Chapter 20: Fishing.
Shi Yi arrived in Soto City and, with nothing better to do, wandered around. He figured even if Ning Rongrong gave up, she wouldn't give up so quickly.
After a brief stroll, Shi Yi arrived at a teahouse not far from the city gate. The west gate was the closest from Shrek to Soto City, and Ning Rongrong certainly wouldn't be bored and enter through another gate.
He ordered a pot of tea and sat down by the window, quietly waiting for his prey.
The sun gradually grew higher, and soon, Ning Rongrong's figure appeared at the city gate.
Ning Rongrong, already breathless from running, saw the teahouse and rushed over.
Seeing Ning Rongrong heading for the teahouse, Shi Yi smiled, vaguely understanding what was going on, and immediately pulled a book from his soul guide.
Ning Rongrong rushed into the teahouse, about to ask the waiter for more tea, when she spotted Shi Yi, dressed in a white suit, sitting by the window, flipping through a book.
Shi Yi, feigning a state of immersion, sat casually and effortlessly by the window. Sunlight streamed through, casting a faint glow on him.
For a moment, Ning Rongrong paused, seemingly forgetting the fatigue of running laps.
Soon, Ning Rongrong's crisp voice reached Shi Yi's ears: "Hey, what are you doing here?"
Shi Yi feigned a look of detachment, only to see Ning Rongrong sit down across from him. She picked up the upside-down teacup on the table and unceremoniously poured him a cup of tea, which she then gulped down.
Seeing this, Shi Yi couldn't help but smile. He said, "Let's find a place to read. And my name is Shi Yi. Besides, you should be running laps right now."
"I'm too tired to run," Ning Rongrong said casually, pouring herself another cup of tea.
"I suggest you finish those twenty laps, or it'll be hard to report," Shi Yi said calmly, flipping through his book.
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong smiled and said to Shi Yi, "Let me introduce myself. My name is Ning Rongrong. Don't worry, nothing will happen."
Shi Yi stopped flipping through the book in his hand, and said meaningfully, "Ning? That's indeed not a big deal."
Ning Rongrong couldn't help but flashed a hint of pride on her face when she heard this. She looked at Shi Yi curiously and said, "You really are at the first level of innateness."
Shi Yi said casually, "You wouldn't believe it even if I told you. After all, this is absolutely impossible in your consciousness. After all, even a genius like Xiao San, with full innate soul power at the age of twelve, is only at the twenty-ninth level."
Ning Rongrong nodded and said, "My innate soul power is at the ninth level, and I have only practiced to the twenty-seventh level until now. How could a first-level innate person like you reach my current soul power level, unless... you can prove it to me."
"Miss Ning has a good plan, but I never need the approval of others. For me, it doesn't make much difference whether I go to Shrek or not." Shi Yi chuckled.
"If you truly possess this ability, tell me how you did it. I can have you join the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and become their most core disciple, receiving the finest training. How about that?" Ning Rongrong said confidently, looking at Shi Yi with the air of a young lady.
Shi Yi couldn't help but smile at her words and whispered, "I understand why Sect Master Ning sent you here. You should go finish your twenty laps first. There's still time."
With that, Shi Yi slowly stood up, leaving Ning Rongrong behind, and headed for the door.
Before he could take two steps, Ning Rongrong's voice rang out from behind him, "Shi Yi, you'll regret this!"
Shi Yi smiled and left without looking back. The bait had been cast; from now on, he just had to let things take their course.
...
Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Meeting Hall.
On the north side of the hall, facing south, the main seat was a large carved rosewood chair, its back inlaid with a large jade stone. The jade was emerald green, exuding a soft, gentle aura. It was truly a piece of the finest warm jade.
A figure sat upright on a large carved rosewood chair. His features were as handsome as jade, with a straight nose and square mouth, and he bore a refined and gentle demeanor. He was dressed in a spotless white robe.
He looked to be in his forties, with a gentle gaze, and he resembled an ordinary person. His smooth black hair flowed down his back, and everything about him seemed effortlessly casual, without any affectation.
He was looking down at a young man kneeling on the ground below, dressed in a white suit.
"Reporting to the Sect Master, the young lady has arrived at Shrek Academy and has been successfully accepted," the young man said respectfully.
Ning Fengzhi nodded, a hint of helplessness on his face. He sighed slowly and said, "It's best for this little ancestor to go out and hone her skills, otherwise the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will be overturned by her. How is the situation at Shrek Academy?"
"Please forgive me, Sect Master. There is at least one Soul Sage and several Soul Emperor-level powerhouses in Shrek Academy. I am incompetent and cannot enter to investigate. However, I have given the letter you instructed me to a teacher at Shrek Academy. It will definitely fall into the hands of their dean."
Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly. Thinking of how much trouble Ning Rongrong had caused in the sect, he couldn't help but smile. "Flender, let you worry about it. Perhaps only by leaving home will that little witch become more sensible. Okay, you can leave."
The young man said hesitantly, "Sect Master, there is one more thing. I wonder if it is true."
"Oh?" Ning Fengzhi looked at the young man with some surprise.
Then the young man stepped closer to Ning Fengzhi and whispered something in his ear, then slowly retreated.
At this moment, Ning Fengzhi's previously calm eyes couldn't help but waver.
"Have you investigated the young man's background?" Ning Fengzhi asked softly.
The young man nodded, pulled out a scroll from his soul guide, and slowly presented it.
Ning Fengzhi slowly opened the scroll and carefully read it. He saw the column for interpersonal relationships: Teacher: Yu Xiaogang. A look of sudden realization crossed his face.
"Okay, I understand this matter. Go away," Ning Fengzhi said to the young man.
"Yes, Sect Master." The young man quickly retreated.
At this moment, a strong and powerful voice echoed in the hall, as if coming from all directions, shaking the room.
"Fengzhi, are you so confident in leaving Rongrong out there alone? Could the Shrek Academy teach better than us? No, I'm going to bring Rongrong back. I'm worried about her out there."
Following the voice, an old man with white hair and beard, but a face as delicate as a baby, walked out from the back hall and sat down on a chair next to the Sect Master, Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi looked helpless and said slowly, "Uncle Jian, for you and Uncle Gu's sake, I can't let this girl stay in the Sect. You really dote on her too much. She's impossible to discipline at home. Maybe she'll change if she gets educated outside."
Chen Xin snorted in dissatisfaction, "Who said we spoiled Rongrong? You only see Rongrong's playful side, not her well-behaved side. You have many sons, but only this one daughter. You're so reluctant to let her go."
Ning Fengzhi decisively said, "Uncle Jian, no matter what, I will not go looking for her this time, and neither can you or Uncle Gu. You don't need to worry about Rongrong's safety. The dean of Shrek Academy was one of the original golden triangle. It's impossible for him not to recognize the martial spirit of our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. With his protection, Rongrong will be fine."
Chen Xin snorted angrily and said, "If Rongrong has any problems, I'll hold you responsible. My body's a little tight, so I'm going to go stretch my muscles."
Ning Fengzhi's voice softened immediately, and he said, "Uncle Jian, wait a minute. I have something to ask you."
Chen Xin, resigned to this, said, like a child, "Bring Rongrong back and I'll answer your question."
Ning Fengzhi looked helpless and said seriously, "Uncle Jian, please stop joking with me. Rongrong's departure is a good thing. So, I have something to ask you."
Seeing Ning Fengzhi's serious expression, Chen Xin's face also grew serious. "Tell me."
"Uncle Jian, from your perspective as a Titled Douluo, do you think it's possible for someone with a first-level innate spirit power to reach the twenty-seventh level by the age of fourteen?" Ning Fengzhi asked Chen Xin. Chen Xin
looked at Ning Fengzhi as if he were a fool and said, "Fengzhi, you told me not to joke, but you did. If you don't want to bring Rongrong back, just say so."
"You also think it's impossible?" Ning Fengzhi asked seriously.
"Without external help, it's impossible. If a person's talent is limited, then any hope of change requires rare treasures or exceptionally high-quality spirit bones." Chen Xin, observing Ning Fengzhi's earnest expression, responded earnestly. As soon as
Chen Xin finished speaking, Ning Fengzhi handed the scroll he had been holding to Chen Xin.
Chen Xin, too, perplexed, began to read it, his previously calm eyes shifting.
"If this is true, I'm afraid the theory this person has developed will truly change the entire continent," Chen Xin lamented.
Ning Fengzhi nodded, "But I don't understand. If this is true, why hasn't Yu Xiaogang, your teacher, changed at all?"
"Fengzhi, some things are predetermined by heaven. To change that destiny is a heavy price to pay. Even if what happened to this young man is true, it might be an unrepeatable miracle," Chen Xin said to Ning Fengzhi.
Ning Fengzhi nodded in agreement, sighing softly, "It would be good to let Rongrong get to know these young talents."
Chen Xin's face darkened upon hearing this. "Fengzhi, Rongrong is so young, and you're already thinking about marrying her off?"
Ning Fengzhi sighed softly and said, "Uncle Jian, you two are getting old. Rongrong is the future heir to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. While you and I can still work for a few more years, it's time to observe her."
Chen Xin was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Rongrong should grow up."
Although Ning Fengzhi looked to be in his forties, he was actually well over sixty. Ning Rongrong was his youngest child and only daughter.
...
As night fell, Shrek Academy Dean Flanders stood on the main playground, gazing at the eight students before him.
There was the expressionless Zhu Zhuqing, the disdainful Dai Mubai, the sleazy Ma Hongjun, the expectant Tang San and Xiao Wu, the smiling Shi Yi, the nervous Oscar, and the fearless Ning Rongrong.
At this moment, Flanders's attention was focused solely on Oscar and Ning Rongrong, his gaze so sharp it was impossible to look directly at them.
Flanders said calmly, "Oscar, have you finished twenty laps?"
Oscar coughed nervously, then nodded, "Dean, I'm done."
Flanders snorted, "I was asking about you, not you."
Oscar turned to look at Ning Rongrong, who was staring back at him, her beautiful eyes filled with innocence.
Oscar gritted his teeth, nodded, and said, "Yes, we're all done."
Shi Yi smiled but said nothing. After all, this was the first time Shi Yi had seen a dog with full innate soul power. If someone else had, their tail would have been puffed up.
Flanders smiled too, a sinister one.
"Very good, Oscar, I didn't expect you to be so friendly. Come here." Flanders pointed to the spot in front of him.
Oscar's face showed a wry smile of resignation, as if he had died a heroic death, but Shi Yi saw Ning Rongrong's nonchalant expression.
Flanders slowly raised his right hand and lightly tapped Oscar's shoulder. "I admire your spirit of friendship. So, go run twenty more laps and show me the depth of your friendship. You don't have to eat until you finish. I've sealed your soul power; there's no need to try to remove it. Go ahead."
Oscar said nothing, simply nodded silently, turned, and ran outside.
Flanders turned his gaze to the others and said, "Don't you understand why I'm doing this? Why should I let him keep running?"
"I understand. It's pathetic to be unable to walk when seeing a beautiful woman," Shi Yi said to Flanders with a smile.
Ma Hongjun couldn't help but laugh at this. He was about to agree with Shi Yi, but Flanders' sharp gaze made him afraid to speak.
Flanders turned his gaze to Shi Yi, his face darkening. He glared at Shi Yi and said, "Do you want to run laps like Oscar?"
Shi Yi spread his hands to indicate that he would say nothing.
"Wrong! Because he lied. Even if he lied for friendship or some other reason, it was still a lie. You are all still children, and lying is the worst virtue. I hope you understand."
After that, Flanders's eyes fell on Ning Rongrong and said, "Tell me, did you finish the lessons I assigned this morning?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head honestly and said, "I didn't. The distance was too long, and I was hungry. I couldn't hold on."
Flanders said lightly, "So, you ran to Soto City alone, drank a few cups of tea with Shi Yi, walked around the commercial street in Soto City, and had a big meal. You just came back to find Oscar, right?"
Ning Rongrong widened her beautiful eyes, "You spied on me!"
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(End of this chapter)