Douro Continent

Chapter 441 Eighty-One Hammers (Part 1)

"Rongrong, what are you doing?" Oscar casually closed the door.

Ning Rongrong turned and walked inside. Oscar was no longer the unkempt man he used to be. His beard was clean-shaven, his hair was neatly combed, and his light gold Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School standard attire further accentuated his handsome appearance.

His large eyes, which would make even girls jealous, made Ning Rongrong afraid to look him in the eye.

After catching up with Ning Rongrong in a few steps, Oscar took out a package from his pocket and placed it on the table.

"I was passing by your place just now and saw your light was still on, so I came over. Why aren't you resting so late?"

Ning Rongrong, with her back to Oscar, said, "I'm going to sleep soon."

After Oscar joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Ning Fengzhi immediately admitted him to the inner sect. It's important to know that the vast majority of those in the inner sect are direct disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School; only exceptionally outstanding foreign soul masters have a chance of entering.

When Ning Fengzhi announced Oscar's direct entry into the inner sect in front of many disciples, countless jealous and envious glances were cast upon him.

"You can't stay up so late all the time. It's bad for your health, and staying up late all the time will make you age faster," Oscar said jokingly.

Ning Rongrong said, "I'm only fourteen years old, what's so old about me?"

Oscar was taken aback by her voice; Ning Rongrong hadn't spoken to him like this in a long time. It sounded like something was off about her today.

"Rongrong, what's wrong? Are you in a bad mood?" Oscar asked in a low voice.

Ning Rongrong didn't answer. She had mustered her courage, but when she saw Oscar in person, her courage inexplicably vanished. The words that were on the tip of her tongue simply wouldn't come out.

Seeing that Ning Rongrong didn't speak, Oscar frowned, sighed softly, and said, "Then I'll go back first. You should get some rest. Here's some food I brought for you; eat it before you sleep. It's all easy-to-digest snacks."

He raised his hand, wanting to touch Ning Rongrong's long hair, but ultimately refrained. He glanced longingly at Ning Rongrong's beautiful back before turning and walking away.

When Ning Rongrong heard Oscar say that he had come specifically to bring her food, she could no longer hold back the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Oscar!" she suddenly shouted.

Oscar was startled and stopped in his tracks. Just as he turned around, a fragrant breeze wafted towards him, and Ning Rongrong, like a swallow returning to its nest, rushed into his arms and hugged his waist tightly.

After a brief moment of surprise, Oscar gradually came to his senses. Although Ning Rongrong had agreed to date him, the two had never been this intimate before.

Holding Ning Rongrong's soft, warm body in his arms, Oscar felt an indescribable sense of comfort. He turned and embraced her delicate body, his heart racing uncontrollably.

A lone man and woman are alone in a room, and a stunningly beautiful woman throws herself into their arms.

Oscar was no gentleman, and all sorts of strange thoughts immediately arose in his mind.

However, he soon sensed something was wrong, because Ning Rongrong's delicate body, which had thrown herself into his arms, was twitching slightly.

The wetness on her chest gradually expanded.

"Rongrong, what's wrong?" Oscar asked with concern. He gently stroked Ning Rongrong's long, silky hair and asked softly.

"Why are you so good to me? Why?" Ning Rongrong said, choking back tears.

Oscar smiled, thinking to himself, "So this girl has moved me." A touch of pride welled up within him as he smiled and said, "Since coming to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, you are my only family. You are also the person I love most. If I don't treat you well, who else should I treat well? I lost my parents long ago, but now Heaven has bestowed you upon me. If I don't cherish you, wouldn't I be betraying Heaven's kindness?"

Oscar was trying to comfort Ning Rongrong, but before he could finish speaking, Ning Rongrong burst into tears and hugged him even tighter.

Feeling Ning Rongrong's pain, Oscar was somewhat at a loss. His previous romantic thoughts vanished, but he didn't know how to comfort Ning Rongrong at this moment.

"Rongrong, don't cry, it breaks my heart. What happened? Tell me. I'll do anything I can to help you."

Ning Rongrong's sobs gradually subsided. She hugged Oscar tightly around the waist, burying her body completely in his embrace. With her head down, she dared not look at him and almost murmured, "Do you know? We can't be together."

At first, Oscar didn't hear clearly, but when Ning Rongrong repeated it, he was struck as if by lightning. His body trembled violently, and he cupped Ning Rongrong's delicate face in his hands, making her lift her head. "Rongrong, what did you say?"

Oscar's voice trembled slightly. He had never loved someone so wholeheartedly before, but Ning Rongrong had said such things. How could he bear it?

Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth. She knew that if she didn't tell the truth now, it would only cause Oscar more pain in the future. Closing her eyes, she forced back the agonizing pain in her heart and said, "I said, we can't be together. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry?" Oscar stared at her blankly, a strange smile appearing on his face.

"Rongrong, do you know? I used to rarely shave, and I never cared about anything else. Even when Dean Flander said I was a genius, I was too lazy to train. I just wanted to live a peaceful and happy life."

"Until I met you. The first time I saw you, I was irresistibly drawn to your elfin beauty. You used to be arrogant and domineering, but even then, your image in my heart never faded. I just told myself that it was impossible for us. You were a noble young lady, while I was just an ordinary Soul Master."

"Just when I was trying my best to erase your image from my heart, you began to change. With everyone's help, you were no longer the same as before. You began to become gentler and more lovable. Your flaws gradually disappeared, and your image became clearer and clearer in my heart. When you told me that you were willing to be with me for a while, do you know how I felt? I would never trade that feeling for a hundred soul bones. I thought my spring had arrived."

"To be with you in the future, and to gain your father's approval, I began to cultivate relentlessly. I used to love sleeping in, but from that day on, I almost never slept, spending every day in constant cultivation. No matter how lonely or painful I was, as long as I thought of your smiling face, all the pain was easily kicked away. I realized that I had truly fallen in love with you. Perhaps it's pathetic, but whenever you were in danger and I could stand in front of you, I felt so happy."

Tears streamed down Oscar's face as he slowly released his hands from Ning Rongrong's face and took a step back. His eyes held not sadness, but a light bordering on despair.

"Stop talking. Oscar, I, I..."

Oscar laughed, a mocking laugh, not at Ning Rongrong, but at himself. "I was so stupid. I knew all along that we were impossible. As the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, how could you be with a poor boy like me? No matter how hard I tried, I could never reach your level. In the future, you will be the sect leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and what about me? Nothing. I was so incredibly stupid. But why did you lie to me? Knowing it was impossible, why did you give me this opportunity? Why?"

Hearing Oscar's almost hysterical shout, Ning Rongrong suddenly raised her head, her eyes already red from crying, and she also shouted almost as if she had, "Because I've fallen in love with you too."

"What did you say?" Oscar was stunned. Looking at Ning Rongrong's flushed face, a glimmer of hope rekindled in his despairing eyes.

Ning Rongrong gazed at Oscar, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, "Yes, at first, I never took you seriously. Although you're handsome, I've seen plenty of handsome men since I was little. But I gradually realized that you're truly good to me. You'd give anything for me. But that's not important. When you started training diligently, when you naturally stood in front of me in every battle, my heart was being conquered by you little by little. That day, agreeing to date you wasn't a lie. Because I wanted to know exactly what your place was in my heart."

"When we were truly together, and I could see you every day, watching you grow thinner and thinner from your rigorous training, I understood that everything you did was for me. Your image in my heart was gradually growing larger. I found that my attachment to you was growing stronger and stronger. Originally, I should have told you a long time ago that we couldn't be together, but I really couldn't say it. It wasn't that I couldn't bear to hurt you, but that I didn't want to let myself escape from that feeling. That feeling must be called love."

(End of this chapter)