With that barrage, Ning Chuan had trampled half of Shrek's members underfoot. Aside from Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, everyone had lost face.
Yu Xiaogang and Dai Mubai in particular looked as though they had swallowed dog shit after having their dirty secrets exposed.
Ma Hongjun was hardly any better. His face was livid as he glared at Ning Chuan as though staring at a mortal enemy.
Only Oscar looked a little better. Aside from arguing with Ning Chuan once at the beginning, he had not spoken again. Clearly, he also knew their side was in the wrong, so he had kept silent. No one knew what he was thinking.
Tang San looked the calmest, but Ning Chuan knew that the calmer this fellow appeared, the stronger his murderous intent became. Ning Chuan was certain he had already made it onto Tang San's "path of certain death" list.
Just as Ning Chuan had expected, Tang San had already sworn inwardly that he would make Ning Chuan pay for today's humiliation one day.
Seeing that no one was arguing with Ning Chuan anymore, Flender hurriedly said, "Young Master Ning, as the saying goes, friendship can be forged through a fight. Young people are bound to quarrel. Since everything has been cleared up, how about we let today's matter end here?"
Ning Chuan knew when to quit while he was ahead. He turned straight to Ning Rongrong and said, "Rongrong, let's go. Father, Sword Grandpa, and Bone Grandpa all miss you!"
Ning Rongrong glanced at Ning Chuan, then looked back at everyone from Shrek. As though she had made up her mind, she said to him solemnly, "Fifth Brother, I want to stay at Shrek Academy!"
"Are you sure?" Ning Chuan asked.
"I'm sure!" Ning Rongrong replied.
"Think this through. I just made most of them lose face. If you stay here, some of them might turn their resentment toward me against you!" Ning Chuan said.
He had barely finished when Flender said with a smile, "Of course not. Rongrong is part of Shrek. How could we be so petty?"
Dai Mubai also spoke up. "That's right! I, Dai Mubai, will remember today's humiliation. Even if I seek to settle the score one day, I'll come after you alone, Ning Chuan. I'll never drag anyone else into it!"
"Boss Dai said exactly what I wanted to say," Ma Hongjun echoed.
Tang San was the last to speak. "Ning Chuan, you should be glad you can't cultivate. Otherwise, we would demand repayment for today's events the way Soul Masters settle their disputes. Since you take such pride in your Merchant Guild, I, Tang San, will put my words on the record today: one day, I'll show you what a true business genius looks like!"
Tang San knew very well that his hidden weapons would fetch excellent prices if he put them up for sale, so he was brimming with confidence.
Ning Chuan smiled at that. "All right, I'll be waiting. And I'll leave you with a promise of my own. Two years from now, if you want to settle today's score the way Soul Masters settle their disputes, I, Ning Chuan, will take you on!"
"Fine! I hope you won't hide behind your elders again when the time comes!" Tang San said dismissively.
Ning Chuan paid Tang San no further attention. He looked at Ning Rongrong and asked, "Rongrong, have you really thought this through?"
Ning Rongrong nodded. "Yes, I have. All these years, I've been spoiled to the skies at home. Only after leaving did I realize that a Soul Master has to walk their path on their own. Sorry for the trouble, Fifth Brother, but please tell Father that I don't want to be a flower raised in a greenhouse."
Ning Rongrong had another consideration that she did not voice. She refused to leave because she did not want Shrek Academy and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to become enemies. She knew very well that Tang San and the others were all extremely talented. Once they grew stronger, they could potentially threaten the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
That was why she wanted to stay at Shrek and resolve the grudge between its members and Ning Chuan.
Ning Chuan gave a gratified smile. "Rongrong, you've grown up."
Ning Rongrong smiled softly. "Fifth Brother, you're not that much older than me. Why do you sound just like Sword Grandpa and the others?"
Ning Chuan gently stroked her hair. "Because you're our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess!"
Then Ning Chuan turned to Flender. "Dean Flender, I hope Shrek Academy won't target Rongrong because of me. Otherwise, next time, I won't merely be arguing with you. This isn't a threat, just an older brother protecting his younger sister!"
"I understand!" Flender said. He had actually thought Ning Rongrong would leave, but since she had chosen to stay, he certainly would not treat her differently.
After all, everyone now knew that Ning Rongrong was Ning Fengzhi's daughter and the future heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Naturally, Flender did not want to let her leave.
Ning Chuan could tell that Ning Rongrong had matured considerably through this incident, so he respected her choice.
He had Ning Rongrong ask Flender for two days off, then took her to Suotuo City.
When Xiao Wu saw Ning Chuan and Ning Rongrong leave, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, in the wooded hills not far from Suotuo City, Sword Douluo and Tang Hao had just finished their spar. Both had held back, and the match ended in a draw.
Sword Douluo had not expected to encounter Clear Sky Douluo on a trip to Suotuo City, so he asked curiously, "Clear Sky Douluo, what brings you here?"
"The same reason as you, Senior. My child!" Tang Hao had no intention of concealing his relationship with Tang San, because he knew very well that once he showed himself, Sword Douluo would surely make the connection.
Rather than let Sword Douluo speculate wildly and investigate, needlessly increasing the risk of Tang San's identity being exposed, he might as well tell him frankly and earn his goodwill in the process.
After all, Tang Hao knew that Ning Rongrong had already become part of Shrek and befriended his son, Tang San. He also wanted to use this opportunity to get acquainted with Sword Douluo.
Tang Hao knew very well that he would clash with Spirit Hall sooner or later. If he won over Ning Rongrong and Sword Douluo now, the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would become his ally in the future.
Hearing Tang Hao's words, Sword Douluo immediately thought of Tang San.
"Tang San is your son?" Sword Douluo asked with a hint of surprise.
"That's right!" Tang Hao nodded.
"So he's Clear Sky Douluo's son. No wonder he could defeat that girl Yiran in successive matches!" Sword Douluo said in realization. With that, many things fell into place.
Previously, he had suspected that Tang San's innate full soul power was the result of a martial soul mutation. Now, however, he felt that twin martial souls were more likely.
With that in mind, Sword Douluo simply asked outright, "May I ask whether your son's martial soul is mutated Blue Silver Grass, or whether he possesses a second martial soul?"
Tang Hao froze at the question. He had not expected Sword Douluo to immediately think of twin martial souls.
But on second thought, he found it perfectly reasonable;
After all, Sword Douluo was his senior. Now that he knew Tang San was Tang Hao's son, coupled with Tang San's innate full soul power and unusual combat prowess, such a guess was only natural.
After a little consideration, Tang Hao replied, "Little San does indeed have twin martial souls. His second martial soul is the Clear Sky Hammer!"
Tang Hao and Grandmaster had discussed this long ago. Although they had agreed on how to safely add soul rings to the second martial soul of someone with twin martial souls, neither was actually very confident.
Now that a veteran like Sword Douluo stood before him, Tang Hao wanted to seek his advice and see what insights he might offer.
Sword Douluo was delighted to hear Tang Hao admit that Tang San had twin martial souls.
Outwardly, however, he remained composed as he asked, "No wonder Tang San became Grandmaster's disciple. I take it Grandmaster has already worked out a way to safely add soul rings to his second martial soul?"
Tang Hao shook his head. "Without putting it into practice, no one can guarantee that the method will work!"
After a brief pause, he continued, "After discussing it with Grandmaster, we both believe Little San should first fill all the soul ring slots of his first martial soul. Then, with the physique and spiritual power of a Titled Douluo, he can add soul rings to his second martial soul. That should greatly reduce the risk!"
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