Chapter 5: It Seems Wang Dong Is Pretending to Be Cool!

"Rongrong! Xiaodong!"

"Papa!"

Ning Fengzhi and Xue Qinghe finally appeared. Ning Rongrong ran straight toward Ning Fengzhi.

Wang Dong froze at the sound of those two words. He did not know where his parents were now, or if they had heard the news that he was dead.

Just as he was lost in thought, footsteps approached, and a pair of small brown leather shoes stopped in front of him.

He lifted his gaze to find a small, fair hand held out stubbornly before him. Looking further up, he saw Ning Rongrong’s smiling face. In that instant, it reminded him of his past life, fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with the Shrek Seven Devils at the Spirit Master Academy Tournament.

Wang Dong placed his hand in hers and was instantly gripped tightly. The feeling of being cared for was truly not bad at all.

Ning Rongrong pulled him along as she ran, whispering, "You walk so slowly. What if you get lost again?"

Wang Dong squeezed her hand back. "Don't worry! I won't!"

As soon as they reached Ning Fengzhi, Ning Rongrong began recounting what had just happened. Wang Dong took a step back, not wishing to disturb them, but unexpectedly, he felt his feet leave the ground as he was scooped up once more.

He glared coldly at the "culprit" and said icily, "Put me down!"

He had assumed his attitude was clear enough, but to his surprise, Xue Qinghe let out a laugh upon hearing this. "Hahaha, little kid, why are you so good at acting cool?"

Acting? Cool?

Wang Dong stopped speaking, apparently having exhausted all his tactics.

Without further delay, he was carried onto the carriage bound for the Sunset Forest. The carriage was spacious, with a table placed in the center.

Wang Dong looked around. Ning Rongrong was happily playing with the small butterfly he had given her, while Ning Fengzhi was resting with his eyes closed.

Finally, he fixed his gaze on Xue Qinghe, who was squinting at him with a faint smile on his lips. He could not help but ask, "Aren't you the Crown Prince? How can a prince of a nation be so idle?"

His voice immediately drew the attention of the other two, who both turned to look at them.

Xue Qinghe chuckled, his brow furrowed as if puzzled. "This is the Sunset Forest."

Wang Dong did not understand what the forest had to do with anything and asked, "So what?"

Ning Fengzhi, sitting to the side, spoke up. "Deep within the Sunset Forest lies a secret realm, home to a Titled Douluo known as the Poison Douluo. And that Titled Douluo is a guest advisor to Prince Xue Xing."

How complicated...

Hearing this, Wang Dong lost all interest in learning more, but he still politely said "Thank you" to Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi paused, wondering if he had just been dismissed.

He then smiled and shook his head.

Ning Rongrong, surprised to see her father in such a position, said bluntly, "Crown Prince brother is here to protect us. We beat up the Fourth Prince, Xue Beng, today; he might try to bring the Poison Douluo to settle the score."

"Tch, coward."

"I think so too!"

After answering, Ning Rongrong returned to studying the butterfly in her hand. Wang Dong cast a glance at Xue Qinghe and then turned his head to look out the window.

Xue Qinghe seemed accustomed to Wang Dong’s cold demeanor and did not hold it against him. He used a secret voice transmission to someone outside.

Moments later, the guards outside entered with food boxes, placing eight plates of pastries and hot tea on the table before retreating.

"We will be there soon. Teacher, Rongrong, why not have some pastries to satisfy your hunger?"

Wang Dong tilted his head to look over, noticing that Xue Qinghe had intentionally avoided addressing him.

Hmph! Not that I care!

Just as he turned his head away, a pastry was held right up to his lips, accompanied by Xue Qinghe’s magnified face.

"Have a taste."

Wang Dong subconsciously opened his mouth, and a fragrant, dense, yet not overly sweet flavor quickly spread through his mouth.

It was... actually quite good...

By the time he realized what he had done, Ning Rongrong and Ning Fengzhi were both watching him with amusement.

He hurriedly reached out to take it. "Hmph, thanks."

"Hahahaha."

The small interlude passed quickly. The four of them, accompanied by a troop of men, arrived at the Sunset Forest in a grand procession.

A guard behind them whispered, "With the Crown Prince himself leading the way, just how powerful is the spirit beast we are going to hunt?"

"Rumor has it... it’s just a hundred-year spirit beast..."

The other guard wore an expression of disbelief.

A hundred years? So many people? For one?

"Fine, I understand the Crown Prince's decisions less and less these days."

As soon as they stepped off the carriage, Ning Rongrong grabbed Wang Dong’s hand and ran inside.

In truth, Ning Fengzhi had long since prepared a suitable spirit beast for her first spirit ring, but wanting her to experience the process herself, he had brought her here.

The Sunset Forest earned its name because its western side featured rolling low hills. These hills seemed to contain a special reddish-gold crystal; when the sun set, the light shone through them, creating a sky filled with golden-red clouds—a breathtaking sight.

Ning Fengzhi looked at the sun. "It is noon now. When the sun sets, that will be the most beautiful moment in the Sunset Forest."

Xue Qinghe added, "I have already arranged for roasted fat-lamb to be prepared. We can celebrate once Rongrong has absorbed her spirit ring."

Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong jumped up with joy. "Thank you, Crown Prince brother!" She then ran ahead.

Wang Dong let out a cold snort, crossed his arms, and strode forward. He reached out, grabbed Ning Rongrong by the waist, and soared into the air.

"Yay! Xiaodong is the best!"

Wang Dong did not speak, but the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his mood.

Since hundred-year spirit beasts lived on the outskirts of the forest, and because the guards had already begun a carpet search, they found a suitable target before long.

"Your Highness, a five-hundred-year-old Power Spirit Ape has appeared ahead."

Ning Fengzhi frowned upon hearing this. "The attributes of this spirit beast are suitable; it could provide a strength boost for the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, but this age..."

Ning Rongrong’s face, previously filled with joy, drooped at the mention of "five hundred years."

Wang Dong asked, confused, "What’s wrong?"

Ning Rongrong sighed heavily, her youthful voice tinged with regret. "The attributes are right, but a Spirit Master’s first spirit ring cannot exceed four hundred years in age."

Wang Dong asked subconsciously, "Who made that rule?"

"Everyone says so..."

Seeing that Ning Rongrong could not provide an answer, Wang Dong turned to look at Ning Fengzhi.

Ning Fengzhi was more than happy to satisfy his curiosity. "There is a book circulating in the spirit master world titled 'The Ten Core Competencies of Martial Spirits,' written by an elder of the Spirit Hall. It offers an exceptionally thorough study of martial spirits and spirit master cultivation, and it specifically sets the age limits for a spirit master's first spirit ring. Many have tested this over the years, proving that his theory has merit."

...

Wang Dong felt speechless. He rolled his eyes and said, "Is he a charlatan?"

What?

The other three were momentarily taken aback.

...

End of chapter.