Chapter 43: This Matter Closed, the Transaction

"What is this..."

Clutching her head, Ning Tian slowly rose to her feet only to find she had been resting on Ning Wuque's lap, while he knelt on the ground with his eyes closed.

On both sides, two robust voices filled with guilt and worry rang out in her ears:

"Young Mistress, you are finally awake! Your subordinates are incompetent and have failed the Sect Master's trust!"

"Young Mistress, a sudden and intense spiritual shockwave knocked the two of us unconscious. When we came to again, we found Ning Wuque keeping watch over you in a weakened state."

With that, despite being powerful elders at the Soul Douluo level, the two of them simultaneously dropped to one knee before Ning Tian.

This was no trivial matter. If any of the three youths had suffered even the slightest harm, even if their opponents were Title Douluos whom they could not defeat, the sect would hold them accountable and execute them without question!

Moreover, this mission had been entrusted to them precisely because of the Sect Master's absolute trust. As loyal retainers who had grown up within the sect, something happening to Ning Tian was far more agonizing than death itself!

Fortunately, upon recovering their senses, they had discovered a weakened Ning Wuque guarding Ning Tian, desperately shoving food into his mouth, looking thoroughly exhausted and battered.

They had wanted to ask what exactly had happened, but considering the instructions given by the Sect Master, they assumed Ning Wuque would explain everything to Ning Tian.

Lying with her head on Ning Wuque's lap, Ning Tian's cheeks flushed slightly. Had she not caught a glimpse of Bei Bei and Huo Yuhao, who had also regained consciousness, out of the corner of her eye, she would have liked to pretend she was still unwell and linger a little longer.

Right now, however, that was impossible. She slowly sat up. Fortunately, the spiritual shockwave had merely been designed to render her unconscious; aside from a lingering, faint dizziness, she was completely fine.

Sitting upright, she looked directly into Ning Wuque's eyes, using her gaze to ask him what had transpired just moments ago.

"I will explain once we reach the academy. For now..."

Ning Wuque said softly, then gently shook his head.

Seeing this, Ning Tian did not press the matter further. All she needed to know right now was that during her unconsciousness, Ning Wuque had been the first to wake up, and he had immediately used that moment to protect her!

She thought to herself, perhaps Ning Wuque had forced himself to regain consciousness simply because he was too worried about her?

At the mere thought of this possibility, Ning Tian felt as though her heart had tasted the sweetest honey in the entire world. The feeling of being constantly protected by the person she loved was simply wonderful!

"Bei Bei, what just happened? Why did I pass out?"

"Ugh... Damn it, who ambushed me? I'd better not catch them!"

Soon, Tang Ya and Wu Feng, the last to regain consciousness, also climbed up from the ground, rubbing their heads.

Bei Bei busied himself asking Tang Ya if she was alright, while Ning Tian similarly expressed her concern for Wu Feng.

After quite a while, the group finally recovered their composure as they had when first entering the Star Great Forest. Meanwhile, upon seeing the two men in black guarding Ning Wuque and Ning Tian, Bei Bei and Tang Ya wisely refrained from asking too many questions.

Soon, ensuring that all danger had passed, the two Soul Douluos who had been secretly protecting Ning Tian melted back into the shadows. To break the slightly awkward silence, Bei Bei spoke up:

"Little brother Yuhao, how are you feeling? If you're alright, let's continue with hunting your soul ring."

"I... I..."

Yuhao was nervous, and his at-a-loss expression drew puzzled glances from Wu Feng, Ning Tian, and Tang Ya. He stammered, wanting to say something, but once the words reached his lips, he had no idea how to explain.

Within his spiritual sea, he was frantically calling out to the Skydream Iceworm for help, while casting a pleading look toward Ning Wuque, hoping the only other person who knew the truth could help him out of this predicament.

In response, Ning Wuque nodded and stepped forward to take responsibility for Huo Yuhao's suspicious circumstances:

"There's no need. Yuhao has already obtained his first soul ring. As for how he obtained it, please forgive me for keeping that private."

"Since that's the case, let's leave it at that. Next, we can proceed directly to hunting a soul ring for Senior Sister Tang Ya."

Beside them, Ning Tian immediately backed Ning Wuque up. Although she had no idea why he was covering for Huo Yuhao, her clever mind had already deduced that the earlier fainting spell was most likely connected to him.

She had already formed a rough hypothesis in her heart: Could it be that a hundred-thousand-year soul beast had voluntarily offered a sacrifice? Only that explanation could account for why everyone had passed out without sustaining any actual injuries.

At the same time, because Ning Wuque must have gained some benefits from the ordeal and split them with Huo Yuhao, he was now shielding the boy.

Regardless of the details, everything would become clear when Ning Wuque came to talk to her later; right now was not the time to pursue it.

With that conclusion, Ning Tian made her stance clear: the matter should simply be dropped here.

Across from them, Tang Ya and Bei Bei exchanged glances. Seeing Bei Bei shake his head, Tang Ya nodded and said:

"Alright then, we'll trouble you with this."

The two of them held little weight here; even if there were benefits to be had, they were in no position to demand them, and their respective "guardians" in the background were unlikely to meddle in such childish antics.

Therefore, following Ning Tian's lead and letting the matter drop was the best course of action. Besides, neither of them had suffered any losses, save for feeling a bit dizzy after waking from their faint.

Soon, they resumed their journey to hunt for soul rings.

The process went smoothly. Tang Ya successfully hunted a thousand-year-old Datura Snake to serve as her third soul ring. Afterward, the group decided to rest for a short while before heading toward Shrek Academy.

It was during this rest that Ning Wuque turned to Tang Ya, who was sitting beside Bei Bei not far away, and asked:

"Senior Sister Tang Ya, I recall you mentioning before that the Tang Sect has historically held a quota for direct admission to Shrek Academy without examinations, correct? I wonder if I might make a trade with you to secure this quota for Yuhao, so he can study at Shrek for the time being."

Ning Wuque intended to make a deal with Tang Ya.

He was certainly going to take Huo Yuhao to the Body Sect eventually, but not right now. Before that, he perhaps wanted to spend some time getting along with Yuhao, ensuring the boy would owe him a debt of gratitude he could never fully repay in this lifetime.

At the same time, this was a test he planned to set for Huo Yuhao, to see what choice the boy would make after acquiring the Ice Empress Scorpion.

Would he continue to trust him, or... align himself with the academy?

"Sigh, you're planning to send him into Shrek Academy?"

Tang Ya looked at Ning Wuque in astonishment and confusion. Was this guy being a bit too good to Little Brother Yuhao?

What on earth had happened between the two of them previously to make Ning Wuque go to such lengths to help him?

Huo Yuhao, who was sitting alone by the campfire roasting fish, also raised his head and stared blankly at Ning Wuque.

Big Brother Wuque...

"Yes, isn't Shrek Academy free to come and go as one pleases before entering the Inner Court? Since we're helping someone, we might as well see it through to the end. The next Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament is only about a year away, isn't it?"

Ning Wuque smoothly recited the justification he had prepared long in advance:

"How could the people of the Body Sect possibly miss out on picking up scraps at such a grand event? Who knows, maybe some academy is hiding a raw talent with a Body Soul just waiting to be brought home, which would also save Yuhao the trouble of searching all over the mainland."

"That's true too! Alright then, I do hit it off with Little Brother Yuhao anyway. One hundred gold soul coins, and the quota is yours. Of course, Yuhao will have to become a registered disciple of my Tang Sect first, otherwise the quota cannot be used."

Tang Ya generously patted her chest. She was kind-hearted by nature, and since the enrollment deadline was fast approaching anyway, giving away the quota was no big deal.