Chapter 65: Ning Tian's Choice (II)

// Hello everyone,

We've now reached the point where each chapter will be over 2,700 words until the end of the story!

I want to thank you all for the recent reviews, and I apologize for the irregular update schedule lately. It should return to normal within the next month.

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Word Count: 2,955 Words

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Night had fallen, and darkness blanketed the land. Tonight seemed exceptionally quiet. A half-moon hung askew in the sky, and scattered stars emitted a faint glow.

Shrek Academy's Outer Courtyard, Freshman Examination Area.

The freshman examination had come to a successful conclusion. The series of matches had dealt a tremendous psychological blow to these 11- and 12-year-old youths, showing them the vast disparities in the world and that there was always someone better.

Eager to catch up to their stronger peers, the freshmen rushed back to their dormitories to cultivate, fearing to waste even a minute. At this hour, the Spirit Dueling Arena was all but deserted, hushed and quiet.

Thump, thump, thump!

The sound of heavy footsteps and labored breathing suddenly echoed through the area. A crimson figure burst into the examination area, leaned against a pillar for a couple of seconds to catch her breath, then raised her head to glare at the person in the spectator stands. In a hoarse voice, she enunciated each word:

"Ling Bai, you're truly incredible!

Ning Tian is missing, and you still have the nerve to sit there like some useless lump that won't move!"

Wu Feng's face was a mix of frustration and anxiety. The back of her white school uniform was soaked through with sweat. If wrung out, water would surely drip.

After Ning Tian ran out of the examination area, she seemed to vanish into thin air. Wu Feng had practically turned Shrek's Outer Courtyard upside down but couldn't find a trace of her.

"Are you really stupid or just pretending?" Ling Bai looked down at the fuming Wu Feng, feeling exasperated at her inability to understand.

"Ning Tian is clearly avoiding us, finding a place to lick her wounds alone. Why insist on depriving her of even this last bit of personal space?"

"I... I'm worried she'll do something stupid..."

Wu Feng unconsciously bit her red lips, her trembling teeth betraying the turmoil in her heart.

They had grown up together, and Wu Feng believed no one understood Ning Tian better than she did. Ning Tian was the little princess of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, as noble and untouchable as the moon in the sky. Now that the moon had come crashing down, if Ning Tian couldn't handle it and did something impulsive, Wu Feng didn't even dare continue that train of thought!

"Ning Tian won't."

Ling Bai's tone was very calm, yet filled with absolute certainty. "She should have calmed down a bit by now. Go back to the dormitory and rest. By tomorrow, I promise to bring you a Ning Tian who's ready to start fresh."

"Start fresh? We're already Shrek Academy freshmen! What does that even—hey! Hey!"

Ignoring the shouting of a certain fool, Ling Bai unfurled a pair of radiant golden angelic wings. He soared into the sky, turning into a streak of golden light heading beyond Shrek Academy.

Thud.

Ling Bai landed softly, making barely a sound. Before him stretched a dim, gloomy alley near the West Gate of Shrek City.

The depths of the alley were pitch-black, with only the faint light and shadows cast by the stars and moon barely illuminating the path ahead.

Ling Bai walked forward from the entrance of the alley. As he went deeper, the sound of sorrowful, stifled sobbing reached his ears. A pitiful sight of a girl curled up into a ball appeared before his eyes.

"Who's there!"

Ling Bai had not tried to muffle his footsteps. Ning Tian, instantly alert at the approach of a stranger, grabbed a stone by her feet and hurled it at him. Infused with over 30 ranks of spirit power, the stone streaked through the air like a phantom.

Ling Bai caught the stone effortlessly and smiled, "Xiao Tian, it's me."

"Bai-ge?"

Ning Tian instinctively looked up upon hearing the familiar voice. Upon confirming it was indeed Ling Bai, she immediately buried her head between her knees again and cried out sharply:

"Don't look at me! Please, Bai-ge, just go!"

She shouted herself hoarse, her shoulders shaking uncontrollably as she desperately tried to hold back her tears. Yet her eyes revealed an overwhelming sorrow she couldn't suppress.

This first failure in her life had dealt Ning Tian a blow that was almost too heavy for her to bear. It wasn't that she couldn't accept defeat. If she had lost to powerful Spirit Elders like White Tiger Dai Huabin or Rubber Elephant Xie Huanyue, she would have felt disappointed and regretful at most, and then would have resolved to train diligently in the future to regain her honor.

But it had to be... it had to be a loss to Huo Yuhao, a one-ringed Spirit Master with mediocre talent and a weak background, who had relied on the Tang Sect to enroll and had casually broken the rules!

And then Ling Bai, who hadn't returned early or late, just happened to appear exactly at her most humiliating moment!

The glory of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the pride of the clan's little princess, the thoughts of her beloved—this one freshman examination match had destroyed everything she cherished. Her state of mind was like a mirror that had been smashed to pieces, its fragments scattered across the ground. She increasingly dared not meet Ling Bai's gaze directly, terrified of seeing expressions of disdain and disappointment on his face.

Suddenly, Ning Tian felt a warm sensation enveloping her body, as if someone had pulled her into an embrace. She didn't know how long they stayed like that before a gentle voice slipped into her ear:

"Xiao Tian, have you heard? Every person has a unique heartbeat, but if you hug someone for longer than thirty seconds, your hearts start beating in sync. That's why, if you hug someone tight when you're sad, it can steady your emotions."

Ning Tian couldn't tell if it was true or not. She only knew that Ling Bai's warmth, voice, and subtle scent were like a healing current that soothed her anxious, wounded heart.

Her hands tightly gripped his shoulders. Ning Tian lifted her head. In the darkness, her eyes were red, and her exquisite face was streaked with tears, making her look incredibly vulnerable and moving.

The fresh fragrance of her platinum-blond hair filled Ling Bai's senses. He patted her back lightly. "Xiao Tian, how are you feeling?"

"Losing to them is hard for me to accept, and it's utterly humiliating... Bai-ge, don't laugh at me, but for a moment I really wanted to go back to the clan and never set foot in Shrek Academy again..."

With that, she withdrew her hands and hung her head, gazing at her toes. Ling Bai almost felt he could see a pair of pitifully drooping ears behind her head.

"It's just one lost match, what's the big deal?" Ling Bai took Ning Tian's small hand without hesitation. "Come with me for a walk outside the city."

"Where are we going?" Ning Tian asked hurriedly.

"Up a mountain."

…

About fifty miles northeast of Shrek City stood Chun Ming Mountain. Ling Bai summoned his angelic wings and flew with Ning Tian to the mountain's foot.

"I heard from Elder Sister that the sunrise on Chun Ming Mountain is grand and majestic. We'll climb it, have a change of scenery, and see if it's true."

"Mm."

Ning Tian nodded. She needed to do something to distract herself and move past the humiliation of defeat.

The two stepped onto the first flight of stairs, officially beginning their journey up the mountain. Without any prior agreement, they both refrained from using spirit power and relied solely on physical strength and endurance to experience the climbing process.

With the enhancement of his Twin Super Martial Spirits, Ling Bai's physical strength was comparable to that of a Spirit Emperor. His long strides were swift and vigorous. Ning Tian was, after all, an auxiliary-type Spirit Master. Her body was not even as strong as that of some 2-ringed Spirit Grand Masters. Struggling to keep up with Ling Bai, it wasn't long before she was drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

"Bai-ge, I'm a bit tired..."

"It's okay; let's sit and rest for a while."

A long silence fell between them until Ning Tian recovered her strength, and then they resumed their climb.

Still, Ling Bai never slowed his pace, and Ning Tian stubbornly refused to give in. She trudged on until her endurance was spent, and only then would they pause. At those moments, Ling Bai would also stop, his golden eyes lingering on her with a meaningful gaze.

"Huff... huff..."

Ning Tian propped herself up on her aching thighs, finally catching sight of the mountain peak. Victory was within reach.

A breeze stirred the thick canopy of Chun Ming Mountain. In the newborn light, the forest seemed an endless sea of green; countless treetops rocked in rolling waves.

"Do you think Elder Sister lied to me?" Ling Bai asked with a smile.

"No, it's truly beautiful..."

The dawn surged into Ning Tian's field of vision like a surging tide. The blazing disk of the sun emerged over the horizon. The distant river at the foot of the mountain rippled slowly beneath her. The river water crashed against the black cliffs, erupting in sparks of white foam.

Though exhausted from climbing to the peak, Ning Tian swore this was the most beautiful dawn she had ever witnessed.

"Xiao Tian, was the path up the mountain tiring?"

"Tiring, but being able to see such a beautiful sight makes it all worthwhile, no matter how exhausting."

"Xiao Tian, most of the time, I don't like pushing my viewpoint on others. It's cumbersome, and I'd rather leave people to their own fates, whether good or bad, as they have nothing to do with me." Ling Bai's voice was very soft, soft enough to blend into the morning breeze at the mountaintop. "But with you, I find myself in conflict for the first time."

Ning Tian clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned pale. Her delicate body trembled slightly as she said, "Bai-ge, I… I'm not sure what you mean."

"Xiao Tian, do you remember the night before we left for Shrek Academy? The Clan Head slipped into your room... Do I need to help you recall the rest of the story?"

"No need..."

In that instant, a deep blush stained Ning Tian's cheeks, and her fingers twisted together.

Ling Bai continued, "I can understand the Clan Head's words that night. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda lacks combat power, so naturally, Spirit Masters from outside have become an important part of the clan, second only to the direct disciples. In order to win over these Spirit Masters, the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has always followed the ancient tradition of choosing marriage partners for thousands of years.

A husband and wife united as one—I don't see anything wrong with the method of marriage alliances. But Xiao Tian, you've now tasted the bitterness of defeat. The shortcomings of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda lacking combat ability were fully exposed in the competition. An auxiliary-type Spirit Master becomes a mere spectator on the battlefield after using up their spirit skills.

You possess the world's strongest auxiliary-type Tool Martial Spirit. But so what if you provide a 40% amplification to Wu Feng and Nanmen Yun Er? Victory and fate are still handed over to assault-type Spirit Masters whose innate talents are at a level below yours.

Xiao Tian, are you content with that?"

"Of course not!"

A flash of determination burst forth in Ning Tian's eyes. If she had a 3-ringed Red Dragon instead of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, she could definitely defeat Huo Yuhao's team!

"But a Martial Spirit isn't something I can choose..."

As she said this, the light in her eyes dimmed.

"The times have changed. An auxiliary-type Spirit Master no longer has to be only support. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda doesn't have to cling to assault-type Spirit Masters like a parasitic vine." Ling Bai stood at the mountaintop. A sudden gust of wind made his clothes flutter loudly.

"Xiao Tian, become a lofty mountain and look down upon the mediocre ravines from the summit of the range."

The mountain breeze carried a damp freshness. Strands of platinum blonde hair clung to her fair forehead. Ning Tian's eyes shone brightly, reflecting the full figure of the person atop the peak. Her chest suddenly burned like a raging fire, filled with the courage to burn everything away.

She slowly stepped forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ling Bai. "Bai-ge, what should I do?"

"Study Spirit Guidance Devices alongside your Martial Spirit cultivation. Ride the wave of the era and forge a new path for yourself and the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!"

"I will!"

Ning Tian did not hesitate in the slightest. In the original three empires of the Douluo Continent, the stronger the Martial Spirit, the more they resisted Spirit Guidance Devices. Spirit Guidance Masters were mostly those with trash Martial Spirits. But she had had enough of the powerless feeling of entrusting her fate to others!

"But there's one problem," Ning Tian's tone shifted. "Shrek Academy has a clear separation between the Martial Spirit Department and the Spirit Guidance Department. They don't allow studying both."

"Someone from above will back you up. Just study both quietly."

Ling Bai was unconcerned. Since Huo Yuhao was secretly studying both under the guidance of the Spirit Guidance Department's Vice Head Fan Yu, he might as well find a big shot to support Ning Tian.

It just so happened that someone in Shrek Academy's Outer Courtyard was extremely willing to go the extra mile for Ning Tian. Ling Bai decided to find him to pull some strings.

…

One hour later, the pair knocked on the door of the Martial Spirit Department Director's office in the Outer Courtyard.

"Xiao Tian? Ling Bai?"

Du Weilun was drafting the list of core disciples for this year's first-year students when he saw Ning Tian and Ling Bai. He couldn't help but freeze for a moment, puzzled. "What brings you here?"

"Director Du, I have a favor to ask!" Ning Tian put on a delicate and helpless act, her voice soft and tender.

"What favor?"

Harboring certain thoughts that could not be voiced aloud, Director Du had been exceptionally attentive to Ning Tian over the past three months.

"I want… to learn about Spirit Guidance Devices too. Could you introduce me to a teacher for that?"

"Spirit Guidance Devices?!?!?"

It was as though a switch had been flipped in Du Weilun's mind. He leaped to his feet, firing off words in a flurry:

"Why would you want to study that messy stuff when you have the top-level Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Spirit?!

No, no, absolutely not!

If I help you with this, I'd only be harming you! Xiao Tian, get rid of these silly ideas! Keep training as you are, and you'll surely inherit your mother's mantle as the next Clan Head of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!"

"Director..." Ning Tian's gaze sharpened slightly.

Alright, alright, you're forcing me to play my trump card.

"Director, actually, my father passed away in an accident ten years ago. My mother has had a tough time over the years. The Body Sect has been causing us trouble everywhere, making assault-type Spirit Masters afraid to join the clan. That's why I thought of studying Spirit Guidance Devices as well, to add a bit of combat power to the clan..."

"My condolences... Huh?"

Du Weilun first expressed sympathy, then suddenly realized.

Wait a minute, there's a situation!

"Back then, your parents and I were in the same class. It's just that my abilities were slightly inferior, so I wasn't selected as one of the Shrek Seven Monsters like they were."

To this day, Du Weilun was still not completely reconciled. After graduation, he had chosen to teach at Shrek Academy, while Ning Tian's father had joined the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to pursue her mother. If he had also given up on Shrek and boldly pursued love, who would have ended up as Ning Tian's father might not be written in stone!

Brother Chang Qing, oh Brother Chang Qing, why did you have to leave us so early...

The love and hate entanglements from twenty years ago had already become a thing of the past!

Do not worry, I shall look after your wife and child for you!

Director Du was already envisioning the future!

Du Weilun looked at Ning Tian, stood up, and said, "Well, that's an understandable reason. Although it's challenging to study Martial Spirit Cultivation and Spirit Guidance Devices together, it's still worth giving it a try. Qian Duoduo from the Spirit Guidance Department is always complaining to Dean Yan about being short on people. I'll bring him an exceptional genius right away!"

He led Ning Tian toward the Spirit Guidance Department, rubbing his hands together like a fly.

"Xiao Tian... um... you know, considering my relationship with your mother, you should actually call me Uncle Du."

"Oh, uh... Uncle Du..." 

"Mm! Uncle will take you to the Spirit Guidance Department!"

Ling Bai followed behind the two, shaking his head, feeling ashamed to be associated with Du Weilun.

Sure enough, if the top beam is crooked, the bottom ones will be skewed!

From Elder Mu at the top, to Du Weilun in the middle, to Huo Yuhao at the bottom... Shrek Academy seemed to be full of lapdogs!

Watching Du Weilun's earnest, ingratiating manner, Ling Bai mused that even if the Clan Head remarried thrice, it still wouldn't be his turn!