Tang San: I never realized Ning Fengzhi was such an old fox

Inside the bluestone courtyard where Tang San was staying.

At the foot of the courtyard wall thirty paces away stood a practice dummy made from hundred-year ironwood.

On the stone table lay the gleaming black Godly Zhuge Crossbow, along with the newly assembled Back-Mounted Flower Crossbow and Flying God Claw.

Head lowered, Tang San was fastening a flat, silver-gray metal box to Ning Rongrong's slender wrist with a leather clasp.

"Rongrong, this hidden weapon is called Hidden Sand Shooting Shadow. Normally, you keep it concealed against your skin, inside your sleeve."

As Tang San tightened her wrist strap, he explained earnestly:

"There are three sets of refined steel poison needles inside.

When you fire, hold your hand level and aim at your target, then draw your thumb back to lightly press the spring plate on the inside.

Remember, the instant you trigger the mechanism, you must keep your wrist level.

Otherwise, the steel needles could easily injure you."

Dressed in a pale yellow pleated skirt, Ning Rongrong nodded obediently.

Her wide eyes watched Tang San without blinking, filled with admiration and delight.

In truth, why would she need anyone to teach her how to use these hidden weapons?

In their previous life, Third Brother had equipped every member of the Shrek Seven Devils with a complete set.

After decades of battles in her previous life, she could use every set of hidden weapons with her eyes closed without the slightest error.

But chances to be alone with Third Brother were rare. If she displayed consummate mastery right away, how could she get him to teach her hand over hand?

So Ning Rongrong deliberately acted clumsy, as though she simply could not learn, and pleaded sweetly with a distressed little face:

"Third Brother, do I press here?

I still don't understand. Could you hold my hand and teach me again?"

Tang San shook his head helplessly, assuming she was weak and had yet to get the knack.

He reached out to support her little wrist, lifting it to aim at the distant ironwood target:

"Don't press the top. Move your thumb down half an inch. Yes, right there."

Feeling the warmth against her wrist, Ning Rongrong secretly curled her lips into a smile and pressed lightly as he guided her.

A soft hiss rang out!

A dense spray of silver light burst from beneath her wrist, tracing a fan-shaped arc and instantly turning the ironwood target thirty paces away into a hedgehog!

"Wow! Third Brother, you're amazing!"

Stars filled Ning Rongrong's eyes as she clapped her little hands, unstinting in her praise.

Tang San stepped back half a pace. Looking at the sect's young miss, who obeyed his every word, he felt an indescribable sense of strangeness.

Lately, Ning Rongrong had run to his courtyard at daybreak every day and pestered him from morning to night.

Yet in his memories of his previous life, when Ning Rongrong had first entered Shrek Academy at twelve,

she had clearly been an arrogant, willful Little Demoness who refused to listen to anyone.

How was it that this little princess, now only five, not only put on no airs but was so clingy and docile toward an outsider like him?

Tang San could not make sense of it no matter how he thought about it, and could only assume that she was still young and found these mechanisms entertaining.

To Tang San, he was merely using the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as a temporary refuge to evade Spirit Hall's search while putting together a set of hidden weapons that suited him.

Once he turned six and awakened his Martial Soul, he would immediately find an excuse to leave and return to Nuoding City to see Xiao Wu!

Just then, soft, unhurried footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate.

Clad in a plain white robe, Ning Fengzhi walked into the courtyard with his hands behind his back and a gentle smile on his face.

"Dad! What brings you here?" Ning Rongrong went to meet him.

Tang San immediately collected himself as well, stepping forward properly and bowing:

"Uncle Ning."

Ning Fengzhi nodded with a smile. Glancing at the Hidden Sand Shooting Shadow still on Ning Rongrong's wrist, he stroked his daughter's little head.

"Rongrong, Dad has some important matters to discuss with Little San alone.

Take off the hidden weapon first and go play with your Grandpa Gu in the front courtyard for a while, all right?"

Ning Rongrong immediately pouted, reluctantly unfastening the metal box.

"I was learning about hidden weapons with Third Brother. What can't you say in front of me...?"

Seeing that Ning Fengzhi kept smiling without yielding, she could only give Tang San a reluctant little wave and leave the courtyard, looking back three times with every step.

Only after she had gone far away did Ning Fengzhi walk over to the stone table and make conversation in a gentle tone:

"Little San, you've been staying at the sect for two months now. Have you grown accustomed to the food and living arrangements?"

"Uncle Ning, everyone in the sect has treated me extremely well. I'm endlessly grateful."

Ning Fengzhi nodded lightly and glanced toward the courtyard gate, seemingly remarking offhandedly:

"That's good.

Speaking of which, Rongrong has been spoiled since childhood. She thinks nothing of any of the children her age in the sect.

This is the first time I've ever seen her so close to someone.

It seems you two children truly share a fated connection."

Tang San's heart tightened slightly. Unable to fathom the deeper meaning behind those words, he answered vaguely:

"Rongrong is probably interested in these clever mechanisms."

Ning Fengzhi smiled. Dispensing with further preamble, his expression gradually grew solemn.

"Little San, you're a clever child, and your accomplishments with mechanisms and hidden weapons are even more astonishing.

Now that such a calamity has befallen your father, it truly pains me to see you alone in the world with no one to rely on.

I came today to formally invite you to join our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

From now on, I would personally teach you your studies and cultivation. Would you be willing?"

Having said this, Ning Fengzhi stood with his hands behind his back, a confident smile playing on his lips.

As he saw it, this child had grown up in the countryside and was now all alone, with no one to depend on.

The sect had cared for him with fine food and drink for so long, and he was personally extending an invitation. Surely the boy would be overjoyed and agree on the spot.

Yet Tang San's entire body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

Once he joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he could hardly safeguard his hidden weapon blueprints. Extricating himself to return to Nuoding City would be harder than ascending to heaven!

But now he was living under someone else's roof, with no control over his circumstances, and could hardly refuse outright.

Ning Fengzhi had previously offered a hefty sum to buy the blueprints, but Tang San had not agreed,

precisely because he had considered that, as a five-year-old child taken in by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he could not act as though he owed them no repayment for their kindness.

Thus, any hidden weapon transaction would have to wait until he was no longer under Ning Fengzhi's control, when there would be grounds for fair negotiation.

In a flash, Tang San suppressed his panic.

When he raised his head again, his eyes were already slightly red. Looking distressed and ashamed, he bowed deeply to Ning Fengzhi.

"Uncle Ning, your generous regard leaves me overwhelmed!

But my father was only just taken away by Spirit Hall, and I still don't know whether he's alive or dead.

My thoughts have been tangled like hemp these days. All I can think about is rescuing my father. I truly have no mind to consider joining a sect."

After a pause, he lowered his head further, his voice bitter:

"Besides, I fear that, coming from the countryside, my natural aptitude may be poor.

If I awaken some utterly useless trash Martial Soul, wouldn't I squander your esteemed sect's efforts and bitterly disappoint you, Sect Master Ning?"

Hearing this watertight refusal, a sharp gleam flashed through Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

This child was only five, yet his words covered every angle.

On one hand, he used his filial desire to rescue his father as a shield; on the other, he used his unawakened Martial Soul to stop Ning Fengzhi's mouth.

But was he, Ning Fengzhi, someone so easily fobbed off?

He gently patted Tang San's shoulder, taking up his words to continue the tug-of-war:

"Little San, precisely because you wish to rescue your father, you need our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to back you all the more.

As for aptitude, you needn't worry. Whatever your Martial Soul is, I will accept you as my disciple."

"There's something you don't know, Uncle Ning. Our village hasn't produced a Soul Master in decades. No one can say for certain when it comes to bloodlines..."

In the courtyard, the older man and the young boy went back and forth.

Outwardly, they were perfectly courteous; in truth, they were like two old foxes testing and tugging at each other.

Tang San had fallen slightly behind and could not help grumbling inwardly:

How did I never realize in my previous life that Ning Fengzhi was such an old fox?

If I hadn't lived three lives and possessed an exceptional mind, I would definitely have been hoodwinked.

Seeing Ning Fengzhi press him at every step, Tang San's thoughts shifted, and a plan immediately came to mind!

He gritted his teeth, raised his head to meet Ning Fengzhi's gaze, and spoke earnestly:

"Since Uncle Ning thinks so highly of me, let me make an agreement with you!

I turn six next month.

After my Martial Soul Awakening, if my Martial Soul truly is useful to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I will join immediately. From then on, I will brave boiling water and raging fire, and never shrink even from ten thousand deaths!"

His words rang with fervor, but deep down, Tang San was working his abacus with utmost shrewdness.

Ning Fengzhi is only after Father's Clear Sky Hammer!

But I have twin Martial Souls.

On the day of my awakening, I only need to hide the Clear Sky Hammer and show everyone that useless stalk of Blue Silver Grass in my right hand!

When that happens, the calculating Ning Fengzhi will surely be bitterly disappointed and eager to send me away at once!

Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi, standing opposite him, was secretly laughing inwardly as well.

This boy clearly still doesn't know that his father is Clear Sky Douluo.

The Martial Soul he awakens will undoubtedly be the Clear Sky Hammer!

Once his Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul appears, he will belong to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect from that moment on!

"Good! Then it's settled!"

Feeling thoroughly pleased, Ning Fengzhi nodded in satisfaction.

In the distance, behind the moon gate at the corner of the courtyard wall.

Ning Rongrong, who had been secretly peeking out all along, saw her father smiling as he patted Third Brother's shoulder, the two of them getting along so harmoniously.

Her big eyes immediately curved into smiling crescents. Words could not describe how happy she was!

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