In just an instant, Yu Tianlong was drawn in by the girl's bearing, and a name flashed through his mind.
Ye Lingling?
The girl was slender and slim, with long blue hair cascading down her back like a waterfall, deep-blue eyes, and an all-black outfit. A black veil lay beside her on the dining table.
But since he had yet to confirm her identity, Yu Tianlong did not go straight over to strike up a conversation.
Instead, he went to the serving window on his own and ordered a few dishes before approaching the seat opposite this cool, aloof girl and saying with a smile:
"Excuse me, may I sit here?"
Only after hearing him did the girl raise her head to glance at Yu Tianlong, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes.
She seemed not to have expected anyone to speak to her, much less such a young boy.
So, after a brief moment of distraction, she nodded and went back to eating.
Before long, the dishes Yu Tianlong had ordered were brought over as well.
Just as Yu Tianlong was about to pay, he was told that practically all the facilities within the academy were free.
He did not have to spend a single coin.
Seeing that Yu Tianlong seemed unfamiliar with the rules here, the girl grew somewhat curious.
"Are you a new student?"
Yu Tianlong nodded and replied:
"Yes. Why?"
After giving Yu Tianlong a searching look, the girl shook her head and slowly said:
"It's nothing. I'm finished. Take your time eating!"
With that, she wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, then rose to her feet.
Seeing this, Yu Tianlong immediately asked:
"May I ask your name, senior?"
The girl picked up the veil on the table and put it on without turning back, but her cool, ethereal voice drifted over.
"Ye Lingling."
With that, she left the dining hall, leaving only a faint fragrance behind.
Watching her receding figure, Yu Tianlong fell into a momentary daze.
He recalled her in the original story.
Ye Lingling was the sole heir to the Nine Heart Begonia Martial Soul lineage, which could have only one successor in each generation.
Only two Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters could be alive at the same time. Only when one died could another possibly appear among their descendants. It could be called the rarest Martial Soul.
But because of this issue with its inheritance, each generation of Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters would end their own lives before a new one appeared.
The Nine Heart Begonia stood as the strongest healing-type Soul Master on the entire continent.
Were it not for their scarcity, even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would have to yield its place.
It was much the same principle as comparing the Seven Kill Sword to the Clear Sky Hammer!
Although Yu Tianlong had considered that he might meet Ye Lingling at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he had not expected to encounter her so soon. Though she was very withdrawn, she seemed to have quite a nice personality.
Coming out for this meal had certainly been worthwhile.
It was not for any other reason; he simply felt that this was progress. After all, Ye Lingling was a close friend of Dugu Yan.
Building a good relationship with Ye Lingling would also help with his later plans.
Not to mention that Ye Lingling's Martial Soul was another thing Yu Tianlong valued!
Everyone got injured at times. Although he could recover quickly by eating, it was still not as fast as a single healing treatment from Ye Lingling.
If a truly urgent situation arose, Ye Lingling would be irreplaceable!
So, despite the scarcity of Nine Heart Begonia Soul Masters, few people were willing to offend them.
Because there was simply no knowing how many powerful figures they had treated over all those generations. Those were all debts of gratitude!
Not everyone was like God King Tang.
Most Soul Masters still cherished their reputations and such.
At this thought, Yu Tianlong's mind began to stir.
After finishing his meal without fuss, he thought it over and decided to get another portion packed up.
It took no thought to know that Ning Rongrong probably had not eaten yet.
Carrying the food box he had had prepared in the dining hall, Yu Tianlong headed straight back.
When he reached Ning Rongrong's room, Yu Tianlong called a few times from outside, but found there was no response.
Yu Tianlong did not keep calling. He simply placed the food box in front of Ning Rongrong's door.
After returning to his own room, Yu Tianlong sat cross-legged and began cultivating.
While Yu Tianlong cultivated, his mind did not stop working either. He began considering some of the things that might happen later.
He also prepared fallback measures for everything that might happen in the future.
The next day, just as dawn broke, a knocking sound came from outside Yu Tianlong's room.
Hearing it, Yu Tianlong slowly stopped cultivating, a sharp gleam bursting from his eyes.
"Brother Long, are you awake?"
"Open the door! It's me, Rongrong."
In fact, Yu Tianlong had known who it was the moment he heard that voice. There was no need for Ning Rongrong to add that last part at all.
With a helpless smile, he recalled Cho'Gath into his body before stepping out through the door.
The moment Ning Rongrong saw Yu Tianlong, a smile appeared on her face.
"Brother Long, have your injuries healed?"
Yu Tianlong smiled, nodded, and answered:
"Yes, they healed yesterday. With Education Committee Member Meng's miraculous healing medicine, they healed very quickly!"
"Thank you for your concern, Rongrong."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong muttered:
"At least they knew what was good for them."
Then, abruptly changing tack, she looked into Yu Tianlong's eyes and asked earnestly:
"Brother Long, did you bring me food yesterday?"
Yu Tianlong smiled.
"Of course I should. It's just that you didn't answer when I called, Rongrong, and I couldn't very well enter your room without permission, so I had no choice but to leave it at the door."
Hearing Yu Tianlong's words, a smile instantly appeared on Ning Rongrong's face.
"Actually, Brother Long, you don't need to worry so much about that. You're not an outsider!"
"Just go straight in next time. After all, food will get cold if you leave it outside, and then it won't be fit to eat."
Seeing Ning Rongrong act this way, Yu Tianlong was actually a little puzzled, but he did not reject her friendly gesture.
"All right!"
Hearing Yu Tianlong's definite answer, Ning Rongrong was very happy. After all, she was only a seven-year-old child, so it was perfectly normal that she could not hide what was on her mind.
"Let's go. Let's take a look at the classroom first."
"Okay."
When they registered, Meng Shenji and the others had already given Yu Tianlong and Ning Rongrong some basic information, such as where they would attend class.
So, after Yu Tianlong and Ning Rongrong had breakfast, they went straight over.
After arriving at the teaching building, the two headed directly for the place where they would have their lessons.
As they passed some classrooms, Yu Tianlong and Ning Rongrong faintly heard what some of the students were saying.
"No way, another two this young? Don't tell me they're geniuses too?"
"So what if they're geniuses? Could they possibly compare to those two little... monsters, Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan?"
"True, true!"