Lin Jie glanced at Ning Rongrong and said softly, "Rongrong, if you propose a skill exchange with Tang San, I'm sure your father will agree, right?"
"Mhm, he probably will," Ning Rongrong nodded. "But I'll still ask him just to be sure. Lin Jie, do you want to come with me?" she asked, smiling at him.
Lin Jie thought about it for a moment. Accompanying her didn't sound bad. "Sure. Let me tell Zhuqing and the others I'm heading out, then we'll go."
After letting Zhu Zhuqing and the others know he was stepping out, Lin Jie left the academy together with Ning Rongrong, heading for the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace's guest manor—where Ning Fengzhi, her father, was staying.
With Ning Rongrong presenting her identity as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's heir, they entered the palace's guest compound smoothly.
When they arrived, Ning Fengzhi wasn't there, though someone had already gone to inform him.
Not knowing when her father would return, Lin Jie clasped his hands behind his head and leaned back into the sofa, closing his eyes in quiet rest.
Ning Rongrong, however, pouted at the news. Her father was always like this—making her wait whenever she came to find him. It had been the same the last time she returned to the clan.
Sitting restlessly, she began to swing her legs back and forth. But when her eyes fell on Lin Jie, eyes closed and resting nearby, the puffed-up look on her face softened into a sly smile.
She walked over, waved a hand in front of his face, and seeing he didn't react, climbed directly onto his lap. She curled into his arms, resting against his chest with a pleased sigh and closed her eyes in contentment.
Lin Jie, though his eyes were closed, instantly recognized her scent and the familiar softness that settled into his arms. He didn't need to open his eyes to know who it was.
He opened his eyes and wrapped one arm around her waist, the other gently brushing through her silky hair. "Rongrong, aren't you worried your father will walk in on us like this?"
"Hmph, so what if he does? Let him," she murmured, burying herself deeper in his embrace. Her hands tightened around him. With the tournament starting, time alone with Lin Jie had become increasingly rare. She wasn't about to let go just because her father might show up.
Feeling how tightly she clung to him, Lin Jie could only smile helplessly. Ever since their relationship had crossed that line, he'd learned that while Rongrong was usually graceful and gentle, her little devil side came out when they were alone.
As he held her close, gently stroking her hair and taking in the faint floral scent, he relaxed, his eyes drifting shut again.
Click—
Just then, the door to the room opened, and two figures walked in.
Startled, Ning Rongrong bolted upright like a frightened rabbit. Her cheeks flushed red as she quickly slid off of Lin Jie and sat a short distance away, trying to compose herself.
"Rongrong," said Ning Fengzhi as he stepped inside.
"Daddy! I've been waiting forever. Why are you only just getting back?" she said, puffing her cheeks again.
Seeing his daughter's huffing expression, Ning Fengzhi gave a helpless smile. She might be all grown up now, but she still acted like a little girl when she got upset. Though… why was her face a little red?
At that moment, Lin Jie noticed that another person had entered with Ning Fengzhi. The man looked about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, dressed in a finely tailored golden robe with a high collar that radiated nobility. He was quite handsome, with long golden hair tied neatly with a green ribbon, hanging smoothly behind him.
Seeing him, Lin Jie immediately realized who he must be.
"Ah, Xiao Jie, you're here too," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile.
"Greetings, Uncle Ning," Lin Jie replied as he stood up. "Rongrong had some things she wanted to ask you, so I came along to accompany her."
Ning Fengzhi smiled. Although Lin Jie hadn't agreed to join the clan yet, he was still someone Ning Fengzhi intended to win over—this boy was no ordinary talent. But… the way he and his daughter seemed so close—it was a little too close. Ning Fengzhi glanced at Rongrong, whose cheeks were still tinged pink, and suddenly had a thought. His smile deepened as he turned back to Lin Jie. "Right, Xiao Jie, let me introduce someone. This is His Highness Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."
So it was him. Lin Jie had guessed as much. It wasn't strange for the prince to be with Ning Fengzhi—after all, Ning Fengzhi was one of his teachers.
Lin Jie nodded respectfully. "So it is His Highness. Lin Jie offers his greetings."
Xue Qinghe's eyes flashed with surprise. He hadn't expected to run into Lin Jie here. He'd attended the first match of the tournament earlier, and Lin Jie had left a deep impression—ten-thousand-year fourth ring at such a young age… truly unprecedented. Even for someone like Xue Qinghe, her fourth ring was only around five thousand years.
After the match, she had spoken with Ning Fengzhi, and even met with Tang San. From Ning Fengzhi, she had learned more about Lin Jie.
"So you're Lin Jie," Xue Qinghe said with a warm smile. "It's a pleasure. I'm Xue Qinghe. Your name has already spread throughout Heaven Dou Empire. A fourteen-year-old Spirit Ancestor with a ten-thousand-year fourth ring—you're making history."
"You flatter me, Your Highness," Lin Jie replied calmly.
"And Rongrong is here too, I see," Xue Qinghe added, glancing at her.
"Hello, Brother Qinghe," Ning Rongrong said with a nod. She knew him well—after all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family were close, and her father was Xue Qinghe's teacher.
"Teacher," Xue Qinghe turned back to Ning Fengzhi, "It looks like Rongrong has something to discuss with you. I also have matters to attend to at the palace, so I'll take my leave."
"No need to rush," Ning Fengzhi said politely, but—
"No, it's alright. The palace is nearby. Since Rongrong clearly has something urgent, I won't interrupt. I'll see myself out." With a parting glance at Lin Jie, Xue Qinghe turned and walked out.
Watching him leave, Ning Fengzhi looked pleased. So polite, so thoughtful—no airs at all despite being the crown prince.
Once the room quieted, Ning Fengzhi turned to his daughter. "Alright, Rongrong. What brings you here?"
"Well, it's like this, Daddy…" Ning Rongrong explained everything—Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's request to teach Tang San the Heart Separation Control technique, and her own idea of exchanging secret techniques.
"I see…" Ning Fengzhi fell into thought. He knew better than anyone how vital Heart Separation Control was to their clan. It was the very foundation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's reputation as the strongest Support-type sect on the continent. He himself had reached the highest level—Seven Aperture Exquisite Heart—and knew just how powerful it could be.
While he did value Tang San, and had even considered bringing him into the clan, once he learned Tang San was from the Clear Sky Clan, he had given up that idea.
Yes, Tang San had twin Martial Souls, and Heart Separation Control would be extremely helpful to him. But asking Rongrong to just hand it over? Out of the question.
This was a matter of the clan's core inheritance. Ning Fengzhi would never take that lightly.
Not to mention, even when his own clan had wanted to purchase hidden weapons from Tang San, the boy had only provided components. He kept the blueprints to himself. That was clan pride.
And now they wanted to take the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's secret in return? How could that be?
Heart Separation Control may have once existed elsewhere, but it was now exclusive to their clan. Without Ning Fengzhi's explicit permission, there was no way Tang San could ever be allowed to learn it.
However, when he heard Rongrong mention a technique exchange, Ning Fengzhi hesitated. He didn't know what sort of secret techniques Tang San possessed, but if they could truly be called "secret arts," they couldn't be ordinary.
"Rongrong," he asked, "do you know what Tang San's secret techniques actually are?"
"I do... kind of," she replied, thinking for a moment.