...
"That's right."
Ning Rongrong got out of the car, stretched, and her light blue dress accentuated her beautiful figure.
She walked over to Xuan Hao, circled him once, and even reached out her small hand to poke Xuan Hao's hard pectoral muscles in a rather "ambiguous" way, saying with an admiring and meaningful expression:
"Tsk tsk tsk, Brother Xuanhao is really amazing now."
"Back then, you would carry me and Na'er for a while and then complain of being tired and need to stop and rest."
"Now look what's happened..."
Ning Rongrong glanced at the heavy carriage, then gave Xuan Hao's waist a meaningful look, a mischievous smile playing on her lips, deliberately drawing out the last syllable:
"Carrying such a big vehicle, plus the four of us, we flew such a far and long distance, and we're still full of energy."
"This stamina, this endurance... it's getting more and more terrifying."
At this point, she leaned close to Xuan Hao's ear and, in a voice only those around them could hear, let out a soft sigh:
"No wonder it lasted so long last night."
"..."
The air fell silent.
The people who were packing their luggage all stopped what they were doing.
"Endurance...?"
The carrot Xiaowu had just taken out froze in mid-air, her big eyes blinking rapidly.
"What do you mean by 'lasting'?
Rongrong, what are you talking about? Do you mean flight time?"
Zhu Zhuqing was drinking water when she heard those two words.
She choked on her drink with a "pfft" and coughed violently. Her cool and pretty face instantly turned bright red.
Although she had no experience in such matters, she was born into the Star Luo royal family, and through her upbringing, she could still keep up with the pace of the journey...
"Alright, alright! Stop making wild guesses!"
Xuan Hao, his face dark, covered Ning Rongrong's still-talking mouth, forcefully interrupting the lewd words she was about to utter.
"What time is it? Aren't you hungry?"
"Let's hurry into town and find a place to eat and sleep!
We've been on a high-speed train all afternoon, you're not tired, but I am!"
Without waiting for the girls' reactions, he picked up his luggage with one hand and pushed them into the town with the other.
His illustrious reputation will be ruined sooner or later by that foul mouth!
...
Although the town is small, it has everything you need.
Xuan Hao led the four women to a restaurant that looked fairly clean.
They booked a private room and ordered a table full of hearty dishes.
As the food was served, Xuan Hao channeled his grief and anger into his appetite, once again displaying his astonishingly insatiable appetite as he devoured the food in front of him in a whirlwind.
However, the atmosphere at the dinner table today was a bit strange.
Na'er, who usually competes with Xuan Hao for food the most, was somewhat absent-minded today.
She only ate a small portion of what she usually ate before putting down her chopsticks.
Her purple eyes kept scanning Xuan Hao and Ning Rongrong, as if she was pondering something.
Zhu Zhuqing remained the same quiet, unnoticed person, eating her rice in silence, though occasionally a hint of something ambiguous would appear in her eyes when she looked at Xuan Hao.
"Squeak—"
The hotel door was pushed open, and a cacophony of footsteps and conversations drifted in.
Xuan Hao subconsciously looked up and saw a group of familiar faces through the half-open curtain of the private room.
Leading the group was Flander, who was still wearing those crystal glasses and had a worried look on his face.
Behind him were Dai Mubai, whose face was still half swollen, as well as Ma Hongjun and Oscar.
At the very end of the procession followed a middle-aged man with a stiff face and a buzz cut, dressed in a long black robe.
Master, Yu Xiaogang.
"Um?"
Xiao Wu, who was munching on a carrot, paused, followed Xuan Hao's gaze, and was immediately stunned:
"That's... the master?
And Flander and the others?"
"Why are they here too?"
Xuan Hao narrowed his eyes, then suddenly realized.
Judging by the timeline, Oscar should have broken through to level 30 in the last few days.
According to the original storyline, Zhao Wuji should have led the team to hunt for spirit rings.
But now Zhao Wuji is so badly beaten that he can't get out of bed, so Flander has to take matters into his own hands.
As for Yu Xiaogang...
I guess they heard that Tang San was upset, so they came here specifically to provide psychological counseling?
In the lobby.
Flanders and his group found a large table and sat down.
It was clear that the group was in low spirits.
Tang San, in particular, seemed completely lost, staring blankly at the table without uttering a word.
"Alright, mistress, stop looking so sullen."
Although Dai Mubai himself had been badly beaten, he still mustered his spirits, patted Tang San on the shoulder, and tried to comfort him in a tone of someone who had been through it all:
"It's just a woman, what's the big deal?"
"As the saying goes, brothers are like hands and feet, women are like clothes."
Out with the old, in with the new.
Dai Mubai poured Tang San a cup of tea, looking completely unconcerned.
"There are plenty of good girls in the world.
With your talent, you'll find any kind of girl you want.
Why risk your life for that rabbit?"
"A real man should look forward!"
However, these words did not comfort Tang San; instead, they were like rubbing salt into his wounds.
Tang San suddenly raised his head, a flash of anger appearing in his previously empty eyes as he stared intently at Dai Mubai:
"Boss Dai."
"Please watch your wording."
"Xiao Wu is not a piece of clothing! She is the most important family member I have in this world!"
"If you continue to compare her to something that can be easily discarded, don't blame me for being impolite!"
"Well..."
Dai Mubai choked for a moment and awkwardly touched his nose.
He forgot that not everyone treats relationships like a game.
"Although Mu Bai's words are vulgar, his reasoning is correct."
Just then, Yu Xiaogang, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.
He put down his teacup, his stiff face expressionless, his tone flat and cold:
"Mistress, I know you're heartbroken. But you need to understand one thing."
"The reason Xiao Wu left is ultimately because you weren't strong enough."
The atmosphere at the table froze instantly upon hearing this.
Tang San trembled, looking at his teacher in disbelief.
"Teacher... what did you say?"
Did I say something wrong?
Yu Xiaogang ignored his disciple's reaction and continued in that rational tone, as if he were analyzing soul beast data:
"As far as I know, although Xiao Wu looks lively and cute, she is actually arrogant and has high aspirations."
"She has been the top student at Notting Academy since then.
In recent years, her cultivation speed has been slower than yours, and now she has reached the thirty-second level of Soul Venerable."
"And you? Still hovering around level 29."
Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang San and asked in return:
"In this dog-eat-dog world, would an outstanding and powerful woman be attracted to a man weaker than herself?"
Would she be willing to entrust her future to someone she can't even beat?
"this..."
Flanders, who was drinking tea nearby, nearly spilled the tea on his face.
He stared wide-eyed at his old friend, speechless.
If others said this, there would be something to say, but what about you?
Moreover, aren't you implying that Tang San is a good-for-nothing and unworthy of Xiao Wu?
However, Yu Xiaogang ignored Flander's strange look and, as if he thought what he said made a lot of sense, continued to talk eloquently:
"Under normal circumstances, it's definitely impossible."
"But, mistress, don't lose heart."
"What if you had something more appealing besides your soul power level?"
"You have hidden weapons, you have those powerful martial arts techniques, and most importantly, you have me!"
"I will personally teach you the ten core competencies of your martial soul, and I will plan the best soul ring ratio and tactical system for you."
"Perhaps you are indeed a bit weaker than that kid named Xuan Hao right now."
But what about the future?
"As long as you cultivate according to my method, as long as you perfectly combine hidden weapons and martial spirit..."
"Surpassing him is only a matter of time."
"At that time, when you stand at the pinnacle of the continent, when you possess the power to look down upon everything..."
"Xiao Wu will naturally see your excellence and will naturally regret her choice back then."
After hearing these words, Tang San fell silent.
He lowered his head, looking at his hands, a hint of struggle and confusion flashing in his eyes.
Become stronger...surpass that man...
But...
"teacher."
Tang San raised his head, "Even if I really become stronger in the future, even if I really surpass him..."
"But Xiao Wu... she's already gone."
"Some things, once missed, can never be regained."
"She has...becomes someone else's."
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