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After Tang Hao departed, Ning Tian faced Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo, his voice warm with gratitude. "Thank you, Uncle Ning and Senior Sword Douluo, for settling my grudge with Tang San. Knowing a Titled Douluo might be after me would've robbed me of any peace at night."
A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he spoke. He didn't mind whatever schemes Ning Fengzhi might be brewing; let the man think he'd come out on top. Gratitude, after all, was free to give.
Ning Fengzhi returned a gentle smile, his eyes crinkling with satisfaction. "No need to be so polite, Ning Tian. It was nothing."
Deep down, Ning Fengzhi felt a quiet thrill. This time, he'd secured a favor from Hao Tian Douluo, smoothed over the conflict, and earned Ning Tian's appreciation. 'Victory sure does taste sweet.'
Ning Tian paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face before he spoke again, his tone softer. "Uncle Ning, if it's alright with you, I'd rather you call me Liuzi from now on. That's what my family uses."
He couldn't help the slight grimace that followed. "Xiao Tian" sounds annoying to him, only Zhu Qing could pull it off without making him squirm
Ning Fengzhi's face lit up, a spark of delight in his eyes as he took it as a sign of closeness. "Liuzi it is, then," he said, his voice brimming with affection.
.......
After finishing tea, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo walked Ning Tian to the tea house door. With a respectful nod, Ning Tian said his goodbyes and stepped into the cool air.
As his figure faded into the distance, Sword Douluo's gaze lingered, a rare admiration softening his stern features. "I see a hint of Tang Chen in him. Hard to believe he's just fourteen, starting with half-level innate spirit power and reaching this point. His future's worth watching."
"Tang Chen?" Ning Fengzhi turned, surprise flickering in his expression. Sword Douluo's pride was no secret, and praise like that didn't come lightly.
Ning Tian had clearly left a mark.
.......
Strolling back to his residence, Ning Tian's thoughts drifted to Tang San. A chuckle escaped him as he pictured Tang San's Blue Silver Grass weighed down by a power-type soul ring; awkward and lumbering. The image was too good not to enjoy.
A shadow crossed his path, snapping him out of his reverie. Jiansheng stood there, arms crossed.
"Senior, what brings you out here?" Ning Tian asked, stepping closer with a curious tilt of his head.
Jiansheng let out a hearty laugh, his eyes twinkling with fatherly concern. "What else? My little girl was fretting you'd run into trouble, so she sent me to check on you. Those Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect folks didn't give you a hard time, did they?"
They walked together, and Ning Tian shrugged lightly. "Not really. They just dragged me to meet Tang Hao."
As they walked, he spilled the details; right down to telling Tang Hao how to fix Tang San's messy problem. Listening to all that Jiansheng's jaw dropped, amusement battling disbelief. "You actually gave him the solution?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Ning Tian shot back, a playful glint in his eye. Jiansheng shook his head, still grinning. "That kid's got twin spirits. He could be a real threat for you down the line. And you two aren't exactly pals. He's the type to hold a grudge tight."
Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, Jiansheng burst into laughter, clapping Ning Tian on the shoulder. "What's so funny?" Ning Tian asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Tang San's no angel, but you…you're a sly one. Spill it, what trap did you set for that Tang family this time?" Jiansheng's grin turned wicked, his tone teasing.
Ning Tian kept his face straight, though a spark of mischief danced in his eyes. "Senior, please don't tarnish my good name."
"Good name? Ha!" Jiansheng snorted, his laughter fading into a knowing look. "If you were some saint, my daughter and those three other girls wouldn't be so fooled by you. Ha! But this has nothing to do with me. Just promise me you'll treat her right. If you dare to do something to let her down in the future, I will never forgive you."
Ning Tian's expression softened, sincerity replacing his usual edge. "Don't worry, Senior. I'll take care of her."
Jiansheng nodded, satisfied, a flicker of pride in his gaze. The tea house wasn't far from their residence, and soon they were back. The courtyard buzzed quietly with everyone cultivating, so Ning Tian slipped into his room without a word to meditate too.
.......
Meanwhile, Tang San wasn't faring so well.
At the Great Spirit Arena, the opening ceremony had wrapped up, leaving the place deserted save for the Shrek team and a few cleaners. Flanders stood with a heavy sigh, watching Tang San still hunched behind his Blue Silver Grass cover, misery etched into every sound.
"What a disaster," Flanders muttered, rubbing his temples in frustration. He glanced at the Shrek team, now cleaned up after their ordeal. "Head back to the hotel, all of you. I'll stay with Tang San."
They didn't need telling twice. The six who'd shared the stage with Tang San—still stinging from their new "Shit Team" label, were especially eager to escape, their spirits bruised as badly as their pride.
Just as they turned to leave, a furious shout cut through the air. "Who's the bastard that beat up my students?"
The spirit master passage door flew open with a bang, and a striking woman stormed in; in black leather hugging her curves, dark hair flowing, her temper blazing hotter than her looks. The Blue Tyrant Academy team leader trailed behind her.
The Shrek team froze, caught off guard by her sheer force.
"Dean, it's them!" the team leader jabbed a finger their way. "They weren't just fighting but they were out for blood! Our seven fighters were injured badly by them."
The woman barely spared him a glance, her piercing eyes locking onto Flanders.
"Brother Fu?"
"Sister Long?"
Their voices overlapped, shock coloring the air.
"You know her, Dean?" Dai Mubai blurted, wide-eyed.
Flanders nodded, a mix of fondness and nerves in his tone. "She's Liu Erlong, my old friend, part of the Golden Iron Triangle with me and Yu Xiaogang. The Killing Corner herself. Now she runs Blue Tyrant Academy."
Yu Tianheng blinked, piecing it together. "So she's my aunt?" He'd heard whispers of his second grandfather's secret daughter but never seen her in the flesh.
Flanders stepped forward, a grin breaking through his tension. "Erlong, what brings you here?"
Liu Erlong's glare could've melted steel. "What do you think? Your kids trashed mine. As their dean, how could I not come?"
Flanders scratched his head, sheepish. "It's my fault for not keeping them in line. You lot come over here and apologize to Dean Liu Erlong. Look at the mess you made!"
"Sorry, Dean Liu Erlong," the team said, their heads bowing under her fierce stare.
"Sorry, Aunt," Yu Tianheng added, his voice quieter.
"Aunt?" Liu Erlong's brow furrowed as she sized him up.
"I am my second Grandfather's grandnephew. My dad's Yu Xiaoqiang," he explained.
Liu Erlong's old wounds lingered, so she gave a curt "Oh" and turned back to Flanders, brushing Yu Tianheng off. "Anyway, weren't you in Soutuo City? And what's going on? What's with the stench…it's awful"
She wrinkled her nose, pointing at the Blue Silver Grass cover.
Flanders sighed again, deeper this time. "Long story."
The team leader piped up. "Dean, that's Tang San in there, the one I told you about who couldn't control it."
At "control it," Liu Erlong let out a sharp laugh, her mood flipping. "Brother Fu, your academy's a magnet for weirdos. First that Evil Fire Phoenix, now a Feces Man?"
A loud fart punctuated her words, followed by an unmistakable splatter. Flanders flushed red, then exhaled heavily. "Erlong, Tang San's not my student. Yu Xiaogang's his teacher."
"Xiao Gang?"
Liu Erlong's laughter died, her body stiffening. Her head whipped around, eyes wild with longing and pain. "Where is he? Still hiding from me? How long does he plan to keep this up?"
Tears spilled over, raw emotion cracking her tough shell. The Shrek team exchanged uneasy looks. It seemed there was a story here, tangled and deep, between her, Yu Xiaogang, and Flanders.
Flanders rested a steady hand on her shoulder, his voice firm but gentle. "Easy, Erlong. He's not hiding from you. He's out of Heaven Dou City on business and will be back soon."
"Where'd he go?" she pressed, desperation edging her words.
Flanders hesitated, then relented. "Spirit City."
"Damn it," she muttered, swiping at her tears. Her gaze hardened as she faced him. "Brother Fu, I want you to tell me everything happened to Xiao Gang over the years."
Flanders nodded, turning to the team. "Mubai, Oscar, Hongjun; stay and watch Tang San. I've got business with Dean Liu Erlong. The rest of you, go."
.......
Later, at the tea house, Flanders sat across from her, his voice heavy. "Erlong, Xiao Gang's had it rough lately."
"Tell me," she urged, leaning forward, her heart in her throat.
Hearing this, Flanders told everything that happened to Yu Xiaogang over the years, from taking Tang San as a disciple with twin spirits, to being blamed for Tang San's diarrhea side effect from three poison soul rings. After the opening ceremony fiasco, Xiao Gang's name was mud. Emperor Xue Ye had kicked him out of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, banned him from leading teams forever.
"Those jerks, how dare they smear Xiao Gang like that!" Liu Erlong's fists clenched, fury blazin in her eyes. Love blinded her; to her, he was framed, end of story.
"I don't want to believe it either, but the proof's there," Flanders said, his shoulders slumping. "He can't talk his way out, and even Tang San's lost faith in him."
"That ungrateful little shit! I'll set him straight!" Liu Erlong shot up.
Flanders grabbed her arm. "Don't, Erlong. His dad is Hao Tian Douluo. If you hurt him, and it's not just you in danger but Xiao Gang will get dragged in too."
The mention of Xiao Gang's safety stopped her cold. She sank back, voice low. "Then who said that it was Xiao Gang who caused Tang San's side effect?"
Flanders paused, then said, "Ning Tian."
Liu Erlong's rage reignited, aimed straight at Ning Tian. "That punk dares trash Xiao Gang? I'll tear him apart!"
Flanders said nothing, a flicker of resignation in his eyes. Ning Tian had no Titled Douluo to shield him. Erlong's wrath might just blow over if she beats someone.
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