By midday, the morning's training session had come to an end.
Qi Lin clapped his hands and said to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, "Alright, that's it for this morning's training. You're dismissed."
Both girls were gasping for breath, their cheeks flushed from exhaustion. As soon as she was freed, Ning Rongrong hobbled over to Qi Lin, pitifully clutching her sore backside.
During their tree-climbing exercises, her lack of experience meant she kept falling flat on her butt. By now, she was convinced she'd bruised it in eight different places.
"Brother Qi Lin, isn't there an easier way to train? My poor butt is going to split in half."
Qi Lin knew she had a bit of a princess complex, but he still replied with a helpless expression, "I've already made things easier for you. When Xiao Wu first started learning how to climb trees, she fell even harder than you."
Hearing that, Ning Rongrong glanced at Xiao Wu—who was currently looking at her with smug pride.
Hmph! You think you can steal Brother Qi Lin from me looking like that?
Shame and stubbornness welled up inside her.
Hmph! If you can do it, then so can I!
Zhu Zhuqing had taken her share of tumbles too, but she wore a rare look of satisfaction on her face. She could feel that the training was actually helping. After just one morning, she could already sense a smoother flow of soul power through her body when she activated her Martial Soul.
"Thank you, Teacher Qi Lin," Zhu Zhuqing said sincerely, bowing deeply.
Qi Lin waved her off with a smile. "Good. As long as you're making progress."
Compared to the others, Zhu Zhuqing had the most focused attitude. Perhaps it was because of the hardship she carried in her heart.
She was determined. Even without Dai Mubai, she would defeat her sister and Dai Weisi with her own strength.
On their way back, the four of them ran into Yu Xiaogang and his group on the training grounds.
Yu Xiaogang walked up cheerfully. "Qi Lin, how was your first morning of teaching?"
Qi Lin replied casually, "Pretty good. Zhuqing and Rongrong were both cooperative. As for Xiao Wu, she's always listened to me."
The moment he said that, a flash of discomfort crossed Tang San's face.
What do you mean she only listens to you? What does that make her?
Yu Xiaogang, meanwhile, looked doubtfully at Ning Rongrong and frowned. "Ning Rongrong trained seriously?"
"If you're just trying to save her pride, you don't have to lie. It's better to deal with the problem early."
As the heiress of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Yu Xiaogang found it hard to believe Ning Rongrong would willingly follow anyone's training seriously. Even so, now was absolutely not the time to say such a thing. Whether he was right or not, he'd just offended her.
But then again, emotional intelligence had never been Yu Xiaogang's strong suit. That was why his reputation back in Nuoding Academy was so poor.
Ning Rongrong caught his gaze and heard his words loud and clear. Instantly, her temper exploded.
She didn't care who he was.
Pointing directly at Yu Xiaogang's nose, she snapped, "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"What do you mean did I train seriously?"
"Whether I did or not is none of your damn business!"
"You're just a weakling stuck at level twenty-nine! Who do you think you are to judge me?"
"You're just bored and nosy, looking for something to criticize. Disgusting!"
The others were stunned by her sudden outburst. Gone was the elegant young lady from before—this was pure, unfiltered rage. She didn't hold back, not even a little.
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San's faces turned grim.
Tang San's aura turned cold. If this weren't inside the academy, and if Ning Rongrong weren't his classmate, her words alone would've been enough for him to consider taking her down.
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened further. When she called him a "level twenty-nine weakling," it felt like a steel blade stabbed into his heart.
It hurt—badly.
So what if his Martial Soul had defects that kept him from breaking through?
Did that mean he deserved to be looked down on?
Gritting his teeth, Yu Xiaogang swore once again in his heart: he would train Tang San into the strongest soul master on the continent and slap everyone's face with the truth—
There are no useless Martial Souls, only useless soul masters!
Just then, Qi Lin stepped forward, gently placing a hand on Ning Rongrong's shoulder, then turned to Yu Xiaogang with a firm expression.
"Grandmaster, this time you really were in the wrong."
"I can say with full confidence—Ning Rongrong may be a daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, but this morning, she trained with full dedication and absolute respect. Not once did she show a spoiled attitude."
"To me, she's…"
"…an outstanding student."
Ning Rongrong looked up at Qi Lin, her heart pounding faster.
Brother Qi Lin… he's really—
So gentle!
Qi Lin's voice turned serious. "Prejudice is like a mountain in the heart. I hope next time, Grandmaster, you'll think before you speak."
With that, he turned to the three girls behind him and gestured. "Let's go."
As they walked away, Yu Xiaogang clenched his jaw.
He hadn't expected to get chewed out by Ning Rongrong and then lectured by Qi Lin.
Tang San stepped forward, trying to console him. "Teacher, it's just like the saying: Only vile women and petty men are hard to deal with. There's no need to stoop to their level."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Tang San felt a strange wave of dizziness hit his head.
Yu Xiaogang, seeing Tang San's concern, felt a bit better. He waved a hand. "Don't worry, San. I'm not about to argue with two kids."
"You're truly broad-minded, Teacher," Tang San nodded admiringly.
Watching all of this, Dai Mubai and the others were surprised by Ning Rongrong's explosive side, but also felt that she and Qi Lin had overreacted a little.
All Yu Xiaogang did was say a few words. Was this reaction really necessary?
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong was still fuming as they walked away.
"Tch! That so-called Grandmaster—jumping to conclusions about me without evidence?"
Even Xiao Wu added, "He really was in the wrong this time. No wonder no one liked him at Nuoding Academy."
"If it were me, I'd have cursed him too!"
"No, wait—I'd have punched him as well!"
Hearing that, Ning Rongrong found herself liking Xiao Wu a little more.
Maybe this was how friendships between girls started.
As long as you take my side, we're friends.
Qi Lin shook his head. "Ignore them. Once you've grown strong enough, you'll have all the time in the world to slap their faces."
"Come on, let's go to my dorm. I'll give you three a special training session."