Chapter 71: The Art of Taming Princesses (Patreon)

Ning Rongrong shivered, her delicate frame trembling on the verge of tears.

Lu Feng couldn't help but soften a little. "You want some bananas?"

"Out of all fruits… I love bananas the most. You can really…?" Ning Rongrong nodded, her clear eyes glimmering with curiosity.

With a thought, Lu Feng's second spirit ring flashed. A white glow shimmered in his palm, transforming the intangible into substance—and in an instant, a large banana materialized in his grip. He shoved it into her hands.

Might as well give her a banana to calm her down. Like giving a kid candy after a shot.

"Wow, you really can! So you weren't lying to me!"

Ning Rongrong immediately started eating.

"Mmm… it really does melt in your mouth! The flavor's even better than any I've had before—so sweet, so fragrant! And my stamina's already recovering! I want more!"

Turns out she's a foodie too.

After she devoured three bananas, Lu Feng refused to give her another. "Alright, you're about to burst. Time to head back."

The delicious snack had lifted her mood considerably. She relaxed, a small smile finally returning to her face.

Ning Rongrong was sharp—now that she'd calmed down, she could tell Lu Feng hadn't meant her any harm.

His… unconventional methods were just his way of making her understand something firsthand.

And understand, she did.

Realizing his intentions, her fear faded.

She tugged at Lu Feng's sleeve. "You… you spanked me there, and even gave me a 'shot'—that's way more embarrassing than a single-kneel! I won't hold it against you, but you can't make me kneel to clean your shoes either. Let's call it even. And we'll both keep what happened a secret, okay?"

"Deal."

Lu Feng agreed without hesitation.

He'd already abolished kneeling rituals across the entire Merchant Alliance—why would he force a delicate, stunning girl like her to kneel?

His goal had only ever been to tame her spoiled, prideful streak, not crush her self-respect.

Even if he had lost to her, there was no rule saying when he had to kneel. And if he ever won her over someday, a playful single-knee shoe-cleaning could just be lovers' banter.

Besides, once they were in bed, she'd be the one kneeling sometimes anyway…

Hearing his agreement, Ning Rongrong's worries vanished completely. Her smile bloomed like a flower as she twirled happily, light as a butterfly.

Zhu Zhuyun, hidden in the shadows, sighed inwardly.

"Why didn't I get this kind of treatment back then?"

"Probably because I showed open hostility toward Lu Feng from the start."

"But Ning Rongrong? She made it clear she was just playing around. This little girl… she's sharper than I was. No wonder—she's Ning Fengzhi's daughter. The man's renowned as one of the continent's greatest minds, with sky-high IQ and EQ. How else could he win over Titled Douluo a hundred times stronger than him? Especially someone as aloof and indifferent to wealth as the Sword Douluo…"

Lu Feng's gaze never once flickered toward Zhu Zhuyun's hiding spot.

So she had no idea—her presence, her body—everything had already been exposed under his "observation."

Instead of confronting her, Lu Feng simply led Ning Rongrong back toward Shrek Academy.

"Did you… really look down on me?" she asked suddenly on the way.

Lu Feng shrugged. "At first, maybe a little. But the moment you dared to challenge me? I could never underestimate you after that."

"…Okay."

Ning Rongrong nodded, mostly satisfied with his answer.

But in her heart, she was secretly vowing:

"I'll train even harder, study even more—until one day, you'll have to look up to me. Until you admire me. Hmph!"

Despite the twists and turns, and even though she'd suffered a little, Ning Rongrong was ultimately pleased.

Because in the end—she'd won.

She'd gotten his attention.

She'd become the center of it.

She'd even received Lu Feng's… unique way of "comforting" her.

Not only had she shaken off his dismissiveness, but she'd also eaten his bananas (literally), and even shared an unexpectedly intimate moment with him. Sure, he'd forced that last part at first, but… the results weren't bad.

Besides, hadn't he said it himself?

"Hitting is affection, scolding is love."

…Though she wasn't entirely convinced that phrase was only for parents and children.

Either way, their relationship had shifted. And now that she'd figured out Lu Feng's soft spot for gentleness, she'd just have to play to that from now on.

When Lu Feng and Ning Rongrong finally returned to the academy gates, Oscar—who'd been waiting impatiently—froze.

Because the two of them were laughing and chatting, their atmosphere harmonious, almost… friendly.

Ning Rongrong even seemed a little clingy, her words and gestures carrying a playful, spoiled tone.

What the hell happened?!

Weren't they just at each other's throats, ready to fight?!

With a bitter smile, Oscar couldn't help but ask, "So… who lost?"

Ning Rongrong ignored him entirely, breezing past to join Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu. She immediately looped arms with them, whispering girl-talk like they'd been friends for years. Soon, all three were giggling together—before suddenly turning synchronized glare-pouts at Lu Feng.

Ning Rongrong's social skills were top-tier. After all, Ning Fengzhi had raised her as his heir.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul had innate limitations in reaching peak combat strength—so as the future sect leader, her ability to network was critical. She needed to navigate royalty, manage the sect's vast resources, and maintain ties with major factions.

Lu Feng just clapped Oscar on the shoulder. "No winners or losers. Come on, senior—let's grab supper. I bought snowflake beef and Star Dou Forest black ale."

Then he strolled off toward the cafeteria after the girls. He'd be grilling the beef himself.

"No winners or losers…" Oscar sighed inwardly.

…Which probably meant he was the one who'd lost.

But it was only their first day meeting. His "crush" on Ning Rongrong had been shallow anyway—just a reaction to her stunning beauty and the fleeting hope she might be interested.

Ma Hongjun suddenly slung an arm around Oscar's neck. "Hey, quit moping. Sure, you're a pervert—but you're a handsome pervert! You'll find a girl."

Oscar shot back, "Says the guy who's even more perverted than me!"

"Oh? Then I guess I won't introduce you to Caihua after all…"

"Caihua? Wait, she's related to Cuihua ?" Oscar's eyes lit up, his grin turning instantly sleazy.

"Yep. Prettier, too. Just got back to the village today—was gonna keep her for myself, but—"

"PRETTIER THAN CUIHUA?! What's her full name?!"

"Admit you're more perverted than me, and I'll introduce you."

"Fine, fine! I'm the bigger pervert! Happy?!"

"Hah! Good enough. Her name's Caihua ."

(…Yes, literally "Vegetable Flower.")

"Caihua…" Oscar mused, eyes gleaming. "Just the name alone feels destined for a Food System guy like me! Alright, fatty, my future happiness is in your hands now."

Immediately, he threw an arm around Ma Hongjun's shoulders, buddy-buddy again.

Hearing "Caihua", Lu Feng's lips twitched.

He barely held back a laugh.

At least Oscar's honest—no pretenses, no schemes. Not a bad guy to have as a friend.

Then Ma Hongjun dropped the bomb:

"Dude, you really missed out tonight. Our 'Brother Feng' here? Total hidden tycoon. He gave Xiao Wu a brocade Xumi sachet worth over 300,000 gold soul coins …"

"And when he saw I didn't have a storage-type spirit tool? Boom—gifted me this belt. Worth 50,000 ." He patted his new accessory smugly.

"WHAT?!"

Oscar's eyes locked onto the belt, pupils dilating like saucers.

Neither he nor Ma Hongjun came from wealthy families—hence the whole "pushing a cart selling sausages" gig.

Sure, the overhead was low, but at five copper coins per sausage, he'd have to sell thousands just to scrape together one gold coin.

And here was Lu Feng, casually tossing around items worth tens of thousands like it was nothing.

For a solid three seconds, Oscar just stood there, brain short-circuiting—

—Then he scrambled after Lu Feng, hands rubbing together, grin stretching ear-to-ear.

"So, uh… Brother Feng… I'm also, y'know, desperately in need of a storage spirit tool. Any chance you…?"