In the dining room, Sword Douluo and Qin Jian sat side by side.
The dishes had long gone cold, but neither of them felt hungry.
"Just stay true to your heart…"
Seeing Qin Jian's low spirits, Sword Douluo deliberately lightened the mood. "This time, you must make your teacher proud. Old Bones has been mocking me for three years now."
Qin Jian snapped out of his thoughts and raised his head. "Don't worry, Teacher. I won't lose to Gu Yue again."
Sword Douluo's expression shifted slightly. "Although you've comprehended my Sword-as-the-Body realm, your soul power is still too low. Gu Yue has already reached Rank 15."
"Then I'll just raise my soul power over the next few days."
Qin Jian appeared unconcerned.
"By relying on Rongrong?"
Sword Douluo tilted his head. "I remember you haven't interacted much with Rongrong in the past three years. How will it work so quickly now?"
Qin Jian smiled. "Teacher, you've been telling Rongrong those stories lately, right? I didn't write the next part of the script. If she wants to hear more, she'll have to come find me."
Sword Douluo's eyes widened slightly, and he couldn't resist tapping Qin Jian lightly on the head. "So that's why this little brat was so eager to write stories for me. Turns out it wasn't to help me out of a bind..."
Qin Jian rubbed his head, looking a bit sheepish. "It was partly for you, Teacher. Weren't you being pestered by Rongrong at the time?"
Sword Douluo shook his head helplessly. "Fine. Do what you want, but I have one request."
Qin Jian straightened his posture, his expression solemn. "Please, Teacher, speak."
"No matter the circumstances, never hurt others just for the sake of it. The guilt will torment you for a lifetime," Sword Douluo said.
"Yes, Teacher. I will remember." Qin Jian nodded seriously.
"And also…"
Sword Douluo placed a hand on his head and added, "If Rongrong ever truly falls for you and cannot move on, even after many years, then when you ascend to godhood, you must not fail her. She is, after all, the most cherished little princess of our Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."
Qin Jian agreed readily. "Understood, Teacher."
This was something he wanted to do anyway. A natural breakup would be final, but if it was a deliberate one, he hoped to make amends later.
Bang!
As their conversation ended, the door to the small building was suddenly thrown open, and a lively girl's voice rang out.
"Sword Grandpa! Sword Grandpa! Rongrong wants to hear your stories!"
Sword Douluo and Qin Jian exchanged glances.
They had just been talking about her, and now she had appeared as if summoned.
Descending the spiral staircase, they saw Ning Rongrong sitting on the sofa. Dressed in a jade-green short dress, her long hair flowed down to her waist. Her small, smooth feet swung back and forth energetically.
"Rongrong, Sword Grandpa has been telling you stories every day. He must be tired. How about I tell you one today?"
At that moment, a young man in black training clothes ran in. His face was full of eagerness as he approached Ning Rongrong.
"Go away, Bonehead! I don't want to hear your boring stories!"
Ning Rongrong tilted her chin up, folding her arms, and didn't even look at him.
"Bonehead…"
Qin Jian's lips twitched.
This little troublemaker had a knack for coming up with peculiar nicknames. He silently hoped she wouldn't give him one.
"Sword Grandpa! Sword Grandpa! Where are you?"
Ning Rongrong cupped her hands around her mouth like a megaphone. "Rongrong wants to hear about Zhang Xiaofan's story!"
"Here, here, Sword Grandpa is here…"
Qin Jian side-eyed Sword Douluo.
His usually stoic teacher now wore a doting smile, striding up the stairs in just a few steps.
"No wonder she's the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's little princess. Look at how even the Titled Douluos pamper her."
Qin Jian rolled his eyes.
Though his teacher treated him well, he was strict when it came to cultivation. It was nothing like how they coddled Ning Rongrong, as if she were a delicate treasure.
It wasn't just Sword Douluo either—everyone in the sect, from Ning Fengzhi, the sect master, to the two Consecrations, Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo, treated her this way.
This indulgence had nurtured Ning Rongrong's little troublemaker personality.
"Sword Grandpa, hurry! Tell me what happened to Zhang Xiaofan after his identity was revealed. Was he punished by his sect? And what about Biyao? What happened to her?"
Unable to resist Ning Rongrong's enthusiasm, Sword Douluo caught her as she leapt toward him. Glancing at Qin Jian, who was approaching slowly, he said, "Well, as for what happens next, Sword Grandpa doesn't know…"
"Huh? How could you not know the ending of your own story?"
Ning Rongrong pouted, pretending to rub her eyes. "Waaah… Rongrong can't sleep without a story. Does Sword Grandpa not like Rongrong anymore?"
"No, no, Sword Grandpa would never lie to you." Sword Douluo quickly tried to comfort her, flustered despite knowing she was just acting up.
"This story was written by Jian'er. Only he knows the rest," Sword Douluo explained, pointing at Qin Jian.
Ning Rongrong raised her head curiously, spotting the quiet Qin Jian standing behind Sword Douluo.
The boy's handsome features lit up her eyes. "Oh, you're Sword Grandpa's direct disciple, right? The one with innate full soul power who hasn't advanced in three years… um… Little Sword Sword, right?"
Little Sword Sword…
Qin Jian's hand trembled, and his expression immediately turned blank. "My name is Qin Jian."
"Oh…"
Ning Rongrong stepped down from Sword Douluo and leaned closer to Qin Jian. "So, did you really write Zhang Xiaofan's story, Little Sword Sword?"
Qin Jian's face darkened. "I didn't write it!"
He turned and walked away. "I'm going to sleep. Goodbye!"
Sword Douluo's lips curled into a slight smile.
For the first time in ages, he saw Qin Jian show a hint of childish temper.
The boy had just vowed to get closer to Ning Rongrong to improve his soul power, but a mere nickname had undone him.
"Don't go, don't go!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled mischievously as she grabbed Qin Jian's sleeve. "If you tell me Zhang Xiaofan's story, I promise not to call you Little Sword Sword anymore."
Without looking back, Qin Jian replied, "I'm not interested in telling stories."
"Qin Jian, how can you refuse Rongrong's request?"
This time, Gu Yue, who had been silently observing, chimed in, drawing Ning Rongrong's enthusiastic agreement.
"Exactly! How can you not agree?"
"I've been training all day and I'm tired. I need rest," Qin Jian said coldly, heading for his room.
But since Ning Rongrong was still holding his sleeve, she was dragged along.
"Training? With three years of no improvement in soul power, what's the point? You're better off telling stories. Cultivation isn't for you," Gu Yue mocked, arms crossed, his expression smug.
Qin Jian abruptly stopped and turned to Gu Yue.
His gaze was calm, yet it inexplicably made Gu Yue feel pressured.
"Bonehead, shut up!"
To Qin Jian's surprise, Ning Rongrong turned around as well. Hands on her hips, she scolded Gu Yue. "What you said was too much! You owe Qin Jian an apology!"
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