The main hall of the small pavilion.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin lounged on the sofa, watching the younger generation bicker with an amused expression.
He was curious to see how Qin Jian would handle Gu Yue's provocation.
However, Qin Jian made no response. He simply stared at his opponent.
To his surprise, Ning Rongrong spoke up on his behalf.
Though this young lady had quite the princess temperament, her heart was undeniably kind.
"What I said was the truth. Why should I apologize?" Gu Yue grumbled with displeasure.
Ning Rongrong pouted. "You shouldn't attack Qin Jian's weaknesses. That would make him feel bad."
Behind her, Qin Jian's lips curved slightly.
Across from him, Gu Yue was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Gu Yue, let's settle this during the sect's selection trials in a few days."
Qin Jian's casual remark left no room for response as he turned and headed back toward his room.
Gu Yue's face darkened like a storm cloud. "Do you really think you can beat me? I'm already a Level 15 Soul Master."
"Soul Power level isn't everything. We'll see on the dueling stage in a few days."
With a wave of his hand, Qin Jian turned back to Sword Douluo and said, "Teacher, I'm going to rest now."
Sword Douluo nodded, allowing Qin Jian to leave for his bedroom.
"Qin Jian, you haven't finished telling me the story yet!"
Ning Rongrong's voice suddenly rang out as she dashed into Qin Jian's room with a few hurried steps.
"Tell me what happened after Zhang Xiaofan revealed his identity!"
Seeing that Qin Jian was already lying on his bed, she boldly kicked off her shoes and climbed up as well.
"Hey, hey, this is my bed! What are you doing up here?"
Qin Jian's voice carried into the hall, causing Gu Yue's expression to twist unpleasantly.
"If you don't finish the story tonight, I'm not leaving. I'll sleep here too!"
Ning Rongrong's determined voice drifted out, making Gu Yue squirm uncomfortably.
Stomping his feet in frustration, Gu Yue stormed out of the small pavilion, forgetting even to bid Sword Douluo farewell.
Naturally, Sword Douluo didn't mind the lack of courtesy.
He leaned back on the sofa, propping his head up with one hand. Qin Jian's voice soon reached his ears:
"After Zhang Xiaofan returned to Qingyun Sect, he was placed under house arrest, and even his firewood-cutting staff was confiscated. Left with nothing to do, he wandered the back mountains aimlessly until one day, he encountered Biyao in a bamboo grove..."
Sword Douluo listened intently, a stray thought flashing through his mind: How effortlessly he managed to lure Rongrong onto his bed. Was this brat playing hard to get all along?
The thought didn't linger long, as he was soon immersed in the story.
"What a fascinating tale..."
Some time later, faint footsteps approached. Sword Douluo raised an eyebrow and sat upright, spotting Ning Fengzhi entering the hall.
"Sword Uncle, I heard from Gu Yue that Rongrong is here?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
"Shh."
Sword Douluo pressed a finger to his lips, then pointed toward Qin Jian's room. Speaking in a low voice, he added, "Rongrong's already asleep."
Ning Fengzhi blinked in surprise, his voice dropping as well. "She went to sleep so early today? Sword Uncle, you truly have a way with her."
Sword Douluo stood, leading Ning Fengzhi toward Qin Jian's bedroom on tiptoe.
"That's not my doing. She fell asleep while Qin Jian was telling her a story."
The door creaked open gently, revealing a soft bed. Qin Jian lay sound asleep, while Ning Rongrong sprawled beside him, one hand and a leg draped over him carelessly.
Ning Fengzhi's forehead creased at her unrefined sleeping posture. Quietly, he stepped forward, pulled the blanket over both of them, and then dragged Sword Douluo out of the room.
Click.
The door closed softly behind them. Only then did the two men heave a collective sigh of relief and head into the courtyard to converse.
"Sword Uncle, I heard Gu Yue say that Qin Jian plans to defeat him in the upcoming trials?"
Curiosity flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes. "Didn't his Soul Power stop advancing long ago? What's changed to make him confident enough to take on Gu Yue?"
Sword Douluo's lips curled into a faint smile. "That was before. Fengzhi, did you notice Qin Jian's current Soul Power level?"
"Hmm?"
Ning Fengzhi paused, then replied, "It seemed to be... Level 11? He finally advanced by one level?"
Sword Douluo chuckled but refrained from elaborating further. He wasn't about to reveal Qin Jian's greatest secret.
"But at Level 11, how does he plan to defeat Gu Yue at Level 15?" Ning Fengzhi asked, puzzled.
Sword Douluo replied nonchalantly, "There are still a few days left..."
"A few days... What difference could that make?" Ning Fengzhi murmured, bewildered.
"You'll see soon enough. Just don't be too surprised."
Sword Douluo's tone was enigmatic.
Qin Jian gained a Soul Power level just by telling a story. I'm eager to see how far he'll advance in a few days.
"I'll be waiting," Ning Fengzhi said with a smile, departing shortly after.
During the following days, Qin Jian honed his sword aura in the Simulation Training Ground by day and told stories to Ning Rongrong at night.
The mischievous young lady, captivated by his tales, insisted on staying in Sword Douluo's residence, refusing to leave Qin Jian's bed until she fell asleep.
Time flew by, and soon, the night before the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's partner selection trials arrived.
Inside Qin Jian's room, on the bed, he and Ning Rongrong lay side by side under the blanket.
"Dao Xuan, seeing that Zhang Xiaofan was about to leave with Biyao, decided he couldn't let him go unpunished. He unleashed the main sword of the Heavenly Execution Array, aiming it at Zhang Xiaofan!"
"Ah!"
Ning Rongrong gasped, clutching Qin Jian's arm tightly. "What happened next? He didn't die, did he?"
Qin Jian sighed softly before continuing in a low, steady tone:
"Suddenly, the world fell silent. Even the overwhelming power of the ancient sword came to a halt.
"A familiar, gentle hand appeared by Zhang Xiaofan's side, accompanied by the faint, melodious chime of a bell, pushing him aside..."
Ning Rongrong held her breath, completely enraptured.
"From what seemed like an eternity of slumber, a voice awoke—a voice that spoke softly, for the sake of love:
"'Gods of Heaven and Demons of Hell, Spirits of the Nine Netherworlds,
"'With my mortal body, I offer this sacrifice.
"'Three lifetimes, seven reincarnations, I willingly fall into the abyss.
"'For the sake of love, I regret nothing!'"
Unknowingly, tears streamed down Ning Rongrong's cheeks.
Qin Jian paused, equally moved by the story's poignant emotion.
As a being who had once been a Love Flower, his sensitivity to such feelings was magnified countless times.
After a long silence, he turned to gently wipe the tears from Ning Rongrong's face, his voice soft and comforting.
"That's enough for tonight. Sleep well, Rongrong."
Ning Rongrong stared at him, momentarily speechless...
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