Xuanming Sect, Jiang Nannan

Su Wen knew nothing of the schemes being plotted by the two old foxes, Bamboo Douluo and Yan Shaozhe. He was still sitting leisurely on the grass with the girl, chatting away.

There were no "peers" for him at the academy. Sister Tao was six years older than him; every day, she either tormented him or held him while she slept. Their conversations were nothing but—"Need to blow off some steam?" or "Are you asleep?"

If he was not asleep, she would make him get up and blow off some steam. It scared him into pretending to sleep every night. Whenever he heard Ma Xiaotao's footsteps approaching, he would immediately start snoring. Yet at such times, Ma Xiaotao would take off her outer clothes, slip under the covers in nothing but cool, light sleepwear, and lie beside him, seemingly testing something...

Other than Ma Xiaotao.

Senior sisters like Zhang Lexuan were all quite busy. Whether they were traveling all over the continent to complete missions or entering secluded cultivation, they would often vanish for months at a time.

Other than Ling Luochen, there were few students he knew in the Outer Court.

That said.

Although Ning Tian wore her hair short and had seemed more like the young master of some top-tier faction when they first met, when she spoke with him, she revealed more of a girl's soft charm. Every frown and smile carried a gentle warmth.

"Stop messing with that tree. You're about to tear off an entire layer of its white bark," Su Wen said helplessly as muffled thuds sounded from nearby.

"Mind your own business!"

Wu Feng flew into a helpless rage.

Ning Tian's delicate brows furrowed as she looked over. Wu Feng seemed to have either hurt her hand from punching or still not vented enough anger. Her little mouth was clamped onto the trunk as she viciously tore at its bark. (Reference: Yuan Hua)

Ning Tian: "..."

"Wu Feng!!!"

She gritted out the name through clenched teeth.

The gentle, endearing demeanor she had displayed just moments ago, like a little bird, instantly fell apart. She was truly furious. Could Wu Feng not behave herself for once?!

"..."

Watching Wu Feng sit beside Ning Tian with her head hanging low, like an abandoned puppy, Su Wen grinned. Unable to resist, he reached out and rubbed her red hair. It was very smooth and pleasant to touch.

Rarely, Wu Feng did not dodge. Instead, she gave Su Wen a puff-cheeked, pouting expression, with bits of tree bark still stuck to her red lips...

"You came this time to help Wu Feng obtain her second Soul Ring?"

Su Wen asked softly.

"Yes. She only broke through to Rank 20 last month, and she was already impatient to come to the Star Dou Great Forest. But this trip is not just for her. We also need to make a trip to the Land of Extreme North to sort out the minerals we bought last time, and visit the Xuanming Sect to discuss some business with them..." Ning Tian tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and said with a smile.

"Tsk, tsk. As expected of the continent's richest sect," Su Wen remarked.

At such a young age, Ning Tian was already following Bamboo Douluo all over the continent. No wonder she had matured so early. Everything she did in the Original Work had been for the revival of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School.

At her age, she was already thinking about revitalizing her sect. She was far better than a certain ungrateful wretch from Ten Thousand Years Ago, who had drained his sect dry and then patted his backside before running off...

"But when wealth does not match one's strength, it can also be a disaster." Ning Tian pressed her lips together, her expression somewhat downcast.

"..."

Su Wen fell silent for a moment.

His expression was rather surprised.

Given Ning Tian's temperament, she should not have said something so heartfelt to another person—not even to an ordinary friend... Could it be that she did not see me as an ordinary friend?

Still, hearing the girl mention the Xuanming Sect reminded him of something troublesome.

According to the Original Work's timeline, Jiang Nannan would soon be forced to offer up her first time because her mother had fallen gravely ill. Xu Sanshi was not really a bad person, but none of this should have happened at Shrek Academy.

Moreover, there had been conspiracy theories in his previous life suggesting that Jiang Nannan's mother's serious illness might have been the Xuanming Sect's doing. After all, the timing was far too coincidental.

In the entire Heaven Dou Empire, it would be difficult to find another young girl as exceptional as Jiang Nannan. There were members of the imperial family, of course, but they would not dare. As a commoner admitted into Shrek Academy, her talent and strength were outstanding, and her age went without saying. She was compatible with Xu Sanshi, and the most, most, most coincidental part was...

They came from the same city.

If the Xuanming Sect had not done something to "add fuel to the flames," he would not believe it even if beaten to death.

He would ask Dean Yan about it after returning.

"What are you thinking about?"

Seeing Su Wen lost in thought, Ning Tian could not help extending her delicate hand and waving it in front of him.

"Oh, I was thinking that in a year, we'll become classmates. That's rather interesting," Su Wen said with a chuckle.

"A year from now..."

A blush appeared on Ning Tian's pretty face, and anticipation flickered in her beautiful eyes.

"Wuwu..."

Wu Feng rested her chin in her hands at the side, glaring resentfully at the two of them.

"Damn it, he's just openly stealing Miss's heart away."

"Later, I have to complain to Uncle Bamboo." Her eyes spun as a glint of "wisdom" flashed through them. Yes, that was what she would do! Su Wen could not marry into the family anyway. Could the sect possibly marry Miss off?!

I'm so clever!

Miss will stay with me forever! Forever!

Wu Feng wore a foolish grin across her face.

"Wu Feng! What are you grinning foolishly about now?! You're drooling!" Ning Tian said through gritted teeth.

She had only looked away for a moment, and this girl was already acting foolish again. She really wanted to stay away from her...

"Oh, it's nothing. I was thinking about something happy." Wu Feng came back to her senses, wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, and her expression turned serious.

"..."

Su Wen shot Wu Feng a strange glance.

He had a feeling this girl was up to no good, but she was an idiot. How bad could she possibly be?

He smiled indulgently and didn't think much of it.

"Xiao Wen, aren't you going to introduce us?"

Ma Xiaotao's tall figure appeared beside them. Looking down at them, she carried a rather "oppressive" presence, her beautiful eyes calmly fixed on the two of them.

"Oh, this is Ning Tian, the Young Sect Master of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School."

"And this is—"

Before Su Wen could finish.

Ning Tian stood up and enthusiastically took Ma Xiaotao's hand. "You must be Sister Tao from Shrek Academy's Inner Courtyard. I've long admired you. Now that I've finally met you, you truly live up to your reputation as the continent's number one genius. Your looks and figure are absolutely stunning too—I'm such a fan of yours..."

"Huh? Haha, is that so?"

Ma Xiaotao's lips twitched. Her stunning face could barely hold itself together, and her originally indifferent expression turned awkward. She coughed twice. "Then that really is quite a coincidence."

"Yes, Sister Tao. As it happens, I brought a gift."

As she spoke, she took a crimson hairpin from her ring Storage Soul Tool.

She carefully offered it to Ma Xiaotao.

With a radiant smile, she said, "It's our first meeting, so the gift isn't anything valuable, but it suits your temperament very well. I sincerely hope you'll accept it."

"Ah, this..." Ma Xiaotao swallowed and took a deep breath. With a rather forthright look on her face, she said, "In that case, I'll accept this gift. If you ever come to Shrek Academy, just give them my name! I'll look after you!"

"Mhm." Ning Tian smiled sweetly.

"Give it to me. I'll put it on for you."

Su Wen shook his head.

She had him completely wrapped around her finger.

He stood up, took the jade hairpin from Ma Xiaotao's hand, and had her sit down. Then, standing behind her, he expertly arranged her hair, styling it before securing it with the jade hairpin.