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
×××××××××××××××
As Feng Xiao slowly approached, Ning Rongrong unconsciously clutched her clothes tightly. She lifted her small face, her crimson lips slightly parted, but in the end, she only mumbled without making a sound. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting flickering light spots on her delicate face.
Through the accounts of Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo, she had already learned everything that had happened with Feng Xiao in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. The descriptions of his strength and cunning contrasted sharply with the elegant young master she remembered, who spent his days playing the zither and seemed detached from worldly affairs.
Feng Xiao walked closer, his gaze sweeping lightly over Ning Rongrong. A hint of playfulness flashed in his eyes, and the corner of his lips subtly curved upward—it seemed this Little Princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had already heard quite a bit from her two grandfathers.
Without stopping, he walked directly past Ning Rongrong, his robes carrying a faint scent of pine. The sunlight stretched his shadow long, precisely covering Ning Rongrong's petite figure.
"Wait! Little Feng!"
Ning Rongrong suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of urgency. She instinctively reached out but pulled her hand back just as it was about to touch Feng Xiao's sleeve.
Feng Xiao's steps paused slightly, but he did not turn around. His voice was so calm that no emotion could be discerned: "There's nothing left for us to say."
Feng Xiao's eyes flickered, and he saw Ning Rongrong lift her skirt and quickly chase after him, directly blocking his path. She lifted her pretty face, her emerald-green eyes filled with stubbornness. The moment she opened her mouth, an invisible spirit power fluctuation quietly spread from Feng Xiao's body.
The moment the Domain unfolded, the surrounding sounds seemed completely cut off. Falling leaves froze in mid-air, and even the sunlight became hazy. In this space of absolute control, no sound could escape to the outside world.
"I apologize to Grandpa Gu on your behalf." Ning Rongrong clenched her small hands, but her voice was exceptionally firm, "But you must give me an explanation." Her skirt gently swayed in the Domain's airflow, and the glazed hairpin in her hair glimmered.
Feng Xiao lowered his gaze, looking at the girl who used to always follow him to cultivate, and a complex emotion flashed in his eyes. The air within the Domain seemed to become even more stagnant, and even breathing became clearly audible.
Feng Xiao's eyebrows slightly raised, and he looked at the suddenly courageous girl before him with interest. He lightly stroked the strings of the Fuxi Zither in his arms, letting out a meaningful twang: "A verbal apology?" He chuckled softly, "I've always only believed in tangible things. However…"
He suddenly leaned down, meeting Ning Rongrong's gaze: "Your so-called 'explanation' does interest me." A hint of playfulness flashed in his eyes, "What? Are you here to seek justice for that little rabbit?"
Ripples appeared in Ning Rongrong's emerald eyes, and her chest rose and fell slightly. She took a deep breath, the gem on her glazed hairpin gently swaying with her movement: "Not just Xiao Wu…" Her voice suddenly became firm, "Oscar's matter also has something to do with you, doesn't it?"
A hint of surprise flashed across Feng Xiao's face, then he resumed his calm and collected demeanor. He straightened up, nodding with complete candor: "So?" He plucked a string on the zither, "What kind of explanation do you want?"
Before Ning Rongrong could answer, he suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing her ear: "In my opinion, you all must have been…" His voice suddenly turned cold, "quite 'tormented' back then, weren't you?"
Stepping back, Feng Xiao casually tidied his cuff: "A food system Spirit Master whom Ning Fengzhi looked down upon…" A mocking smile played on his lips, "I, however, thought he was a rough gem. It was merely a little guidance." When he looked up, a demonic gleam flashed in his eyes, "He should be very happy now, shouldn't he?"
Flames of anger ignited in Ning Rongrong's emerald eyes, and her slender fingers clenched into fists: "Despicable!" Her voice trembled, and her glazed hair ornament jingled with her movements.
Feng Xiao chuckled indifferently, casually plucking a string on the zither: "Despicable?" He slowly paced around Ning Rongrong, his robes moving on their own within the Domain despite no wind, "This was Oscar's own choice."
He suddenly stopped, leaning down to whisper in Ning Rongrong's ear: "He got the girl he desired, we gained the assistance of a food system genius…" His warm breath brushed her earlobe, "And your father no longer has to worry about your marriage."
When he straightened up, a hint of playfulness flashed in his eyes: "As for you…" He paused meaningfully, "weren't you also relieved at the time?"
Feng Xiao turned and walked towards the edge of the Domain, his voice ethereal like the wind: "Such a happy ending for everyone…" He looked back with a smile, but his eyes held no warmth, "How can it be described as 'despicable'?"
Ning Rongrong's pupils suddenly contracted, and her slender fingers clutched her skirt tightly, her knuckles turning pale: "You're twisting words!" Her voice trembled slightly, "How dare you arbitrarily manipulate Oscar's life!"
Upon hearing this, the smile on Feng Xiao's lips deepened a bit. He elegantly raised his hand, a wisp of spirit power flowing between his fingertips: "Twisting words?" He asked softly, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes, "Then, my dear Miss Rongrong…"
He suddenly took a step forward, his golden eyes directly looking at Ning Rongrong: "Isn't your life trajectory precisely planned by School Master Ning himself?" His voice was gentle, yet every word was like a dagger to the heart, "He can, but I can't?"
These words were like a sharp sword, piercing directly into the most vulnerable part of Ning Rongrong's heart. Her lips trembled slightly, wanting to retort, but she found all words caught in her throat. Her usually lively emerald eyes were now filled with shock and confusion, and even her petite body swayed slightly.
Feng Xiao gently patted Ning Rongrong's shoulder, the gesture seemingly intimate yet carrying an irresistible force. He leaned close to the girl's ear, his voice soft like a lover's whisper, yet every word was like a knife: "Rongrong…" He lightly tapped her shoulder with his fingertip, "The rules of this world are just that cruel—the weak never deserve to control their own destiny."
He straightened up, cold light flowing in his golden eyes: "Just like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School today…" His slender fingers stroked the Fuxi Zither strings, producing a clear, resonant twang, "If my strength wasn't sufficient, I'd probably be your Sect's prisoner by now, wouldn't I?"
Sunlight filtered through the Domain, casting varying shades of shadow on his handsome profile. A smile played on his lips, but his eyes were chilling: "You say… isn't that the truth?"
Ning Rongrong clutched her skirt, looking up directly into Feng Xiao's eyes: "Then what exactly do you want?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiao's gaze playfully scrutinized her from head to toe, then he suddenly chuckled: "What do I want?" He leaned down slightly, his golden eyes flickering with dangerous light, "You Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School were the ones who made the first move, and now you're asking me what I want?"
"But there must be a resolution," Ning Rongrong insisted, trying not to back down, though her voice trembled slightly.
Feng Xiao straightened up, casually stroking the zither strings: "You've gained a bit of the Sect Master's bearing." He turned and walked away, his voice drifting on the wind, "Too bad… you're not qualified to talk about a resolution yet."
As his words fell, the invisible Domain instantly dissipated. Ning Rongrong stood frozen in place, watching Feng Xiao's figure gradually disappear into the depths of the academy. Sunlight once again fell upon her, but it couldn't dispel the chill spreading in her heart.
Feng Xiao's figure had just disappeared around the corner of the academy corridor when the space beside Ning Rongrong suddenly rippled like water.
Two figures slowly emerged from the void like an ink wash painting—Gu Rong's withered fingers still held the posture of tearing space, and Chen Xin's snow-white robes gently fluttered in the lingering spirit power.
Chen Xin held the Seven Kill Sword, his sharp gaze sweeping towards the direction Feng Xiao had departed. His snow-white sword-like eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and the sword qi around him had not dissipated, clearly indicating he had been on alert in the shadows.
Ning Rongrong then suddenly came back to her senses. The sun was still bright, but it couldn't dispel the chill lingering in her heart.
Gu Rong and Chen Xin flashed, instantly appearing beside Ning Rongrong. Gu Rong's withered hand anxiously supported his granddaughter's shoulder, his voice hoarse: "Rongrong, what did that boy say? Did he agree?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes were dim, her crimson lips slightly parted but ultimately silent. Her slender fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes, as if her soul had left her body.
Gu Rong was about to press further but was stopped by a look from Chen Xin. The white-robed Sword Douluo looked at his granddaughter's distraught appearance, and a hint of heartache flashed in his usually stern eyes. He sighed softly, patting his old friend's shoulder: "Let's go, Old Bone. We'll talk back at the Sect."
Gu Rong looked at his granddaughter, then at his old friend, and finally, his withered fingers drew a line in the void. Space rippled like a water curtain, and the three figures gradually faded into it, leaving only a few fallen leaves swirling on the ground.
Meanwhile, at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Inside the main hall, Ning Fengzhi sat quietly before a gilded table, holding a teacup that he had yet to put down. Tea smoke curled upwards, forming a hazy mist before his eyes, making his usually wise eyes appear elusive. The documents on the table had been spread out for a long time, and the vermilion brush lay beside the inkstone, its ink already dry.
With a burst of spatial fluctuation, Gu Rong and Chen Xin emerged from the void, bringing Ning Rongrong with them. The teacup in Ning Fengzhi's hand trembled slightly, and a few drops of tea splashed onto the table, only then did he snap back to attention.
His gaze fell upon his daughter's dim eyes, and Ning Fengzhi's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly; he already understood. He gently put down the teacup, his gilded cuff brushing across the table, wiping away the tea stains.
"Rongrong…" He called softly, a loving smile appearing on his face, "What was the result?"
Ning Rongrong gently shook her head, her glazed hair ornament making faint sounds with her movement: "Daughter… I don't know."
"Don't know?" Ning Fengzhi repeated the word, but a glint flashed in his eyes. He lightly tapped the table with his fingertip, and the reflection in the teacup subtly swayed—since Feng Xiao hadn't explicitly refused, there was still room for a move in this game.
Ning Fengzhi gently stroked the gem on his scepter, and asked softly: "Rongrong, what did he say to you?"
Ning Rongrong pursed her lips, then recounted her conversation with Feng Xiao. When she mentioned Feng Xiao's remark, "the weak do not deserve to control their destiny," her voice trembled slightly; when she brought up Oscar's matter, she clutched the corner of her skirt even tighter.
Gu Rong's withered fingers tapped the armrest of his seat, making a dull sound: "Ning Fengzhi, what exactly is that boy planning?"
Ning Fengzhi gently stroked his scepter, seven-colored precious light flowing across his gentle face: "Uncle Gu…" He shook his head slightly, "Although it's difficult to fully fathom his intentions, since he didn't explicitly refuse…"
He lightly tapped the table with his fingertip, and tiny ripples spread in the tea: "It means there's still room for maneuver in this matter." When he looked up, a glint flashed in his eyes, "It's just that…"
A gust of wind outside the window ruffled his falling hair: "We need to wait for the most opportune moment."
Gu Rong's cloudy eyes narrowed slightly, his withered fingers tracing a mark in the void: "Feng Zhi, do you think that boy might be playing tricks?" His voice was hoarse and low, "What if he's feigning negotiation but secretly reporting to Spirit Hall…"
Ning Fengzhi lightly tapped the table with his fingertip, and the ripples in the gilded teacup spread in circles: "Uncle Gu's concerns are not unfounded." He looked up at the deepening twilight outside the hall, "Effective immediately, increase patrol disciples and strengthen defenses throughout the Sect."
His scepter gently tapped the ground, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile's brilliance flowed: "As for the negotiations…" A deep look flashed in his eyes, "I will find another opportunity to discuss it in detail with that child."
Gu Rong nodded upon hearing this, his withered figure gradually fading into the void like an ink wash, leaving only a hoarse "I'll go arrange it now" echoing in the hall.
Ning Fengzhi's gaze softly fell on his daughter's distraught little face, and he exchanged a meaningful look with Chen Xin. The white-robed Sword Douluo understood, and silently retreated into the back hall, his snow-white robes drawing an elegant arc as he turned.
Once only father and daughter remained in the hall, Ning Fengzhi slowly walked forward, his gilded robe trailing a faint sound on the green jade floor. He gently stroked Ning Rongrong's head, his voice as gentle as a spring breeze caressing willows:
"Rongrong…"
Ning Rongrong looked up blankly, her usually lively emerald eyes now clouded with mist, like a lost fawn. She opened her mouth, but in the end, she only gently clutched her father's sleeve.
Ning Fengzhi sighed deeply, his fingertips gently stroking his daughter's hair: "Rongrong, I'm sorry. I failed you." His voice was low and sincere, "As a father, I never wanted to control your life. But as the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School…" He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes, "Many times, I have no choice but to make difficult decisions."
Ning Rongrong lifted her small face, her glazed eyes filled with confusion and struggle. She forced a smile: "It's okay, Dad. I just…" Her fingers unconsciously twisted the corner of her clothes, "I can't tell if this is my fault, or Oscar's fault, or… Feng Xiao's fault."
Ning Fengzhi's gaze was gentle, his warm hand gently resting on his daughter's head: "Silly child…" His voice was like a babbling brook, "The human entanglements in this world are never about one-sided right or wrong. You have your concerns, Oscar has his thoughts, and Feng Xiao also has his plans."
His fingertips gently combed through his daughter's chestnut hair: "It's just that your individual problems, through unfortunate coincidences, all pointed to the same outcome." His voice softened, "Perhaps this isn't what you and Oscar expected, but it is certainly a situation Feng Xiao meticulously designed."