Chapter 48: Hello, My Name is Ning Rongrong
"That was satisfying!"
Ye Hao walked out of the Soto Great Spirit Arena, heading back to his inn alone. At this moment, he wasn't worried about Tang San and the others seeking revenge.
After all, their immediate priority would be nursing Xiao Wu back to health. She had been beaten to the point of resembling a second Ma Hongjun.
This battle had set Ye Hao and Tang San on a path of enmity. From now on, they were destined to be enemies.
"Spicy Rabbit Head!"
Ye Hao froze mid-step when he heard someone calling him. Turning around, he saw Ning Rongrong smiling brightly at him.
"You're one of the Shrek Seven Devils—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Soul Master," Ye Hao said with a smirk. "What do you want? If you're here for revenge, save it. You're just a support-type soul master. Besides, I wouldn't dare offend the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan."
After all, the two Title Douluos who guarded Ning Rongrong treated her like the apple of their eye. Ye Hao wouldn't want to provoke that kind of power.
"Hello, my name is Ning Rongrong. I saw your fight just now—you were great!" Ning Rongrong clapped her hands and cheered, her tone lively and sincere.
Ye Hao raised an eyebrow. "That soft-boned rabbit isn't your teammate? Your teammate just got pummeled, and yet you're this happy?"
He feigned ignorance, playing the role of the oblivious "Spicy Rabbit Head." After all, this was a different identity from "Ye Ritian," so he had to act unaware.
Luckily, he had swapped masks with Ye Lingling beforehand. Otherwise, Ning Rongrong might have recognized him.
At the mention of Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong let out a cold snort. "That rabbit thinks she's so important, but she's exactly as you described. I completely misjudged her. I used to treat her as my close sister, but now I realize that both Tang San and she are terrible people."
"I came to warn you about something," Ning Rongrong said seriously, her voice lowering.
"Warn me about what?"
She leaned in slightly, her voice cautious but clear. "Be careful of Tang San. After what you did to Xiao Wu, he won't let it go. You need to watch your back."
Ye Hao was momentarily taken aback. The mischievous Ning Rongrong, the so-called little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, had come all this way to warn him.
He had already gauged Tang San's abilities from their recent clashes. If things hadn't gone awry the other night, Ye Hao might have been able to completely defeat Tang San.
Tang San's Eight Spider Lances external soul bone was something Ye Hao had been keeping an eye on. Leaving it with Tang San was like leaving a blade in the hands of an assassin—it was only a matter of time before it became a threat.
If Tang San lost the Eight Spider Lances, it would be like taking away his greatest weapon. From then on, what would Tang San have to fight him with?
Currently, Tang San's Eight Spider Lances hadn't fully fused with his body, which Ye Hao had confirmed during their battle. That meant this was the perfect time to take it away.
If Tang San fully integrated the Eight Spider Lances and gained mastery over them, it would be too late.
"Thanks for the warning, but I think you came all this way for nothing," Ye Hao replied with a small smile.
Ning Rongrong frowned. "What do you mean? Aren't you afraid of Tang San's revenge?"
Ye Hao chuckled and pointed to the badge on his sleeves. "Take a look—what do you see?"
Ning Rongrong leaned closer to inspect it. As the daughter of Ning Fengzhi, she had seen plenty in her lifetime and recognized the badge immediately.
"Wait… you're a student of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy?!" She exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy, founded by the Heaven Dou Empire, was a prestigious institution Ning Rongrong knew well. In her earlier excitement watching the fight, she hadn't noticed the badge on Ye Hao's sleeves.
Ye Hao quickly covered the badge and smiled confidently. "So, Ning Rongrong, do you still think I need to worry about Tang San's revenge?"
Ye Hao was not just any student of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy—he was a key member of the Royal Fighting Team, an elite squad representing the academy.
Ning Rongrong's expression shifted as realization dawned on her. "Wait... does that mean the Emperor Team—the one that's been making waves in the Spirit Arena—is actually..."
Ye Hao nodded. "That's right. The Emperor Team is part of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. From the way things are going, it's only a matter of time before our two teams face off in the arena."
He added, "By the way, Ning Rongrong, I'd appreciate it if you kept my identity secret."
Ning Rongrong smirked playfully. "Aren't you worried I'll tell Tang San?"
Ye Hao laughed heartily. "You're not that kind of person."
"And how do you know that?" she asked, curious.
"If you wanted Tang San to know, you wouldn't have come all this way to warn me," Ye Hao replied simply.
With that, he waved goodbye and continued on his way.
At a simple inn far from the Spirit Arena, the Shrek team had an unexpected visitor.
In the room occupied by Flender, Grandmaster, and Zhao Wuji, Qin Ming—the leader of the Emperor Team—was seated with them.
"Ha! Qin Ming, I never expected that the rising star of the Spirit Arena, the Emperor Team, would turn out to be under your leadership!" Flender laughed heartily, a look of pride on his face.
"I've been wondering who was behind that team's incredible winning streak, breaking records left and right. And it's you!"
Qin Ming smiled humbly. "Flender, you flatter me. Everything I've achieved is thanks to the guidance of my teachers. Having the opportunity to teach at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy is an honor."
The Grandmaster interjected, his tone pensive. "With the current state of the Spirit Arena, it seems inevitable that the Shrek Seven Devils will soon face off against the Emperor Team in a group battle."
Both teams were riding high on winning streaks, dominating their respective matches in the arena. The clash between these two rising stars was only a matter of time.