As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the courtyard of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Clan, Song Qing knew it was time for him to return to the Spirit Hall's temporary accommodations within Heaven Dou City. He turned to Ning Rongrong, whose bright cyan eyes were still sparkling with the remnants of their joyful games.
"Rongrong," he said, his voice a little softer now, "it's getting late. I have to go back now."
Ning Rongrong's smile faltered slightly, a hint of disappointment clouding her features. "Oh… are you leaving already, Qing?"
Song Qing nodded, a reassuring smile on his face. "But don't worry! I had so much fun playing with you today. I'll come back and play with you again tomorrow, okay?"
Ning Rongrong's face brightened instantly. "Really? You promise?"
"I promise," Song Qing confirmed, holding out his little finger for a pinky swear. Ning Rongrong eagerly linked her finger with his, a giggle escaping her lips.
'I really like playing with Qing,' Ning Rongrong thought, her heart feeling a warmth she hadn't experienced in a long time. Her usual play sessions with Grandpa Bone and Grandpa Sword were fun, but playing with someone her own age, someone so interesting and kind, was a completely different kind of joy. She definitely wanted to become good friends with him.
And it wasn't just Ning Rongrong who felt that way. Song Qing, despite his initial mission to discuss cooperation, found himself genuinely enjoying Ning Rongrong's company. Her energy and enthusiasm were infectious, and her playful nature reminded him of the simple joys of childhood he sometimes forgot amidst his cultivation and responsibilities. 'She's fun to be around,' he thought. 'I should definitely spend more time with her while I'm here.'
The next day, Ning Rongrong woke up with a sense of eager anticipation. She didn't even feel like playing her usual morning games with Grandpa Bone or Grandpa Sword. Her thoughts were filled with the prospect of seeing Qing again. She waited near the entrance of the clan's main courtyard, her bright cyan eyes constantly scanning for any sign of him. The hours seemed to stretch on endlessly. It wasn't until the late afternoon, when the sun was beginning its slow descent, that a familiar figure finally appeared at the edge of the courtyard.
"Qing!" Ning Rongrong called out, her voice filled with relief and excitement, rushing towards him.
Song Qing smiled apologetically as he reached her, a slightly sheepish look on his face. "Rongrong, I'm so sorry I'm late."
Ning Rongrong's initial joy at seeing him was momentarily overshadowed by a hint of annoyance. "You're late," she stated, her lower lip slightly trembling. "I've been waiting for you all day!"
"I know, I know, and I'm really sorry," Song Qing said, his expression genuinely contrite. "I was talking with Sister Yan back in Heaven Dou City. She's one of my only friends here, and she just wouldn't let me leave. We were catching up, and… well, time just flew by."
Ning Rongrong's cheeks puffed out slightly, a hint of jealousy flickering in her bright cyan eyes. 'Sister Yan?' she thought, a little frown creasing her forehead. 'He was playing with another girl? Who is this Sister Yan?' A pang of something she couldn't quite name tugged at her heart.
Song Qing, perceptive as always, noticed her change in mood. He quickly racked his brain for a way to appease her. "But I told Sister Yan that I absolutely had to come and play with you today, Rongrong! And here I am!" He then brightened, a mischievous glint in his dark eyes. "How about we play your favorite game? The one with the Dragon's Leap and the Star Catchers? We can play all the rounds you want!"
Ning Rongrong's pout slowly faded, replaced by a flicker of excitement. Dragon's Leap and Star Catchers were indeed her favorite games. The thought of spending the rest of the afternoon playing them with Qing was enough to make her forget her momentary annoyance.
"Really? All the rounds I want?" she asked, her voice now filled with renewed enthusiasm.
"Absolutely!" Song Qing confirmed with a wide, charming smile. "Let's go!"
And just like that, Ning Rongrong's fleeting anger vanished completely. Her jealousy over the mysterious 'Sister Yan' was forgotten in the face of the immediate joy of playing with her new friend. She grabbed Song Qing's hand and eagerly led him back to their favorite spot in the courtyard, the intricate patterns they had drawn in the dirt the day before still visible.
They spent the rest of the afternoon playing with boundless energy and enthusiasm. Their laughter echoed through the clan's headquarters once more, a testament to the simple yet profound joy of their burgeoning friendship. They raced, they leaped, they strategized, their initial awkwardness from the previous day completely gone. They were simply two children enjoying each other's company, lost in the innocent world of their games.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, a sense of contentment settled over them. They were both tired but happy, their faces flushed with exertion and smiles that reached their eyes. By the time Song Qing had to leave, promising to return again tomorrow, Ning Rongrong was already eagerly anticipating their next playdate.
~~
As the couple of days passed by, Song Qing found himself looking forward to his daily visits to the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Clan. He and Ning Rongrong played with an almost boundless energy, their laughter echoing through the clan's grounds. But their interactions weren't limited to just games.
They also started to talk more, sharing stories and dreams, and naturally, their conversations drifted towards their Martial Spirits.
One sunny afternoon, as they rested beneath the shade of a large, blossoming tree, Ning Rongrong's curiosity got the better of her. "Qing," she said, her cyan eyes sparkling with intrigue, "can I see your dragon spirit again? It looked so… powerful."
Song Qing grinned, happy to oblige. With a thought, the shadowy figure of the Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor materialized behind him, its dark scales shimmering in the sunlight. Ning Rongrong gasped, her eyes wide with awe. "Wow! It's even more amazing up close! I heard that dragon spirits are some of the strongest Martial Spirits in the world!"
"Yours is pretty incredible too, Rongrong," Song Qing replied sincerely, his gaze admiring the delicate, seven-colored pagoda that hovered above her palm. "The Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Pagoda is the best support spirit anyone could ask for. You can help so many people become stronger!"
Ning Rongrong puffed out her chest a little, a proud smile gracing her lips. "It is pretty great, isn't it?" She giggled. "Grandpa Bone and Grandpa Sword always say I'm going to be a huge help to the clan someday."
Song Qing nodded enthusiastically. He had learned from the hushed whispers of the clan members that Ning Rongrong, despite her young age, already possessed a soul power that was quite impressive.
He had kept his own soul power of Level 44 a secret, but it seemed word had spread within the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Clan about his extraordinary talent.
One afternoon, as they were taking a break from their energetic games, Ning Rongrong looked at him with a newfound seriousness in her bright eyes. "Qing," she said softly, "I heard… I heard that you're really, really strong. Even stronger than some of the older disciples in my clan."
Song Qing shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Maybe a little bit."
Ning Rongrong's gaze became earnest. "Then… then you'll always protect me, right? My dad and my grandpas always tell me that because my spirit is a support spirit, I'll be the first one people will try to target in a fight. They said I have to be really careful." Her voice held a hint of worry.
Song Qing's tiny fists clenched instinctively. A surge of protectiveness washed over him. "Of course, Rongrong! I'll always protect you. You're my good friend. No one will dare to hurt you while I'm around, I promise!" He said it with such conviction that Ning Rongrong couldn't help but believe him.
Over the next few days, their bond deepened rapidly. Their playful interactions evolved into a genuine friendship, with perhaps a hint of something more blossoming beneath the surface, a sweet and innocent connection that was unique to their young hearts.
'Rongrong is really a great friend,' Song Qing thought one evening as he was preparing to return to Heaven Dou City.
'I really want to help her become even stronger.' His mind drifted back to Dugu Bo's herbal garden at the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
The Beautiful Silk Tulip… it was a perfect match for her spirit. It could greatly enhance her aptitude, potentially even triggering the evolution to the legendary Nine Treasure Glaze Tile Pagoda, and significantly boost her soul power.
'It'll still take a while for my Primordial Life Tree to fully mature the ones I planted,' he mused, 'but I can definitely take some from Senior Dugu Bo's garden now.'
The Eight Petal Immortal Orchid would also be incredibly beneficial, complementing the effects of the Beautiful Silk Tulip and potentially pushing her to the Soul Grandmaster rank much faster. 'I should get both for her,' he decided. 'She deserves it.'
His thoughts then turned to his other friends.
'Sister Yan has always been kind to me, and Senior Sister Liena… she's helped me a lot too.' He made a mental note to find suitable Immortal Herbs for them as well. He wanted to see all his friends grow stronger and achieve their full potential.
However, he knew he had to be careful. Suddenly gifting such potent herbs and triggering a spirit evolution would cause a massive stir, and Bibi Dong would undoubtedly notice.
'Maybe it's time I told Teacher a little bit about my Second Spirit,' he thought. He wouldn't reveal its full extent, just enough to explain some of his abilities. 'I can tell her I have a healing soul ring, one that can copy herbs and poisons, and another that creates phantom vines for illusions and binding.'
That sounded plausible enough and would explain his knowledge of herbs and some of his unique skills without revealing the true nature of the Primordial Life Tree.
After spending a few more enjoyable days playing with Ning Rongrong, the time came for Song Qing to return to Martial Soul City. The two Super Douluo, Yue Guan and Gui Mei, breathed a collective sigh of relief as they finally left the territory of the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Clan with their precious charge unharmed.
Back in his room within the Spirit Hall, Song Qing settled down for a much-needed rest. Meanwhile, Yue Guan and Gui Mei immediately sought out Bibi Dong to report on their trip to Heaven Dou City. They recounted everything that had happened, from Song Qing's unexpected spar with Yu Tianheng to his surprising proposal of an alliance with the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Clan and his subsequent visits to Ning Rongrong.
Bibi Dong listened with a fond smile on her face, particularly amused by the tale of Song Qing's easy victory over the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan heir. 'Good, good,' she thought, a hint of satisfaction in her beautiful pink eyes.
'That arrogant clan needed to be put in their place.' However, she was quite taken aback by the news of the potential alliance and Song Qing's claim about the Immortal Flowers. 'Immortal Flowers? And only he can grow them? Well, I will ask him later.'
But the Super Douluo's next revelation caused her smile to vanish. They hesitantly informed her about Song Qing's repeated visits to the Seven Treasure Glaze Tile Clan's headquarters to play with Ning Rongrong.
Bibi Dong's pink eyes narrowed dangerously, a cold glint entering her gaze as she stared at the two Super Douluo. The air in the hall seemed to thicken with her displeasure. Yue Guan and Gui Mei braced themselves for her wrath. However, after a tense moment of silence, Bibi Dong let out a long breath, her expression softening slightly. "As long as Qing'er was not harmed," she said, her voice still carrying a hint of warning, "I will let this pass. But in the future, you are not to take him to such places without my explicit permission. Understood?"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei bowed their heads in unison, a wave of relief washing over them. "Understood, Your Holiness!" They knew they had narrowly avoided a severe punishment. Bibi Dong's protectiveness towards Song Qing was absolute, and they wouldn't make the mistake of underestimating it again.