When Ning Rongrong heard Dai Chengfeng's question, she was chewing on a small bun and shook her head, mumbling, "Mmm~"
"I'll tell you later…"
At first, she still tried to maintain a bit of decorum, taking small sips of porridge.
But when the first bun entered her mouth, the savory juices burst forth, and the soft dough combined with the hearty meat filling brought an unparalleled sense of satisfaction. Her last shred of rationality was completely overwhelmed by hunger.
She began to wolf down her food, not minding the heat, alternating between bites of buns and sips of porridge, occasionally picking up some side dishes with chopsticks, eating quickly and voraciously...
Her cheeks were stuffed full, resembling a little hamster.
There was no trace left of the elegant demeanor befitting the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect; she was just a starving little girl.
Dai Chengfeng watched this scene, shaking his head, and didn't ask any more questions.
He simply sat opposite her, poured himself a cup of clear tea, and quietly watched her eat.
It was clear that she was really hungry...
Although Ning Rongrong could be somewhat spoiled at times, she wasn't fundamentally wicked. At this moment, stripped of all pretense, she revealed a rare authenticity and charm.
The slight frustration he felt due to the stagnation in his spiritual strength seemed to dissipate a bit in this scene filled with the warmth of daily life.
Dai Chengfeng didn't remind her to eat slower, nor did he make any comments. He simply remained a silent observer, providing her with a space where she could eat in peace.
It wasn't until Ning Rongrong had devoured most of the food on the table like a whirlwind that her pace gradually slowed. Color returned to her face, and because she had eaten too quickly, fine beads of sweat appeared on the tip of her nose.
She looked up, meeting Dai Chengfeng's calm gaze, and only then belatedly realized how "heroic" her eating manner had been. Two rosy blushes appeared on her cheeks, and she lowered her head slightly, muttering softly:
"…It was too delicious, I couldn't help myself."
Dai Chengfeng finally spoke calmly, his voice steady: "It's good that you're full. The feeling of being hungry is unpleasant."
"Now, can you tell me why you came to Spirit City?"
The various emotions previously suppressed by hunger now surged forth like a dam breaking.
Therefore, upon hearing Dai Chengfeng's question, her large Glazed Tile-like eyes immediately glared at him, filled with accusation.
"Hmph!"
Ning Rongrong wrinkled her little nose and began her "indictment": "Dai Chengfeng! How dare you ask?"
"Do you have any idea how hard, how dangerous, my journey was?"
Dai Chengfeng's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, and he looked up at her, appropriately displaying a hint of well-measured confusion:
"Hard? Dangerous? Rongrong, what do you mean?"
"What do I mean?"
Seeing his seemingly entirely oblivious expression, Ning Rongrong became even more incensed.
Leaning forward slightly, she lowered her voice but spoke rapidly as if spilling beans: "What did you say when you left Tian Dou City?"
"You said that after returning to Spirit City and settling down, you would write to me!"
"You would tell me about the fun and delicious things in Spirit City! And what happened?"
"It's been so long! Not a single word!"
She felt increasingly wronged as she spoke: "I waited every day in the sect, unable to focus on Grandpa Sword's teachings, just thinking about when your letter would arrive."
"But no matter how long I waited, nothing came!"
"You big liar! You didn't keep your promise!"
Dai Chengfeng looked at the indignant girl before him, and couldn't help but smile inwardly.
After returning to Spirit City, he indeed had many trivial matters to attend to, especially the issues concerning the cultivation of spirit fusion techniques, which consumed most of his energy.
Thus, writing letters naturally took a backseat.
Facing Ning Rongrong's direct questioning, he couldn't muster any rebuttals and instead found her accusatory demeanor endearingly charming.
Just as he was about to offer an explanation, Ning Rongrong didn't give him a chance, swiftly changing the subject. Her expression shifted from grievance and complaint to one of smug boasting.
"However, I am magnanimous and won't hold it against you!"
She lifted her small chin, her eyes sparkling: "If you didn't think of writing to me, then I came to find you myself!"
"How about that? Didn't expect it, right? Surprised?"
Dai Chengfeng obligingly nodded, his tone carrying a hint of "amazement": "Indeed, I didn't expect it."
"The little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect actually managed to come alone to Spirit City, thousands of miles away."
"Rongrong, you truly... made me look at you with new eyes."
Saying this, Dai Chengfeng paused, pretending to be curious as he asked the crucial question: "But, how did the two Titled Douluo, Sword and Bone, allow you to come out alone?"
"They treat you like a precious gem."
Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong became even more self-satisfied, like a little mouse that had stolen fragrant oil.
Mysteriously looking around, though no one was paying attention, she still lowered her voice, brimming with excitement as if sharing a significant secret:
"Hehe, you wouldn't know this!"
"I didn't get their permission to come out—I sneaked out!"
"Sneaked out?"
Dai Chengfeng appropriately displayed a "shocked" expression.
"Yes! Sneaked out!"
Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously, beginning to vividly recount her "feat": "You have no idea how difficult it was!"
"Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone kept such a close watch on me, especially after you left—it was 'airtight'!"
"But who am I? I'm the cleverest little devil in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect!"
She began to talk at length about how she used her familiarity with the sect's terrain, how she skillfully avoided patrolling disciples.
How she chose the "perfect timing" when both grandpas were called away by her father for a meeting.
How she relied on her agility and superior wit to successfully break through the "multiple layers of defense" and sneak out of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect.
"…Then I used the map and travel permits I had prepared in advance, hired a carriage, rushed along the way, and finally arrived in Spirit City!"
After finishing, Ning Rongrong proudly puffed out her chest, her face clearly saying, "Praise me for being awesome."
Dai Chengfeng listened quietly, maintaining a gentle and somewhat admiring smile on his face. However, deep inside, he was fully aware and found it somewhat amusing.
'Sneaked out, huh? Little girl, you're still too naive.'
Dai Chengfeng chuckled inwardly, his thoughts racing.
'What kind of person is Patriarch Ning Fengzhi? What level of cultivation do the Sword and Bone Douluo possess?'
'If they truly didn't want you to leave the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, not even a Soul Elder-level little girl like you, let alone Soul Kings or Soul Emperors, could step out of the sect without alerting them.'
'Especially since you're carrying obviously 'stolen' funds and… gifts from Ning Fengzhi.'
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