Ning Rongrong held a small bouquet of flowers in her hands, hopping and skipping toward the grand hall where Ning Fengzhi was. Her mood looked exceptionally good.
Before long, she spotted Grandmaster and Tang San standing by the roadside.
The smile on Ning Rongrong's face instantly vanished. Ignoring both Grandmaster and Tang San, she quickened her pace and walked straight past them.
"Ning Rongrong!" Tang San couldn't help calling out.
Ning Rongrong stopped and asked coldly, "What is it?"
"Didn't you leave with Ao Tian? When did you come back?" Tang San asked.
"When I came back is none of your business," Ning Rongrong replied bluntly.
Tang San wasn't angry. He smiled and asked, "Then can you tell me where Ao Tian is? I have something I need to discuss with him."
"No."
After saying that, Ning Rongrong turned around and was about to leave.
Tang San's expression darkened slightly. He clearly sensed the disdain in Ning Rongrong's gaze—she was looking down on him.
"Ning Rongrong!" Grandmaster spoke up and stopped her.
Ning Rongrong paused again.
Her impression of Grandmaster was better than that of Tang San. After all, back at Shrek Academy, she had received training from him.
Grandmaster revealed a gentle smile and asked, "Is Ao Tian in your castle right now? I have something I'd like to discuss with him."
Ning Rongrong shook her head. "He's not."
"Then could you tell me where he lives?" Grandmaster asked.
Ning Rongrong said, "You should leave. I won't tell you where Ao Tian is."
With that, she ignored both Grandmaster and Tang San and walked away briskly.
Tang San's face looked unpleasant. "That Ning Rongrong—who knows what kind of bewitching potion Ao Tian gave her. She's protecting him so fiercely."
After saying that, he turned to look at Grandmaster, only to find him smiling amiably.
The two continued walking outward.
"Teacher, how can you still be smiling?" Tang San asked.
Grandmaster chuckled. "Little San, you're still too inexperienced."
"Teacher, what do you mean by that?" Tang San was immediately confused.
Grandmaster smiled and said, "I just asked whether Ao Tian was here, and Ning Rongrong said he wasn't. That question was asked with a purpose. Think carefully—can you figure out what my intention was?"
Tang San lowered his head in thought. After a moment, he shook his head. "I don't know."
Grandmaster explained in a teaching tone, "Back at Shrek Academy, Ning Rongrong had a very good relationship with Ao Tian, Xiao Wu, and the others. The fact that she kept defending Ao Tian just now proves that."
"So what?" Tang San asked.
Grandmaster smiled. "When Ning Rongrong first went to Shrek Academy, she secretly ran away from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. With her personality, she can't stand loneliness. If Ao Tian and Gu Yuena and the other girls are still in Heaven Dou City, Ning Rongrong will definitely go look for them—and it won't take long."
Tang San suddenly understood. "Teacher, I get it now. As long as we keep an eye on Ning Rongrong, we can find Ao Tian through her."
"Smart. You got it immediately." Grandmaster snapped his fingers in praise.
"Teacher, you're truly farsighted and calculating," Tang San said with admiration.
Grandmaster laughed loudly. "You still have a lot to learn. Let's go back and arrange for people to keep watch nearby. The hidden weapon business didn't work out—we can't let Ao Tian slip away again."
At the mention of hidden weapons, Tang San could only sigh.
Losing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, a wealthy and powerful partner, was indeed a pity.
Grandmaster patted Tang San on the shoulder and said, "Little San, don't be discouraged. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect won't work, we can switch to another one."
"Which one?" Tang San asked.
"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family," Grandmaster replied.
Tang San said, "I don't want to sell hidden weapons to an empire. That could bring about war and cause suffering to countless lives."
"Then it's up to you," Grandmaster said.
Tang San smiled. "Losing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might not be a bad thing. Relying too much on others isn't good either. Becoming strong oneself is the real way forward. Once I become powerful, everything I want to do will become much easier."
"Little San, I'm very pleased that you can think like this," Grandmaster said.
The two left the castle and returned to Heaven Dou City.
…
Ning Rongrong ran all the way into the great hall. Ning Fengzhi and the two Titled Douluo were just about to leave when they saw her rush in.
"You little girl, why are you hopping around like that?" Ning Fengzhi scolded with a smile.
Ning Rongrong threw herself to Ning Fengzhi's side, grabbed his arm, and said coquettishly, "Dad, I want to go out and play."
Ning Fengzhi smiled. "I think you want to go find Ao Tian, don't you?"
"Of course not. I just want to stroll around the streets," Ning Rongrong said, her cheeks flushing as she hurriedly defended herself.
Ning Fengzhi laughed a few times and said, "No."
"Why not?" Ning Rongrong pouted.
Ning Fengzhi explained, "Because of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's disbandment, many forces are watching us closely. If they can't get to me, they might target you instead. There are many spies from other factions outside the castle. You wouldn't want to step outside and have a whole group of people following you, would you? They wouldn't dare do anything to you, but they'd definitely annoy you so much that you couldn't enjoy your outing."
Ning Rongrong said angrily, "Those factions are really despicable. Whether we disband or not is our own business—why are they meddling?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "Many forces have cooperated with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Now that the sect has disbanded, it naturally affects their interests. It'd be strange if they didn't care."
"But I really want to go out," Ning Rongrong said stubbornly.
"Wait a few days. Once things settle down, you can go out. By then, even if you want to stay overnight at Ao Tian's place, I won't stop you," Ning Fengzhi said with a laugh.
"Dad, what are you saying!" Ning Rongrong pinched Ning Fengzhi and ran off.
Chen Xin sighed. "Fengzhi, is it really a good idea to push Rongrong toward Ao Tian like this?"
Ning Fengzhi said, "From Ao Tian forcing our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to disband, it's clear he's not a bloodthirsty person. He's not as ruthless as Bibi Dong. Since Rongrong likes him, let her be."
…
Inside a carriage, Grandmaster suddenly slapped his thigh. "I've been thinking about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Ao Tian so much lately that I almost forgot something important."
"What is it?" Tang San asked in confusion.
"Dugu Bo. He once said that after you recovered from your injuries, he would come to you for treatment. It's been so long, yet he hasn't visited you even once."
"Maybe something else delayed him," Tang San said.
Grandmaster replied, "To show sincerity, we should take the initiative and visit him. He is, after all, a Titled Douluo. Dugu Bo's importance is no less than that of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If we can gain his friendship, the benefits to Shrek Academy will be enormous."
Tang San nodded. "Then should we go now?"
Grandmaster glanced at the sun outside. "It's almost noon. Let's find a place to eat first and go in the afternoon."
"Teacher, do you know where that old poisoner Dugu Bo lives?" Tang San asked.
"Yes. Back when you were kidnapped by him, I asked Meng Shenji, the Education Committee member of the Royal Academy. Dugu Bo has a residence in the city," Grandmaster said.
Then he asked, "Little San, how confident are you in detoxifying him?"
Tang San replied, "Although we no longer have the medicinal herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Eye, if we slow down the treatment process, I still have more than a fifty percent chance."
"Then roughly how long would it take?" Grandmaster asked.
Tang San said, "The toxins in Dugu Bo's body are old and deeply rooted. They need to be adjusted gradually. To fully recover would take at least a year. His condition is already worsening—being cured in a year should be something he'd gladly accept."
Grandmaster smiled. "And his granddaughter. If you cure both of them, Dugu Bo will surely be deeply grateful to you. Although he's moody and unpredictable, he values loyalty and repays kindness without fail."
Tang San also smiled. The oppressive feeling from being rejected by Ning Fengzhi earlier instantly lightened.
Gaining the friendship of a Titled Douluo was indeed a very good thing.
The two ate a simple meal in Heaven Dou City, rested briefly, and then headed toward Dugu Bo's residence.
..............
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