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The immortal herbs were indeed rare, but Dai Chengfeng had already harvested all the mature ones from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. As for the Beautiful Silk Tulip that Ning Rongrong needed, he actually had some lying around unused.
As for whale glue, he had more than enough to spare.
After all, only he knew of its effects, and over the years, he'd accumulated quite a stockpile by casually picking it up whenever he visited pharmacies.
Thus, his reluctance was purely an act to string Ning Rongrong along.
On the other side, though Ning Rongrong wasn't particularly clever, she certainly wasn't stupid either.
Therefore—
When she saw that Dai Chengfeng hadn't outright refused her request but instead emphasized "rarity" and "preciousness," a glimmer of hope ignited in her heart.
There's a chance!
As long as there's room for negotiation, everything can be resolved!
Thinking about how obtaining those miraculous pills would allow her to absorb higher-year soul rings, impressing her father and grandfathers and proving that she had grown up—that she was no longer the little girl who needed constant care—
Ning Rongrong decided to go all out.
She immediately stood up from the edge of the bed, walked over to Dai Chengfeng, clasped her hands together, and gazed at him with her large, shimmering eyes. In an unprecedentedly sweet and coquettish voice, she pleaded:
"Dai Chengfeng~ Brother Dai~ Big Brother~"
"I know those pills are precious, but you must have a way, right? Please help me~"
"Please! I'm begging you!"
"If you're willing to sell them to me or tell me where I can find them, I'll agree to any condition! And I promise to behave myself in the future—I won't cause you any more trouble, okay~"
As she spoke, she gently shook Dai Chengfeng's arm, unleashing her full arsenal of charm.
Dai Chengfeng watched the usually spoiled little devil now appear pitiful and vulnerable, ready to be taken advantage of, and inwardly savored the moment.
Hmph!
Who was the one giving me trouble earlier? Now you know what it feels like to beg, don't you?
However, outwardly, he maintained an expression of deep deliberation, murmuring: "Hmm… Rongrong, it's not that I don't want to help you, but… sigh, let me think about it some more."
"What's there to think about?!"
Seeing that her sweet approach wasn't working, Ning Rongrong grew anxious. After all, if Dai Chengfeng went back and reconsidered, he might decide not to give her anything.
Then it would all be over!
With this in mind, Ning Rongrong tried again, coquettishly: "Big Brother Dai Chengfeng, are you still mad at me?"
"For always stirring up trouble before? I'm apologizing now, isn't that enough? I promise I won't do it again! Just give it to me!"
But Dai Chengfeng still shook his head: "One thing has nothing to do with the other."
"The main issue is that the medicine is just too hard to come by…"
Seeing Dai Chengfeng remain unyielding, Ning Rongrong steeled herself…
She suddenly circled around Dai Chengfeng, quickly walked to the bed—and flopped down face-first onto Dai Chengfeng's bedspread!
"You… What are you doing?!"
Dai Chengfeng was so startled that he instinctively took half a step back, pointing at Ning Rongrong with a voice that cracked in disbelief.
What on earth was this girl trying to pull now?
Ning Rongrong buried her face in Dai Chengfeng's blanket, her ear tips glowing red. Her muffled voice carried both immense shame and unwavering determination as she said:
"You… You like spanking me… spanking me there, don't you?"
"If you promise to sell or trade me the pills… I… I'll let you spank me as much as you want today! For as long as you want!"
Dai Chengfeng felt as though he'd been struck by lightning, frozen in place.
He liked spanking Ning Rongrong's butt???
Heaven and earth bear witness!
Dai Chengfeng could swear on his life that he absolutely did not have such a peculiar preference!
That incident in the alleyway was purely a desperate measure—driven to exasperation by Ning Rongrong's antics and needing to assert control, he resorted to that "disciplinary" method!
How had this girl twisted that into him having a "liking" for it?!
"You… What nonsense are you spouting!"
Dai Chengfeng was torn between laughter and tears, feeling his dignity severely tarnished.
"When have I ever… ever liked that! Get up this instant! This is disgraceful!"
But Ning Rongrong, convinced that she had hit upon something, refused to budge, stubbornly lying on the bed and whining: "I won't get up! Unless you agree to my terms, I'm staying put!"
"Besides… Besides, you've already spanked me before, so what's one more time?!"
Dai Chengfeng stared at Ning Rongrong sprawled on the bed, throwing a tantrum, and felt like his head was splitting in two.
What on earth was happening here?!
He tried reasoning with her: "Ning Rongrong, can you be reasonable for once? These are two completely different matters!"
"Get up now, or I'll really get angry!"
"Nope, nope, I'm not getting up!" Ning Rongrong began rolling around on the bed. "I won't get up unless you agree! I want the pills, I want the pills…"
Watching her near-hysterical display, Dai Chengfeng was torn between amusement, frustration, and sheer helplessness.
This little troublemaker was truly giving him a headache.
If Zhu Zhuqing or Hu Liena were to walk in right now and see Ning Rongrong sprawled on his bed in disarray, even jumping into the Core Lake of the Star Dou Great Forest wouldn't clear his name.
"Alright, alright! I'll treat you like my ancestor! Get up already!"
Dai Chengfeng finally caved, conceding: "Fine, I'll give it to you! Just get off my bed!"
Upon hearing Dai Chengfeng relent, Ning Rongrong instantly stopped wriggling, her head snapping up with eyes shining brightly, filled with surprise and disbelief:
"Really? You mean it? You're not lying?"
Dai Chengfeng rubbed his temples wearily, nodding emphatically: "Yes, really! It's truer than the gold spirit coins in the Star Luo Empire treasury!"
"Now get up, or you'll ruin what little reputation I have left!"
"Yay! Thank goodness!"
Ning Rongrong cheered, leaping off the bed like a nimble rabbit. Her face lit up with a radiant smile, showing no trace of the earlier pouty tantrum.
In a few quick steps, she rushed over to Dai Chengfeng, happily throwing her arms around his arm and bouncing excitedly:
"Dai Chengfeng! You're the best to me! I knew you were the nicest!"
Feeling the softness of her touch and the warmth of her excitement through his arm, Dai Chengfeng stiffened slightly, feeling uncomfortable. He tried to gently pull his arm away, but Ning Rongrong held on tightly.
"So… So give it to me already!"
Ning Rongrong eagerly extended her delicate hand, staring at Dai Chengfeng with wide, pleading eyes.
Looking at Ning Rongrong's abrupt shift from gloomy to radiant joy, Dai Chengfeng sighed helplessly.
He nodded, his expression turning serious: "I'll give it to you."
"But, Rongrong, there's something I need to say beforehand."
"This stuff may be effective, but the process of taking it won't be easy—in fact, it could even be considered… somewhat harsh, or a test of sorts."
"You need to be prepared mentally."
"Side effects?" Ning Rongrong's smile dimmed slightly, her gaze turning serious. "Tell me! I can handle it!"
For the sake of becoming stronger, for proving herself, Ning Rongrong was willing to endure any hardship!
Dai Chengfeng scratched his nose, his gaze wandering as he carefully chose his words: "Hmm… Well, aside from the usual pain of strengthening your bones and flushing your spirit energy, which you can grit your teeth and endure given your willpower…"
"There's just… just one key ingredient in the pill that's… a bit special…"
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