“You—!” Tang Hao’s eyes darkened.
In that instant, the pressure of a Titled Douluo was no longer restrained in the slightest.
Fine cracks spread across the ground from beneath his feet.
Several crooked trees nearby bent sharply under the overwhelming pressure at the same time, their leaves raining down.
Ning Rongrong was still holding Ning Que’s hand.
Silver light continued flowing around the two of them.
The mountain-like pressure crashed into that silver radiance and silently dissolved.
Tang Hao raised his hand.
It was rough and broad, with prominent knuckles—the same hand that had once killed countless soul beasts with a single strike.
Now it hovered in midair, five fingers slightly spread, aimed at the two youths before him.
Ning Rongrong didn’t dodge.
She raised her head and stared straight at Tang Hao.
There was no fear or nervousness in her bright eyes.
Only an almost unreasonable pride.
Ning Que beside her hadn’t even changed his posture.
He was still half-leaning against her, looking as lazy as ever.
Only his pale golden eyes were now completely open, lazily watching Tang Hao’s hand suspended in the air.
Time seemed to stretch.
“You two!” Tang Hao’s hand remained suspended.
If he brought that palm down, a single strike from him would be enough to kill two Soul Grandmasters on the spot.
Even Soul Ancestors and Soul Kings would likely die instantly.
But Tang Hao understood the consequences better than anyone.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect’s fury.
The pursuit of Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
The already difficult situation of the Clear Sky Sect would become even worse.
He would personally cut off Xiao San’s path back to the Clear Sky Sect.
And then there was the 100,000-year soul beast beside Xiao San.
If he attracted the attention of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, could that girl’s identity still remain hidden?
Tang Hao slowly lowered his hand.
“Hmph!” A muffled snort escaped his nose.
He stared deeply at Ning Rongrong, then at Ning Que.
“I’ll remember this.” As soon as his words fell, his black robe fluttered.
The nine soul rings suddenly withdrew.
Tang Hao’s figure swayed once before seeming to be swallowed by the darkness of night, disappearing without a trace.
Only two people remained on the road.
“Tch.” Ning Rongrong looked disdainful, not taking it to heart at all.
“I’m hungry.” “Come on, come on.
Let’s go eat!” Not far away, Zhu Zhuqing watched the entire scene, standing there in a daze.
When she finally came back to her senses, she looked toward the direction Tang Hao had disappeared, then glanced back at Shrek Academy.
“Even a Titled Douluo can’t do anything to them?” “Maybe…
maybe…” Without realizing it, Zhu Zhuqing began following them.
… Suo Tuo City.
Main Street.
It was already late, and the street vendors were gradually packing up for the night.
Ning Rongrong carried Ning Que on her back, walking briskly while humming an unknown tune.
Her eyes curved into two crescent moons.
She knew it.
No matter when or where, Ning Que would always solve every problem for her.
He was also the confidence that allowed her to solve every problem herself.
Two flies.
A vain, sickly cat.
Some crazy Douluo…
But her Ning Que was the strongest.
He always had been!
But then— Ning Rongrong suddenly stopped.
Some problems still needed her to deal with personally.
For example, certain people who coveted Ning Que.
She slightly turned her head and glanced behind her from the corner of her eye.
At the street corner, a slender black figure stood silently.
Ning Rongrong turned around and raised her chin toward the black-clad girl who had followed them all the way here.
“What do you want?” She didn’t bother being polite.
Her gaze openly swept over Zhu Zhuqing from head to toe, lingering for several seconds on a certain part of her body before slowly returning to her face.
Ning Rongrong’s arm tightened unconsciously.
Her eyes became slightly wary.
Zhu Zhuqing’s expression paused at the question.
What did she want?
She wasn’t entirely sure herself.
But she knew one thing.
Dai Mubai was finished.
She had followed him all the way to Suo Tuo City, only to discover that the ambitious prince of the Star Luo Empire had become nothing more than a wastrel who spent his days embracing women and frequenting pleasure houses, waiting for death.
He had no intention of returning to compete for the throne.
There was even less chance of him helping her resist the Star Luo Empire.
If she continued relying on him, she would only be walking toward her own death.
If she wanted to survive, she had to find another path.
And the person standing before her— Zhu Zhuqing’s gaze passed over Ning Rongrong and landed on the peaceful-looking youth sleeping on her back.
He could send a Soul Saint flying with a single kick.
He had remained completely unflinching even when facing a Titled Douluo.
And he belonged to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Their identities and status were undoubtedly extraordinary.
More importantly— That strange stirring in her heart couldn’t lie.
And she was absolutely certain of what she had sensed.
That was…
A martial soul fusion skill!
If she could use her identity as leverage to obtain the protection of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, perhaps…
She could survive.
Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes before raising them again.
Her expression remained as cold as usual, but there was a determination in her eyes that had never been there before.
It was as though she’d made an enormous decision.
She took a deep breath.
“I want to make a deal with you.” “A deal?” Ning Rongrong raised an eyebrow slightly.
She warily sized up the black-clad girl before her.
Her gaze inadvertently drifted toward Zhu Zhuqing’s chest again.
She really wanted to say she wasn’t interested and simply leave.
But the words stopped on her lips.
The look in the other girl’s eyes…
“Hmph!” Ning Rongrong pouted.
Her guard relaxed slightly as she turned her face away.
“…Follow me.” …
Suo Tuo City Grand Hotel.
Inside a top-class private dining room, the aroma of food filled the entire room.
A redwood round table large enough to seat ten people was covered with all kinds of delicacies.
Roast suckling pig.
Steamed sea bass.
Braised bear paw.
Honey-glazed ham.
Dish after dish was brought in by the attendants, until there was barely any room left on the table.
Zhu Zhuqing sat beside the table.
Her chopsticks rested on top of her bowl.
She hadn’t touched a single dish.
All of her attention had been drawn to the scene across from her.
That terrifying golden-haired youth who had sent Zhao Wuji flying with a single kick at the examination…
“Ah…
Open up…” Ning Rongrong carefully held a bowl of seafood porridge in one hand and scooped up a spoonful with the other.
She blew on it twice before carefully bringing the spoon to Ning Que’s lips.
Ning Que opened his mouth.
The porridge slipped inside.
He chewed twice, then swallowed as his Adam’s apple moved slightly.
His entire body seemed to radiate an aura of contentment.
Seeing this, Ning Rongrong’s eyes curved into a smile.
She lowered her head and wiped a little porridge from the corner of his mouth before scooping up another spoonful.
Zhu Zhuqing silently watched.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell whether the girl was pampering the boy…
Or whether the boy was indulging the girl.
With every bite Ning Rongrong fed him, her eyes curved a little more.
She looked so satisfied, as though feeding Ning Que alone was enough to replenish her energy.
Meanwhile, Ning Que simply kept his eyes closed.
Open his mouth.
Chew.
Swallow.
The movements flowed together seamlessly.
His cooperation was surprisingly…
good.
The aroma of the food on the table kept drifting into Zhu Zhuqing’s nose.
The roast suckling pig was still sizzling with fat.
The braised bear paw glistened with an amber sheen.
The honey-glazed ham was so sweet that it practically stuck to the teeth.
Zhu Zhuqing’s throat moved silently.
She had spent all her money following Dai Mubai along the way.
It had been two days since she’d eaten a proper meal.
Her stomach betrayed her with a low growl.
“You should eat too.
This little bit of food isn’t anything…” End of Chapter