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For this trip, Ning Tianchen had brought along a substantial amount of money—more than enough to support Ning Rongrong's generosity. The latter had practically ordered every dish on the menu.
Ma Hongjun and Oscar had never seen such a lavish dinner before. As they ate, they continuously thanked Ning Rongrong for her generosity.
As the meal drew to a close, Tang San pulled Ning Tianchen aside to the restaurant's entrance.
"Tianchen, the relationship between Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing is their private matter. I've already spoken to Xiao Wu, and she won't provoke Mubai about what happened earlier. Do you think you could talk to Rongrong? We're all classmates—it shouldn't end in such an ugly manner."
Ning Tianchen didn't object. In fact, he also wanted to maintain unity within the team.
Since Tang San had brought it up, he said, "Xiao San, let me put it this way—you'll understand my meaning. Imagine if, while Xiao Wu was still by your side, you spent every night cavorting with women of ill repute. Do you think Xiao Wu would still accept you?"
Tang San understood his point and hesitated. "This is ultimately Mubai's private matter, so it's difficult for me to say anything. But you're right—only by stopping Mubai from associating with those questionable people can there be any chance of repairing his relationship with Zhu Zhuqing."
In the original timeline, Yu Xiaogang had used intense training to keep the members of Shrek Academy so exhausted that they had no energy or mental space to think about other things.
During those months, Dai Mubai hadn't visited the red-light district, which significantly improved Zhu Zhuqing's attitude toward him.
However, after Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong's recent confrontation, Yu Xiaogang's methods might prove ineffective.
Unless, after dissolving the engagement, Dai Mubai could maintain a calm and level-headed mindset.
Only then could the team truly unite.
Of course, the brilliant Master Yu wouldn't be stumped by this situation. Let's see how he handles it next.
"It's getting late, Xiao San. Didn't your teacher tell you what supplies are needed before entering the forest?" Ning Tianchen smirked as he looked at him.
Every time he thought of this master-disciple pair, he remembered Tang San's words when he first became a disciple: "Once a teacher, always a father."
Yet, during the acquisition of his first soul ring, due to Yu Xiaogang's incompetence, Tang San had nearly been devoured by a spirit beast. Left with no choice, Tang San had resorted to using his homemade silent sleeve arrows.
To prevent the exposure of the Tang Sect's hidden weapons, he had even considered killing Yu Xiaogang.
What a "loving father and filial son" pair they were.
…
Back inside the restaurant, Ning Tianchen settled the bill.
They would enter the Star Dou Forest early the next morning, so while there was still time, everyone needed to prepare the necessary supplies for the journey.
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun didn't stick with the group, instead giving some excuse to go off on their own.
After being scolded earlier, Ma Hongjun didn't want to follow Dai Mubai. However, with no money of his own, he had no choice but to rely on Dai Mubai's handouts to gather the supplies needed for the forest.
The town at the edge of the Star Dou Forest was the largest spirit beast town on the continent. With enough money, one could buy any common goods here.
Among the six of them, only Oscar and Xiao Wu didn't have soul-guidance devices. Therefore, their items had to be stored in others' devices.
Seeing Ning Rongrong filling the soul-guidance device with water, Tang San couldn't help but ask, "Rongrong, isn't this too much water?"
The forest terrain wasn't like a desert—there was no water shortage.
Ordinary people entering the forest typically brought clothes, food, and items like spirit beast bodily fluids and feces.
Ning Tianchen smiled wryly, knowing full well why she was doing this.
Before Ning Rongrong could respond, Xiao Wu interjected with a pout. "Third Brother, it's extremely hot and humid in the forest. Bringing extra water helps keep our bodies cool. Otherwise, we'll end up smelling awful."
Tang San didn't object, though he was concerned about the overall capacity of the soul-guidance devices.
Ning Rongrong's soul-guidance device was just a ring, so Tang San instinctively assumed it didn't have much capacity.
"My and Rongrong's soul-guidance devices each have fifty cubic meters of space—plenty of room for supplies," Ning Tianchen said, patting his shoulder with a smile.
"Fifty cubic meters?" Tang San was dumbfounded.
Of course, his lack of knowledge was to blame.
Take, for example, the Twenty-Four Moonlight Bridges—each piece of jade on it was much larger than a ring, yet each only held one cubic meter. Combined, they amounted to just twenty-four cubic meters.
Zhu Zhuqing's soul-guidance device was smaller, with only five cubic meters of capacity.
With over a hundred cubic meters in total, storing extra water wasn't an issue.
Realizing this, Tang San set aside his concerns.
"Not only that, but it can also hold living creatures," Ning Rongrong added, showing off her ring.
These two rings were extremely precious treasures within the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
Suddenly, a teasing voice rang out. "Oh, little sister, that ring looks nice. Why don't you give it to big sister here?"
Turning around, they saw a young woman, about seventeen or eighteen years old, approaching them.
Though the woman appeared pleasant on the outside, her intentions were far from pure—she was clearly attempting a robbery.
"What do you want? Are you planning to fight?" Xiao Wu stepped in front of Ning Rongrong upon seeing the woman and her companions behind her.
Tang San and Ning Tianchen also prepared themselves for battle.
"Oh, aren't you just a bunch of brats who still smell of milk? Where are your elders? Did you run away without permission?" A young man arrogantly walked up beside the woman, sneering at them.
"You're from Canghui Academy?" Ning Tianchen narrowed his eyes, glancing at the group's uniforms and badges.
The group of young people wore matching uniforms and bore the same badge—clearly from the same academy.
Ning Tianchen didn't know what Canghui Academy's badge looked like, but he had a bad feeling brewing inside.
Could it really be such a coincidence?
"If you know us, then this should be easy. Just have the little sister hand over the ring willingly, and we won't make things difficult for you," the young man continued to taunt.
Ning Tianchen inwardly sighed. "What's meant to come will come. It's not that it hasn't arrived—it's just that the time hasn't come yet."
In the original timeline, it had been Ma Hongjun who provoked one of their female students. Who would've thought that this woman was no pushover and had no qualms about starting trouble herself.
Tang San immediately felt the pressure mounting. He whispered to Ning Tianchen, "Tianchen, Canghui Academy is a high-level soul master academy. We're probably no match for them. When the fight starts, you and I will work together to hold them off while Rongrong and Xiao Wu go find Teacher Zhao."
In his mind, students from high-level soul master academies were like university students compared to their group of middle schoolers.
Middle schoolers naturally assumed university students were formidable—but in reality, many university students weren't even as skilled as middle schoolers.
Ning Tianchen glanced at him but said nothing, a relaxed smile spreading across his face.
In the original timeline, Dai Mubai had utterly crushed them. If it came down to it, he could do the same.
The woman sneered. "What, don't you understand the principle of paying to avoid disaster?"
Ning Rongrong showed no fear. "I'm just afraid you don't have the guts to take it!"
The robbery of the young lady of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—this was no small matter!
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