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After a brief moment, Ning Fengzhi felt no discomfort, so he exchanged a glance with Chen Xin beside him and nodded.
The tea was just ordinary tea—no "additives" or anything of the sort.
If Zhongli had ill intentions, he probably wouldn't resort to tampering with the tea.
But as the leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi had to remain cautious.
Why didn't he let Chen Xin test it instead?
If Ning Fengzhi tested it and something went wrong, Chen Xin could still ensure their escape.
But if Chen Xin tested it and something happened, the two of them might not leave safely.
That was why Ning Fengzhi took the initiative to test it himself.
Their little act, however, couldn't escape the notice of a six-thousand-year-old veteran like Zhongli.
His heart remained calm as still water, harboring no resentment or displeasure.
After all, this was their first meeting—being cautious was only natural.
Aside from the oblivious Paimon, everyone present understood the situation perfectly.
After this round of testing, one possibility was preliminarily ruled out: Zhongli was not an enemy.
Since he wasn't an enemy, then perhaps he could become a friend!
When it came to making friends, both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and Ning Fengzhi had their own "methods."
No—sincerity!
"Forgive my abrupt visit. These are just modest gifts—please accept them as a token of respect."
With those words, Ning Fengzhi retrieved two antique boxes—one large, one small—from his storage soul tool.
Placing them on the table, he slid one toward Zhongli and the other toward Paimon.
"Please accept them, Lord Zhongli, little Paimon."
A confident smile hung on Ning Fengzhi's face.
In just one night, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had nearly uncovered all of Zhongli and Paimon's activities in Heaven Dou City over the past half-month.
After reviewing the information, Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong exchanged bewildered glances.
Was this really the dossier of a peerless expert?
Had they been given the wrong file?
It read more like the record of a lazy playboy or a retired noble…
After triple-checking, the three of them were speechless.
This twin-souled Titled Douluo truly had a… unique personality!
But then again, as a powerhouse of that level, wasn't eccentricity expected?
They could accept that.
When Ning Fengzhi first laid eyes on Zhongli, even someone as worldly as him was momentarily stunned.
His appearance, his commanding presence—it was nothing short of divine.
The imperial aura of Emperor Xue Ye was imposing enough, wasn't it?
Just the passive pressure he exuded was enough to make many tremble in fear.
Yet, compared to Zhongli, it wasn't even a tenth as intense—and that was a conservative estimate.
As for the gifts, Ning Fengzhi was confident. To a powerhouse like Zhongli, they held little practical value.
But their intrinsic worth was beyond measure—rare items that couldn't simply be bought.
Whether as collectibles, gifts, or heirlooms, they were excellent choices.
"Wow! More presents! Thank you, thank you, Clan Leader Ning!"
Paimon happily accepted the "gifts," completely oblivious to the implications of receiving them.
All she knew was that it made her happy.
Yesterday, she had received "compensation" and a storage soul tool from the Crown Prince.
Today, she got another gift—her joy was overflowing.
Speaking of yesterday's acquisitions…
Since Zhongli hadn't mentioned them, she had simply kept them.
She had no idea what was inside the box or the storage soul tool.
Seeing this, Zhongli shook his head. This little one truly had a heart of gold.
With such a mindset, she could thrive in any fantasy world.
He lightly sensed the box before him. Like Tang Hao's "compensation" from yesterday, it had soul power-isolating properties.
The contents inside were likely quite old—perhaps even older than his own age.
Of course, if Ning Fengzhi could part with them so easily, they probably weren't that ancient.
They were the kind of items that were neither particularly useful nor entirely worthless.
But in the world of gift-giving, what Ning Fengzhi had presented was undeniably valuable.
Both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's generosity and Zhongli's acceptance carried significant prestige.
Even if the gifts weren't particularly practical.
Zhongli did have a fondness for collecting aged artifacts. Since Ning Fengzhi had offered them sincerely, he saw no reason to refuse.
"Clan Leader Ning has gone to great trouble."
Without further comment, Zhongli pushed the box toward Paimon.
Having experienced this a few times now, Paimon understood immediately and quickly stashed both boxes away.
Seeing Zhongli accept the gifts, Ning Fengzhi exchanged another glance with Chen Xin, unable to hide his delight.
Accepting such precious gifts meant their "friendship" had taken several steps forward!
For the currently struggling Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, this was undoubtedly good news.
"I'm glad Lord Zhongli likes them. Consider them an apology for my daughter's thoughtless words yesterday."
Hearing this, Zhongli glanced at Ning Fengzhi with slight interest.
Straight to the point so soon?
That was fine—it would save time.
"That young lady named Rongrong carries a similar aura to yours."
"Indeed, she is my daughter."
"It's my fault for failing to educate her properly over the years…"
Ning Fengzhi had wanted to teach Ning Rongrong, but what could he do?
Chen Xin and Gu Rong had spoiled her like a treasure—he couldn't even scold her without their interference.
At this thought, he shot a resentful look at Chen Xin.
Chen Xin, guilty, averted his gaze.
The blame for Ning Rongrong's mischievous nature couldn't fall solely on him and Gu Rong—Ning Fengzhi had indulged her too, hadn't he?
Fortunately, Ning Rongrong only had a bit of a spoiled temperament, unlike true delinquents. That, at least, gave Ning Fengzhi some relief.
"Young lady Ning Rongrong is lively and innocent, full of youthful spirit—loyal, righteous, and true to her friends…"
Zhongli lavished praise on her for a full five minutes before finally stopping under the bewildered stares of Paimon, Ning Fengzhi, and Chen Xin.
Not a single word of it was repeated—one had to admit, Zhongli's breadth of knowledge was impressive…
It even made Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin wonder: Was Rongrong really this perfect?
Zhongli's stance was simple: after accepting gifts, a little insincere flattery about the other party's daughter was nothing.
As for how much of it was genuine? That remained unclear.
From what Zhongli knew, when Chen Xin's sword shattered and Gu Rong's bones broke, this young lady hadn't shed a single tear.
These were the two elders who had doted on her the most.
Yet when Tang San died, she had wailed in heart-wrenching grief…
Well, one could say she had mourned at the wrong grave.
As the god of Liyue, as a man of that nation, Zhongli's moral compass was quite firm. He might not voice it, but that didn't mean he didn't feel disdain.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 50 on my patreon, go check it out.