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"You're full of it," the white-robed elder retorted, showing no mercy to the gaunt one. "Rongrong won't forget me. You're the one she'd overlook."
"You're the one full of it," the gaunt elder fired back, his temper igniting.
The white-robed elder squared up, unfazed. "Not happy? Let's take it outside and settle it."
"Fine by me, I'm not scared of you!"
As they traded insults, Ning Fengzhi stepped down from his raised seat and approached, exasperation etched on his face. "Alright, Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, stop arguing. Here's Rongrong's letter."
The two were none other than the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's guardian Titled Douluos: Bone Douluo Gu Rong and Sword Douluo Chen Xin. Decades of rivalry had sharpened their mutual disdain, leaving Ning Fengzhi resigned to their antics.
They gave Ning Rongrong's letter a quick read. It covered three main points: her longing for them and Ning Fengzhi, Dai Mubai's self-inflicted ruin from brothel excess and Flender's request for healing, and a hefty section on Ning Tian. His rescue of her from the Titan Giant Ape in the Star Dou Forest had left a deep impression—she detailed their first encounter at Shrek's entrance exam, his encouragement when others shunned her, his selfless stand against the beast, and a plea for Sword Douluo to guide him.
After finishing, both Gu Rong and Chen Xin fell silent.
At last, Gu Rong broke the quiet, his expression odd. "Rongrong wouldn't have fallen for this Ning Tian kid, would she?"
His tone hinted at the unease of watching a cherished treasure slip away.
Chen Xin, more composed, said, "At twelve, he's a level thirty-three Spirit Elder with two thousand-year soul rings. His martial soul's a unique weapon—the Azure Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword, capable of releasing sword qi. He's likely already got a teacher, which is a pity, but he's a good match for Rongrong."
"Then we'll go tomorrow," Ning Fengzhi decided. "Flender came personally with Rongrong's letter, we can't brush off our little princess, can we?"
He was intrigued by this Ning Tian too. If they could recruit him into the sect, he'd be a future pillar.
...…..
Late that night, Shrek Academy settled into stillness, broken only by sporadic wails from Dai Mubai's room.
Xiao Wu told Ning Rongrong she needed a moment outside and stepped out of the dorm.
By tomorrow at the latest, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's Titled Douluo would arrive. She had no reason to stay. If anything lingered, it was Ning Tian.
Remaining here meant risking capture by human Soul Masters, her soul ring and bone taken.
She reached Ning Tian's dorm, raised her hand to knock for a final farewell, but pulled back. With a sigh, she whispered, "Little Sixth, goodbye. Be happy."
Tears spilled as she turned toward the village exit.
"Leaving already?" A voice stopped her cold.
Xiao Wu froze, then turned. There was Ning Tian, leaning against the village archway's left side, arms crossed, eyes closed. In his black outfit, his striking features stood out—almost like a painting coming to life.
Wiping her eyes, Xiao Wu managed a shaky smile. "Quite a coincidence, Little Sixth. Why are you up so late?"
"It's not a coincidence, I've been waiting for you." Ning Tian opened his eyes and stepped closer, gently brushing the tears from her face.
"Waiting for me?" Xiao Wu's cheeks flushed, heat rising as if she might steam up.
It was the first time he'd been so gentle with her.
"Let's walk and talk. I'm heading to Soutuo City anyway." Ning Tian sighed, taking her hand without waiting for a reply, leading her onward.
Xiao Wu said nothing, her blush deepening as she followed.
After a while, Ning Tian spoke. "Xiao Wu, do you know why I've kept my distance all these years?"
She shook her head, then pouted as a thought struck. "Is it because you guys all like them bigger?"
She'd recently compared herself to Zhu Zhuqing. She matched up in most ways, except maybe in curves. Zhu Zhuqing's were fuller, and she could see why that might sway a man.
Ning Tian shook his head. "No. It's because a Titled Douluo with a hammer martial soul and a hundred-thousand-year soul ring threatened me once, privately."
"A Titled Douluo?" Xiao Wu's pupils shrank, her body locking up as sweat beaded on her skin. Her hand slipped from his.
Turning to her, Ning Tian smiled faintly. "Yes. I was stunned back then—just a new Spirit Scholar. I thought it was your family keeping a low-talent kid like me away. Over time, I backed off. I never expected you'd still be honest with me. When you were, it caught me off guard, especially since you'd been so close to Tang San."
Xiao Wu huffed. "I don't feel that way about Brother San… but you're different."
She looked at him, hope in her eyes. "If I'd told you my feelings earlier, would you have…?"
"Maybe," Ning Tian said softly, dangling the possibility.
Xiao Wu brightened, but his next words paled her face. "Xiao Wu, you're not human, are you?"
"What… what are you saying? I don't understand." Her voice shook, dread setting in.
Ning Tian continued calmly. "I didn't know why that Titled Douluo warned me off at first. But after the Star Dou Forest and the Titan Giant Ape, it started making sense. A hundred-thousand-year soul beast has human-like intelligence. They say the Titan Giant Ape and Sky Blue Bull Python are brothers. It wouldn't stun or kill dozens of soul beasts just to let a human Spirit Master walk away."
"So that's when you started doubting me?" Xiao Wu asked, head lowered, her voice heavy with gloom. Her secret was exposed.
Ning Tian shook his head. "Not quite. It was just a suspicion then. When the dean asked me to convince Rongrong, I mentioned Titled Douluo on purpose to test you. It wasn't until I saw you sneaking off tonight that I was certain."
Xiao Wu's mood sank further, but she raised her head, forcing a weak smile through teary eyes. "Little Sixth, your imagination's wild. If I'm not human, what am I? Stop joking, or I'll really cry…"
Her fragile look was genuine, her defenses were crumbling.
Ning Tian shook his head. "What you are doesn't matter–human or otherwise. To me, you're the girl who's watched me quietly for six years, the one who tried to make me her lackey the day we met and got thrashed for it, the one who's liked me all this time when I only just realized it."
As he spoke, he pulled her into a warm hug.
"Why are you crying… You're so crafty!" Xiao Wu murmured, startled by the embrace. Then she hugged back, resting her head on his shoulder, sobbing softly.
They held each other, rooted in place. After a while, Xiao Wu exhaled deeply, stepped back, and turned away, her face unusually serious.
"Ning Tian!"
"Yeah?"
Xiao Wu kept her back to him, but her voice carried firm resolve. "What about Zhuqing? Is she your lover? I have noticed you too are closer after coming from the forest."
Ning Tian smiled lightly. "There's no rule against having two girlfriends. If you don't want—"
Before he finished, Xiao Wu clamped a hand over his mouth. "Don't even think about it. You've accepted me, so you're mine for life. No running off."
Ning Tian took her soft hand. "Zhuqing is like you, a pitiful soul."
He shared Zhu Zhuqing's tale: burdened by a harsh fate from youth, targeted by her sister, abandoned by Dai Mubai, who throwed their future away in brothels, plunging her into despair.
Xiao Wu bristled with indignation. "No wonder that scum Dai Mubai ended up a eunuch. He brought it on himself."
Then her mood dipped again, and she looked at Ning Tian sadly. "Little Sixth, I'm so happy you accept me—really, truly happy. But I have to leave today. Don't worry, though. Once I reach maturity, I'll come find you."
"Because of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?"
Xiao Wu nodded, and Ning Tian added, "Leaving Shrek now would be more dangerous. That Titled Douluo who threatened me? He's not protecting you, I've got a guess."
"Tell me," Xiao Wu said, her focus sharpening. To her, Ning Tian's intellect was unrivaled—deducing her soul beast nature from the Star Dou Forest alone. Now that they were together, she trusted him fully.
"There are two ways Spirit Masters gain soul rings," Ning Tian explained. "Hunting, which requires enough strength to handle it, or sacrifice you know that one. I think he's keeping you near someone to build a bond, then setting a trap where you'd sacrifice yourself for his chosen one."
"It's Tang San," Xiao Wu said instantly. He was the only match.
No wonder he kept pushing the 'sister' act.
Ning Tian shook his head, playing coy. "I can't confirm that. Tang San's martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, but that guy's is a hammer."
"Hmph, who else could it be? Thinking back, he's always bad mouthing you behind your back, trying to turn me against you. His teacher's no good either." Realizing Tang San had deceived her for years, Xiao Wu seethed. She'd treated him like a brother, only to find he was after her soul ring and bone.
Ning Tian's tone grew serious. "Whether it's him or not isn't the point now. Your safety is. If he notices you've left Shrek, he might grab you before you reach the Star Dou Forest and lock you up until his pick hits level ninety. Stay at Shrek, and you're safe for now. But you can't tell anyone about us. If he realizes his scheme's failed, he might kill me and cage you anyway."
Then she paused, glancing around cautiously. "Doesn't that mean he could be watching us right now?"
Ning Tian shrugged. "We faced that danger in the Star Dou Forest, and he didn't show. He's likely not here. Besides, a Titled Douluo wouldn't waste time lurking in a backwater like Shrek unless he's got nothing better to do."
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