The next morning.
Ning Rongrong retrieved a relatively low-key outfit from her spirit tool bracelet and changed into it.
If she was going to stir up trouble, she couldn't dress too conspicuously.
Otherwise, what if a certain someone didn't dare to show up?
"White jade halls and golden horses" didn't quite suit the habits of Miss Ning.
Of course, while her attire was low-key, it wasn't shabby either—she couldn't disgrace the reputation of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Whether Xue Beng would come and cause trouble was, frankly, a random event.
It would be fine if he came, and equally fine if he didn't.
Her real goal was to find Dugu Bo or Dugu Yan.
After tidying up, Ning Rongrong pushed open the door and stepped out, planning to first visit the three deans' office to inquire—or have them take her there directly.
She had arrived at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy quite late yesterday, so it hadn't been appropriate to ask directly. Doing so might have made her intentions seem too obvious.
"The morning glow brings vitality to a new day, its faint light spilling over the vegetation. Birds occasionally skim the water's surface, sending ripples across its calm."
"What a paradise this is!" Ning Rongrong murmured, her gaze wandering over the scenery.
"I wonder how the students here fare—do they find the motivation to study in such an environment, or do they lose themselves in complacency?"
Her voice seemed to carry a little further than intended.
A young man in the distance approached, striding boldly to block Ning Rongrong's path.
Ning Rongrong tried to sidestep him, but the youth shifted left, cutting her off again.
"Classmate, the road is wide enough for both of us. Isn't it a bit rude to block my way like this?"
She halted, eyeing the boy before her—a teenager of about thirteen or fourteen, his lips curled in what could only be described as a "dragon-proud" smirk.
"Hmph! Who's your classmate?" The boy sneered arrogantly.
"My classmates don't include country bumpkins like you. The Heaven Dou Imperial Academy doesn't welcome outsiders. Get out!"
Good grief, has Xue Beng lost his mind?
He clearly saw me arrive with Xue Qinghe yesterday. What's he trying to pull now?
Does he even know who I am?
Regardless, since this "spoiled prince" had delivered himself to her doorstep, she had no choice but to play along.
"I am Dean Meng Shenji's guest. If you insist on expelling me, you might want to reconsider."
"Don't lift a rock only to drop it on your own foot."
Since he didn't want to be called "classmate," she'd address him as "student." After all, he was just a sheep waiting to be sheared.
"Hmph! This academy belongs to my family. Do I need permission from those old fogies to do as I please?"
With that, Xue Beng activated his martial soul. A solitary hundred-year soul ring rose from his feet.
"Last warning—leave!"
"Or I'll personally throw you out of the academy."
What a tough talker!
Ning Rongrong nearly laughed at Xue Beng's "crooked-mouth dragon king" act.
Honestly, if this "spoiled prince" act were genuine, his approach should involve more than just expulsion.
For a cute little girl like her, shouldn't he at least try luring her away with candy?
Xue Beng's performance was half-hearted—his threats lacked conviction, as if afraid of causing real trouble.
Perhaps he knew her identity and was trying to sabotage Xue Qinghe's apprenticeship ceremony?
But if so, his methods were embarrassingly amateurish.
"A swan-type martial soul... Are you from the imperial family?"
"That's right! Scared now?" Xue Beng crowed. "If you're scared, then scram!"
Perfect!
A sheep delivering itself for shearing. If she didn't take full advantage, she might as well reverse her name to "Rongrong Ning."
"I'm a support-type soul master. Combat isn't my forte." Ning Rongrong remained impassive. She recalled that Xue Beng was five years older than Tang San, yet his current soul power fluctuations suggested he was only Level 18.
"I don't care what type you are! Take this!"
Xue Beng roared, veins bulging on his forehead as the phantom of his swan martial soul grew more substantial.
"Martial Soul Possession—Swan Charge!"
His hundred-year soul ring flashed as he lunged at Ning Rongrong, fists radiating weak soul power fluctuations.
"Unsteady footing... People in this world really are... tsk tsk."
Ning Rongrong sidestepped the attack with two light steps.
Xue Beng swung again.
One step, two steps—she dodged effortlessly each time.
While battle-type soul masters grew exponentially stronger than support-types with each rank due to Martial Soul Possession and soul ring enhancements, the gap wasn't significant at the one-ring stage.
Moreover, Ning Rongrong was already a Soul Elder with rich combat experience.
Even without activating her soul rings, her perception alone allowed her to evade Xue Beng's clumsy strikes with ease.
"Is dodging all you can do, country bumpkin?" Xue Beng's eyes bulged.
"I am a support-type soul master." Ning Rongrong's expression didn't flicker.
As Xue Beng pivoted for another attack, his right foot suddenly slipped, disrupting his balance.
He stumbled and fell face-first, his forehead meeting the floor with a resounding thunk.
Standing a short distance away, Ning Rongrong watched coldly as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in her palm faded and vanished.
From beginning to end, Xue Beng never saw it.
"You—you cheated!" Xue Beng clutched his forehead, where a lump was already forming.
"You slipped on your own. How is that my fault?"
Never mind that the sudden puddle was created by her manipulating air moisture density with zhenqi and spiritual power—she'd never admit it.
"Y-you—just wait! I'll be back!"
With that final roar, Xue Beng turned and fled.
Ning Rongrong made no move to stop him as he slunk away.
"How dramatic." She shook her head.
As expected, everyone in the Heaven Dou Empire was an Oscar-worthy actor. Xue Beng clearly wanted to disrupt the apprenticeship ceremony but feared the consequences of going too far.
Yet his "spoiled prince" act wasn't entirely fake—he was still young.
Is this why they call it RomCom Continent?
"Enough distractions. Time to find Dugu Yan."
The Xue Beng incident was just a minor interlude, barely worth noting.
If he returned with reinforcements—well, defeating the young only to face the old was even better.
The most Xue Beng could muster was Prince Xue Xing and maybe Dugu Bo.
Given Dugu Bo's decent relationship with Ning Fengzhi, he wouldn't attack once her identity was revealed.
And if Prince Xue Xing dared lay a finger on her? The consequences would be more than he and Xue Beng could bear.
If those two did throw caution to the wind, she'd have no choice but to summon her own backers.
Upon meeting the three deans again, Ning Rongrong recounted her encounter with Xue Beng—omitting his name and simply mentioning his swan martial soul.
But these deans were no fools.
Meng Shenji slammed his desk hard enough to crack it.
"Outrageous!" Bloodshot eyes bulged before he caught himself, softening his tone for Ning Rongrong's sake.
"Don't worry, Young Sect Master Ning. We three will personally demand justice for you."
"That's really unnecessary. I'm not the one who got hurt," Ning Rongrong said.
"Absolutely necessary!" Bai Baoshan huffed.
"If not for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's secret arts, the consequences could have been dire! Especially since Xue Beng has always been..."
He trailed off, as though sparing her innocent ears from vulgar truths.
The usually silent Zhi Lin rose. "If they don't give us a satisfactory explanation, I'll resign!"
United, the three deans—all staunch supporters of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe—marched forth with righteous fury.
With the apprenticeship ceremony just two days away, any harm to Ning Rongrong would spell disaster.
Thus, under the deans' leadership, they set off to settle scores—chests puffed, morale high.