Ning Feng sat down and stared at the sky, taking a rest, cirg her spirit power. The Forest experience had aided her in breaking through another level of spirit power, and she was growing closer and closer to gainihird spirit Ring.

  Around her were the gentle sway of the trees, the rustling of leaves, and God-blessed silence. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, soaking in the harmony arouhe perfect feeling of pead quiet— almost getting lost in that state, until she noticed a faint prese too far away. She didn't know who it was, or for how long she had been sitting in her current state she cracked open an eye. Grumbling internally at being disturbed by someone in her peaceful moment, she rose up.

  She turned her head, her eyes widening. She was almost shell-shocked as she took iall, imposing figure before her.

  She readied herself to jump up sino one who had ever been at Seven Treasures wouldn't have knoas standing there. Even the lowest of members looked up to the tall imposing looking man with his ashen bck hair.

  "Please no...I know you are no longer a member of seven treasured gss, " he said, and she stopped herself from a formal greeting. His two metre tall, darkly cd figure moved towards her, a long coat swaying behind him with his every step. His shoulder lengh hair unbound, his dark eyes clear, mustering her with a certain curiosity.

  He settled o her on the ground.

  "You are Ning Feng, correct? " he asked, and she nodded hastily. "Do you know why I am here?"

  She nodded her head. His presenext to her was making her shudder. She had a guess yhy he was here but didn't know for certain, so she guessed it was better to remain silent.

  "I am here because little Rong told us about you, and once we put in some research, we found what happeo you. I was sent to apologize in the name of seven treasures for all that has happeo you. They should have never happened."

  She bli him, hardly uanding why he said so. There was no reason for Seven Treasures to apologize; it happened, and she had never wanted an apology. What use to her ology? If anything, she wao hear that from the people iion, not from an elder, in the 's name. He had no involvement iter.

  She opened her mouth and closed it, not knowing what to say. A sed ter, she answered, "I-I don't care a-anymore. " She told him, " I am o-over it."

  "Still, you deserve an apology. No one should be bullied to the point where their mother has no choice but to send her own daughter away fearing for her life due to excessive bullying, " he said, and she shook her head.

  "I-I d-don't cry t-tears after w-what has h-happened. L- Let me ask you. I-If I had never e to Shrek. I-If I had s-stayed a n-normal p-person, not b-bee a s-spirit master, would you h-have noticed? W-Would y-you care? B-Bone Douluo?"

  He quieted and then shook his head. "No." He admitted. "We would have never noticed. Your existence would have gone unnoticed. But you are here, a spirit master, spurpassing many of those who have once surpressed you for your stuttering."

  "S-see." She told him and looked at him. "I-I do nret a-anything. I-I would not b-be here i-if all the b-before hadn't h-happed. I am p-proud of m-myself. I-I am fident n-no one w-will make m-me a v-victim again." tears gathered in her eyes as she balled her fists her head held high as she stared straight into his eyes. "N-No one. W-Will disrespect m-me again, I w-will force t-them t-to aowledge m-me, t-to respect m-me if they d-don't."

  "You are strohan most, " he said and mustered her agaiing up. "Strohan most would be. Still, know you have our apology. Your as...we see you now and make sure no one will ever go unseen like you again."

  "G-Good." She nodded and got up, noting that he towered far over her, and she knew she wasn't small for her age.

  "I see your work. Would you mind a sparr?" he asked her, and she bliilting her head. "I have never seen someone calling themselves a support spirit master with a physique like yours."

  "A-Alright, " she said, and theook a few steps back. "I-It would be m-my pleasure." She was not about to dee a friendly sparr with a titled douluo; one didn't get an opportunity like this every day.

  "You are free to use your spirit power. I will refrain from using mine, " he said, and she shook her head, croug aing in a fighting position. The smooth muscle beh her clothes moved and showed, and a dangerous amber glint was in her eyes. "N-No need. I-I am fident i-in my h-hand to h-hand."

  "I see." he got into a fighting position as well.

  Niook a deep breath, stormed forward, and attacked using her fists. She was blocked expertly by his palms when he grabbed her arm. She stepped closer and twisted her body until her arm was hanging at an awkward angle, but her leg was aiming straight for his face. He blocked her, but she wrenched free her arm, as he needed both hands to absorb the impact. They were a few steps apart again.

  "You are fast," he said, looking at her as she moved, silently, her arm hanging loosely at her sides. She focused on him. Using a ghostly trace, she closed in again. Her range was small, and she o be far closer to deal with the damage. He blocked her and she twisted herself as she was suddenly sailing midair. She banced herself in a split sed and nded on her feet; using the muscle on her bad stomach, she absorbed the impad took the strength, grabbing him and shoving him elsewhere.

  Even not standing a ce, she k was a win for her if she got him to move at least a little. He shifted his band then twisted her body, and she ended up face-first on the ground, letting out a grunt as her back ressed into the ground with a knee.

  "You are right to be fident." He said, and she slumped as he got up. Turning around, she got ba her feet, gring at him. "you are far better than most support spirit masters on hand to hand bat, and you faster than most bat spirit masters ye."

  "I-I lost." She said and then bowed to him. "T-Thank you f-for the l-lesson."

  "I see." He looked at her. "sider it an a of personal i. Whenever you , once a month, always oweh, e here." She blinked and looked at him, surprised. "I will be here, waiting, and we will sparr again."

  She wao say something wheretched out his arm the coat blurrying as he vanished in a flurry of shadow and bones, leaving her behind. She panted as her brain tried to uand what had just happened while staring at the empty spot left behind.

  Had Gu Rong, the Bone Douluo, just told her he would teach her? Truly?

  Little-Moon