Chapter 74: Some Things Can't Be Judged by Right or Wrong—but You Must Take Responsibility for Yourself
[A Rogue Rabbit]: Yue~ this Oscar is such a narcissist. Absolutely disgusting! As expected, not a single normal man comes out of Shrek! Except for our Ah Qing!
[Big-Chested Kitty]: …Agreed.
Zhu Zhuqing silently stared at the light screen, subconsciously making comparisons in her mind.
The gloomy Tang San.
The lecherous Ma Hongjun.
The useless Dai Mubai.
And now this narcissistic Oscar.
In comparison, Lin Qingmo in the group, who was always joking around but seemed to know a lot, was practically shining with normality.
[The Pope Herself]: Heh. This boy is arrogant and ignorant. If those words ever reached the ears of the petty old fox Ning Fengzhi, he wouldn't live to see tomorrow's sun.
Bibi Dong lazily shifted her posture, a cold glint flashing through her eyes.
She understood Ning Fengzhi far too well.
That was a man who valued his daughter and the honor of his sect above his own life.
A support-type martial soul surpassing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?
Whether it was even possible aside—
Just that ambition alone was something Ning Fengzhi would never allow to take root.
Not to mention, the true strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had never relied solely on its martial soul.
Its unshakable foundation lay in the loyal Titled Douluo guarding the sect.
Oscar?
At best, he was just a slightly talented soul master brat who didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.
Laughably pathetic.
[Dad Douluo]: That guy's just trying to pull some cheap PUA tactics on Ning Rongrong—taking advantage of her emotional vulnerability after being hit so hard today to brainwash her.
[Bingbing]: As expected of humans—such vicious thoughts.
[Ice and Snow Maiden]: Do such lowly methods actually work?
[Dad Douluo]: Ning Rongrong's only twelve. Her mental state isn't that mature yet. After everything that happened today, she's definitely taken quite a hit.
The night wind swept through Shrek's rundown courtyard, carrying a chill.
Ning Rongrong's crying gradually subsided, turning into suppressed sobs.
She squatted down, hugging her knees and burying her face in them.
This world… seemed completely different from what she had imagined.
She had also seen the chat group's messages.
Suddenly, she looked at Lin Qingmo and couldn't help asking,
"Was I really wrong?"
"?"
Lin Qingmo hadn't expected her to ask him so suddenly.
After a brief pause—
Seeing the pleading look in her eyes, he finally spoke.
"I don't think you were wrong."
Ning Rongrong's tear-filled eyes looked at him—confused, yet tinged with hope—waiting for him to continue.
"At the very least, on the level of identity, you weren't wrong at all."
Lin Qingmo shrugged, simply stating an undeniable fact.
"You are the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. That's an identity you were born with—and it's also a privilege you naturally possess."
"As long as your actions fall within the scope of your sect's influence and they are willing to bear the consequences for you, most of your actions cannot be truly judged purely as 'right' or 'wrong.'"
"Because you and people like Oscar don't start at the same line. The resources you possess—and your margin for error—are worlds apart."
"Demanding that a princess endure the same hardships as a commoner or possess the same mindset is inherently unfair and even amounts to a form of moral kidnapping."
"No one is qualified, nor do they have the standing, to demand that you give up your privileges just to cater to their standards and rules."
"As for what Oscar said earlier…"
Lin Qingmo glanced toward the direction Oscar had long since disappeared.
A faint, undisguised curve of mockery appeared at the corner of his lips.
He shook his head, his tone openly disdainful.
"Well… how should I put it? It was a bit childish—and honestly, pretty cringe."
"He seems to be trapped in some strange self-induced emotional drama, thinking that being a food-system soul master with innate full soul power somehow gives him the right to point fingers at your life choices."
"And that whole 'can't give up a forest for a single flower' line?"
"It sounds noble, but in reality, it's full of inexplicable superiority and a latent desire to control."
"He probably thinks that him 'choosing' not to revolve around you is some massive loss and regret on your part."
Lin Qingmo found it faintly ridiculous.
Did this guy seriously misunderstand the strength of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
Did he really think a talented but not-yet-grown food-system soul master could stand on equal footing with one of the Upper Three Sects?
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had become the world's number one support-type martial soul and firmly occupied its place among the Upper Three Sects for more than just the martial soul itself.
It was because of Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo—two towering Titled Douluo pillars!
Especially Sword Douluo, Chen Xin.
That's a ruthless man known for having the number one attack.
If he ever found out that some brat dared say such things to his precious Rongrong, playing some melodramatic "abandoning the forest" act…
The Seven Kill Sword would probably cross mountains and seas in the next second and chop that ignorant kid straight into dumpling filling.
Of course, Lin Qingmo didn't say any of this out loud.
But his expression already said more than enough.
"So that's how it is…"
Ning Rongrong seemed to gain sudden clarity.
Thinking it over carefully, Oscar's words really were inexplicably bizarre.
Where did he get the sense of superiority to lecture her?
She was the little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!
"As for you slacking off in training, being unable to endure hardship, throwing around your young lady temper, and so on…"
Lin Qingmo's gaze returned to Ning Rongrong, his tone still calm.
"That doesn't count as 'being wrong' either."
"Your personality was largely shaped by your identity and upbringing."
"Being pampered, fearing hardship and exhaustion—these are normal to you. They're your baseline."
"Flender and the others understand this better than anyone. They never expected you to completely transform overnight."
"Their so-called education and criticism were really just meant to curb your arrogance a little—to make you restrain yourself somewhat, and understand that this isn't the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
"Not everyone here will revolve around you."
"S-So that's how it is?"
As she listened, the tears in Ning Rongrong's eyes gradually stopped falling.
The confusion was replaced by thoughtful contemplation.
What Lin Qingmo said was completely different from anything she'd heard before.
No condescending blame.
No hollow comfort.
Just a calm—almost cold—analysis.
And strangely enough, that made it easier for her to accept.
"However."
Lin Qingmo shifted his tone slightly, becoming a bit more serious.
"There are some things I think you could consider. Just as a reference."
"What things?"
Ning Rongrong asked curiously.
"Your identity and privileges are like an incomparably sturdy suit of armor. It can protect you for a long time, blocking countless open and hidden dangers."
"But no armor is absolutely eternal or flawless."
"It might protect you for a while—but it may not safeguard you for an entire lifetime."
"Entrusting all your sense of security to external things and other people always carries risk."
"If you can grasp even a little more of your own fate in your hands, then in the future you might have fewer regrets—and more confidence when making choices."
"Right now, slacking in training and relying on your sect isn't wrong."
"But it could be called a kind of 'irresponsibility' toward your own potential."
"What if one day the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect encounters a disaster that even Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo find difficult to handle?"
"What if, at that time, you need strength to protect yourself—or someone important to you—and you find that you're completely unprepared because of today's laziness?"
"Of course, that's just the most extreme hypothetical. How you choose is ultimately your own decision."
After saying all this, Lin Qingmo didn't continue.
He casually patted Ning Rongrong's still-slightly-slender shoulder—like a friend offering simple encouragement.
Then he turned around naturally and took Xiao Wu's hand again.
"Let's go, Xiao Wu. We're covered in sweat—time for a proper wash."
"Mm-hm!"
—
End of Chapter