Oscar and Ning Rongrong sat inside the carriage, while two Soul Emperor guards accompanied them, one driving and one on horseback.
It was Ning Rongrong's first time being alone with Oscar in such a space, and she felt a little uneasy. After all, in her eyes, or rather in everyone's eyes, Oscar might be her classmate and senior, but at times he seemed more like a teacher, and a very strict one at that.
However, Oscar rarely spoke useless words. Sitting cross-legged inside the steady carriage, he asked calmly, "Can you tell me about your elders?"
Ning Rongrong was stunned for a moment, then realized that Oscar had accompanied her this time because he had matters to discuss with her father and the others. She decided to share some details about her father, as well as her Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa, including their preferences.
Oscar listened quietly, occasionally asking a question. In this way, the silence inside the carriage was broken.
Half a month later, the carriage entered a magnificent mountain gate.
It seemed news of Ning Rongrong's return had already reached them. As soon as the carriage passed through the gate, two figures stopped it.
In the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, there were only a handful of people who dared to stop the carriage of Ning Fengzhi's most beloved daughter, but this time, no one dared interfere.
When the two appeared, everyone inside the gate respectfully saluted. "Greetings, Sword Elder, Bone Elder."
Inside the carriage, Oscar lifted his gaze slightly upon hearing the disciples' address, while Ning Rongrong's little face lit up with joy. She hurriedly jumped out of the carriage.
The only one who could make the two guardian deities of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect personally appear was this little princess, Ning Rongrong.
Outside the carriage, two tall figures stood calmly. One had white hair yet a youthful face, with rosy skin like a baby's, exuding an immortal aura, dressed in snow-white robes.
The other was tall but lean, with barely any flesh on his bones. His stature came entirely from his large frame. Unlike the first elder, his sparse hair made him look less striking.
Both wore expectant smiles. They were the two guardian deities of the sect: the level ninety-six Super Douluo, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and the level ninety-five Super Douluo, Bone Douluo Gu Rong.
Ning Rongrong hopped down and called out cheerfully, "Sword Grandpa, Bone Grandpa, Rongrong missed you so much."
Seeing their beloved little princess, the two elders' faces lit up with joy. "Rongrong, we missed you too. You've been away so long, and finally, you're willing to come back."
Just then, a young man stepped out of the carriage. His silver hair and strikingly handsome face were no less than Sword Douluo's in his youth, perhaps even more so.
Oscar, nearly two meters tall, stood eye-to-eye with Sword Douluo, dressed in silver-white robes, elegant and noble.
At the sight of him, the two elders raised their brows. Though Ning Rongrong had not returned in the past year, she had corresponded with them in letters. The sect disciples had also reported beforehand that a talented and powerful young man accompanied her.
Now seeing Oscar in person, they could tell at a glance, without him trying to hide or reveal his power, that he was no ordinary youth.
What shocked them more was what Ning Rongrong's letters had revealed. Though Oscar appeared to be eighteen or nineteen, he was only about fifteen. Yet at this young age, his soul power had already reached the Soul King level.
Even without probing further, this fact alone was staggering. Such talent could not simply be called genius, but monstrous.
Even the two elders had not achieved so much at fifteen, nor had Tang Hao, the youngest Title Douluo in history.
Such brilliance could not help but draw attention, though it also brought unease.
The fact that he had returned with Ning Rongrong made them wonder.
Both elders understood perfectly well. If someone with such talent could become Rongrong's partner, they would not only welcome it but pour resources into supporting him.
Yet they also knew that someone like him would not join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. From Rongrong's letters, they had learned that this senior was no ordinary soul master, but the young sect master of the rising Frost Sword Sect.
The Frost Sword Sect was already comparable to their own sect, perhaps even stronger, given the rumors about its hidden strength.
Besides the sect itself, they had close ties with Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Clan, which also boasted Title Douluo powerhouses.
With such a background, and as a sect heir, it was almost impossible for him to join another sect.
This realization made the elders frown.
If the two were simply friends, it would be fine, as they could support each other in the future. But if the young heirs of two great sects became romantically entangled, that would be a headache for their elders.
Neither sect would accept their heir joining the other.
From Ning Rongrong's letters, it was clear she admired Oscar greatly, which only made the elders more worried that she might be drawn to him.
Yet in truth, there was nothing of the sort between Oscar and Ning Rongrong. If Oscar truly had feelings for her, Ma Hongjun would never have had a chance.
Noticing the two Super Douluos' gazes, Oscar respectfully bowed. "Junior Oscar, Rongrong's classmate, greets the two seniors."
This self-introduction was intentional. He spoke not as the young master of the Sword Sect, but as Ning Rongrong's classmate.
Hearing this, the two exchanged glances. Sword Douluo then said, "No need to be so formal. Rongrong has often mentioned her strict senior who is both teacher and friend. Meeting you today, I see you are indeed extraordinary."
"Senior overpraises me," Oscar replied with a smile. "I have only done my duty as a senior, nothing more. I hope my sudden visit will not trouble you."
Seeing his respectful manners, the two elders could only return his smile. After all, no one strikes a polite youth.
Besides, they were curious why the Sword Sect heir had come to their sect. Surely not to propose marriage?
Ning Rongrong then stepped up, tugging at the elders' sleeves with a grin. "See, I didn't even need to introduce you. Sword Grandpa, Bone Grandpa, where's Dad?"
Sword Douluo pointed toward the main hall. "Knowing you were returning, Fengzhi personally cooked a table full of dishes and is waiting for you."
Turning back to Oscar, he added, "You should come too."
Oscar did not refuse. Since Sword Douluo had invited him, there was no reason to hold back. Besides, he was hungry.
"Then I will accept your kindness," Oscar said.
Together, he and Ning Rongrong followed the two elders to the dining hall.
On the way, many disciples of the sect saw Oscar walking beside Ning Rongrong and whispered among themselves.
After all, Ning Rongrong was their sect's little princess, the apple of the sect master's eye. And now she had brought back a young man with her.
But what a young man. His looks outshone every handsome face in the sect.
Before long, they entered a splendid hall where a long table was laden with delicacies. A middle-aged man of about forty waited eagerly by the table.
When he saw Ning Rongrong, his already gentle and handsome face softened even more. "Rongrong, you are back."
"Father!" Ning Rongrong threw herself into his arms, her longing clear.
For a twelve-year-old pampered princess who had been away for a year, her homesickness was only natural.
"As long as you are back. You must be hungry. Sit down, I cooked all your favorite dishes for you." Ning Fengzhi set her down gently, speaking warmly.
Then he turned to Oscar with a kind smile. "You must be Oscar. Rongrong has written about you in every letter, taking up quite a bit of space."
It sounded casual, but it was a way of probing their relationship.
Oscar only smiled. "Sect Master Ning flatters me. If Rongrong mentioned me, it was probably to complain about how strict I was with her."
Ning Fengzhi glanced at his daughter, and indeed, Oscar had hit the mark. Ning Rongrong stuck out her tongue cutely in response.
"Strictness is good," Ning Fengzhi said. "In fact, I should thank you. With your guidance, Rongrong has truly changed."
He then pointed to the seat beside Ning Rongrong. "You must be tired from your journey. Sit down and eat with us."
His tone was warm, treating Oscar almost like family.
By now, the two elders had already sat down. Oscar, no longer holding back, thanked them and sat beside Ning Rongrong. Ning Fengzhi took the main seat, and the five of them began to eat like a family.
Oscar had expected a wealthy family's table to be quiet, but to his surprise, it was not.
Ning Fengzhi chatted gently with his daughter while serving her food, asking about her year away.
This naturally led to Oscar becoming the main subject of Ning Rongrong's stories.
It was not that she had feelings for him, but simply that he had led nearly all their training outside of theory classes. To her, Oscar was more like their teacher, even their homeroom instructor.
Even Zhao Wuji, the vice dean, mainly just lent his gravity control to assist their cultivation.
As Ning Fengzhi and the two elders listened, they could not help but look at Oscar oddly.
They had thought he was simply the strongest student, leading his peers. But now it seemed he was not only monstrously talented but also remarkable at teaching.
Oscar himself grew uncomfortable. Wasn't this the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Why did it feel like he was the host?
No matter what topic came up—training, study, daily life—his name kept surfacing, always as the strict instructor.
Finally, Oscar could not help but cough and say, "Rongrong, mind your words."
At his commanding tone, the two elders frowned. Even Ning Fengzhi had never spoken to his daughter that way. How dare this boy?
But to their shock, Ning Rongrong only stuck out her tongue helplessly. "I know, Senior. But I'm not wrong. If Father asked Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, or even Sister-in-law, they would all say the same."
Oscar's face darkened. Was his reputation really that of a demon instructor?
Seeing her actually listen to Oscar, Ning Fengzhi was surprised. He knew his daughter well, and she never obeyed so easily.
Still, he and the elders picked up on a key word: Sister-in-law. If Oscar was the eldest of Shrek Academy, then who was this sister-in-law?
Could it be that Rongrong liked a boy who already had a girlfriend?
Concern clouded their thoughts. They had never seen their beloved Rongrong so close to any boy, nor so obedient. It was only natural they worried she might have feelings for him.
Meanwhile, Oscar felt awkward under their gazes. Wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, he finally spoke. "Sect Master Ning…"
But Ning Fengzhi interrupted. "You are Rongrong's classmate, so I will call you Little Oscar. Do not be so formal. Call me Uncle Ning, how about that?"
Oscar smiled and accepted. "Uncle Ning, in fact, I came to your sect this time to discuss something with you. It also has to do with Rongrong."
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