r18novel Chapter 34 Rongrong's First Encounter
Chapter 34 Rongrong's First Encounter
年终
New Year's Eve, a small courtyard in the west of the city.
Su Qing prepared a sumptuous New Year's Eve dinner, and Yan Hu specially bought firecrackers. Xiao Wu helped set the table, chattering about interesting things that happened at the academy.
Light snow was falling outside the window, while the room was warm and cozy.
Looking at the heartwarming scene before him, Yan Zu felt a sense of peace. Three years had passed; his parents were healthy, Xiao Wu was by his side, his strength had steadily improved, and the seeds of civilization had been quietly sown.
Although the road ahead is still fraught with thorns—Tang San's hostility, the pressure from the Spirit Hall, the shadow of Tang Hao, and the covetousness of various forces—at least for now, he is safe.
"Auntie, what are you daydreaming about?" Su Qing put a piece of braised pork into his bowl. "Eat more, you've grown taller again."
Yan Hu raised his glass and said with a smile, "Come on, let's wish our family a peaceful and prosperous new year!"
"Peace and safety!" Xiao Wu held up the juice, her eyes curving into crescents.
Yan Zu picked up his bowl and gently tapped it against his family's.
"Yes, may you be safe and sound."
The snow fell silently, covering the streets of Nottingham and the turmoil of the past year. The new year, however, is destined to be anything but peaceful.
When the morning bell rang in the fourth school year, Yan Zu had just turned ten years old.
The boy had grown to over five feet tall, his shoulders and back straight as a pine tree, exuding an air of profound composure as he walked. Having cultivated the Nine Yin Manual to the seventh level, his skin was as smooth as jade, and his dark eyes as deep as pools. Even in his coarse school uniform, he still managed to exude the refined elegance of a young nobleman.
Xiao Wu has completely shed her childishness. The eleven-year-old girl has a slender figure, with her long pink hair braided into an exquisite scorpion tail that hangs down to her hips. Her eyes and brows are lively and charming. Only when she looks at Yan Zu does she still retain that unique soft and affectionate look.
On the first day of school, when Yan Zu completed his attendance check-in, the system notification sounded particularly crisp:
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on reaching the ten-year milestone! This triggers the annual critical reward!]
[Obtained: Bond Pendant (10 pieces)]
[Effect: Each token can be bound to one bonded target. After binding, when the target is near the host, soul power recovery speed increases by 20%, and skill cooldown is reduced by 10%; when the bonded target encounters mortal danger, the host can trigger "Teleport Guardian" (once per month, instantly teleporting to the target's side and releasing the Qilin Shield).]
Yan Zu flipped his palm over, and ten gleaming white jade pendants lay quietly, each engraved with a pattern of intertwined qilin and auspicious clouds, exuding a gentle and understated elegance.
He immediately took out two jade pendants, one to tie around Xiao Wu's waist and the other to his own body. The moment the jade pendants touched their skin, an invisible spiritual connection was established between them, even stronger than the auspicious beast talisman, as if they could sense each other's heartbeats.
"Brother Azu, what is this?" Xiao Wu asked curiously, fiddling with the jade pendant at her waist.
"A talisman." Yan Zu straightened her clothes. "From now on, wherever you are, I will be able to sense your safety."
Xiao Wu's eyes curved into crescents, and she tiptoed to plant a light kiss on his cheek: "Then I'll protect my little brother, A-Zu, too!"
As the first rays of dawn pierced the ancient walls of Nottingham during the fourth academic year, a magnificent carriage pulled by four snow-white horses, escorted by more than ten solemn guards, slowly drove into the city gate.
The carriage was made of precious agarwood, and the curtains were made of moonlight gauze from the southern border of the Star Luo Empire, which shimmered with a faint silver glow in the morning light.
On the side wall of the carriage, a pagoda emblem inlaid with seven-colored gemstones gleamed in the morning sun—it was the symbol of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, the wealthiest of the three upper sects.
Inside the car, Ning Rongrong leaned against the window, curiously observing this small town, which was completely different from the Tian Dou Imperial City where she had lived since childhood.
The girl was eleven years old. She wore a light purple brocade dress, with a silk sash inlaid with soul guide crystals tied around her waist. Her long black hair was styled into an exquisite double bun and secured with a jade hairpin.
Her skin was so fair it was almost translucent, and her features were as delicate as a porcelain doll's. In particular, her eyes, clear as glass, were lively yet revealed a spoiled and proud air that came from being pampered as a child.
"Daddy, is this Nottingham City? It looks so...simple." Ning Rongrong wrinkled her small nose.
Sitting opposite her, Ning Fengzhi put down the book in his hand—it was the latest edition of the illustrated hardcover edition of "The Epic of Roland," with the knight Roland holding a sword and guarding the cover depicted in a lifelike manner.
He smiled gently: "Rongrong, Nottingham City may be small, but it is full of hidden talents. The Mr. Wen Yansheng you have been longing for, as well as those exquisite soul tools, all came from here."
Mentioning "Wen Yansheng," Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up instantly: "Daddy, can we really meet Mr. Wen Yansheng? I read 'Starry Night Tales' again last night, that fox is so clever! And the oath of the Knight of Roland in 'The Epic of Roland'... I can recite it by heart!"
As she spoke, she actually began to recite: "'I will protect the weak, and will not despise them because they are commoners; I will uphold my contracts, and will not break my promises for personal gain...' Father, the person who wrote these words must be a very gentle and remarkable person, right?"
"Rongrong," Ning Fengzhi said seriously, "Your father sent you to Notting Academy in the hope that you could focus on your studies and make true friends. As for Mr. Wen Yansheng... if we are truly destined to meet, we will meet. But remember, do not force it and cause him trouble."
"I know, Daddy!" Ning Rongrong nodded obediently, but her eyes sparkled with eagerness.
The carriage stopped in front of Nottingham College.
The dean, the director of academic affairs, and a group of teachers, who had already received the news, were waiting at the door.
Upon seeing Ning Fengzhi personally alight from the car, everyone hurriedly bowed in respect—the presence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's Sect Master was an unprecedented honor for Notting Academy.
"Sect Leader Ning's presence is an honor to our humble academy." The dean's tone was respectful yet excited.
Ning Fengzhi returned the greeting with refined manners: "Dean, you are too kind. My daughter is unruly, and I will need your esteemed institution to take good care of her in the future."
During the exchange of pleasantries, Ning Rongrong jumped off the carriage and curiously looked around at the academy's buildings.
The bluestone walls, the simple and unadorned teaching buildings, the slightly worn playground... everything was far removed from the "Soul Master Academy" she had imagined.
But when she thought about how all those wonderful stories and magical soul tools came from here, she felt that everything in front of her was mysterious.
Suddenly, her gaze was drawn to two figures walking side by side down the main academy path.
The boy walking in front was about ten years old, slender and upright, wearing a faded coarse cloth school uniform, but it couldn't hide his mature demeanor beyond his years.
His face still held a childlike innocence, but his dark eyes were calm as water, as if they could see through everything. Most notably, a small, jade-colored beast, about the size of a puppy, lay on his shoulder. Its body was crystal clear, with deer antlers and an ox tail, and it was lazily yawning.
The girl beside him looked to be eleven or twelve years old, with long pink hair braided into a lively scorpion tail. Her features were delicate and beautiful, especially her large, clear, and lively eyes, which carried the purity and vitality of a soul beast.
She stood close to the boy, occasionally turning her head to laugh with him, her eyes full of trust and affection.
The two walked together, their clothes simple yet radiant, as if everything around them had become a backdrop.
"Who are they?" Ning Rongrong asked instinctively.
The dean followed her gaze and smiled:
"Those are Yan Zu and Xiao Wu, the most outstanding students in our academy in recent years. Yan Zu not only has excellent grades in all theoretical courses, but also has exceptional talent in soul beast identification and academic subjects. Xiao Wu has extremely strong practical skills, and the two have been partners for many years with excellent teamwork."
Ning Fengzhi's gaze fell on the jade-colored beast on Yan Zu's shoulder, and his pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.
As a level 79 Soul Saint and the owner of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul, his perception of soul power and Martial Soul far surpassed that of ordinary people. The vitality and auspicious aura emanating from that little beast were unbelievably pure.
Ning Rongrong's focus, however, was entirely different. She stared at Yan Zu's face, which was still somewhat immature but already showed handsome features, and then looked at the excessively cute little beast on his shoulder, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.
"Daddy, that little animal is so cute! What kind of spirit beast is it? Can I touch it?"
Ning Fengzhi snapped out of his daze and helplessly ruffled his daughter's hair: "Rongrong, don't be rude. That must be Yan Zu's martial spirit."
"A martial spirit?!" Ning Rongrong's eyes widened in surprise. She had never seen a martial spirit that could exist outside the body and was so agile.
Just then, Yan Zu and Xiao Wu approached. Upon seeing the Dean and Ning Fengzhi, the two stopped and bowed politely.
"Greetings, Dean; greetings, fellow teachers; greetings, Sect Leader Ning."
Yan Zu's voice was clear and steady, neither humble nor arrogant. His gaze swept over Ning Fengzhi as if he were just looking at an ordinary elder.
Ning Fengzhi's admiration deepened. This young man, upon seeing someone of his stature, showed not a trace of fear or obsequiousness, only calm respect. Such character was extraordinary.
"Students Yan Zu and Xiao Wu," the dean introduced. "Sect Leader Ning has sent his daughter to our academy today, and she will be your classmate from now on."
His gaze fell on Ning Rongrong, who was standing beside Ning Fengzhi. The girl was staring at him with wide, curious eyes, and at the little jade pendant on his shoulder. The moment their eyes met, Ning Rongrong suddenly spoke:
"You're Yan Zu? I've heard my father mention you! Is that little beast on your shoulder your martial spirit? It's so cute! And... do you know Mr. Wen Yansheng?"
A barrage of questions came like a machine gun, carrying the straightforwardness and naivety unique to young girls.
Yan Zu smiled slightly, his tone still gentle: "Hello, Ning. This is my martial spirit, I call it Xiaoyu. As for Mr. Wen Yansheng... I did deliver his manuscripts a few times, but he lives a secluded life and doesn't like to receive guests. I've only heard of him, never met him."
Ning Rongrong wasn't disappointed at all; instead, her eyes lit up even more: "Then you must have read all of Mr. Roland's works? My favorite is the oath of the Knight of Roland in 'The Epic of Roland,' and the wise fox in 'Tales of the Stars at Night'! What do you think?"
She looked at Yan Zu expectantly, as if she had found a kindred spirit.
Yan Zu pondered for a moment and said, "Roland's oath protects the flame of civilization, not just a city or a place. The wisdom of the fox lies in resolving conflict rather than creating bloodshed. Mr. Wen Yansheng's writing, though seemingly simple, actually contains reflections on peace, wisdom, and responsibility. Ning's ability to glean these insights surpasses that of many readers who are merely seeking entertainment."
Ning Rongrong was stunned.
When she was in Tiandou City, the noble youths would either humbly praise Wen Yansheng's "beautiful writing" or scoff at him as "children's playthings." No one had ever so accurately revealed the deeper meaning behind those stories as Yan Zu.
"You...you really think so?" Her voice softened, carrying a hint of surprise at finding common ground.
Yan Zu nodded: "The power of words lies in provoking thought. If readers only see the surface, that is the author's failure; if readers can ponder the inner meaning, that is the value of words."
These words also slightly moved Ning Fengzhi, who was standing to the side. He looked at Yan Zu deeply and suddenly felt that perhaps his daughter's decision to come to Notting Academy was indeed the right one.