Tsundere Ning Rongrong

Shi Quan watched Ning Rongrong struggling and shouting beneath him without interrupting her, quietly letting her make a fuss.

Ning Rongrong struggled with all her strength, only to find that the plants binding her were exceptionally tough—far beyond her ability to break free from.

When she turned and saw the Thousand Year Spirit Ring beneath Shi Quan, she was clearly stunned. Seeing that Shi Quan was ignoring her, Ning Rongrong made a fuss for a while before finally saying coldly, "My father definitely wouldn't leave me here alone. He must have left Dark Guards from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect nearby. Aren't you afraid they'll act against you for treating me like this, or go back and report you to my father?"

"Young Miss, should I call you clever or stupid?" Shi Quan looked at Ning Rongrong with a faint smile and continued, "Do you think I don't know there are Dark Guards nearby? If they intended to intervene, you wouldn't still be lying here. The fact that they haven't acted means Uncle Ning has permitted me to discipline you. Do you understand? As for them reporting me, let them. I don't even want to teach you. Teaching you wastes my time."

The Dark Guards protecting Ning Rongrong from the shadows wore complicated expressions upon hearing their conversation. The truth was exactly as Shi Quan had said. Before leaving, Ning Fengzhi had instructed them that Shi Quan could train Ning Rongrong however he wished. They only needed to keep an eye on her and make sure she did not run away. They could ignore everything else.

"So, before Uncle Ning comes to take you back, stay here obediently and cultivate according to my arrangements. Understand?"

After hearing Shi Quan's words, Ning Rongrong could only say with a stifled expression, "I understand."

"Good." Shi Quan withdrew the Blue Silver Grass and helped Ning Rongrong to her feet. "I'll also check your physical condition. Don't be nervous."

Holding Ning Rongrong's arm, Shi Quan began to knead and inspect it.

Ning Rongrong felt a wave of soreness and swelling pain wherever Shi Quan squeezed. Fortunately, the sensation did not last long and quickly faded. Still, she felt extremely uncomfortable, because Shi Quan did not just inspect her arms. He also checked her back and legs, pressing nearly everywhere except her chest.

She had originally wanted to resist, but for some reason, she found herself unable to muster any strength. She could only let Shi Quan knead and inspect her. Fortunately, she realized he was merely examining her and had no other intentions toward her. Even so, her face flushed red with embarrassment.

After all, she was only a young girl. When had a boy ever kneaded her limbs and back like this?

After examining Ning Rongrong's physical strength, Shi Quan found that although she looked delicate, her body was actually quite strong. After all, she had enjoyed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's abundant resources since childhood, and she had undergone some training there from time to time. Her physical strength surpassed that of most Support Spirit Masters her age.

Her temperament, however, was still far too lacking.

Having understood Ning Rongrong's situation, Shi Quan released her hand and said, "All right, I'll make a plan for you today. Starting tomorrow, come here every afternoon. I'll guide your cultivation, and you can arrange the rest of your time yourself."

"Then... can I leave now?" Ning Rongrong looked at Shi Quan timidly.

"Mm, go." Shi Quan waved his hand.

He closed his eyes, sat cross-legged on the grass, and began cultivating on his own.

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong feared that Shi Quan might change his mind. She hurried out of the forest, only finally breathing a sigh of relief after she had run beyond it.

Glaring viciously in the direction of the forest, she said, "You bastard, Shi Quan! How dare you bully me like that! And Father too—he actually handed me over to him and let him bully me! When I get back, I'll have Sword Grandfather and Bone Grandfather avenge me!"

With that, Ning Rongrong ran straight toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect without looking back.

Like Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was located near Heaven Dou City, and the distance between them was not great.

However, shortly after Ning Rongrong left Heaven Dou Royal Academy, a figure suddenly appeared and blocked her path.

"Young Miss, the Sect Leader said you are not allowed to leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy. You should go back." This person was one of the Dark Guards Ning Fengzhi had assigned to protect Ning Rongrong.

Upon hearing that, Ning Rongrong immediately cried out, "I'm going back! What, do you dare stop me?"

When dealing with people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Rongrong was far more direct. She ignored the Dark Guard's obstruction and strode forward, raising her hand to rudely shove the Dark Guard aside.

Seeing this, the Dark Guard could only sigh helplessly. He shook his head at Ning Rongrong's heedless behavior as a multicolored glow spread from his body, and then he silently vanished from the spot.

Naturally, Ning Rongrong could not be bothered with the Dark Guard. She continued walking forward on her own, but after walking for a while, she noticed something was wrong. Before she knew it, she had somehow returned to the Foot of the Mountain beneath Heaven Dou Royal Advanced Academy.

Ning Rongrong was clever enough to immediately realize that the Dark Guard had secretly used an illusion-type Spirit Ability on her. She angrily shouted into the surroundings, "How dare you attack me!"

"Young Miss, the Sect Leader said you cannot leave Heaven Dou Royal Academy. If necessary, we are permitted to stop you. If you wish to leave, you must at least cultivate under Shi Quan for one year. Within that year, unless the Sect Leader comes to fetch you, otherwise..."

The Dark Guard's voice paused slightly, and he did not continue. They knew that aside from the Sect Leader, there were two others in the sect who doted on Ning Rongrong beyond measure: Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. If those two came to fetch her, there was no way they could stop them. By then, if the Young Miss acted cute and threw a tantrum, they would certainly suffer for it.

"Fine, fine, fine!" Ning Rongrong laughed in fury. She could not understand why Ning Fengzhi trusted Shi Quan so much. After doing her best to suppress the anger in her heart, she finally asked calmly, "If you won't let me leave, at least tell me what kind of person Shi Quan is, right? He's only about my age. Why should I learn from him? And what's with his Thousand Year Spirit Ring?"

"Young Miss, this is the letter the Sect Leader left for you." The Dark Guard appeared once more, this time holding an envelope.

Ning Rongrong glared at the Dark Guard, snatched the envelope from his hand, and demanded, "Why didn't you give me Father's letter earlier?"

The Dark Guard replied helplessly, "The Sect Leader instructed me to give it to you only after you tried to run away once."

"Hmph!" Ning Rongrong snorted, turned her head away, and tore open the envelope to read its contents.

Her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed as she read the letter. Her eyes slowly widened, filling with disbelief.

"How is this possible? Innate Level One Spirit Power? And those vines just now were actually Blue Silver Grass?" Ning Rongrong's eyes were wide with shock.

"No wonder Father values him so highly." Ning Rongrong put away the letter, her eyes now carrying a hint of interest and curiosity.

"In that case, this young lady will have some fun at Heaven Dou Royal Academy."

With that, Ning Rongrong turned and headed toward the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Main Campus halfway up the mountain, no longer trying to escape.

After all, she was only ten years old. Once her curiosity had been stirred, she was naturally willing to stay. As for exactly how long that curiosity would last, no one knew.

Ning Rongrong's status at Heaven Dou Royal Academy was that of a visiting student. She could only be considered half a student of the academy, because Ning Fengzhi had not sent her there to study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, but to study under Shi Quan.

The next afternoon.

"Shi Quan, I'm here." Ning Rongrong's sweet voice drifted over from afar.

Only after hearing the voice outside did Shi Quan unhurriedly walk out of the wooden cabin.

Looking at Ning Rongrong, he said with a faint smile, "Looks like you were caught and brought back?"

Given Ning Rongrong's personality, after being bullied by him like that yesterday, she should have gone to complain. If she had left and not returned, that would have been ideal. The fact that she was here on the second day meant only one thing: Ning Fengzhi had arranged for someone to prevent Ning Rongrong from going back.

"Hmph." Ning Rongrong turned her head aside and said flatly, "Just tell me how to cultivate."

Seeing Ning Rongrong's reaction, Shi Quan felt even more certain of his guess.

"First, slowly jog around the clearing ten times to warm up."

Shi Quan walked to the center of the clearing, spread his feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, and assumed a half-squat in a standard Horse Stance, his eyes half-closed.

"Running?" Ning Rongrong curled her lips. She wanted to see what Shi Quan was trying to do. Seeing that the clearing was not large and that he had said to jog slowly, she began running at an unhurried pace.

As she ran, she kept studying Shi Quan in the center of the clearing, puzzled by what he was doing. Was he really just standing there quietly?

It took nearly a Quarter of an Hour for Ning Rongrong to slowly finish her ten laps.

"Come here." The moment Ning Rongrong stopped, Shi Quan's voice rang out again.

Ning Rongrong slowly shuffled over to Shi Quan's side and asked, "What do I do next?"

Shi Quan simply asked, "Did you see my posture clearly just now?"

"The way you were standing?" Ning Rongrong asked with a frown.

"Mm. Now copy the posture I just used. Stand for however long I stood." Shi Quan nodded slightly, his gaze settling on Ning Rongrong.

Although Ning Rongrong was puzzled, she obediently assumed the stance. Isn't it just standing? What's so difficult about that?

"Spread your legs a little wider, lower your center of gravity, straighten your back..."

Shi Quan somehow produced a wooden stick and lightly tapped Ning Rongrong's body, continuously guiding her to correct her posture.

Ning Rongrong's face reddened as she struggled. She had not expected such a seemingly simple stance to have so many requirements. If anyone else had dared to point fingers at her like this, she would have exploded long ago. If she had not wanted to see just how capable Shi Quan really was, she would have turned around and left in a huff already.