2 chapters will be uploaded on daily basis i.e. 14 Chapters will be uploaded every week apart from the bonus chapters.
1 Bonus Chapter will be uploaded for every 50 Power Stones or 1000 Collections.
All interested readers can read advanced chapters on: Free Members of Patreon can read 10 Chapters ahead of Webnovel for FREE.
[email protected]/Kingdom_Of_Ink
×××××××××××××××
The next morning, as dawn broke, Feng Xiao had already arrived at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy cafeteria, treading on the morning dew.
The vast cafeteria was empty and silent, with only a few diligent commoner students dining in the corner; this was one of the new changes in the Academy after Feng Xiao won the championship.
Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting colorful light and shadow on the polished marble floor.
Feng Xiao's footsteps echoed clearly in the spacious hall, startling a few sparrows foraging outside the window.
Feng Xiao accepted with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the empty seats.
At this hour, those pampered young masters and ladies were probably still lost in their dreams.
He chose a window seat, and the steam from the hot porridge rose in the morning light, merging with the gradually brightening dawn outside the window.
Just as Feng Xiao was engrossed in his breakfast, a crisp sound of footsteps approached from afar.
He slowly looked up to see Dugu Yan gracefully walking towards him, a dark green long dress accentuating her slender waist, swaying gently with each step, like an elegant emerald-scaled snake.
Although she was mentally prepared, Dugu Yan's steps noticeably paused when she clearly saw Feng Xiao's current appearance.
Her red lips slightly parted, and a hint of surprise flashed in her amethyst-like eyes: "Little Feng?" Her voice carried a touch of uncertainty.
Sunlight filtered through the stained-glass window behind her, casting colorful light and shadow on the floor.
Feng Xiao noticed that she had specially drawn delicate eyeliner today, and a snake-shaped jade hairpin was pinned in her hair—evidently, she had dressed up carefully for this reunion.
"Sister Yan," Feng Xiao said with a smile, deliberately turning a circle, "What's wrong, don't you recognize me?"
Dugu Yan suddenly reached out and pinched his cheek, and after confirming it wasn't an illusion, she suddenly smiled radiantly: "You little rascal!"
She leaned closer to examine him, "You look much handsomer now than before~" Her fingertip, however, inadvertently brushed the inside of his collar.
"Little Feng?" Dugu Yan gently placed her meal tray down, her amethyst-like eyes scanning Feng Xiao up and down, "Two days ago, I heard Grandpa mention your changes, and I was still half-believing, half-doubting."
Her red lips curved into a smile, "Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, you truly are like a different person."
Feng Xiao watched her gracefully sit down, the morning light casting a soft golden glow on her profile.
Dugu Yan suddenly covered her mouth and chuckled, her emerald-like eyes sparkling with mischievous light: "As soon as I came back, I heard—" She deliberately dragged out her words, "—that yesterday, Sister Lingling, that girl, confessed to you with a blushing face, only to be caught red-handed by the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
Feng Xiao rubbed his forehead helplessly, the morning light dancing on his handsome profile: "I'm also wondering how she's so well-informed."
His fingers unconsciously traced the rim of the porridge bowl, "As soon as I returned to the Academy, she cornered me."
"Pfft—" Dugu Yan laughed, shaking like a flower, her dark green skirt rippling with her movements, "I think Sister Lingling won't be able to show her face for the next few days~" She suddenly leaned closer, the tassel of her snake-shaped jade hairpin brushing Feng Xiao's hand, "I heard that girl specifically asked for several days off?"
Feng Xiao gave a wry smile and cupped his hands: "Don't I still need to trouble Sister Yan to clean up my mess?" Before he finished speaking, Dugu Yan suddenly tapped his forehead lightly with her chopsticks:
"You stinker!" she feigned anger, but couldn't hide the smile at the corner of her mouth, "It was fine helping you clean up messes before, but now you even want your older sister to settle your romantic debts?"
Then, Dugu Yan gave Feng Xiao an annoyed look, her emerald-like eyes subtly flickering, and she asked casually, "Do you really have feelings for Sister Lingling or not?"
Her fingertip lightly tapped the table, "If you don't like her, I, your older sister, will help you turn that silly girl down, so she doesn't spend all her time in a daze."
Feng Xiao chuckled at her words, the sunlight dancing on his newly defined features: "To be honest, a gentle and intelligent woman like Sister Lingling—" He picked up his teacup and took a sip, "—the young talents in Heaven Dou City who want to marry her could probably line up outside the city gates, so why wouldn't I like her?"
Dugu Yan was about to speak, but then heard Feng Xiao change the subject: "But Sister Yan—" He put down the teacup, his gaze suddenly becoming serious, "—now is not the time.
There are some reasons I can't explain yet." His fingertip lightly drew a circle on the table, "When the time is right, I hope you all can make a new choice.
That would be fair to everyone."
"Who, who wants to choose!" Dugu Yan's face suddenly flushed, and her chopsticks slapped "Pah!" onto the table, "We were talking about Sister Lingling, why bring me into it!"
She turned her face away, her purple long hair falling, but unable to hide her flushed ear tips.
Feng Xiao's eyes held a smile as he deliberately leaned closer: "Really no problem~?" Each word was drawn out, his warm breath brushing against her reddened cheek.
Dugu Yan pouted, the blush on her cheeks extending all the way to her ears: "I, I just came to ask for that silly girl Sister Lingling—" Her fingertips unconsciously twirled a strand of her hair, "—to save her from wasting time on you all day.
Since you've said so, I'll tell her."
Just as she was speaking, Dugu Yan suddenly reached out and poked Feng Xiao's forehead, "You little rascal, you think too highly of yourself!"
Feng Xiao leaned back with a smile, the sunlight dancing in his smiling eyes: "My plans always strive for perfection~"
Dugu Yan narrowed her amethyst-like eyes suspiciously, her snake-shaped jade hairpin gently swaying as she tilted her head: "Wait a minute."
She suddenly leaned closer, "You little brat, you're not using a delaying tactic, are you?" Her fingers pinched his chin, "You've been at the Academy for so long, what 'time' needs to wait this long?"
Feng Xiao blinked, and deliberately made a sealing gesture: "Well, the secrets of heaven must not be revealed~"
"You stinker!" Dugu Yan angrily released him, her skirt swishing as she stood up, "I've doted on you for nothing!"
As she turned, her purple long hair traced a graceful arc in the air, and the jade hairpin in her hair glimmered in the sunlight.
Feng Xiao watched her retreating figure, then suddenly raised his voice: "Sister Yan, say hello to Sister Lingling for me~"
From afar came a huffy snort, followed by the sound of accelerating footsteps.
Feng Xiao shook his head with a light chuckle, lowered his head, and continued to enjoy his now slightly cool breakfast, the sunlight filtering through the stained-glass window, casting colorful specks of light on his smiling lips.
Dugu Yan let out a soft hum, and ultimately did not press further.
But as she turned, the unconscious curve of her red lips betrayed her inner joy.
Her dark green skirt swayed gently with her brisk steps, and the snake-shaped jade hairpin in her hair shimmered with a gentle luster in the morning light.
As she walked, she pondered, her fingertips unconsciously twirling a strand of long hair over her chest—what exactly was the "time" Feng Xiao spoke of?
This question, like a mischievous little snake, slithered in her heart, making her itch with curiosity.
Dugu Yan suddenly recalled that when Feng Xiao said those words, his eyes sparkled with a determination and tenderness she had never seen before.
This realization made her heart tremble, and even her steps unconsciously quickened.
The smile on Dugu Yan's lips deepened.
Since he promised there would be an answer, she would wait and see what kind of "time" this young man, who always brought surprises, was planning.
Dugu Yan paused and looked back, a hint of anticipation flashing in her emerald-like eyes, her red lips slightly parted: "You stinker, always so mysterious."
Her fingertips twirled her falling hair, her voice unconsciously softening, "He was much cuter when he first came to the Academy."
Feng Xiao quickly finished the rest of his breakfast in two or three bites, and contentedly wiped his mouth.
He picked up the Fuxi Zither placed beside him, its strings gleaming with a faint golden light in the morning sun.
As he walked out of the cafeteria, the morning sun had fully risen, coating the buildings of Heaven Dou Royal Academy with a golden edge.
Feng Xiao strolled along the tree-lined path, startling a few sparrows that were foraging.
Inside Ning Rongrong's boudoir in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
"Ah—! All stinky men, not a single good one!" Ning Rongrong grabbed a embroidered pillow and furiously threw it at the bedpost, soft feathers scattering with her movements.
The girl's eyes were red, clearly having cried until exhaustion before falling into a heavy sleep last night.
Morning light filtered through the gauze curtains, casting a golden edge on her disheveled hair.
Ning Rongrong buried her hot cheeks in the brocade quilt, but the scene from yesterday kept replaying in her mind—Feng Xiao and Ye Lingling's clasped hands, and his gentle gaze towards Ye Lingling.
"Clearly, I..." Her voice was muffled in the quilt, thick with a nasal tone.
Just then, ripples appeared in the room's space, and Gu Rong slowly emerged from the void, carrying an exquisite breakfast.
Seeing the small mound wrapped in a quilt on the bed, a look of heartache appeared on his wrinkled face.
"Rongrong," Gu Rong placed the meal tray at the bedside, his voice eight decibels softer than usual, "Will you eat something first, okay?"
He gently patted the quilt, "After you eat, Grandpa will help you teach that brat a lesson?"
The quilt was suddenly thrown back, and Ning Rongrong emerged, her long hair messy and her eyes still red: "Don't you dare go!"
She grabbed Gu Rong's sleeve, her voice hoarse from crying, "Grandpa Bone, if you dare go, I, I won't talk to you for a month!"
Gu Rong was immediately flustered, and quickly smiled apologetically: "Okay, okay, Grandpa won't go, Grandpa promises."
He carefully held up the bowl of porridge, "Then, shall we eat first?"
Ning Rongrong sat on the edge of the bed, hugging her knees, her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile hair ornament hanging askew in her messy hair.
She stared at the mottled light and shadow on the floor, her voice so soft it was like she was talking to herself: "Grandpa Bone, in this life, will I only be able to choose a husband according to the Sect's rules, for the benefit of the Sect?"
Gu Rong's hand, holding the porridge bowl, trembled slightly, and complex emotions appeared on his wrinkled face.
He opened his mouth, but the words "Of course not" were stuck in his throat—because he knew better than anyone that when the Sect faced pressure from Spirit Hall, even he, a Titled Douluo, could not defy Sect Master Ning Fengzhi's decision.
Gu Rong silently looked at his granddaughter.
At first, they were extremely picky about Oscar, a food system Spirit Master with innate full spirit power, but now, facing a genius like Feng Xiao, they appeared so humble.
The irony of it made Gu Rong's heart ache.
Seeing Gu Rong's silence, the light in Ning Rongrong's eyes dimmed a few more points.
Her slender fingers unconsciously traced the rim of the bowl, and a deep sense of powerlessness welled up in her heart—it seemed no matter how she chose, it was destined to be a mistake.
After calming down, she understood that her relationship with Oscar had long since ended.
As for Feng Xiao, he had never given her any promises; their relationship was merely one of friendship.
But every time she thought of the gentle gazes between Ye Lingling and Feng Xiao, the stinging sensation still made her breathless.
"I'm truly ridiculous," Ning Rongrong scoffed, tugging at the corner of her mouth.
As the princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, she could accept not getting something, but she could not tolerate losing to someone else.
This innate pride was now fiercely gnawing at her rationality.
Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, shining on Ning Rongrong's stubborn little face.
She glanced at her favorite glazed cake on the meal tray—Gu Rong had specially ordered the kitchen to make it.
Ning Rongrong took a deep breath, and finally, under the old man's expectant gaze, she took the porridge spoon.
However, every two bites, she would fiercely poke a lotus seed in the bowl, as if it were someone's head.
Seeing this, Gu Rong secretly breathed a sigh of relief—the rekindled light in his granddaughter's eyes clearly indicated that she had come to some realization.
"Grandpa Bone," Ning Rongrong suddenly looked up, her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile hair ornament sparkling in the morning light, "Please take me to Heaven Dou Royal Academy later."
A hint of surprise flashed across Gu Rong's wrinkled face: "Rongrong, this..." He hesitated, rubbing his fingers, "Actually, we don't necessarily have to..."
Ning Rongrong gently shook her head, a cunning arc forming at the corner of her mouth: "I understand, Grandpa Bone."
She nimbly jumped off the bed and began to tidy her messy long hair, "But free cultivation resources, why not use them?"
She winked at the bronze mirror, "His zither music can indeed help me enter cultivation state faster."
Gu Rong stared blankly at his granddaughter, who had suddenly regained her vitality, and suddenly felt that this little devil, whom he had doted on since childhood, seemed to have grown up a lot overnight.
Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a golden edge on her straight back, and her posture even resembled Ning Fengzhi's manner when handling Sect affairs.
Upon hearing this, the wrinkles on Gu Rong's face smoothed out, revealing a relieved smile: "Good, good, Rongrong, you eat slowly, Grandpa will go tell your father right away."
He gently patted his granddaughter's shoulder, his eyes full of love, "It's good that you've come to terms with it."
Before he finished speaking, the old man's figure gradually blurred, merging into the air like an ink painting.
Only a few ripples of spatial fluctuation remained, and a smiling instruction: "Remember to eat the glazed cake too, it's your favorite."
Ning Rongrong looked at the spot where Gu Rong had disappeared, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curving upwards.
She picked up the exquisite plate of glazed cake, the colorful sugar frosting sparkling in the sunlight, just like her rekindled Spirits at that moment.
Outside the window, a gentle breeze swept through, dispelling the gloom that had accumulated last night.
Not long after, as Feng Xiao sat by the lake playing his zither, a familiar figure appeared in his perception.
He slowly opened his eyes to see Ning Rongrong, dressed in a pale purple long dress, her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile hair ornament shimmering in the sunlight, gracefully walking towards him.
Feng Xiao's face showed surprise, but he didn't say much.
He hadn't expected her to come looking for him actively after such an awkward farewell yesterday.
Ning Rongrong stopped three steps away from him, the morning breeze rustling her skirt, carrying a faint fragrance.
She slightly lifted her chin, revealing her usual proud expression, then summoned her Spirit without speaking to Feng Xiao, and began to cultivate on her own.
Feng Xiao noticed that although she deliberately kept her distance, the resentment from yesterday was gone from her eyes, replaced by a complex emotion he couldn't decipher.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled light and shadow on her delicate face.
But her expression was so calm as if nothing had happened yesterday, only her slightly reddened ear tips betrayed the turmoil within.
Ripples appeared on the lake surface.
Feng Xiao quietly breathed a sigh of relief; this was good too.
It seemed this proud little princess had found a way to reconcile with herself.