Xiao Wu stood in the line, watching the well-matched appearance of Fu Qin and Ning Rongrong; the small jar of vinegar in her heart had long since been overturned.
She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails almost dug into her flesh.
Fu Qin naturally saw this scene.
He also noticed on Xiao Wu's panel that her disgust level toward Ning Rongrong had risen to 40 points.
Her affection level toward him, however, remained at 498 points; complex emotions were intertwined on her face.
She wanted so much to rush up, pull Fu Qin to her side, and loudly announce that Fu Qin was her man.
But she knew she couldn't do that. Tang San was still watching nearby, and she couldn't expose her relationship with Fu Qin.
She could only watch helplessly as Fu Qin acted gentle and considerate toward Ning Rongrong, her heart feeling sour and bitter, yet she was powerless.
Zhu Zhuqing watched all this coldly, her gaze shifting between Fu Qin, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu.
She could feel Xiao Wu's possessiveness toward Fu Qin and see Ning Rongrong's admiration for him. This man was like a magnet, attracting all the women around him.
Dai Mubai patted Tang San's shoulder and comforted him in a low voice.
"Brother, don't worry. Ning Rongrong is a little witch; Fu Qin might not be able to handle her."
"Besides, matters of the heart can't be forced. It's not like Oscar has no chance."
He said this, but in his heart, he felt that Fu Qin and Ning Rongrong were quite a match. One was powerful and gentle, the other was... an unruly and hot-tempered girl, but she was the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Flender looked at the time and urged them.
"Alright, stop dazing around! We're heading to the Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena now. Once we arrive, go register individually. Gather at the entrance of the Spirit Arena in half an hour!"
"Yes, Dean!" everyone responded in unison.
Fu Qin and Ning Rongrong walked side-by-side at the back of the group, with Ning Rongrong chattering incessantly along the way.
"Brother Fu Qin, what should we call our combination? How about 'Qin Rong Combination'? It sounds so nice!"
Fu Qin smiled and nodded.
"Sure, let's call it the Qin Rong Combination. At the Spirit Arena, you'll be responsible for assisting me, and I'll take the lead on the attack. Don't worry, I'll protect you."
[Origin of Fate Max+ activated, Ning Rongrong's affection level toward Fu Qin has broken through 140 points]
[Ning Rongrong's thoughts: Brother Fu Qin is so gentle! He'll even protect me! With him around, I won't be afraid even if we encounter stronger opponents! No, I have to hurry up and abduct him into the Sect!]
Ning Rongrong happily took Fu Qin's arm, her cheek pressed tightly against his shoulder, completely indifferent to the gazes of those around them.
Tang San's heart grew even more anxious as he watched this, and his pace couldn't help but quicken a bit.
He knew that if things continued like this, they would only get worse.
But he couldn't think of any solution and could only pray silently in his heart, hoping that Fu Qin wouldn't really steal Ning Rongrong away.
Xiao Wu fell to the very back of the group, watching the intimate figures of Fu Qin and Ning Rongrong from behind; the vinegar jar in her heart had shattered into rubble.
She swore secretly in her heart.
Brother Fu Qin is mine, and can only be mine. No one can take him away!
Fu Qin could clearly feel Xiao Wu's resentful gaze behind him and could also sense Tang San's anxious emotions. A faint, imperceptible smile curled at the corners of his mouth.
...
On the way to Suotuo City, Fu Qin could clearly feel the gazes behind him.
The resentment in Oscar's eyes and the envy in Ma Hongjun's eyes made the back of his neck prickle.
Oscar had taken the blame for Ning Rongrong in the afternoon, and now, seeing her inseparable from Fu Qin, his eyes were full of the frustration of "making the wedding dress for someone else."
Ma Hongjun was much more direct; his gaze was glued to Ning Rongrong's delicate profile and their linked hands, his jealousy almost overflowing.
Dai Mubai was quite open about it, his gaze toward Fu Qin holding only admiration. After all, not everyone had the ability to make the little witch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School so submissive.
Fu Qin chuckled inwardly. With the boost from Origin of Fate Max+, winning over Ning Rongrong was only natural.
As for Oscar's complaints, they were quietly diluted by the Intelligence Reduction Halo, making him only dare to mutter in his heart and never confront him face-to-face.
The Suotuo City Great Spirit Arena was bustling with people, and a wave of heat mixed with sweat and the scent of spirit power rushed toward them.
Fu Qin led Ning Rongrong to the front desk, his fingertips feeling the delicate texture and slight sweat on the girl's palm.
"Hello, we'd like to form a two-person combination," Fu Qin said in a gentle tone, his gaze falling on Ning Rongrong's flushed cheeks.
"The combination name will be 'Qin Rong Combination'."
The receptionist registered them with flying fingers, then looked up and smiled.
"Alright, 'qin rong combination', right?"
"Wait a moment, the badge needs to be engraved."
...
Not long after.
"Qin... qin rong combination?" Ning Rongrong suddenly looked up, her cheeks instantly turning beet red.
She stole a glance at Fu Qin and saw the smile in his eyes. Her heart rate suddenly accelerated, like a little deer thumping wildly in her chest.
[Origin of Fate Max+ activated, Ning Rongrong is certain that "the combination name was intentional on Fu Qin's part, implying intimacy"]
[Ning Rongrong's thoughts: Brother Fu Qin did it on purpose, right? qin rong combination... Intimate Rongrong? Does he like me too? This is so embarrassing!]
When Fu Qin saw the words "qin rong combination," he was also stunned.
However, after seeing the favorability on Ning Rongrong's panel instantly surge by 15 points, breaking through 147 points, the surprise in his heart was immediately suppressed.
He took the badge, his fingertip tracing the four characters of "qin rong combination," and deliberately leaned close to Ning Rongrong's ear, whispering in a low voice.
"This name is actually quite good." The warm breath brushed against her earlobe, making Ning Rongrong's face even redder. She nodded obediently, lacking even the strength to object.
Not far away, Tang San and Xiao Wu were also registering their combination.
"It's still called the 'San Wu Combination', right, Xiao Wu?"
Tang San's eyes were full of expectation. He specifically confirmed it, fearing there might be some mistake like in his past life.
Xiao Wu nodded absentmindedly, her eyes fixed on Fu Qin and Ning Rongrong's direction, the resentment in her gaze almost overflowing.
[Xiao Wu's thoughts: qin rong combination? Brother Fu Qin is actually using that kind of name with Ning Rongrong! This is too much, what exactly do they want to do?]
Soon.
Fu Qin noticed her disgust level toward Ning Rongrong soaring once again.
"Thousand Hands Asura Tang San, Soft Bones Demon Rabbit Xiao Wu, San Wu Combination, registration complete."
The receptionist's voice came through. Tang San took the badge with satisfaction and turned to look at Xiao Wu, only to find she wasn't looking at him at all, leaving him feeling inevitably disappointed.
Zhu Zhuqing registered for individual Spirit combat alone, her title still being "Hell Civet."
Ma Hongjun leaned over to Oscar and said sourly.
"Look at Fu Qin. Being handsome is great; he can make a young lady like Ning Rongrong so clingy, and even the combination name is so ambiguous."
Oscar sighed, his heart full of grievance, yet he couldn't say anything and could only respond gloomily.
Fu Qin gave his title as he registered, thinking for a moment: "Just call it 'Thousand Machinations Hundred Refinements'."
The abilities of transforming and manipulating objects with the Alchemy Gloves Spirit were very similar to the Eight Mysterious Arts, Thousand Machinations Hundred Refinements, from the World of under one person. This title couldn't be more appropriate.