Chapter 14: Afraid?

"Ah!"

Qin Jian recoiled abruptly, simultaneously pushing Ning Rongrong's small body away.

"S-sorry..."

Qin Jian was rarely seen blushing: "I was just too agitated..."

"Oh..."

Ning Rongrong lowered her head, not even daring to glance at him, and scrambled into the bedcovers in a flurry.

Qin Jian looked at Ning Rongrong, who was wrapped tightly in the quilt beside him, and couldn't help but offer a wry smile.

He knew he wasn't agitated, but rather suffering from skin hunger...

Because he had originally been human, yet for a full Ten Thousand Years he had not been close to anyone, and that instinct had been infinitely magnified.

Especially when he had just transformed, that idiot Xiao Wu had thrown herself at him without a care for her life, and as a result...

What happened that night was simply beyond words.

I wonder if she has recovered by now...

Qin Jian extinguished the light and crawled into the quilt, his eyes filled with memories in the darkness.

Xiao Wu should still be at the Primary Academy now; I wonder if she has met Tang San yet...

The next day.

When Ning Fengzhi and Jian Douluo came to see them again, the scene inside surprised them.

Because Ning Rongrong seemed like a different person; she was no longer willful or reckless, and she didn't throw any more tantrums.

Throughout the day of trekking over mountains and ridges, she listened to Qin Jian's every word, and they successfully reached the resting place on the other side by midday.

"This..."

Ning Fengzhi looked at the unrecognizable Ning Rongrong, somewhat baffled: "What on earth happened last night that Rongrong is so obedient today?"

Jian Douluo speculated: "Perhaps she knows she can't get out and has resigned herself to fate, or maybe Jian'er persuaded her?"

Ning Fengzhi nodded and said: "That is the only possibility; I hope she can keep it up..."

And for the following half-year, whether it was high mountains or rivers, deserts or glaciers, oceans or forests, Ning Rongrong persisted through it all.

Regardless of whether the weather was torrential rain and gale-force winds, thunder and lightning, or scorching sun and freezing winter with snow filling the sky, Ning Rongrong actually just kept walking while holding Qin Jian's hand.

"These two..."

Ning Fengzhi finally sensed that something was off: "Could these two little ones have really sparked a romance? Otherwise, given Rongrong's pampered nature, could she have persisted in such a grueling environment?"

Jian Douluo blinked and said: "It's possible..."

"Jian Shu, do you think if they really are together, is this... appropriate?"

Ning Fengzhi rested his hands on his cane, his expression unreadable.

Jian Douluo smiled and said: "I don't think the Sect Master needs to overthink it; just let nature take its course. At the very least, Jian'er's character is excellent; I can guarantee that."

Ning Fengzhi nodded and said: "I naturally trust Jian Shu's judgment."

"The next half-year will be even harder; I hope they can hold out until the final Assessment."

Ning Fengzhi said: "Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hasn't had any pair persist to the end in nearly a hundred years. I hope they can create a miracle, even if it is mixed with emotional factors."

Jian Douluo thought for a moment and suddenly asked: "Sect Master, when was the last time a pair managed to pass the final stage?"

Ning Fengzhi was slightly startled, then said: "I recall the records stating it was a thousand years ago..."

He suddenly looked at Jian Douluo and said: "Jian Shu, you don't think these two little ones can reach that point, do you?"

"Who can say for sure..."

Jian Douluo wasn't certain how Ning Rongrong would perform in the end, but he had immense confidence in Qin Jian...

Over the next half-year, the environment within the Mimicry Cultivation Ground grew increasingly harsh, but Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong still pushed through hand in hand.

In the boundless desert, under the scorching sun, occasionally interspersed with volcanic eruptions, the two were drenched in sweat, fleeing in all directions, walking through the difficulties and obstacles.

On the ocean, with howling winds and rampant tsunamis, the two took shelter on a small island, then stepped onto a raft to ride the wind and waves, reaching the other shore.

In the forest of giant trees, amidst intense earthquakes, the two jumped incessantly across the chaotic ground, dodging every fissure.

Through mountain floods and collapsing snow-capped peaks, they never gave up, always pulling through time and time again.

Even when exhausted, even when covered in bruises, even when in a wretched state, they always managed to successfully reach a safe haven in the end, reaching that warm tent.

What kind of profound tacit understanding and emotion were forged by these various experiences? Neither of them knew at the time...

By the ninth month, most of the pairs had already been eliminated.

By the tenth month, only five or six pairs remained.

By the twelfth month, only Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong remained in the entire Mimicry Cultivation Ground.

During this period, almost all the high-level members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were watching them, and ordinary sect members would also come to take a look from time to time.

Because they all wanted to know how far Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong would go.

When the final day of the one-year term arrived, the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was in an uproar, and almost everyone gathered outside the Mimicry Cultivation Ground.

Because this was the first time in a hundred years that a pair had reached this stage, and they were desperate to know if Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong could pass the final hurdle.

This day.

The area of the Mimicry Cultivation Ground where they were located had expanded to a thousand miles, encompassing various terrains from boundless deserts to lush forests, and from high hills to snow-capped mountains and oceans.

Extreme natural disasters descended from time to time.

"If the disaster level is usually 1, then the final Assessment level is 10..."

Ning Fengzhi's expression was incomparably grave.

Jian Douluo and Gu Douluo stood behind him, their gazes also fixed tightly on the interior.

"I remember the sect once had a rule..."

Gu Douluo whispered: "If a pair can pass this final hurdle, then they will be partners for life and will never pair with anyone else."

Ning Fengzhi nodded and said, "That is indeed the case."

Jian Douluo pointed ahead and said, "Stop talking for now, it has started inside."

Earthquakes could not make them stop their steps.

Tsunamis could not hinder them in the slightest.

In the floodwaters, they passed by with loud laughter.

In the gale, they whistled as they went.

As long as they were still holding hands, it was as if there was nothing terrifying in this world.

The crowd outside became increasingly agitated, because the time had now reached evening, and Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong were only one step away from successfully clearing the trial.

Only Ning Fengzhi, Jian Douluo, and Gu Douluo had expressions that grew even more solemn.

"If the previous difficulty was 10, then this final part will reach a difficulty of 100!"

Ning Fengzhi said solemnly, "Jian Shu, Gu Shu, if there is anything wrong, immediately act together to save them!"

The two great Title Douluo nodded solemnly...

What finally appeared before Qin Jian and Ning Rongrong was a snow-capped mountain thousands of feet high.

They did not hesitate and climbed up.

But...

When they approached the mountainside, an avalanche occurred...

This was the most spectacular avalanche they had ever witnessed, because the entire mountain peak was pouring down toward them!

"Ah! ——"

Under this disaster that blotted out the sky and sun, countless people outside exclaimed in shock.

Yet inside, Qin Jian only tightened his grip on the small hand in his, saying, "Are you afraid?"

Ning Rongrong's small body was trembling, but she still looked up, meeting Qin Jian's warm gaze, and said, "I'm not."

"Then let us see together just what is so remarkable about this avalanche——"

The next moment, the two of them charged toward the overwhelming sea of snow...

"Come on!"

(End of this chapter)