Chapter 236: Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's Silver Soul Fight Contest
After chatting about a few trivial matters of the court, Qian Renxue suddenly changed the topic.
Her brows lifted slightly, and that gentle, jade-like smile appeared again at just the right moment.
"Speaking of which, I haven't seen Rongrong for quite some time. Has she been in the sect recently?"
Qian Renxue spoke casually, as if it were merely something she recalled in passing.
"When we were young, she always liked to cling to me, asking me to bring back some fresh and interesting little trinkets from Heaven Dou City. Today, I didn't see any trace of her."
The words were light, as though it were nothing more than ordinary small talk.
Regarding Ning Rongrong's whereabouts, she naturally knew everything.
The girl was not in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect nor at Shrek Academy, but at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Bringing this up today was meant to probe Ning Fengzhi.
To see what this old fox would do after learning that Ning Rongrong had appeared at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Ning Fengzhi raised his brow slightly, a hint of helpless amusement appearing on his face, his tone filled with indulgence.
"That girl finds the sect too strict and too full of rules, and she insists on going out to experience life. She ran off long ago."
He shook his head, as if talking about something troublesome but ultimately not worth getting angry over.
"She'll probably only return once she's had her fill of playing outside and suffered enough hardships."
He was well aware that Ning Rongrong had gone to Shrek Academy.
That child had been doted on since she was young by him and two Titled Douluo, and her temperament inevitably became a bit spoiled.
No one in the sect dared to discipline her.
Letting her go out to temper herself and endure some hardship was not necessarily a bad thing.
Besides, he had already made arrangements with Flender over at Shrek, so nothing major would go wrong.
He hadn't expected his disciple Xue Qinghe to suddenly bring it up at this moment.
A trace of surprise flickered across Qian Renxue's face, as though she truly hadn't expected it.
"Oh? Rongrong isn't in the sect? That's rather strange."
She tilted her head slightly, her tone carrying a hint of curiosity.
"A few days ago, I went to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy to inspect the cultivation of soul masters, and I saw her there chatting and laughing with several members of the Royal Fighting Team."
"I thought the teacher had arranged for her to study in Heaven Dou Royal Academy. I didn't expect her to run off on her own."
She spoke naturally, her expression flawless.
But that faint trace of scrutiny in her eyes quietly settled on Ning Fengzhi's face.
How would this old fox react upon hearing that his daughter was not at Shrek but instead appeared at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?
The fingers holding Ning Fengzhi's teacup paused almost imperceptibly.
The smile on his face faded slightly, while his heart sank.
Ning Rongrong had been staying peacefully at Shrek Academy, so how could she have gone to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?
Xue Qinghe was extremely familiar with the girl's appearance and would never mistake her.
Either that child had secretly slipped away from Shrek to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, or something unexpected had happened.
Doubts churned within him, yet on the surface, he quickly restored his gentle smile, adding a trace of helplessness to his tone.
"That girl has always had plenty of tricks. She probably just changed places to play again."
"Childish nature, no stability. I must have given Your Highness a laugh."
Qian Renxue waved her hand with a smile, her tone relaxed.
"Rongrong is innocent and lively. That's what makes her endearing."
"Teacher need not worry too much. She's quite clever; nothing will happen to her."
After chatting for a few more sentences, Qian Renxue rose to take her leave.
Ning Fengzhi personally escorted her to the entrance of the hall, standing upon the stone steps.
He watched that figure gradually disappear along the mountain path.
Only then did the gentle smile on his face slowly fade away.
A shadow emerged soundlessly from behind a pillar at the back of the hall. It was Bone Douluo, Gu Rong.
He rubbed a skull-shaped jade pendant in his hand as he walked slowly to Ning Fengzhi's side, lowering his voice.
"Fengzhi, that boy Xue Qinghe had hidden meaning in his words just now."
Ning Fengzhi turned around and walked back into the hall, taking his seat at the main position.
His brows furrowed slightly, a trace of tension in his tone.
"Uncle Bone, Qinghe said he saw Rongrong at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy."
The jade pendant in Gu Rong's hand suddenly stopped, and his expression changed slightly.
"The possibility of Qinghe mistaking someone is extremely low."
Ning Fengzhi shook his head, his voice growing heavier.
"He wouldn't bring this up for no reason."
"Since he said it, he must have truly seen her."
"That girl has many tricks. It's possible she really slipped from Shrek to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy without telling us."
He paused, then looked up at Gu Rong, his tone turning solemn.
"Uncle Bone, I'll trouble you to personally make a trip to Heaven Dou City and secretly find out where Rongrong actually is and what exactly happened."
"Remember, do not alert her, and do not alert anyone. Just investigate quietly."
Gu Rong nodded, his aura slightly condensing, as if an invisible field spread quietly outward.
"Don't worry, I'll head to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy right away."
The corner of his mouth curled slightly into a half-smile.
"If anyone dares bully her, I'll tear their bones apart one by one."
Before his words even finished, Gu Rong's figure had already vanished silently from the hall.
Only a faint breeze remained, brushing over the pages on the table.
Ning Fengzhi sat alone at the main seat, his fingers lightly tapping on the table.
His gaze passed beyond the window lattice, settling on the hazy mountain scenery in the distance.
Yet the doubts in his heart only grew heavier.
Xue Qinghe's visit today carried a subtle sense of deliberate intent throughout.
First, discussing the situation of Spirit Hall, probing his stance and bottom line with every word.
Then, suddenly, bringing up Ning Rongrong. Was it a casual mention, or did it carry another purpose?
He faintly felt that his disciple, Xue Qinghe, harbored a deep secret.
A secret he had yet to see through.
…
One and a half months passed in the blink of an eye.
The Great Soul Arena of Heaven Dou City was the liveliest place in the entire city.
Every day, tens of thousands of soul masters and ordinary people flooded in to watch one thrilling soul fight after another.
Deafening cheers filled the air everywhere, along with the shouts of soul masters and the roaring collisions of soul skills.
Inside a private viewing box.
Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Dugu Yan sat on soft sofa chairs.
On the stone table before them were fresh fruit platters and chilled tea.
Dugu Yan picked up a glistening purple grape between her fingers and tossed it into her mouth, her gaze sweeping over the noisy soul arena below.
"You two, are you going to fight or not? If you keep dragging this out, today's soul fight sessions will be over."
"This Silver Soul Fight contest of yours will probably be pushed to tomorrow."
Xiao Wu pouted, picked up the teacup from the table, and took a sip, her tone carrying a hint of dissatisfaction.
"What's the rush? If Zhuqing and I are going to compete for the Silver Soul Fight, of course, we should pick the session with the biggest crowd and the most excitement."
"If we go up now, there aren't even many spectators. Even if we win, it won't be interesting."
The two had agreed to compete to see who would obtain the Silver Soul Fight badge first, with some special conditions as the stakes.
She had no intention of losing to Zhu Zhuqing.
End of Chapter
[35+ advanced chapters available on Patreon—next arc already unlocked (search: Taichu372).]