"Gu Xuan, stop right there!"
A young, childish voice rang out behind him. Though tender in tone, it carried an imperious arrogance that made people instinctively frown.
Gu Xuan's brows knitted together the moment he heard it. This little witch again?Why was Ning Rongrong here?
Was Ning Fengzhi out of his mind?He clearly knew that relations between the two families had already grown icy because of Ning Rongrong, and yet he still sent her out now? Was he trying to sever the last fragile bond between Gu Xuan, Gu Rong, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?
Ning Rongrong was furious. So what if I gave him a little shove?She'd pushed people plenty of times in the sect—why was Gu Xuan so special that she ended up confined for it?And Father even wanted her to apologize!
She was the princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Why should she apologize to him?
Everyone in the sect pampered her, indulged her every whim. Only Gu Xuan—cold, silent, like a block of wood—dared to ignore her.That look in his eyes, as if he was above her, had always made her blood boil.
So she'd kept pestering him, again and again.
Back then, even when Gu Xuan's elder, Gu Rong, heard of it, he'd merely laughed it off as a childish quarrel."Kids will be kids," he'd said. "Xuan's older; he should let her have her way."
But after what had happened last time… Gu Rong's attitude had completely changed.This could no longer go on. What had once been teasing was now bordering on violence. Who knew what Ning Rongrong might do next?
Today, Ning Rongrong had been ordered to apologize.But when she saw Gu Xuan walking beside Gu Rong, alive and well, anger rose like fire in her chest.
Wasn't he supposed to be seriously injured?Does that look like someone dying?
He must've faked it—just to make her father punish her!The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. She swore she'd make Father see Gu Xuan's "true face."
Gu Rong sensed Ning Rongrong's approach and frowned slightly.Before Gu Xuan's accident, he'd thought her antics were just childish immaturity.But now, after seeing what she'd caused… all he felt toward her was disappointment.
If the future of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect was to rest in her hands—he would rather see Gu Xuan leave the sect entirely and forge his own path.
Ning Fengzhi did have other children—three sons, in fact.All inherited the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, yet the most gifted among them had only reached level five in spirit power.After an injury left him unable to have more children, Ning Fengzhi had pinned all his hopes on his daughter.He wanted her to awaken a powerful Martial Soul.
That love had turned to indulgence. Indulgence to arrogance. Arrogance to the spoiled little witch she'd become.
Gu Rong had once spoiled her too.Now, he didn't even know how to face her. He couldn't bring himself to hate her—but he also couldn't forgive.
So, rather than wait for her to catch up, he simply took Gu Xuan and blinked—appearing directly in the sect's grand hall.
"Uh… Sword Grandpa, Uncle Ning."Gu Xuan blinked as the world spun, then steadied himself. Seeing Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi before him, he calmly offered a respectful greeting.
As for Ning Rongrong?He didn't even glance at her. Who?
"Ah…" Ning Fengzhi sighed, watching Gu Rong lead Gu Xuan to a seat. He couldn't say anything.Still, a trace of frustration stirred in his heart. Didn't I tell that girl just to apologize quietly? Why must she shout so loud?
"Father!"
A crisp, sweet voice rang from the doorway. A small girl in a flowing blue dress came bouncing into the hall.For a moment—if one forgot her temper—she looked every bit the picture of an angelic child.
Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled the instant she spotted Ning Fengzhi. She ran to him, all smiles and innocence.
The anger that had just risen in Ning Fengzhi's chest melted a little.
"Old Bone," he said with an awkward chuckle toward Gu Rong, "how about we just—"
"Forget it, old man," Chen Xin—Sword Douluo—cut in with a smile. "Don't be so petty. If you're that upset, I'll spar with you later and let you win a few rounds."
Gu Rong tilted his head, silent.Gu Xuan only lowered his eyes, absent-mindedly playing with his fingers.
His mind was elsewhere—thinking about his future.If his Martial Soul turned out to be the Bone Dragon, then his path couldn't follow Gu Rong's.The Bone Dragon had no ties to space; his road would have to be one of death and offense—a necromancer's path, perhaps.
"Rongrong."
Ning Fengzhi's headache was clear as he rubbed his temples, his tone now firm.Both sides were precious to him—his daughter, and his sect's pillars, old and young. He couldn't take sides.
"Go and apologize to Brother Xuan," he said, pointing toward the quiet boy.
"Ugh…"Ning Rongrong hesitated, looking from Gu Xuan to her father's sharp gaze.Then she met Gu Xuan's calm, unblinking eyes.
"I don't want to!" she huffed, turning her head away with a pout.
She would never apologize to that wooden idiot! If she did, how would the others see her?
"Rongrong!"Even Ning Fengzhi's temper cracked. His voice was suddenly stern.
"Grandpa Sword! Father's being mean to me!"She ran into Chen Xin's arms with a pitiful cry.
"Now, now," Chen Xin sighed, patting her head. "Don't take it so hard, Old Bone. Kids make mistakes. Let it go."
He didn't want tension between the families, nor could he bear to see the girl scolded.
Gu Xuan stood up then, his voice steady."Let's just start the awakening. Today's about my Martial Soul, isn't it? Let's forget what happened."
Originally, he'd wanted to awaken at home, quietly, with Gu Rong's help. But Ning Fengzhi had insisted it be done here.Now his awakening was delayed because of that brat's tantrum.
"Alright then," Ning Fengzhi said with a faint smile. "Old Bone, begin. Let's see what kind of talent this child truly has."
Rumors about Gu Xuan had long spread through the sect—some said he was born extraordinary, destined for greatness.Now was the time to see.
Gu Rong nodded. From his Soul Device, he drew out six Awakening Stones and arranged them around Gu Xuan.As his Soul Power flowed into them, golden light began to shimmer—tiny motes floating around Gu Xuan, then seeping into his body one by one.
The longer it went on, the more golden light gathered.Ning Fengzhi's initial smile slowly faded, replaced by a grave expression.
Even Chen Xin stopped teasing Ning Rongrong, his face turning serious as his sharp eyes fixed on the boy.
Ning Rongrong tilted her head, puzzled.What's going on? Why are they all staring like that?
Meanwhile, Gu Rong's once-cloudy eyes had turned bright—almost glowing with excitement.
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