After leaving the arena, Qi Ling accepted everyone's congratulations and, as usual, enjoyed a hug from Xiao Wu.
Even Zhu Zhuqing, who was usually indifferent to everything, came forward to congratulate Qi Ling. But what he saw in her eyes was an intense fighting spirit.
This girl has made me her target. After all, the two opponents just now had similar attributes to hers, but were clearly much stronger! She seemed to be considering how she could defeat Qi Ling, too.
"Qi Ling, you did well. You protected your companion and won the match. You've really made me see you in a new light," Flender said in satisfaction.
"As for you, Ning Rongrong, did you learn what it means to be companions during this battle?"
Ning Rongrong blushed and said, "Hmph! Who's his companion? He just dragged me along, that's all. I'm not his companion!"
"I'm heading back first. I'm not wasting any more time with you!" With that, Ning Rongrong left on her own.
The others shook their heads helplessly. They hadn't expected Ning Rongrong to still have that attitude. Only Qi Ling smiled and said, "Rongrong is just shy. She's actually changed her mind already."
Flender nodded. "Indeed. Just the fact that she was willing to enter the arena today surprised me greatly. Well done, Qi Ling. Keep it up!"
Everyone's subsequent matches went smoothly. Apart from Ma Hongjun, who encountered a troublesome defense-type Soul Master and lost his match, everyone won.
Once everyone had finished their matches, they headed back to Shrek Academy together. Flender also announced that this concluded the day's training. They could all go back and rest, then assemble on time the next morning.
But when they reached the academy gates, they all stopped in surprise. Ning Rongrong was standing there with a bag in her hand, though they didn't know what was inside.
"Rongrong, what are you doing here? Why didn't you come back with us?" Qi Ling asked.
Ning Rongrong stepped forward, her face flushing, and pushed the bag against Qi Ling's chest. "Here! This is medicine for your injuries! You need to treat the wounds on your back promptly!"
This time, even Qi Ling was a little surprised. He hadn't expected Ning Rongrong to have left early to buy medicine for him!
As for the others, their reactions went without saying. Xiao Wu's mouth fell open in surprise, while Oscar and Ma Hongjun whistled teasingly.
Seeing their reactions, Ning Rongrong blushed, then said haughtily, "What? Don't get the wrong idea. You got hurt because of me, so that's why I bought you medicine!"
"All right, what are you still standing there for? Hurry back and let me apply it! We have to assemble tomorrow, don't we?"
Watching the two leave together, Oscar suddenly shouted after them, "Boss Qi! Take care of your health! Don't stay up so late that you're late tomorrow!"
Qi Ling stumbled and nearly fell. Oscar really wasn't afraid of stirring up trouble for his own amusement, saying whatever he pleased!
"Oscar, you child, how can you say something like that? What will Qi Ling and Rongrong think?" Flender scolded with a frown.
Just as Qi Ling was reflecting that the dean was still a good man, steady and mature, he heard him continue, "Qi Ling, don't worry! Even if you really are late, I won't blame you!"
"But make sure you take precautions! You should know that at your age, you can't be having children yet!"
This time, Qi Ling really did fall over. His only regret now was how he had come to know such a bunch of merciless teasers.
Of course, nothing happened that night. After applying medicine to Qi Ling, Ning Rongrong's whole face was as red as a boiled prawn. She lowered her head and ran straight back to her dormitory, unable to utter a word.
After all, for someone of her status, never mind applying medicine to a man, this was her first time even touching a man's back.
When Qi Ling took off his shirt and revealed his broad, muscular back, Ning Rongrong's mind had already crashed. Everything that followed was done almost entirely on instinct.
Early the next morning, after Qi Ling hurried through breakfast and reached the main training field, almost everyone else had arrived. Only Oscar was missing.
"Hmm? Xiao San, Oscar isn't here yet?" Qi Ling asked Tang San, who shared a dormitory with Oscar.
"Not yet. When I left, Xiao Ao seemed to still be cultivating," Tang San said.
"Working that hard? Could that fellow be about to break through?" Qi Ling laughed. "Maybe we'll be setting off tomorrow to find Oscar a Soul Ring!"
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong pouted beside him. "Hmph! Do you think you're a fortune-teller? That whatever you say will happen? I don't believe you."
"Oh? Then would you like to make a bet with me?" Qi Ling smiled. "We'll bet on whether what I just said comes true."
"What are the stakes?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"If you win, forget about those hundred Gold Soul Coins! If I win..." Qi Ling smiled. "You give me a kiss. How about it?"
"You! You're awful!" Ning Rongrong protested coyly. "Is my kiss only worth a hundred Gold Soul Coins?"
"Haha, are you betting or not?"
Ning Rongrong considered it to herself. Surely there couldn't really be such a coincidence that his prediction would come true?
"Hmph! You think I'm afraid of you? I'll take that bet!" Ning Rongrong said.
And so, when Oscar finally arrived late and smugly announced to everyone that he had broken through to level thirty, Ning Rongrong's little cherry-red mouth opened wide enough to fit an egg.
"N-no way?" Ning Rongrong muttered in disbelief. "Could he really have guessed right?"
Hearing the news, Flender immediately said happily, "Oh? You've actually broken through to level thirty, Oscar? Congratulations, congratulations!"
"In that case, we'll change today's training. Everyone, go back and get ready. Early tomorrow morning, Teacher Zhao Wuji will lead you out to obtain Oscar's third Soul Ring!"
Ning Rongrong: "..."
Qi Ling looked at the conflicted Ning Rongrong with a half-smile. Compete with me in anything but fortune-telling. I've transmigrated here, after all. No one knows better than I do what will happen to you in the future.
"Ahem, who was it who just said she wanted to bet with me?" Qi Ling said with a smile. "I seem to remember her saying that if she lost, she'd... what was she going to do again?"
Ning Rongrong's face flushed scarlet, but everyone around them had heard their bet. With her personality, she couldn't go back on her word now.
"Damn it! It's just a kiss!" Ning Rongrong said, quickly kissing Qi Ling on the cheek before charging back to her dormitory at a hundred-meter sprint.
"Huh? Brother Qi, why did Rongrong kiss you?" Xiao Wu said unhappily. "Darn it! I want to, too!"
Xiao Wu was much more enthusiastic than Ning Rongrong. She practically launched herself onto Qi Ling, and it took him a great deal of effort to pull this little rabbit off him.