian suddenly looked back. "Well, didn't the Fart God say there are no useless martial souls, only useless soul masters? Pretty good theory. Why not ask him?"

Those words immediately earned him an eye roll from Dai Mubai.

Not far away, Yu Xiaogang visibly clenched his fists as well.

It had to be said that Yang Jian had indeed played a large part in bringing this situation about.

After losing their earlier wager, Yu Xiaogang had been forced to admit to everyone that his so-called theories had all been plagiarized from the Spirit Hall Library and then twisted beyond recognition.

Yu Xiaogang had been respected in the first place because of those theories on martial souls. Now that Yang Jian had exposed him,

who still wanted to listen to anything he said?

Coupled with Tang San's relationship with the others, this meant that Tang San never gave Oscar his original advice about obtaining his third soul ring.

Yang Jian had never been particularly close to Oscar, so naturally, he could not be bothered to speak up.

Instead, he had used the matter to mock Yu Xiaogang several times, both openly and indirectly. Unfortunately, he had no idea whether Yu Xiaogang was a turtle hiding in its shell,

or whether emotional fluctuations of that magnitude no longer fell within the system's recording criteria. Either way, he had received no rewards at all.

That had left Yang Jian feeling rather bored.

"Exactly, exactly! Stop pestering my dear big brother. Say that again, and we'll charge you!"

Ning Rongrong immediately chimed in, then turned to Zhu Zhuqing beside her. "Right, Qingqing?"

Ever since that night, she had stuck close to Yang Jian.

As the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she had always held her nose high in the air, all the more so because she herself was a beauty with both looks and strength.

Forget ordinary geniuses.

Even exceptionally gifted geniuses were beneath her notice.

But Yang Jian was different.

Not only was his talent unrivaled in their generation, he was handsome too, with a slightly wicked streak.

It was not just Ning Rongrong. Even Zhu Zhuqing, the daughter of one of the Star Luo Empire's most powerful noble families, coveted him.

However, Zhu Zhuqing's experiences growing up had been different from Ning Rongrong's, and they had shaped her into the quiet, withdrawn person she was today.

On top of that, she had always borne the weight of her family's cruel rules, making her even less willing to express her affection for Yang Jian, let alone be as bold as Ning Rongrong.

"Qingqing? Qingqing!"

"Huh? Yes, what is it?"

"I was asking you something. Why did you zone out? What were you thinking about?"

"N-nothing."

"All right."

Ning Rongrong did not mind. After all, that was simply Zhu Zhuqing's personality, and this was hardly the first time she had drifted off.

As long as Zhu Zhuqing did not compete with her for Yang Jian, everything else was negotiable.

"Everyone, stay sharp!"

"There's a soul beast!"

Zhao Wuji suddenly bellowed.

Everyone immediately perked up.

"So what if there is? It's not like we've never seen high-level soul beasts before. They're nothing special."

Ning Rongrong instinctively snapped back.

There was no other reason.

Zhao Wuji's shout had simply startled her.

"Ning Rongrong! If you keep acting so carelessly, you'll end up dying in a soul beast's jaws sooner or later!"

Zhao Wuji glared at her as well.

"Tch."

"I'm a support soul master. If a fight really breaks out, I might still be fine even if you die."

Ning Rongrong curled her lips.

"You!"

Zhao Wuji was so furious he nearly swore, but remembering what had happened that night, he swallowed his temper and glanced at Yang Jian, who stood nearby holding Xiaotian.

If she really is Yang Jian's future wife, letting our relationship turn too sour probably wouldn't be good, would it?

"Come on, Old Zhao, why are you looking at me?"

"I didn't teach her to say that. Although support soul masters are generally protected at the center of the formation."

"But I really, truly didn't teach her to say that."

"Honk, honk, honk..."

The moment Yang Jian finished speaking,

Ning Rongrong burst into endless laughter that sounded like a goose honking.

Dai Mubai and the others also cast sympathetic looks at Zhao Wuji.

There was nothing to be done.

That was just how Yang Jian was. The moment he opened his mouth, his words bored straight into a person's heart.

And this was still him being nice.

He had not even said anything out of line.

If he really unleashed his full firepower, Zhao Wuji probably would not even dare remain standing there until he finished.

"All right."

"Stop fooling around. This time, it's a thousand-year Phoenix-tail Crested Serpent. It's very suitable for Little Ao."