Inside Taoyuan Academy.
Wang Sheng and Ning Rongrong's adoration for Su Ran had grown even deeper.
It was rumored that Shrek Academy had Spirit Saint level experts among its teachers, and more than one at that. Yet, their teacher had walked in so calmly, done something unknown, and made Shrek's dean personally see him out, not even daring to make a peep despite seeing his own student beaten to a pulp.
What was this?
This was strength!
Night fell, and the sky was dotted with stars.
Wang Sheng lived by the school gate, practicing his Tiger Form Fist while also serving as a security guard. He had been a slow learner, failing to break through to the tenth rank and obtain his first spirit ability even by the age of eleven or twelve. He was originally fated to be beaten by a six-year-old Tang San at Nuoding Academy when he was twelve.
But by a stroke of fate, he had met Su Ran, and his life was changed forever.
He remembered a saying from Su Ran.
"Read ten thousand books, and you will write as if guided by a god. Practice a punch ten thousand times, and you'll be proficient at beating people up."
"If ten thousand times isn't enough, then do it a hundred million times."
"With enough perseverance, an iron rod can be ground down to a needle!"
"Hoo! Hah—"
Under the peach trees in the outer courtyard, the sound of Wang Sheng's diligent practice of his fist forms could be heard every day.
In the inner courtyard, as usual, Ning Rongrong was lighting a fire to heat up the "Seven Treasure Body Tempering Water" for her bath.
Su Ran walked over with a medicinal plaster, called Ning Rongrong to him, and with his long, slender fingers, gently applied the ointment to her burned skin.
"Although this Seven Treasure Golden Bell Shield has astonishing defensive power, and you know a little Wing Chun, you have, after all, only been learning for a month. You're still a support-type Spirit Master. You won't gain much from fighting a power-attack type Spirit Master one-on-one."
"It's not like I wanted to fight him. He was the one harassing me and insulting you, Teacher. I couldn't stand it. Besides, it's not like I lost," Ning Rongrong retorted. She didn't understand why her teacher was scolding her, but she was thrilled at the thought that she had nearly defeated a power-attack type Spirit Grandmaster of roughly the same rank.
This was the result of just one month of studying with Su Ran. If she trained for a few more months, even if that Ma Hongjun went all out, he still wouldn't be able to defeat her.
A support-type defeating a power-attack type in a one-on-one fight was nothing short of a miracle.
"That Ma Hongjun is driven by an evil fire. He can't help himself when he sees a woman, especially a pretty one. He cultivates by absorbing yin to supplement his yang, no different from an evil cultivator. If you encounter him again, you don't need to fight him yourself. Just call Wang Sheng to take care of him. If that's not enough, you still have me," Su Ran said calmly.
Hearing his words, a warmth spread through Ning Rongrong's heart. Teacher Su Ran gave her the feeling of a strict father and a loving father coexisting in one person. Not even her own father had ever made her feel this way. Her father usually spoiled her rotten and could never bear to punish her harshly.
In contrast, Su Ran didn't indulge her at all when it was time to be strict, but when he was gentle, he could melt her very bones, leaving her completely captivated.
As the ointment covered her wounds, the itching and stinging pain made Ning Rongrong let out a few soft hisses.
"Hiss~"
"Does it hurt a lot? Endure it for a moment. This is a White Medicine Muscle-Growing Ointment. It will help disinfect and heal the wounds, and restore your skin."
"Mmm... it doesn't hurt. I can take it," Ning Rongrong said bravely. She was much stronger than she had been a month ago. Words can't teach a lesson that lasts a lifetime, but a single experience can.
"You can apply the rest yourself. It's not convenient for me as your teacher to do it. After you've applied it, wash your hands for about fifteen minutes, and then you can take your bath."
"Oh, right. You could say this fight was a blessing in disguise. It has opened up some of the meridians in your body. You can try to break through to the second layer of the Golden Bell."
After helping Ning Rongrong apply the ointment to the burns on her back, Su Ran handed the plaster to her with the reminder.
Ning Rongrong's face flushed slightly as she gave a soft "Mmm."
The second layer of the Golden Bell?!
Fifteen minutes later, in the inner courtyard, with a splash, Ning Rongrong submerged herself in the bathtub.
A warmth enveloped her entire body, and the medicine felt like countless tiny fish licking at her skin. The sensation was particularly strong in the areas burned by the Phoenix Fire Line, and the Golden Bell Qi within her began to flow even more smoothly.
Following her teacher's guidance, Ning Rongrong eagerly began the process of opening her acupoints and clearing her meridians right there in the tub, aiming to condense the second layer of the Golden Bell.
A resplendent Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda insignia shone on her forehead. Gradually, a faint golden light began to emanate from her body.
The first layer of the Golden Bell was repaired!
Just fifteen minutes later, a second stream of Golden Bell Qi began to swirl around her.
The Guilai acupoint!
The Qichong acupoint!
The Biguan acupoint!
The Shiguan acupoint!
The Zhongji acupoint!
Open!
Hum!
Ning Rongrong felt a sense of complete clarity flow through her body. The meridians and several key acupoints connected and opened into each other, and the amount of Golden Bell Qi she could circulate instantly expanded.
"I did it!"
Without her noticing, it had become the middle of the night.
The stars and moon hung high in the sky, the moonlight exceptionally bright tonight.
Ning Rongrong stepped out of the bathtub. Her skin was now exceptionally clear and radiant, with droplets of a milky-green liquid clinging to her. With two layers of the Golden Bell Shield enveloping her, it felt like nothing could penetrate her defense now.
"Although the second layer of the Golden Bell is still a bit weak, my defensive power has increased by at least 30%. With a bit more practice to fully solidify this second layer, my defense should increase by at least 100%."
"At that point, it should be difficult for even a Spirit Elder to break through."
"And my spirit power has reached rank 27. This is great!"
Feeling the changes in her body, a sweet smile bloomed on Ning Rongrong's face. At this rate, she was certain to become one of the foremost support-type Spirit Masters on the continent—able to both provide support and tank damage!
No wonder her teacher said it was a blessing in disguise!
"It's already so late?"
"Oh, right, Teacher!"
Ning Rongrong quickly threw on a pink robe. Her pink hair was still damp, making her look like a little princess fresh from her bath.
"Teacher, are you still here?"
"Teacher probably went back to rest, right?" Ning Rongrong murmured to herself as she walked outside.
But there, in the garden behind the classroom, under a swaying red maple tree, Su Ran was half-reclined against its roots, quietly resting his eyes. He had been waiting for her to finish her bath. A meal was laid out on the stone table in front of him.
Usually, after her bath and dinner, Su Ran would test her daily training progress and correct her mistakes. But Ning Rongrong hadn't expected to accidentally cultivate the second layer of the Golden Bell during her bath tonight, and it was now past midnight. Yet, Teacher Su Ran was still waiting for her, and had even saved her a meal.
A ripple went through the young girl's heart. Teacher... is so nice.
Her first instinct was to immediately share the news that she had condensed the second stream of Golden Bell Qi, especially since they had an agreement. But seeing her teacher resting, she didn't want to disturb him. She simply sat down beside him and began to eat quietly, stealing glances at him from time to time.
Just then, Su Ran slowly opened his eyes. Even in the darkness, they were incredibly bright.
"Finished your bath?"
"Teacher... you weren't asleep?" Ning Rongrong asked, surprised.
"Mmm, I'm used to it. At my level, I don't require much sleep," Su Ran said calmly.
The truth was, in the past, women had often snuck into his room at night to tease him, so he had developed the habit of maintaining a keen awareness of his surroundings even while sleeping.
Ning Rongrong wiped her mouth, her eyes sparkling. "Teacher, I've opened my five acupoints. I've condensed the second layer of the Golden Bell."
"I know," Su Ran said with a faint smile.
"Then, Teacher, what we agreed on before... the mask..." Ning Rongrong mentioned tentatively.
"Do you really want to see?"
"Yes!"
"Very well. Since we had an agreement, your teacher will naturally fulfill his promise."
At that moment, Su Ran slowly began to remove his mask.
(End of Chapter)