Click—
The door suddenly opened.
Bai Mu froze when he saw Ning Rongrong sitting on the floor outside, his expression full of shock.
"Rongrong? Why are you here?"
"I… I…"
Ning Rongrong hurriedly wiped her tears and tried to stand, only to find her legs trembling uncontrollably.
She lowered her head, her voice choked.
"I… I'm sorry. Maybe I came at a bad time…"
"No."
Bai Mu stepped forward and pulled her into his arms.
"You came at exactly the right time."
"Ah!"
Ning Rongrong cried out softly as she was drawn into the room.
Inside, Zhu Zhuqing—who had just been defeated once again in the spirit spar—looked over in surprise. Her face flushed, but she said nothing, simply moving aside to make room.
Bai Mu held one girl in each arm, his tone gentle yet firm.
"You are all my angels."
"Mhm…"
Ning Rongrong's reply was barely louder than a whisper.
"Come," Bai Mu said with a smile. "Let me properly teach this so-called 'weak' support-type Spirit Master how to fight."
"Seven Treasure Trans—trans—trans—come out… Glazed Tile…"
Ning Rongrong hurriedly summoned her martial soul, stuttering from nervousness.
"Seven Treasures' first: Strength!"
"Seven Treasures' second: Speed!"
Bai Mu nodded approvingly.
"Rongrong, your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda really is incredible. The amplification is terrifying."
"I told you," Ning Rongrong said despite her embarrassment, "anyone who experiences my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda can never go back."
"I agree," Bai Mu laughed. "You look soft, but you're far more capable than I expected."
"Father said you went out hunting soul beasts," Ning Rongrong said quietly. "That it was dangerous…"
"It wasn't hard," Bai Mu replied calmly. "With proper preparation, everything becomes manageable."
Before long, fatigue caught up with Ning Rongrong. She yawned repeatedly, her eyelids drooping.
"I… I can't keep going. I'm too sleepy…"
"That won't do," Bai Mu said seriously. "I still need to observe coordination between a support-type and an agility-type Spirit Master."
He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, who had somehow dozed off.
Smack.
"Huh?"
Zhu Zhuqing jolted awake, blinking in confusion.
"The final round," Bai Mu said. "Get ready."
"Okay!"
Her eyes sharpened instantly.
"Phantom Cat, possession!"
"No, no!"
Ning Rongrong waved her hands frantically. "I really can't anymore!"
——
Outside the Rose Hotel, Dai Mubai stood motionless beneath the dim streetlights.
Two hours had passed.
Zhu Zhuqing had gone in.
Then Ning Rongrong.
No one had come out.
He didn't need to imagine what that meant.
"Is that Young Master Dai?"
The hotel manager stepped outside and greeted him cheerfully.
"Your usual room is still available. Want me to arrange—"
"No need."
Dai Mubai cut him off, his voice hoarse.
The manager quickly retreated.
Dai Mubai took one last look at the glowing window above, then turned away unsteadily.
With every step, his chest felt tighter.
Zhu Zhuqing.
Ning Rongrong.
Bai Mu.
The names tangled together until a mouthful of blood surged up.
Pfft—
He spat against the wall, swaying under the streetlamp.
Too painful.
——
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"What?! Rongrong left the academy at night and didn't return?!"
Gu Rong crushed the teacup in his hand.
Sword intent surged around Chen Xin unconsciously.
"The room was booked by Bai Mu," a Spirit Master reported.
"…Bai Mu?"
Chen Xin frowned. "That's not reassuring at all!"
"My Little Princess…"
Gu Rong's voice trembled. "Fengzhi, this is too much. At worst—"
"Hahaha!"
Ning Fengzhi laughed instead of getting angry.
"Uncle Gu, if Rongrong didn't want this, who could force her?"
"She is willing to stake herself for the future of the sect. How can we fail her?"
His eyes shone with calm ambition.
"For true powerhouses, romance is not a flaw. If Bai Mu belongs to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, everything else is secondary."
"The stronger the bloodline, the higher the chance of future geniuses."
"Even if not, the more ties he has to us, the more stable our foundation becomes."
"In the future, he may even reach a realm comparable to the legends."
Gu Rong stared at him in disbelief.
"You're insane."
Chen Xin nodded slowly.
"…But he isn't wrong."
"Madness!"
Gu Rong clutched his head.
"You've all gone completely mad!"