Chapter 39: A Pleasant Partnership

"Han Feng... I know I was wrong, okay? Don't be mad anymore! "

With one final blow, Han Feng sent the Scorpion Sisters flying out of the ring, knocking them unconscious. Their soul power had already been depleted, and they stood no chance against his fully charged shield strike. Had Han Feng not held back, the sisters might have been reduced to two charred corpses. After all, Han Dang had a decent relationship with Supervisor Ao of the Soto Great Spirit Arena, and Han Feng didn't want to cause him trouble.

A death in the arena wasn't exactly a huge scandal, but it wasn't a small issue either.

Once the host announced Chibao Team's victory, Han Feng left immediately, ignoring the cheers from the crowd. In the Spirit Arena, only one thing mattered—victory.

Ning Rongrong followed close behind, apologizing sweetly and pitifully.

Han Feng had already vented his anger on the Scorpion Sisters, so his mood had cooled. Seeing Rongrong apologize so proactively, he didn't feel like keeping up the act.

"Just this once. Don't let it happen again."

Rongrong beamed, her face lighting up like a songbird's melody. She happily circled Han Feng, her sparkling eyes never leaving him.

"Watch where you're going! You'll trip," Han Feng warned, feeling his cheeks flush from being stared at.

"It's fine. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan has special techniques for multitasking," she replied with a smile, still gazing at him.

"Uh..." Han Feng was momentarily speechless. "Then suit yourself. I won't charge you."

While they talked, Dai Mubai and the others made their way down from the stands to meet them.

Dai Mubai threw an arm around Han Feng and clapped his shoulder.

"Well done, Feng! That final move... almost as strong as one of my full-powered hits! "

"Heh..." Han Feng let out a dry laugh. "I thought you were going to accuse me of selling out the team."

Dai Mubai's smile froze, and he laughed awkwardly. "Of course not! I trusted you completely from the start! I knew you had a plan. Those six blazing shields—man, what a show of strength. You didn't back down an inch. Total badass! "

Han Feng rolled his eyes. "Come on. If even half the stuff you said were true, Zhu Zhuqing wouldn't be so guarded around you."

"Uh..."

Dai Mubai was stunned for a moment and didn't react until Han Feng was already several meters ahead.

"Han Feng! How can you slander me like that? When have I ever lied? Matters of soul masters aren't lies—they're tactics! "

"Ha!"

This time, it wasn't Han Feng who answered, but Zhu Zhuqing, who walked behind Dai Mubai. She let out a cold snort and, for the first time, said to him directly,

"Han Feng's right."

While everyone joked around, Flender had landed silently nearby. He looked over them with satisfaction and said calmly,

"That's all for today's training. Ma Hongjun, come with me. The rest of you can return to the academy on your own."

Flender couldn't be more pleased. Han Feng and Tang San, both rookies in the arena, had helped him make a killing today.

Newcomers meant high odds. Thanks to Han Feng and the others, Flender pocketed several thousand gold soul coins!

With Dai Mubai and Oscar smirking and exchanging teasing glances, Ma Hongjun grumpily followed Flender. He and Flender both knew exactly why he was being called away.

Watching Ma Hongjun leave, Han Feng muttered,

"To be that spoiled and still end up a genius... Phoenix Spirit truly lives up to its name. Anyone else would probably see the sun as green by now."

Originally, Han Feng planned to hang out in Soto City with Dai Mubai, but when he noticed Mubai gravitating toward Zhu Zhuqing, he shrugged and decided to return to the academy alone.

"Dai Mubai! "

Just as he was about to strike up a conversation with Zhu Zhuqing, a clear, delicate voice called out from behind him, making him flinch.

He turned around with a scowl, only to see Ning Rongrong smiling sweetly at him. He snorted.

"What is it? Can't you see I'm busy? "

Rongrong didn't expose his bluff. Instead, she bowed gracefully and sincerely said,

"You helped me today. Thank you."

That caught Dai Mubai off guard.

It seems like Han Feng really did change her a lot, he thought.

Still, he replied,

"Don't get the wrong idea. I was helping Feng, not you."

Rongrong nodded knowingly and flashed a mischievous smile.

"You can fool others, but not me. Han Feng was right—nine and a half out of ten things you say are lies. You didn't just help for brotherly love, right? "

"What else could it be? " Dai Mubai's eyes flickered.

Rongrong didn't answer. She merely glanced at Zhu Zhuqing ahead of them and smiled meaningfully.

"Ugh," Dai Mubai sighed, seeing he'd been seen through. "What do you want? "

"Nothing much. You like Zhuqing, and I like Han Feng. In a way, we're in the same boat..." Rongrong's teasing tone faded, replaced by a trace of melancholy. Clearly, she was thinking about Han Feng's attitude toward her.

Dai Mubai pondered, then sighed too. Rongrong could at least talk to Han Feng. He couldn't even do that with Zhu Zhuqing.

"That's why I think we should work together," Rongrong said, suddenly serious. "You're Han Feng's roommate. I share a room with Zhuqing. If anyone can learn Han Feng's preferences, it's you. And if anyone knows Zhuqing's likes and dislikes, it's me."

"Of course... If you can get Xiao Wu away from Tang San, forget I said anything."

Her eyes sparkled with confidence. As the daughter of Ning Fengzhi, Rongrong had full faith in her negotiation skills.

Sure enough, Dai Mubai's eyes lit up with sharp interest the moment she finished speaking.

Seeing that, Rongrong knew he understood—and accepted—her plan. She smiled and said,

"Pleasure doing business."

"Pleasure's mine," Dai Mubai replied with a grin.

But then Rongrong added seriously,

"Just to be clear—I'll only tell you about Zhuqing's preferences and things I believe are appropriate. If you ask me to drug her or do something shady, I'll tell her everything. Even if it means she never talks to me again, I will not help you that way."

Dai Mubai smirked.

"Likewise."

"And I think you know Han Feng's personality well enough to realize—if he finds out about this, we're both dead."

Rongrong smiled coldly.

"Right back at you. And don't forget—I'm a girl. At the very least, I'll get to spend one night with Han Feng."

Dai Mubai choked. He didn't expect her to be that bold. He coughed awkwardly but couldn't deny—she had a point.

After a moment, Dai Mubai added:

"To show good faith, let me offer you one free piece of advice: If you don't work on that spoiled princess temper of yours, no matter how much I help, Han Feng won't ever like you. Especially the way you treat people—stop instinctively seeing others as servants."

With that, he turned and walked off, leaving Ning Rongrong standing alone, deep in thought.

Han Feng and Zhu Zhuqing would never imagine they were being sold out by the people sleeping next to them.

Then again... Maybe by the time they found out, they'd already be enjoying it.