The walk out of the city and towards the Seven Glazed Tile Sect, following Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling. Along the way, silence filled the air, not a comfortable quiet but a thick tapestry of unsaid words and simmering emotions.
Dugu Yan led the way, her back rigid with affronted pride, the sharp clicks of her heels on the cobblestones a staccato beat of her irritation.
Ye Lingling floated beside her, a silent, lilac-haired shadow, her gaze occasionally darting back towards Tang San with a flicker of shy curiosity before quickly looking away.
Behind them, our trio communicated through shared glances and subtle shifts in posture.
Tang San's expression was one of calm analysis, his eyes constantly mapping their route, storing every turn and landmark.
Xiao Wu's silence was a volatile thing, her arms crossed tightly, her lower lip pushed out in a pout that promised future retribution.
Mei, walking with a tranquil grace that seemed to absorb the tension around her, simply observed. She felt the weight of the city's gaze, the invisible lines of class and power that separated them from their two guides.
Well, this is awkward, Ai's voice chirped in Mei's mind, a burst of modern cynicism in the ancient setting.
It's like a really tense road trip where the GPS is a pissed-off noble and the music is everyone's internal screaming.
A soft, deeper chime echoed in her consciousness, Luminous's measured tone a contrast to Ai's flippancy.
The silence speaks volumes. The purple-haired one's pride is a brittle shell. The quiet one's spirit is… reserved, yet deep.
Mei agreed silently. The silence was more revealing than any conversation could have been.
It wasn't long before the magnificent, daunting walls of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect came into view. The milky-white marble veined with silver seemed to drink the sunlight, glowing with an ethereal radiance.
The colossal jade gate, carved with breathtaking artistry, stood as a testament to unimaginable wealth and power.
Two disciples in elegant, deep blue robes stepped forward, their movements fluid and synchronized, their auras well-controlled and firm. "Halt. State your business," one said, his tone polite but leaving no room for presumption.
Dugu Yan didn't break her stride. "I am Dugu Yan, granddaughter of the Poison Douluo. This is Ye Lingling of the Nine Heart Begonia family. We are here on the orders of Teacher Qin Ming to retrieve Ning Rongrong for her classes."
The effect was immediate. The disciples' professional masks slipped, replaced by looks of shock and swift deference.
The names of a Title Douluo and one of the Spirit Master world's premier healing clans were keys that unlocked any door.
"Of course! Our apologies, Lady Dugu, Lady Ye," the same disciple stammered, bowing slightly.
He and his companion shared a look that was less of respect and more of profound pity.
Oh my, Ai giggled. They look like they're sending them off to face a firing squad. Just how much of a handful is our dear Little Witch?
The disciples' eyes then fell upon Mei, Tang San, and Xiao Wu. Their gaze swept over the trio's simple, travel-worn clothes, a flicker of judgment in their eyes, until it landed on Mei.
The disciple who had spoken froze, his words dying in his throat. Her captivating beauty, the unique cascade of pink hair, and the serene, almost otherworldly grace she carried seemed to short-circuit his thoughts momentarily. He just stared, captivated.
Tang San, ever the calm center, stepped forward. His movement broke the spell. "We are also here to see Ning Rongrong," he announced, his voice even and clear.
The disciple blinked, shaking his head as if to clear it, and his expression shifted back to one of scrutiny.
"I see. And do you have an invitation? The young mistress does not receive just anyone." The unspoken words, especially ones who look like you, hung in the air.
Without a word, Tang San produced the ornate jade token Ning Rongrong had sent him. He held it out calmly in his palm.
The disciples' eyes widened, their jaws going slack. This was no simple pass; it was the young mistress's personal token, a symbol of extreme trust and favor rarely given to outsiders.
Their attitude transformed from dismissive suspicion to awestruck reverence in a heartbeat.
"The young mistress's personal token!" one gasped.
"Our deepest apologies! Please, forgive our ignorance. Right this way!"
One of them hurriedly opened a smaller, personal gate within the great jade arch, while the other bowed deeply and scurried off, presumably to deliver the news.
The remaining disciple, now excessively polite, gestured for them to follow. "I will escort you to the young mistress's private courtyard."
As they passed through the gate, the world transformed. The inside of the sect was a paradise meticulously crafted by limitless wealth.
The air, already rich in the Heavan Dou City, became so thick with spirit energy that it felt like wading through honey.
Lush gardens sprawled in every direction, filled with spirit herbs that glowed with soft, internal light, their fragrances a complex, intoxicating perfume.
Pavilions of polished dark wood and glazed tile connected by arched bridges stood over koi ponds filled with fish that shimmered with spirit light. In the distance, the central, crystal-like pagoda pierced the sky, a monument to the sect's power.
"It's… It's like a dream," Mei whispered, her observant eyes taking in the impossible luxury. Even the gravel on the path seemed to be made of crushed, spirit-conductive crystals.
Damn, this isn't just rich, Ai commented, her voice tinged with awe. This is 'we-burn-money-for-fun' rich. I'm calculating the market value of that hedgerow of Silverleaf Spirit Grass, and I'm having a system error. It's obscenely beautiful.
Xiao Wu's reaction was more mixed. Her eyes widened at the sheer beauty, but then she spotted an enclosure where a few gentle, deer-like spirit beasts with crystalline antlers were kept.
They were clearly well-cared for, revered even, but the sight of any spirit beast in captivity, no matter how gilded the cage, sent a complex pang through her heart.
She quickly masked her discomfort, focusing instead on the opulent buildings and the dizzying display of wealth.
Their guide led them deeper into the compound, each turn revealing new wonders.
Elsewhere in the sect, the disciple who had run ahead was granted an urgent audience in the Sect Master Hall.
Sect Master Ning Fengzhi, a man with a gentle face and eyes that held wisdom and scheme, sat listening. Standing beside him were two elders: the formidable Sword Douluo, Elder Gu Rong, his frame like a sheathed blade, and the slightly more approachable Bone Douluo, Elder Chen Xin.
"Guests have arrived, Sect Master," the disciple reported, bowing low.
"Lady Dugu Yan and Lady Ye Lingling are escorting them. And… the young mistress's other guests have arrived as well. A boy and two girls. The boy presented her personal jade token."
Ning Fengzhi's face, which had been patiently neutral, broke into a genuine, ecstatic smile. "He's here! Excellent! The young man Tang San and the other monstrous genus are here." He rose smoothly from his seat. "We must greet them. It is only proper."
Elder Gu Rong let out a grunt that sounded like grinding stones. His face was a thundercloud.
"So, the pig who dares to dream of stealing our prized cabbage has finally come to the slaughterhouse," he muttered, crossing his arms. "I don't like it."
Ning Fengzhi chuckled, a warm, diplomatic sound.
"Now, now, Uncle Gu. We promised to be on our best behavior. He is Rongrong's friend and a remarkable talent. You should not judge the boy before you've even met him."
Chen Xin offered a wry smile. "Don't worry, old friend. If he steps out of line, you can always… advise him." The glint in his eye suggested the "advice" would be sharp and pointed.
With that, the three most powerful men in the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect set off towards Ning Rongrong's courtyard.
In her private courtyard, a space of exquisite beauty that mirrored the larger sect in miniature, Ning Rongrong was in a state of barely contained excitement.
She had changed into a new dress of celestial blue silk, her hair freshly styled. She flitted around her sitting room, adjusting a vase of flowers here, straightening a scroll there.
"He's here, he's really here," she whispered to herself, a giddy smile on her face. She had to look perfect. She had to show Tang San how much she had grown, how elegant she had become.
When a servant announced that her guests had arrived and were being led to her courtyard, she couldn't contain herself. She practically flew out of her room, her heart hammering against her ribs.
Her eyes scanned the group, bypassing Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling entirely, searching for a familiar head of gradient blue hair.
And there he was. A little taller, his features more defined, but it was him. The calm, steady center of the storm she remembered from Nuoding.
"Tang San!" she cried out, all noble poise forgotten. She dashed forward and, before he could react, launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug.
"You're finally here! Did you miss me?" she asked, her voice a coquettish melody.
Tang San stiffened, his arms stuck awkwardly at his sides. He was completely taken by surprise by the fervor of the greeting.
A faint pinkness touched the tips of his ears. "R-Rongrong," he managed, patting her back gently. "It's good to see you. But you should greet the others first."
Pffft! Ai's laugh echoed in Mei's mind.
And the award for 'Most Awkward Hug in the History of Douluo Dalu' goes to… Tang San! Look at him, he's short-circuiting!
Ning Rongrong, remembering her manners, reluctantly let go. She turned to Mei and Xiao Wu, her smile still bright but now layered with a subtle, competitive edge.
"Mei, Xiao Wu. It's been too long. Welcome to my home."
Xiao Wu's eye twitched. The "no clinging" rule had been broken within seconds.
She immediately marched forward and latched onto Tang San's other arm, declaring her own territory with a possessive glare.
"It's a very… shiny place, Rongrong."
And so began a stilted, friendly exchange.
The four of them talked about their journey, about Nuoding, but the entire conversation was underpinned by the silent battle between Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong, who both clung to Tang San's arms like lifelines, subtly trying to pull him closer to their side.
Tang San stood in the middle, a prisoner of their affections, his face a look of profound helplessness as he tried to keep the conversation neutral.
Mei watched from the side, a hand covering her mouth as she tried to suppress her giggles. The scene was too absurd not to find amusing.
The male of the species is often caught in the territorial disputes of the females, Luminous observed with ancient wisdom.
A dynamic as old as time itself, and one that's close to my heart
I'm taking bets on which one yanks his arm out of its socket first, Ai quipped.
Dugu Yan, who had been completely ignored from the moment Ning Rongrong appeared, finally reached her limit.
Her patience, already frayed from being used as an errand girl, snapped. She strode forward, her expression dark.
"Enough of this childishness!" she snapped, her voice cutting through the forced pleasantries.
She grabbed Ning Rongrong's arm and physically pulled her off of Tang San.
"I'm here to drag you back to class, Rongrong. Whether you like it or not."
Ning Rongrong stumbled back, her beautiful face contorting in anger.
"How dare you, Yan'er! Mind your own business! Why don't you focus on your own cultivation instead of interfering in mine? It would be truly embarrassing if someone younger than you ended up outranking you in terms of power, wouldn't it?"
The barb was expertly aimed, and it struck true. Dugu Yan's face flushed with fury. Being questioned about her strength was the greatest insult possible.
Her stormy eyes, blazing with anger, flicked from Ning Rongrong to the obvious source of this new competition. Tang San.
"You think he's so great?" Dugu Yan sneered, directing her venom at him. "I don't care what rank he is. Even if he were of the same rank as me, I could beat him with one hand tied behind my back!"
Ning Rongrong planted her hands on her hips, a triumphant smirk on her face. "Oh? All talk? Why don't you prove it then?"
Fueled by pride, rage, and the need to put these upstarts in their place, Dugu Yan took a challenging step right up to Tang San.
She pointed a finger at his chest, her voice ringing out clear and sharp in the courtyard.
"You! Tang San! I challenge you to a spirit duel! Right here, right now!"
At that exact moment, the courtyard gate opened once more. Ning Fengzhi, with Elder Gu Rong and Elder Chen Xin flanking him, stepped through.
They took in the scene in an instant: the furious Dugu Yan, the flustered Ning Rongrong, the two girls clinging to a profoundly embarrassed Tang San, and the challenge that hung, sharp and undeniable, in the air.
The Sect Master's gentle smile remained, but his eyes held a new, keen interest. Elder Gu Rong's scowl deepened, his gaze fixed on the boy who was the center of all this drama.
That escalated quickly Ai chimed in.
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Hey everyone, Happy New Year !!!
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