"Let's hope so. Just don't come crying to me when the time comes."
Jun Yi replied.
"Rongrong, go back and pack some clothes. I'm thinking of having Jun Yi take you to school tomorrow."
"Okay, Dad! I'll go right now."
Ning Rongrong cheered and skipped away. As she stepped through the doorway, she even made a face at Jun Yi. "Don't cry when you lose to me! I'm definitely going to be your Big Sister Rongrong!"
After Ning Rongrong left, only Ning Fengzhi and Jun Yi remained in the room.
Ning Fengzhi spoke first. "Xiao Yi, judging by your reaction just now, you seem to have figured out which academy I meant?"
"Uh, Uncle Ning, is the academy you mentioned called Shrek Academy? I heard they're the only ones whose rules say they only accept twelve-year-old Soul Masters above rank twenty," Jun Yi replied.
"That's right. Their academy is rather unusual. They even claim to accept only monsters, not ordinary people, so I want Rongrong to study there."
Jun Yi wanted to know what Ning Fengzhi was thinking, so he continued asking, "But their dean seems to be only a Soul Saint. If Rongrong goes there, can those people teach her properly?"
"I've investigated them as well. Their dean is Flender, known as the Flying Corner, one of the Golden Iron Triangle of Soul Masters back in the day. Although Flender is a Soul Saint, someone who could propose the slogan 'only monsters, no ordinary people' must be quite something."
After hearing this, Jun Yi wore a peculiar expression. He had never expected even Ning Fengzhi to be taken in by Flender's absurd slogan. Was this what it meant to be too clever for one's own good?
"What is it, Xiao Yi? Do you have a different suggestion?" Noticing that something was off about Jun Yi's expression, Ning Fengzhi pressed him.
"No... I think that academy suits Rongrong very well," Jun Yi said, waving his hands.
"Xiao Yi, do you know why I'm having you take Rongrong there?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
"I really don't know about that."
Ning Fengzhi stood and walked toward Jun Yi. "Although Shrek Academy is within the Balak Kingdom, Flender is a proud man who refuses to be constrained by the royal family. As a result, the academy's conditions are quite ordinary. You could even call them harsh."
"So, if someone else took Rongrong to enroll at Shrek Academy, I think she would definitely make a fuss about coming home. But if it's you..."
"If it's me, Rongrong will probably ask me to stay with her."
Jun Yi shrugged and spread his hands. He knew Ning Rongrong all too well. When it came to him, she always enjoyed the blessings herself and shared the hardships with him. In such a shabby place, she would definitely make him stay.
A smile appeared on Ning Fengzhi's face as he continued, "Then it will depend on what you do."
"You really know how to give me difficult problems."
It was not that Jun Yi did not want to keep Ning Rongrong company. After all, Shrek Academy's conditions really were terrible, and having him beside her would certainly put her at ease.
But the reason Jun Yi had agreed to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy was that Dugu Yan was there. As long as he made contact with Dugu Yan and then cured her poison, her grandfather, Dugu Bo, would definitely come looking for him. Then he could treat him as well and take a few immortal herbs.
Jun Yi had originally thought his arrival would change some of the plot and lead Ning Rongrong to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy. He had not expected her to still be going to Shrek.
"Set off tomorrow. I'll have Uncle Gu protect you in secret. But whatever dangers you encounter along the way, Uncle Gu won't intervene unless your lives are threatened. This is also your first step toward truly setting foot on the continent."
Ning Fengzhi gently stroked Jun Yi's head. Looking at this handsome young man with his pure, dark eyes, he felt deeply moved.
In just six short years, Jun Yi had shocked him no fewer than a hundred times. Ning Fengzhi had once considered keeping Jun Yi in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect forever. Even if that turned him into a flower raised in a greenhouse, he would have accepted it.
But he understood Jun Yi's personality all too well. Although Jun Yi claimed to have no desires or demands, Ning Fengzhi could clearly feel his burning heart that yearned to grow stronger.
"All right, I'll go back and pack too. I'll also draw up some rank-two Soul Tool blueprints for you while I'm at it. After all, I don't know how long it will be before I return to the sect."
"All right, go ahead." A brilliant smile appeared on Ning Fengzhi's face. Watching Jun Yi's retreating figure, he murmured, "Xiao Yi, I want to see whether you can stir a ripple on this Douluo Continent that has been peaceful for so many years."
Early the next morning.
Jun Yi and Ning Rongrong rose early. After everyone finished eating, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo accompanied them to the foot of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's mountain gate. The carriage had long since been prepared, and everything was arranged.
After briefly saying goodbye to the three of them, Jun Yi boarded the carriage first and waited for Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong's face also carried a trace of sadness. After all, this was her first time traveling far from home. She went over to Ning Fengzhi, hugged him, and began to sob softly.
"Rongrong, don't cry. You won't look pretty with your face all streaked like a little kitten's. When you're away from home, don't act as you please the way you do here. Think things through more, and if you encounter something you can't decide for yourself, let Jun Yi handle it."
Ning Fengzhi gently patted Ning Rongrong's back as he gave her his reminders.
"Mm."
Ning Rongrong released Ning Fengzhi and nodded, then hugged the two Titled Douluo in turn and said goodbye. Finally, she turned to look at Jun Yi, whose head was poking out of the carriage window. Her eyes reddened, and tears spilled uncontrollably. Biting her lip, she choked out:
"You rotten Jun Yi, let's go!"
"All right, get in. Don't worry, Uncle Ning, Grandpas. I'll take good care of her and make sure she reaches Shrek Academy," Jun Yi said, extending his right hand and waving to those outside the carriage.
Ning Rongrong wiped away her tears and climbed into the carriage. It slowly drove away from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's gates.
Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo watched until the carriage disappeared from sight.
"Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Gu," Ning Fengzhi said, inclining his head toward Bone Douluo.
Bone Douluo nodded slightly. Then his figure gradually blurred, the surrounding space rippled, and he vanished from the spot.
Ning Fengzhi sighed. "This day has finally come. Rongrong had to leave home and venture into the outside world eventually."
"Heaven watches over good people like Rongrong. Her mother's spirit in heaven will surely keep her safe," Sword Douluo comforted him.
"Yes. It's been so long since I last spoke with her, too. Now that Rongrong has left home today, I want to have a good, long talk with her."
Although Ning Fengzhi was smiling, a faint sadness showed in his eyes.
Inside the carriage, Ning Rongrong wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Looking at Jun Yi beside her, she pouted. "Jun Yi, I don't want to leave home."
Seeing her like this, Jun Yi rubbed the tip of his nose and gently comforted her. "It's all right. We're just going to school. Once there's a break, we can come back whenever we want, can't we?"
"You have a point, but I still feel so sad." Ning Rongrong sniffled a few times and pursed her little lips.
"It's your first time leaving home, after all. That's normal. Once we get to Suotuo City, I'll take you shopping, shopping, shopping, and you won't be sad anymore," Jun Yi said.
"Really?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Yay!"
The moment she heard "shopping, shopping, shopping," Ning Rongrong perked up. Seeing her expression change so quickly, Jun Yi smiled slightly. In the end, Ning Rongrong was only a twelve-year-old child. Her joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness could change so easily, and they were all written on her face.
"Hey, Jun Yi, aren't you sad to be leaving home for the first time?"
Ning Rongrong looked at Jun Yi, who was still smiling, and asked curiously.
Jun Yi shrugged. "Nope. Just thinking about how I can go wherever I want and have all the fun I like once I leave home, with no one keeping me in line-doesn't that feel amazing? What's there to be sad about?"
"Besides, you're the one going to school, so why am I the one taking you? It makes it feel like a page escorting the young miss to school and keeping her company while she studies."
"Pfft!"
Hearing Jun Yi's goofy remarks, Ning Rongrong could not help laughing. Then she curled her lips and said, "That's right, you're my little page. Little Yizi, you'd better serve me well, or this young miss will punish you."
"Yes, yes, yes. Everything will be as the young miss commands."
(End of chapter)