Ning Fengzhi laughed heartily, his eyes brimming with joy. "With Elder Dugu joining us, it's like a fish finding water for our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School! Our sect is bound to reach new heights in the future!"
The following matters naturally revolved around the specifics of Dugu Bo joining the sect, which had nothing to do with the two youngsters.
Thus, Ning Fengzhi turned to Ning Rongrong and said gently, "Rong Rong, why don't you take Dugu Yan around and show her some hospitality as a good host?"
"Sure!"
Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled mischievously, and she quickly grabbed Dugu Yan's hand with enthusiasm. "Sister Dugu Yan, come with me! I'll take you to some fun places!"
"Sect Leader, there's no need to be so polite. I just hope Elder Chenxin won't be too harsh on me in the future," Dugu Bo said, glancing at Chen Xin, clearly still holding a grudge over the earlier incident where Chen Xin had attacked him without explanation.
Chen Xin, standing nearby, flushed slightly with embarrassment and retorted, "Well, you didn't explain yourself clearly."
Dugu Bo's expression turned odd, and he snapped, "Did you give me a chance to explain? You came at me with your sword without a word, leaving me no opportunity to speak!"
Seeing this, Gu Rong, who was standing to the side, struggled to suppress his laughter, though the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.
While the adults were busy bickering, the atmosphere between the two youngsters was no less intense.
Dugu Yan followed Ning Rongrong outside.
Ning Rongrong pouted her adorable little lips, her big, innocent eyes staring straight at Dugu Yan as she said in a childish voice, "You're Brother Gu Feng's classmate, right? Let me tell you, I won't allow you to get close to Brother Gu Feng at the academy. You'd better stay away from him!"
Her eyes revealed a hint of possessiveness and dominance.
Children always have an inexplicable sense of ownership over the things they love.
"Why is that?" Dugu Yan asked with amusement, deliberately teasing the cute little girl.
"Because, because, I'm Brother Gu Feng's best friend since we were little! Only I can be close to him!"
Ning Rongrong's face turned red with frustration as she struggled to articulate her thoughts.
Dugu Yan gently curled her lips into a half-smile and asked, "Oh, and why is that?"
Ning Rongrong looked up with a serious expression and said, "Granny Chen from the library told me that this is called 'childhood sweethearts.' Do you understand?"
After saying this, Ning Rongrong even looked down on Dugu Yan a little.
Even though she was an adult, she didn't know as much as a child like her.
How embarrassing!
"Hmph, I can tell you don't know. In the future, the person who will stay with Brother Gu Feng the longest can only be me, his childhood sweetheart. Granny Chen also said that Brother Gu Feng is my 'childhood fiancé'!"
Ning Rongrong clenched her little fists, getting more and more excited as she spoke, her face flushing red.
"By the way, you probably don't know what a 'childhood fiancé' is, do you?" Ning Rongrong tilted her head, looking smug.
Dugu Yan, using a tone to humor a child, said softly, "Yes, yes, why don't you tell me what it is?"
Ning Rongrong's cheeks turned even redder, and she shyly lowered her head, stammering, "A childhood fiancé is, a childhood fiancé is… someone who will have babies with Rong Rong in the future…"
Upon hearing this, Dugu Yan couldn't help but laugh so hard that her body shook, the curves of her chest rising and falling with her laughter. She hadn't expected Ning Rongrong to be so adorably naive.
However, when it came to Gu Feng, she wasn't about to admit defeat.
Dugu Yan subtly sized up Ning Rongrong, her gaze sweeping over the other girl's petite and flat figure, and she nodded to herself.
For now, there was no threat.
But she was well aware that Soul Masters developed rapidly, and it was better to nip any potential issues in the bud. She decided to find a way to ease the little girl's worries first.
With a gentle smile on her face, Dugu Yan spoke in a soft tone, "Don't worry, I have absolutely no other intentions toward your Brother Gu Feng, and I won't get too close to him either."
"Really?" Ning Rongrong tilted her head, her big eyes filled with suspicion, clearly not entirely convinced.
"Really, as true as gold! Why would I lie to you? You're so cute, who would want to deceive you?"
Dugu Yan smiled and patted Ning Rongrong's head, her tone firm and reassuring.
"Alright then, Rongrong believes you. Come on, I'll take you around."
Ning Rongrong's face lit up with an innocent smile once more, and she reached out to take Dugu Yan's hand, happily leading her forward. The earlier doubts seemed to have vanished in an instant.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
After discussions with Ning Fengzhi and the others, Dugu Bo had finalized his decision to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
In a few days, this news would surely spread across the land.
After all, the second most powerful sect in the world had just gained another formidable Titled Douluo.
Such a significant event was bound to cause ripples in the power dynamics of the Douluo Continent, and it would be hard for anyone not to be shocked.
Just as the group was deep in conversation, the sound of hurried and panicked footsteps approached from a distance.
A flustered steward of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School rushed into the hall, kneeling on one knee and shouting, "Report!"
Ning Fengzhi raised his hand slightly, signaling him to continue, "Speak."
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, it's about Young Master Gu Feng..." The steward, having run a long distance, was out of breath, his words coming out in fits and starts.
Upon hearing it was about Gu Feng, Gu Rong immediately stood up from his seat, his face filled with anger. "That brat is back? Where is he now? Just wait until I teach him a lesson for staying away for so long and causing trouble everywhere!"
After the steward caught his breath, he continued, "No, Young Master Gu Feng sent me to deliver some items and a letter."
With that, he took out a jade box, along with a letter.
"That ungrateful brat, what is he up to now? If he's not coming back, fine, but sending things back? Does our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School lack such things? Does he even remember he has a grandfather?"
Gu Rong's anger flared up again. In his eyes, Gu Feng must have been having too much fun outside and was now sending back some trivial items to placate them.
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi quickly tried to calm him down, "Uncle Gu, please don't be so hasty. Let's first see what Little Feng has sent. There might be a special reason for it."
Dugu Bo, who was privy to some of the inside information, gazed deeply and said thoughtfully, "Sect Leader, you should first take a look at the things he sent back. That kid Gu Feng is no ordinary person. The items he sent might prove to be of great use."
Ning Fengzhi slightly furrowed his brows, his heart filled with doubt. "Oh? Does Elder Dugu know something about this? I hope you won't hesitate to enlighten me."
"That will be for the Sect Leader to discover on his own."
Dugu Bo smiled mysteriously, not revealing anything directly.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi's curiosity was thoroughly piqued. He eagerly stepped forward and began to examine the items Gu Feng had sent back.
(End of Chapter)