After walking for a while, Ning Rongrong looked at Dai Chengfeng ahead of her after her initial curiosity had passed.
She quickened her pace to walk alongside him and asked, looking up: "Dai Chengfeng, is your place far from here?"
"Not far. It's in the area of palaces just ahead."
Dai Chengfeng pointed to a cluster of buildings that were clearly more magnificent and heavily guarded. "This is where the higher-ups of the Spirit Hall, their families, and core disciples reside. It's quieter and safer."
Ning Rongrong responded with an "Oh," her eyes darting around before asking again: "Then... are there other people living there with you?"
"I mean, besides the servants."
Dai Chengfeng kept walking and casually replied: "I live in a separate courtyard with many rooms. Apart from the servants who come to clean regularly, I'm usually alone."
"Though my mother stays in the outer guest room..."
He paused, considering Ning Rongrong might be worried about inconveniences, and added: "Don't worry, I'll arrange for you to stay in an independent guest room so we won't disturb each other."
"Who... who's worrying about that!"
Ning Rongrong blushed and retorted, stiffening her neck: "I was just asking casually!"
"Living alone in such a big courtyard, aren't you afraid of feeling lonely?"
Dai Chengfeng chuckled, not exposing her hidden thoughts: "I'm used to it. For someone cultivating, enduring loneliness is also beneficial."
As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance of a serene courtyard.
The walls were high, and armored guards stood at the gate. Upon seeing Dai Chengfeng, they immediately bowed respectfully: "Your Highness!"
At this point, the guards also noticed the exquisite-looking, elegantly dressed girl following Dai Chengfeng, who clearly wasn't part of the Spirit Hall. Their eyes flashed with surprise.
But well-trained as they were, they didn't ask any questions.
Dai Chengfeng nodded slightly and led Ning Rongrong straight inside.
Inside, the courtyard was even more spacious than it appeared from outside. Pavilions, terraces, small bridges, and flowing water were arranged elegantly. While it wasn't as extravagantly luxurious as the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, it exuded its own grandeur and depth.
"Wow, your place isn't bad!"
Ning Rongrong surveyed the scenery in the courtyard, her tone carrying a hint of approval.
Born into wealth, she had high standards, so getting her to say "not bad" was quite an achievement.
Just as Dai Chengfeng was about to take Ning Rongrong to choose a room, he spotted a slender black figure emerging from a training hall on the other side.
It was Zhu Zhuqing.
She seemed to have just finished her training, beads of sweat still visible on her forehead. Her tight black training outfit accentuated her nearly perfect figure.
Her cold expression briefly froze when she saw Dai Chengfeng and the lively Ning Rongrong beside him. Especially noting Ning Rongrong's playful charm, which stood out starkly against the usual atmosphere of the Spirit Hall, Zhu Zhuqing's sharp, cat-like eyes flickered with a barely noticeable curiosity.
"Dai Chengfeng, you didn't go to Senior Liu Erlong today?"
Zhu Zhuqing approached, her voice cool as she greeted them.
While speaking, her gaze fell on Ning Rongrong: "Who is this young lady?"
Seeing it was Zhu Zhuqing, Dai Chengfeng smiled and introduced them: "Zhuqing, you've come at a good time."
"Let me introduce you. This is Ning Rongrong, the daughter of Ning Fengzhi, the head of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
Then he turned to Ning Rongrong: "Rongrong, this is Zhu Zhuqing, my... fiancée, who is currently staying here for cultivation."
The moment Zhu Zhuqing appeared, Ning Rongrong instinctively straightened her back. Her innate sharpness as a young woman made her sense something unusual about this black-dressed girl.
Not only because of Zhu Zhuqing's stunning appearance and cold demeanor, but also because she sensed a rare sharpness and oppressive strength rarely seen among peers.
Moreover, the fact that she lived in Dai Chengfeng's courtyard indicated a special relationship.
Hearing Dai Chengfeng's introduction, Ning Rongrong's eyes flickered with curiosity: "From the Zhu family?"
As the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, she occasionally read some anecdotes about the Star Luo Empire's royal family after getting to know Dai Chengfeng.
Thus, she was already aware of Dai Chengfeng having a fiancée.
"The little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?"
On the other hand, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes showed a flicker of surprise. She didn't know when Dai Chengfeng had met the little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, but outwardly, she gave Ning Rongrong a slight nod as a greeting.
"Hello."
Ning Rongrong immediately adopted the demeanor of the young mistress of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Though she felt a bit nervous inside, her face betrayed nothing, responding gracefully:
"Hello, Sister Zhu Zhuqing, right? I'm Ning Rongrong. I'll be troubling you during my stay."
Her words sounded polite, but the title "Sister" and the phrase "troubling you" subtly carried a declaration: "I am a guest, and an important one."
Dai Chengfeng didn't notice the silent 'undercurrents' between the two girls. He explained to Zhu Zhuqing:
"Rongrong secretly left her sect to bring me something."
"I don't feel comfortable leaving her alone in Spirit City, so I invited her to stay for a few days."
"Zhuqing, you're more meticulous than I am. Since Rongrong is unfamiliar with the place, if I'm not around, could you help look after her?"
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Dai Chengfeng, then at Ning Rongrong, who was obviously nervous but pretending to be calm, and softly responded: "I will."
Hearing Dai Chengfeng entrust Zhu Zhuqing with her care, Ning Rongrong felt a twinge of dissatisfaction. But she knew Zhu Zhuqing was probably very strong, and Dai Chengfeng's reasoning was sound, so she pouted and said nothing.
Dai Chengfeng then told Ning Rongrong: "Rongrong, Zhuqing is from the Zhu family of the Star Luo Empire. She's very strong, and since you're about the same age, I think you'll get along."
"I live in the main house in the east wing, and Zhuqing lives in the west wing. Look at the southern rooms; you can choose whichever one you like."
"They are all regularly cleaned and very tidy."
Ning Rongrong followed the direction Dai Chengfeng pointed. The southern rooms had good lighting and were at a comfortable distance from both Dai Chengfeng's main house and Zhu Zhuqing's west wing—not too close to invite gossip, nor too far to seem distant. She was quite satisfied.
However, she deliberately nitpicked: "Hmm... let me see... I'll take the one with the window facing the pond!"
"Alright."
Dai Chengfeng nodded, personally showing Ning Rongrong to the chosen room and summoning maids to prepare fresh bedding and daily necessities.
Once everything was settled, Dai Chengfeng watched Ning Rongrong curiously touching things here and there in the room. Although he was itching to use the "Heart of the Earth," he restrained himself and asked:
"Rongrong, you've had a long journey. Would you like to rest first, or should I have some snacks and tea prepared?"
Ning Rongrong actually wanted to cling to Dai Chengfeng and have him show her around immediately, but she wasn't an unreasonable child anymore.
She vividly remembered Dai Chengfeng's uncontrollable excitement and importance placed on the "Heart of the Earth" fragment earlier.
She had secretly traveled a long way just to deliver this extremely important thing to him.
Now that it was delivered, he must be eager to use it to enhance his strength.
Thinking this, though a bit disappointed, Ning Rongrong waved her hand and feigned generosity: "Ah, you go do your thing! Don't worry about me!"
"I'll unpack first."
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