274. Bullying Again

Xue Qinghe naturally noticed Ning Rongrong's actions as well.

Looking down at her, he smiled.

“Junior Sister Rongrong, it’s better to drink less alcohol. If you get addicted, it won’t be good.”

“Senior Brother Qinghe, you're talking nonsense.”

Ning Rongrong rested her pretty face in her hands, lying on the table.

She sighed in despair, “No one’s even letting me drink. How could I possibly get addicted?”

“Heh.”

Xue Qinghe chuckled, glancing at Qian Renjue with a subtle hint of teasing in his eyes.

Ning Fengzhi had already sat back in the main seat.

“Qinghe, have a seat. Soon, the guests will start arriving.”

“Yes, teacher.”

Qian Renxue had performed this role for twenty years, and now it was second nature, without the slightest flaw.

Sitting across from Qian Renjue, she smiled and said:

“Would the Holy Son be willing to exchange insights on management with me?”

“Sorry, I don’t really handle much management.”

Qian Renjue sat back down, shaking his head. In truth, he hadn’t really managed anything.

“You’re being too modest.”

Xue Qinghe smiled and said,

“Over the past year, your talents have made many forces tremble with fear.”

“My talents?”

Qian Renjue raised an eyebrow.

Apart from being a fast cultivator, did he have any other talents?

Ning Fengzhi sipped his warm tea without joining the conversation.

In moments like this, it was best not to take sides.

He didn’t want Heaven Dou Empire to suspect that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was betraying them, even though he knew what Xue Qinghe was hinting at.

Ning Fengzhi glanced at Ning Rongrong, who was still sulking, and frowned.

Xue Qinghe sought advice:

“I heard your Spirit Hall is vigorously developing affiliated academies. May I ask the reason behind this?”

At this, Qian Renjue understood what he was getting at.

With a smile, he explained: “This plan is simply to provide more opportunities for commoner soul masters.”

While Xue Qinghe and Qian Renjue were speaking, Ning Rongrong, lying on the table, was pouting at Qian Renjue in frustration, staring longingly at the wine.

Suddenly, the spicy dipping sauce and the bright red dessert on the table caught her eye.

Her beautiful eyes glinted mischievously.

She glanced at Qian Renjue.

Stealthily, she reached across the table for the spicy sauce and dipped a piece of bright red dessert in it.

Her eyes sparkled with a mix of revenge and glee.

Hmph! That’ll teach you for ignoring me and not letting me drink!

Xue Qinghe paused briefly, noticing Ning Rongrong’s mischievous act, but said nothing.

It was just some spicy sauce. If Qian Renjue got tricked by a child, it would be embarrassing, wouldn't it?

Qian Renxue secretly laughed and even looked forward to the outcome.

As time passed, Ning Rongrong had already placed the dessert back after it soaked up the spicy sauce. Just by looking, no one could tell anything was amiss.

Suddenly, Ning Fengzhi stood up: “Qinghe, the guests should be arriving. We should head down.”

“Alright.”

Xue Qinghe smiled, took a sip of wine, and stood up.

Ning Fengzhi looked at Qian Renjue and said:

“Holy Son, later, Rongrong will guide you around. Qinghe and I have some matters to attend to.”

“I understand.”

Qian Renjue nodded, glancing at Ning Rongrong, who acted like she didn’t care, even as she tried to fool him with her little trick.

His eyes gleamed with amusement and understanding.

“Rongrong, did you hear? If you’re bored, you can show the Holy Son around.”

Ning Fengzhi advised Ning Rongrong.

“Daddy, I got it!”

Ning Rongrong lifted her face and cheerfully agreed.

Just as she raised her face and her gaze wandered away, the tampered dessert on the table mysteriously floated up.

It switched places with another nearby dessert.

This strange sight was witnessed by Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Xue Qinghe, and the others.

“Daddy, what’s wrong? I’ll behave.”

Ning Rongrong, thinking her father didn’t trust her, reassured him once again.

“Haha, that’s good.”

Ning Fengzhi chuckled awkwardly but didn’t explain. He merely warned her:

“Rongrong, don’t cause any trouble.”

“Mm-hmm, I won’t!”

Ning Rongrong, looking like the picture of obedience, nodded repeatedly.

Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly. It seemed there was no saving this.

Xue Qinghe’s eyes twinkled with an unconcealed smile, thinking to himself that the little prankster was still too green.

“Holy Son, we’ll see you later.”

Without further delay, Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe made their way downstairs.

Even Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, though somewhat unwilling, didn’t intervene.


After all, it was just spicy sauce, and they were just young kids having fun.

Ning Rongrong cheerfully waved goodbye to her father.

Meanwhile, Qian Renjue’s gaze shifted to Salas, who was quietly sitting at a nearby table.

He instructed:

“Salas, you should go downstairs as well. I’m not fond of crowded places.”

“Yes, my lord. I’ll attend to it right away.”

Salas stood and bowed.

He had attended enough of these events to know exactly what Qian Renjue wanted — to preemptively send away those looking to curry favor.

Salas bowed and left.

Now, only Qian Renjue, Ling Yuan, and Ning Rongrong remained in the hall.

Looking at Qian Renjue’s serious expression, Ning Rongrong felt a bit nervous.

But she was used to big occasions, so she plastered on a cheeky smile and complimented him:

“Holy Son, you’re so cool! Would you like to try my favorite dessert?”

With that, Ning Rongrong picked up the dessert she had tampered with.

“Sure.”

Qian Renjue, of course, wouldn’t refuse. With a smile, he picked up the spicy dessert with his chopsticks.

He planned to teach her a little lesson.

He brought the dessert to Ning Rongrong’s cherry lips.

“In that case, I’ll have a piece for myself too.”

“Mmm, thank you, Holy Son.”

Before she could take a bite, Ning Rongrong had already begun to giggle.

Ling Yuan Douluo watched with great interest as Qian Renjue bit into the dessert Ning Rongrong was offering, lifting his head.

The dessert in his hand also reached its destination.

Both Qian Renxue and Ning Rongrong had triumphant smiles on their faces.

“Holy Son, is it delicious?”

“It’s delicious.”

Qian Renjue smiled meaningfully.

He then picked up some juice and prepared a chilled drink to ease Ning Rongrong’s spiciness.

“Haha, as long as you like it.”

As Ning Rongrong chewed, her fair face suddenly turned red.

The next moment, she couldn’t control herself and opened her mouth wide, gasping for fresh air.

Her little hands fanned at her mouth.

“Ah! So spicy! Ugh!”

“Pfft, hahaha.”

Ling Yuan Douluo couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Qian Renjue, smiling, handed the already chilled juice to Ning Rongrong.

“Rongrong, have some cold juice to rinse your mouth.”

“Huff...thank you.”

Ning Rongrong clutched the frosty drink and immediately took a big gulp.

Then, she cried out in surprise.

“Ah—!”

“Wait a minute, Holy Son, you tricked me again!”

Ning Rongrong’s lips turned red like blood from the spiciness, and she couldn’t close her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes, making her look pitiful.

“Ah—gulp!”

Before Qian Renjue could respond, Ning Rongrong couldn’t hold back and began drinking again.

“Heh.”

Qian Renjue chuckled, gently patting her soft back.

——

At this moment, at the city gates.

A graceful figure dressed in a black dress had already stepped into the territory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

She handed over an invitation and slowly made her way inside.