Yu Xiaogang nodded slightly and smiled. "Hello."
Ning Rongrong froze, then suddenly realized who he was. "Yu Xiaogang? You're Tang San and Xiao Wu's teacher?"
"Oh? You know them?"
"Mm-hmm, I enrolled with them."
Ning Rongrong sniffled and wiped the tear stains from her face with the back of her hand.
She felt a little embarrassed to have been caught crying here in secret.
Yu Xiaogang crouched down too and asked gently, "Why are you here all alone? Where are the others?"
"They... all went to class."
Ning Rongrong lowered her head, her voice growing quieter and quieter.
"I... I didn't go."
Liu Erlong could also tell that Ning Rongrong had most likely been punished. She sat down beside her and gently patted her back.
Only after quite a while did Ning Rongrong haltingly recount what had happened.
"He actually said I wasn't as good as anyone here..."
As Ning Rongrong spoke, she was on the verge of tears again.
After hearing the whole story, Yu Xiaogang did not rush to speak.
He fell silent for a moment before saying, "Rongrong, have you thought about why Flender did this today?"
Ning Rongrong paused, but did not answer.
"He scolded you neither because your Soul Power was low nor because you're from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He scolded you because you made two mistakes today."
Yu Xiaogang held up his fingers.
"First, you didn't finish what you were supposed to do, but used not being able to keep going as an excuse. Second, not only did you fail to do it yourself, you dragged Oscar into helping you lie."
Ning Rongrong opened her mouth to argue, only to find that she could not say a word.
"When Flender said you weren't better than anyone else, he wasn't talking about Soul Power. He was talking about attitude."
Yu Xiaogang looked at her, his gaze gentle. "Oscar has a Food-type Martial Soul with innate full Soul Power. His talent is unparalleled among Support System Soul Masters, but even with that talent, he still works very hard."
Ning Rongrong fell silent.
The image of Oscar silently walking toward the track after his Soul Power had been sealed surfaced in her mind. He had not said a word, begged for mercy, or offered any defense. He had simply gone off to run.
"You come from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. You have talent and a good family background. Those are your foundation for confidence, but they shouldn't be your armor."
Yu Xiaogang's voice was calm, yet every word landed on her heart.
"Truly strong people don't need to wear their family background like a crown."
Ning Rongrong clutched the hem of her clothes, her head lowered without a word.
Liu Erlong put an arm around her shoulders and added gently, "You're only twelve. What's so terrible about making a few mistakes? Just correct them. Today you're a little girl crying her eyes out, but tomorrow you can be the most dazzling ray of light from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Everyone has to grow up, right?"
Ning Rongrong raised her head. Her eyes were still red, but her tears had stopped.
She looked at the unfamiliar man and woman before her. Though she had known them for less than a quarter of an hour, she felt something that had been blocking her heart loosen a little.
"But... I don't know what to do now..."
She murmured softly.
"Then prove it to him."
Yu Xiaogang smiled.
"With your strength, with your actions, and by standing tall before everyone without relying on your family background."
Ning Rongrong stared at him in a daze. After a long moment, she sniffled hard and nodded.
"Okay. Thank you, Uncle."
Yu Xiaogang smiled and stood up.
Ning Rongrong wiped her face and stood up with him. Suddenly thinking of something, she flushed slightly and rubbed her fingers together in embarrassment.
"Um... Uncle, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Well... are you still taking apprentices?"
Yu Xiaogang paused.
She already wants to become my apprentice?
It seems Xiao San and Xiao Wu have given everyone at Shrek quite a shock lately.
"Hehe, there's certainly no problem if you want to become my apprentice. But there are some rules you'll have to follow if you study under me."
Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up. "Tell me, Uncle!"
She had only asked to try her luck. After all, she had seen Tang San and Xiao Wu's strength with her own eyes: twelve-year-old Four-Ring Soul Ancestors, thousand-year second Soul Rings, ten-thousand-year fourth Soul Rings, and all those Self-Created Soul Skills. They could only be described as freaks!
There was no one among the Shrek group now who did not want to become Yu Xiaogang's apprentice.
She had never expected Yu Xiaogang to be so agreeable and so gentle.
Boo-hoo, Tang San and Xiao Wu were far too lucky!
Yu Xiaogang smiled and raised a finger. "Once you study under me, you'll have to cultivate according to my arrangements. Of course, I won't interfere with any aspect of your daily lives."
"The things I teach, such as Self-Created Soul Skills and certain secret knowledge, must not be passed on to outsiders."
"Everyone under my tutelage must get along. No infighting."
Ning Rongrong waited a while, then tilted her head. "That's it?"
"That's it."
Ning Rongrong looked bewildered.
Weren't there far too few requirements?
They were only the most basic requirements, far fewer than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's rules.
Liu Erlong covered her mouth and chuckled beside them. "Xiaogang is very gentle, you know."
Without the slightest hesitation, Ning Rongrong immediately stepped back and bowed properly to Yu Xiaogang. "Your disciple, Ning Rongrong, pays her respects, Teacher."
The instant her words fell, the electronic voice Yu Xiaogang had not heard in a long time rang out in his mind again.
[Ding, congratulations to the host on accepting Ning Rongrong as an apprentice.] [Ning Rongrong's potential: god-level. Meets the system's apprentice acceptance criteria.] [Congratulations to the host on receiving one Apprentice-Taking Gift Pack. Automatically opened!] [Congratulations to the host on receiving: Martial Soul Bloodline Evolution Liquid ×1, immortal herb Aromatic Silk Beauty ×1, adaptive evolvable Soul Ring ×1, beast pet Grand Void Ancient Dragon ×1.]
Yu Xiaogang's brows rose slightly, but his expression remained composed. He raised a hand, gesturing for her to rise. "All right. Under my tutelage, you needn't be bound by such formalities. From today onward, you are my fourth disciple."
"Tang San and Xiao Wu are your eldest senior brother and second senior sister, respectively. You also have a third senior sister, but she's in Heaven Dou City at present. I'll introduce you in the future."
"Hehe, yes, Teacher!"
Ning Rongrong straightened up and grinned, her earlier tears long since dry.
Watching her, Yu Xiaogang nodded inwardly.
Ning Rongrong was not actually as spoiled and willful as people outside made her out to be. Her nature was still very good.
People always thought she had a princess complex, but she really was a princess.
As the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, how many people on the entire continent could rival her in status?
Having grown up in that environment, it was already quite good that she had developed this sort of temperament.
"Show us around Shrek Academy first."
Yu Xiaogang glanced at the sky.
"It's late today. We'll start lessons tomorrow."
"Sure thing, Teacher!"
Ning Rongrong brushed the dust off her clothes, then looked at Liu Erlong, unsure how to address her.
Liu Erlong leaned over and pinched her little cheeks. "You can call me Mistress."
"Mistress!"
Ning Rongrong immediately called out sweetly.
"Hello, Mistress!"
"Oh, little Rongrong is so adorable."
Liu Erlong smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.
Ning Rongrong blushed slightly, warmth filling her heart.
Teacher and Mistress are both so nice...
She turned to look at Yu Xiaogang, then at Liu Erlong. Suddenly, she felt that although Flender had scolded her today, she seemed to have... come out way ahead.
"Teacher, Mistress, let's go!"
Ning Rongrong skipped a couple of steps forward, then turned back and waved.
"I only enrolled a little over a day ago, so I'm still not too familiar with the place, but I remember the way to the field and the dining hall up ahead!"
"That's all right."
Liu Erlong followed her.
"If you're not familiar with it, we'll take our time looking around. Flender and the others should be back in a little while anyway."
Before you continue