Lately, Ning Rongrong had been very upset. Her always-indulgent father and two doting grandfathers had actually joined forces—to stop her!
All she wanted was to step outside the sect and see the world. She had spent all twelve years of her life within the dazzling halls of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and no matter how grand it was, even paradise can grow dull when it's all you've ever known.
But to her surprise, the moment she expressed her desire to go outside, her father and grandfathers were all deeply worried. They insisted on arranging a whole entourage of guards to accompany her.
That alone annoyed Ning Rongrong to no end. How was she supposed to "go out for some fresh air" with a whole squad trailing behind her?
Besides, she was already twelve years old! Why did they still treat her like a child?
Most noble young ladies might've given in—but Ning Rongrong wasn't most girls. She was the "Little Witch" of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. How could someone like her just obey the rules?
So, before dawn, Ning Rongrong snuck out under the cover of darkness, slipping past the guards and sneaking her way out of the sect.
At first, she thought that once she got out, she'd be like a heroine from a storybook—free to fly across the skies and roam the vast seas. But reality wasn't so romantic.
A delicate, elegantly dressed girl like her—radiating wealth and noble bearing—was like a child walking down the street with gold in her arms. It was only a matter of time before people started eyeing her.
It wasn't an exaggeration to say that, if not for the two secret bodyguards arranged by her father, Ning Fengzhi, she might not have even made it to the first city.
Though she couldn't figure out why no one actually dared lay a hand on her, she did notice the unsettling stares. And she hated them.
As the daughter of the sect master, Ning Rongrong wasn't naïve. But she had grown up surrounded by refined people like her father and Sword Douluo. Even the villains she heard about were never this crude. She honestly didn't know how to handle it.
At first, she was frightened—but when she realized these people were actually more cowardly than she expected, her fear faded, and her mischievous nature returned.
When she overheard someone mention that Shrek Academy only accepted monsters, her interest was instantly piqued. Without hesitation, she set out for Soto City.
But who would've thought she'd encounter bandits on the outskirts of the city?
With cold steel drawn and menacing voices threatening her, three burly thugs surrounded her. Though they were only ordinary men, to someone like Ning Rongrong—who'd never been in a real fight—the threat felt as terrifying as three Soul Masters.
She had seen Sword Douluo draw his sword before, yes—but never at her.
Though she was already a Level 26 Soul Grandmaster, she was a support-type soul master who had never fought seriously in her life.
And in that moment, she panicked.
If not for her good upbringing and discipline, she might have reacted like any normal girl—screaming and crying.
How humiliating would it be for a genius soul master from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to be robbed by a bunch of nobodies?
Just as she was debating whether to sacrifice her valuables or fight back, a boy appeared.
He clearly thought he had hidden his presence well—but Ning Rongrong was from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, famous for their mental strength. How else could they use their martial spirit multiple times simultaneously?
She spotted him at once, and her heart lit up with hope. With a flash of wit, she quickly cried out to draw his attention.
In her mind, even if he hadn't planned to intervene, now that his presence had been exposed, he'd be forced to play the hero. After all, beautiful girls have privileges, don't they?
But what she didn't expect was for the boy to outright refuse to help her.
For a second, Ning Rongrong was stunned. Were he and the bandits in this together?
Never in her life had she been denied anything. Not only had no one ever said "no" to her, no one had ever even upset her—not her father, not her grandfathers. But this boy, who was admittedly rather handsome, actually said no?
Was he blind? Couldn't he see she was a beautiful girl in danger?
Was he even a man?
Did he really have the heart to let her fall into those bandits' hands?
A whirlwind of emotions rushed through her mind as she stared at him—shocked, angry, and completely at a loss.
Which is why she didn't see it coming when the bandit leader suddenly raised his blade and struck!
Even her hidden guards hadn't anticipated such a reckless move. They were too late to stop it—he was already mid-swing.
Only the boy reacted in time.
Still watching him closely, Ning Rongrong saw the boy's eyes flash with shock, and then resolve. Flames burst from his body, turning his already reddish hair into a blazing red in the sunlight.
From the fire, one of two yellow spirit rings glowed—he was a Soul Grandmaster too!
In a flash, the boy was in front of her. She then saw his true martial spirit: not just fire, but a blazing shield.
He blocked the strike with the fiery shield and said in a calm, deep voice:
"If you're going to rob people, just rob. Don't hurt anyone."
Ning Rongrong had to admit—in that moment, the boy's quick reflexes and striking appearance left an impression on her. For a second, her heart even skipped a beat.
But the moment he opened his mouth, that feeling vanished completely.
What did he mean by "just rob, don't hurt"? Was she not worth saving?
She was the heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, blessed with innate Spirit Power of Level 9, the most talented support-type soul master in over a hundred years—and the sect's beloved little princess!
"You're seriously zoning out at a time like this? How the heck did you make it to Soul Grandmaster?" the boy teased, clearly unfazed, even turning back to mock her.
Ning Rongrong was outraged. Who had ever spoken to her like this?
She stomped her foot and snapped, "Hmph! Mind your own business!"
The boy shrugged, unimpressed, and dismissed his spirit. Then, turning to the bandits, he said:
"Listen up! There are rules to robbery. If you rob, then just take valuables—don't hurt people. If every bandit did what you just tried, who'd dare travel this road? Think long-term, okay? Sustainable development matters!"
The three bandits didn't hear a word—one look at this Soul Master and they were already groveling on the ground, begging for mercy.
Watching this, Ning Rongrong couldn't help but wonder: If I had just used my spirit power from the start, would this have all been unnecessary?
But then it hit her—was this boy actually giving bandits a lecture on how to rob properly?!
She was stunned. Here she was, a traumatized, beautiful girl who had just been attacked—and instead of comforting her, he was teaching the bandits how to do better?
"Hey! Are you even a man?! Can't you see I... I need comforting right now?!"
She shouted, all sense of decorum thrown out the window.
But little did she know—this boy wasn't just tough, he was made of emotional steel. In his past life, people called him a "steel-hearted straight shooter." In this one, he'd upgraded into a full-blown, emotionally oblivious machine. No way was he going to coddle her.
"First, my name's not 'hey'—it's Han Feng. Second, whether or not I'm a man is none of your business. My future wife knows, and that's enough. Unless you want to be my wife—which I wouldn't allow. You're way too fierce. Not my type."
His words were so nonchalant that Ning Rongrong couldn't even be mad—she was just dumbfounded.
"A little brat like you talking about wives? You're not even the size of my fingernail!"
She laughed in disbelief.
Han Feng frowned. Normally, that kind of snarky comeback would be enough—but Ning Rongrong wasn't backing down. She dared to mock him, and that triggered something in him...
P.S: Read advanced chapters in my collection at patreon.com/Zarctus