pdf-ebookys Chapter 12: Shadows only work in the dark.
Chapter 12: Shadows only work in the dark.
(Just remembered that many people don't remember Ning Rongrong from this timeline, so I found a picture from the movie to make it easier to connect with her.)
When Qian Renxue of the Spirit Hall was nine years old, her father died, and she was sent to Heaven Dou City after participating in a plot to seize the country.
According to the timeline, she should have been lurking in Tiandou City for five or six years.
Thinking of the original plot, Li Jiuyou began to weigh the pros and cons.
Should they continue to develop within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School according to the established strategy, or switch to another faction?
In terms of raw power, the Spirit Hall is clearly stronger.
However, the drawback is obvious: even if one is valued after going there, it is still limited, and it is difficult to control the overall direction from behind the scenes, because there are too many powerful people in the Spirit Hall.
Based on his understanding of the plot, Li Jiuyou was confident that if he sided with the Spirit Hall, victory would be inevitable.
Being used as a tool and becoming the one who uses a tool are two completely different kinds of victory.
Thinking about it this way, the Spirit Hall is not a good place.
"What are you thinking about?"
"It's nothing."
Li Jiuyou revealed a faint smile that matched Ning Rongrong's memory of him, having already made up his mind.
Ning Rongrong asked casually, then immediately told Li Jiuyou her request: "Come with me to the banquet tomorrow, otherwise I'll definitely be bored by myself!"
Li Jiuyou really wanted to say he didn't want to go.
He wanted to hide his presence, and if he had to reveal himself, now was not the time.
However, Ning Rongrong, as the sect leader's daughter and the designated next sect leader, is not easy to fool.
It's definitely not acceptable to say that you were injured while practicing swordsmanship and can't move.
"I will go to see Uncle Ning first thing tomorrow morning, and I will ask him to let me attend the banquet."
"Really?"
Ning Rongrong seemed very happy; at least, Li Jiuyou's words implied that she was willing to go with him.
The thought of being in the limelight made her very happy.
Since awakening her martial soul, Ning Fengzhi has forced her to cultivate, and she hasn't had a chance to go out and play. She wonders if the other members of the sect have forgotten her title of Little Witch... This time, she's bringing Xiao Jiuyou along, and she's determined to show everyone what she's made of!
"real."
Li Jiuyou stood up and said, "It's almost time, Miss Rongrong can go back now."
"it is good."
Ning Rongrong was preoccupied with how she would show off herself and her follower tomorrow, and without paying attention to whether the time had really come, she turned around and skipped away.
As he walked, he turned back to wave goodbye to Li Jiuyou.
After watching Ning Rongrong leave, Li Jiuyou lowered his hand and returned to the courtyard to continue his cultivation.
The next morning, Li Jiuyou took the initiative to wait at the entrance of Ning Fengzhi's courtyard.
Without knocking or making a sound, he stood at the door waiting until Ning Fengzhi opened the door himself and noticed him.
"Jiuyou? When did you arrive? Why didn't you even greet Uncle Ning?"
Ning Fengzhi was somewhat surprised.
Judging from the frost on Li Jiuyou's shoulders and hair, he must have been waiting here for a while this morning.
"Uncle Ning is very busy, and I was worried that it would affect your rest... But I just arrived, and luckily I didn't have to wait long for him to arrive."
Li Jiuyou shuddered, and in a fleeting moment, he saw a figure in pajamas appear, peeking out from the bushes and looking towards the door.
He then continued:
"I came here today because I heard from Miss Rongrong that there will be a banquet tonight, and the eldest prince of Tiandou City, Xue Qinghe, will be there. I have always heard that the eldest prince is eager to find talented people and is a strong contender for the position of crown prince."
Although I was merely Miss Rongrong's shadow, I felt it necessary for me to get to know the First Prince, at least to leave an impression on each other, so that future interactions would be easier.
After Li Jiuyou finished speaking, he looked at Ning Fengzhi with a suppressed expectation in his eyes.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi quickly began to think, showing no signs of grogginess despite having just woken up.
The only thing affected was the fact that Li Jiuyou didn't knock on the door because he wanted to rest.
Ning Fengzhi naturally knew that the eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, was coming, and that his purpose was to become his disciple, in order to win over the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
The second prince died unexpectedly last year, and the third prince also passed away a few months ago. The fourth prince is still young and not very capable, and has recently shown some dissolute behavior. The eldest prince, Xue Qinghe, is indeed a strong contender for the throne.
Before Li Jiuyou appeared, Ning Fengzhi had also considered betrothing Ning Rongrong to Xue Qinghe.
Although he no longer had that idea, he still wanted Li Jiuyou and Xue Qinghe to get to know each other.
However, just a second ago, Ning Fengzhi chose to rethink things.
He gleaned crucial information that he had easily overlooked from Li Jiuyou's unintentional words.
Although Xue Qinghe is the eldest prince, he has not yet been made crown prince.
He was eager to find talented people and had an insatiable desire for every genius.
He wanted to vie for the position of crown prince.
Li Jiuyou doesn't have deep feelings for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School right now, and they haven't spent much time together.
"Nine Netherworlds..."
Ning Fengzhi took Li Jiuyou's hand and led him into the house. After they sat down at the stone table, he called out:
"Rongrong, stop playing and come here first."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ning Rongrong, holding leaves in both hands, came over with her tongue sticking out.
"Uncle Ning, what's going on?"
Li Jiuyou exerted a slight force on his hand, and Ning Fengzhi seemed to realize it belatedly, saying, "Sorry, I just felt very close to you, and I was thinking about something, so I forgot."
Even so, he did not let go.
Ning Fengzhi had already come to the answer in his heart.
That means Li Jiuyou cannot see Xue Qinghe. No matter how small the possibility of her being abducted is, he will not allow even the slightest such possibility to occur.
However, he needed to play the role of an enlightened father and sect leader, and could not directly refuse.
After awakening their martial souls, children in the Douluo Continent mature quickly, both physically and mentally. It's impossible to deceive them like children, so artistic embellishment is necessary.
"Nine Netherworlds, how has your cultivation been these past few days?"
"Because I'm still practicing swordsmanship and studying pharmacology, my cultivation progress has been a little slow... But Sect Leader Ning, don't worry, I will definitely work hard to cultivate!"
Ning Fengzhi nodded in satisfaction and said:
"It seems you've found the meaning in your efforts. Do you remember what I told you when you awakened your martial soul?"
Li Jiuyou was slightly taken aback, then realized what was happening.
Ning Fengzhi actually ignored his previous question and started rambling on, it seems he doesn't agree to reveal his existence... This is good, it fits Li Jiuyou's plan.
After thinking for a moment, he roughly guessed the direction Ning Fengzhi was thinking.
"I want to become the best shadow, just like Grandpa Bones, so invisible that people can't even see him, yet he can solve problems with a single move!"
Ning Fengzhi thought to himself that Li Jiuyou was truly his confidant. If he had been born twenty years earlier, they might have become sworn brothers.
They just happened to get to this point perfectly, so I didn't have to waste time guiding them sentence by sentence.
"That's right. Because Uncle Gu's martial soul is special and possesses spatial abilities, he is the source of other forces' fear of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
"Unfortunately, Jiuyou, your martial soul is a sword, so I'm afraid you can't do what Uncle Gu did."
"So what should I do?"
Li Jiuyou looked very anxious, filled with a desire for power and recognition.
"Nine Netherworlds, do you know what people fear most?"
"Is it overwhelming strength?"
Ning Fengzhi shook his head and slowly gave the answer: "It's unknown."
"Fear arises only when one does not know where the opponent is, how strong they are, or even their existence."
"I specifically named the organization that Uncle Gu manages 'Shadow,' and that's the meaning behind it."
The true intentions have been revealed.
Li Jiuyou chuckled inwardly, then looked at the bewildered Ning Rongrong with a conflicted expression, giving her an apologetic look that showed she didn't understand before turning to Ning Fengzhi and saying:
"Uncle Ning, although my martial spirit can't hide like Grandpa Bone, I can hide myself, so it should be the same, right...? I've thought it through, and I will do what I should do from now on."
"Wait, wait!"
Ning Rongrong shook her head as she stood up and asked the two of them, "What are you talking about? Rongrong doesn't understand..."
Ning Fengzhi remarked that Li Jiuyou was indeed quite intelligent, but also somewhat timid.
According to Uncle Jian, when he obtained his first spirit ring, he controlled himself to not show any fear, but his heart was beating very fast, perhaps even slower than Rongrong's.
But it doesn't matter, at least he has the perseverance to stick to his principles, and courage can be cultivated.
Although Ning Fengzhi felt a little apologetic for guiding Li Jiuyou to hide himself, he did not regret it.
He's done this kind of thing a lot, using words to guide others to achieve his own goals.
However, this was the first time I felt apologetic.
"Rongrong, be good. Jiuyou means to protect you in secret. This is for your own good, so he will do the same tonight."
Li Jiuyou nodded. It's already been explained quite clearly. Even if Ning Rongrong is stupid, she should be able to understand now, right?
"Does Dad mean that Xiao Jiuyou can't go out to play with me?"
"No, as my daughter, you are under everyone's scrutiny. If Jiuyou appears by your side, she will definitely be investigated, and then I won't be able to protect you."
Ning Fengzhi stood up and tried to reach out to touch Ning Rongrong's head, but she dodged him.
The young girl didn't understand why things had turned out this way. All she knew was that her expectations for the whole night had been dashed. Her only little follower had come to ask her father to play with her, but he refused and would never be able to play with her in public again.
"Dad is a bad guy!"
She finally held her breath and whispered those words, then grabbed Li Jiuyou and ran away.
Li Jiuyou turned around and opened her mouth at Ning Fengzhi, but seeing that he didn't move, she followed him.
After the two left, Ning Fengzhi sighed and sat down.
Actually, everything he did was for his daughter's good, but she was too young to understand.
The shadow can only be effective in the dark, striking the enemy dead in one blow.
Ning Fengzhi stopped worrying about it. Over the past few months, he had realized that Li Jiuyou was better at coaxing children than he was, so there was no need to interfere; things would get better in time.
The two left the courtyard and walked on the grass covered with a thin layer of snow to the back mountain.
When Ning Rongrong finally stopped, Li Jiuyou went over to take a look.
Even though I had a general idea of what would happen, I never expected it to be like this.
After muttering a complaint to himself about how troublesome kids are, Li Jiuyou took out a handkerchief from the storage ring given to him by Ning Fengzhi and wiped Ning Rongrong's face.
"I'll go tomorrow. Try to stay in the central area where the food is placed so I can be closer to you."
Upon hearing this, Ning Rongrong stopped crying and looked up, saying, "But didn't Daddy say he wouldn't let you come with me..."
"Of course I'll listen to Uncle Ning."
Li Jiuyou broke free from the hand being held, and wrapped Ning Rongrong's small hand in his own, saying, "But I am your shadow, and I will consider your feelings more."
Li Jiuyou examined himself and concluded that there shouldn't be any problems.
In the past, I could appease the child even without going to this extent. Now, I can only do better, which can be considered as solving the child's troubles.
Li Jiuyou was filled with emotion.
Hurry up and reply, young lady, we haven't practiced our swordsmanship yet.
To his surprise, Ning Rongrong didn't manage to control her emotions and laugh as usual. Instead, she cried even harder and clung to him.
"Holy crap!"
Li Jiuyou instinctively tried to dodge, but thankfully stopped himself.
He had always known that although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was centered around Ning Fengzhi and the two Douluo, if he wanted to live a comfortable life and not arouse Ning Fengzhi's suspicion, he still had to rely on the little princess Ning Rongrong.
As long as they perceive their relationship as close, they would accept it even if the other person did something that violated principles, such as secretly cultivating their own power.
Patting Ning Rongrong on the back, Li Jiuyou said gently:
"Alright, alright, Miss Rongrong, we should go back now."
"……oh!"
She snatched the handkerchief from Li Jiuyou's hand, turned her back, and asked, "What just happened?"
"no."
Li Jiuyou thought to himself that if those two Title Douluos who sensed Ning Rongrong running out crying could pretend not to see it, then it was indeed true that she hadn't.
He then comforted the young lady and sent her back, before returning to practice his swordsmanship.
I thought today's practice would be quite grueling, but to my surprise, Chen Xin actually relaxed the requirements and even personally used his soul power to help Li Jiuyou relieve his physical fatigue.
The schedule for today was similar to that of any other day. It wasn't until nightfall that Li Jiuyou arrived at the banquet hall.
The hall was brightly lit, with four long tables in the center laden with various foods, and many outer and inner disciples of the sect were also present.
Some people on the second floor were looking down and talking to each other.
They are the sect's management, such as members of the Enforcement Hall and some elders.
Ning Fengzhi, dressed in formal attire, was currently conversing with a refined young man in court robes.
Ning Rongrong stayed not far away, and Chen Xin and Gu Rong were also there, less than ten meters away from Ning Fengzhi, and could reach him at any time.
After noting down the people and environment at the scene, Li Jiuyou walked to the edge where the lighting was dimmer, took the plate, and headed to the central dining table.
He looked at the table in front of him, which was mostly filled with desserts and bread. Although he didn't like them, he took some anyway.
Anyway, it's just for show; he can just stay here since he has no companions.