44 How Could I Refuse?

Boom!

The ground cracked from the great blast that Zhuang Yang had struck. Those lines of cracks made it looked like there was a giant cobweb on the ground.

Huff Huff Huff...

The sound of panting came from the eye of the web, a figure was persistently standing within the dust storm that had not settle down yet. The youth was covered in cuts and bruises, his clothes were tattered and torn. His original black robe was now golden brown with dust. The youth that stood there huffing was no one else but Ning Hai Heng.

"Good job, Ning Hai Heng." The voice that spoke echoed from above.

Ning Hai Heng looked with his weary eyes at the person, "I'm done for today."

"Ok, it was expected," said Zhuang Yang as he landed onto the ground and scanned Ning Hai Heng's wounds. After looking, his line of sight went to Ning Rou Li who was standing on the side flabbergasted. "What about you?"

Ning Rou Li came back to her senses when she heard his question. She glanced at her brother for a second then said, "No more practicing for me today, I am going to self-cultivate, for a week"

"Ok then." Zhuang Yang brushed the dust off, fixed his clothes and went off. Did he make it too hard for Ning Hai Heng? Maybe he should lessen the prowess in his stikes; Ning Hai Heng was just a Second Stage Orange Spirit right now while he was a Third Stage Green Spirit.

"Heng'er, are you all right?" Ning Rou Li quickly strode over and bent her knees to kneel down.

Ning Hai Heng was so exhausted that he lied onto the ground. "I'm fine...just tired...really tired."

She stared at the direction where Zhuang Yang had left and said, "Young Master Zhuang must definitely be above the Yellow Spirit..."

"He is above a Yellow Spirit." He opened his eyes and gazed into Ning Rou Li's eyes as he confirmed her assumption,

Ning Rou Li widened her eyes slightly. Albeit she said Zhuang Yang must be above a Yellow Spirit. she didn't really believe it herself. She had never seen anyone of her generation that was stronger than...her eldest brother. Thinking about them, Ning Rou Li exhaled, trying to make the blue emotion evaporated.

"Come on, let's go back and rest." She helped Ning Hai Heng back to his feet and they walked back to their room to clean themselves up.

-----

Getting Tang Rue to think that he was in love with her, Song Hui Yao had planned things out. To assure a person like Tang Rue that her crush was liking her back was not hard. In fact, it was really easy to fool a fool.

To make sure that the people would not think that he actually liked Tang Rue for real, Song Hui Yao had been extremely nice and kind to others, like helping them.

"Princess You Yan, what a coincidence, we meet again."

Startled by a voice from behind, Tang Rue turned around swiftly to see who the person was. Upon seeing the person's face, her eyes twinkled with delight. "Prince Shen..."

"Your Highness, what are you doing here?" Song Hui Yao smiled charmingly like the prince in stories that every princess dreamed for. That smile made Tang Rue's heart skipped a beat.

'So alluring...'

"Your Highness?" He asked as his deep black eyes slightly narrowed. "Are you okay?"

"Ah, yes I'm fine!" Tang Rue lowered her head, her eyes flashed with satisfaction - Song Hui Yao finally fell for her. Then she remembered Zhu Xiao Wan, 'Ning Xiao Wan, so what if you're pretty? In the end, Song Hui Yao is still mine!'

"I was just trolling around the place," she said. "Looking for some potions for Fifth Imperial Brother..."

"Really?" Song Hui Yao moved to her side and said, "Maybe I can help you, Your Highness."

Nodding her head more than needed slowly, her face was faintly blushed as she talked in a sheepish way.

"Um...there is an auction in that building in a bit..." She suggested shyly, "Prince Shen would accompany me, right?"

Song Hui Yao's right eye twitched vaguely as he watched the persistent leech acting bashful. To others here: being with Tang Rue, their luck was blessed; to him, it leaned more to the dark side - his luck was cursed. His heart moaned with annoyance. 'Just one more week,' he discreetly sighed. Song Hui Yao nodded his head forcefully with a gentle smile. "Of course, how could I refuse Your Highness' request?"