Chapter 22: Chapter 22 - Rongrong Escape
Lately, Ning Rongrong had been furious her usually doting father and two grandpas had actually joined forces to stop her.
She simply wanted to leave the sect and explore the world a bit. Staying cooped up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect every day, no matter how luxurious it was, had grown dull after twelve long years. But the moment she expressed her desire to venture out, her father and both grandfathers went into a panic, trying to assign her a full security detail like she was some royal treasure.
Ning Rongrong was not pleased. How was this supposed to be a relaxing trip if she had a whole team of guards trailing behind her?
Besides, she was already twelve! Why were they still treating her like a child?
A typical noble lady might've given in, but Ning Rongrong wasn't just anyone—she was the little witch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! Rules? She never followed those.
At the break of dawn, while it was still dark, Ning Rongrong snuck out quietly, evading everyone's sight and slipping away from the sect.
She thought that once she left, it would be just like in the storybooks—the sky vast for the birds to fly, the sea endless for the fish to leap. But reality turned out to be a lot harsher.
Dressed in fine clothes, radiating elegance and nobility, she stood out like a child parading around with gold. Of course people would look at her with greedy eyes.
If it hadn't been for the two shadow guards secretly assigned by Ning Fengzhi, she might not have even made it out of the first city.
Although she didn't understand why no one had dared lay a hand on her, Ning Rongrong still found those stares extremely uncomfortable.
Being the daughter of a sect master, she wasn't clueless—but she had grown up surrounded by people like Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo. Even the so-called "bad guys" she'd encountered weren't this crude. She didn't know how to deal with thugs like these.
At first, Ning Rongrong had been terrified. But after realizing these people were more cowardly than she expected, she gradually regained her confidence. Soon, her mischievous nature returned.
Along the way, she overheard someone mention that Shrek Academy only accepted "monsters." Her curiosity was instantly piqued, and she headed straight for Soto City.
But who would've thought she'd encounter roadside bandits just outside the city?
Blades glinting in the sun, three thugs surrounded her with menacing auras. They were just ordinary men, but to Ning Rongrong, it felt like being cornered by three Soul Masters.
She had never experienced something like this in her life.
She'd seen Sword Douluo unsheathe his sword—but never at her!
Sure, she was a Rank 26 Grand Soul Master, but she was a support type and had never fought seriously before!
For the first time, Ning Rongrong panicked.
If not for her upbringing and years of cultivation, she might've broken down and cried like any ordinary girl.
A genius of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, robbed by three street thugs? What a disgrace!
As she struggled between handing over her valuables or putting up a fight, a young boy suddenly appeared.
He thought his presence was well hidden, but Ning Rongrong, with her sect's renowned spiritual sensitivity, noticed him immediately. After all, how could you master multitasking with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda without powerful spiritual strength?
She instantly felt hope. Her eyes lit up with a plan. Turning on the charm, she cried out to him, drawing attention his way.
In her mind, this was a classic "damsel in distress" setup. Even if the boy hadn't intended to interfere, now that he'd been exposed, he'd have no choice but to act the hero. That's how these things worked in the books, right? And besides, she was a beautiful girl—surely, she had some privileges.
But Ning Rongrong was stunned when the boy, after being revealed, refused to help!
For a moment, if not for the shocked expressions on the thugs' faces, she would've suspected that Han Feng was in on it with them.
Never in her life had anyone said "no" to her. Not just disagreeing—no one had even dared to displease her. Her father doted on her endlessly, and her two grandfathers worshipped the ground she walked on!
But this boy, who looked fairly decent, had flat-out rejected her?
Is he blind? Can't he see I'm a beautiful girl? Is he even a man!? How can he just stand there and let this happen?!
Her mind spun with frustration and disbelief, her big eyes locked onto Han Feng, burning with indignation.
So distracted was she that she didn't even notice the lead bandit suddenly lose his temper and swing his blade at her!
By the time she realized what was happening, it was too late—even the two hidden guards hadn't anticipated such a sudden attack, and they were too far to intervene in time. Their hearts nearly stopped.
Only the boy reacted in time.
Ning Rongrong, who had been watching him closely, saw the flash of alarm in his eyes. A surge of scarlet flames erupted around him, his already reddish hair igniting into a blazing fire. In the sunlight, he looked like a warrior from legend.
One of the two yellow soul rings around him lit up—this boy, who looked to be her age, was also a Grand Soul Master, and with top-tier soul rings no less!
Before she could process it, he was in front of her, and she saw that his Martial Soul wasn't fire—it was a flaming shield!
The steel blade struck the flame shield with a clang, and the boy's deep voice rang out:
"Robbery's fine, but don't hurt people, alright? "
Ning Rongrong had to admit—in that moment, his heroic action and his good looks made her heart skip a beat.
But then he spoke—and the moment shattered.
What do you mean "robbery's fine"?! Do I mean that little to you?!
She wasn't just any girl—she was the heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, a Rank 9 innate soul power support-type soul master, the most gifted talent the sect had seen in over a century...
…and its cutest little princess!
"You can't even stay focused in a life-or-death moment? How did you even reach Grand Soul Master rank? " he teased, turning back toward her casually, having effortlessly blocked the non-soul-powered strike.
Ning Rongrong had never been treated like this before. She huffed indignantly, planted her fists on her hips, and snapped, "Hmph! Mind your own business! "
The boy just shrugged and dismissed his flame shield without a care. Ignoring her, he turned to the three bandits and said,
"Listen up! Even robbery has rules—take the money and leave the person unharmed. If you lot go around killing people, who's going to use this road in the future? You'll end up with no one left to rob! Sustainability matters! "
The three bandits were already trembling from head to toe. Realizing he was a noble soul master, they dropped to their knees and kowtowed frantically, begging for mercy.
Seeing that, Ning Rongrong wondered, —If I had just released my soul power earlier, could I have avoided this whole mess?
But that thought only lasted a second.
Because the next moment, she realized—wait, did this guy seriously just give the bandits a lesson on how to run a successful robbery business?
She was dumbfounded.
Here she stood, a traumatized, stunningly beautiful girl who had just been nearly robbed, and instead of offering comfort, this guy was lecturing the robbers on business ethics?
"Hey! Are you even a man?! Can't you see I—I mean, this young lady—needs comforting right now?! "Ning Rongrong shouted, throwing all decorum out the window in her outrage.
But she never could have guessed—this boy was no ordinary fool. Han Feng had the rare trait of being a steel-hearted straight man in his past life, and in this life, he had evolved. He was now the legendary "Steel "Garurumon"—emotionally immune, structurally reinforced, and completely impervious to flirtation or tantrums.
He replied, deadpan, "First of all, my name isn't 'hey.' It's Han Feng. Second, whether I'm a man or not is none of your business—my wife knows, and that's enough. Unless you want to be my wife? But sorry, you're way too fierce. Not my type."
He said it so naturally, like it was the most reasonable thing in the world.
Ning Rongrong stared in shock—and then let out an angry laugh. "You? A little sprout like you wants a wife? I'm older than your fingernail, and you think I need your approval? "
Han Feng frowned. Based on her personality, she should've flown into a rage and shouted at him.
But instead, she threw it right back at him.
Now he felt like his authority had just been challenged…