Ning Fengzhi sighed helplessly.
After all, no matter how powerful the Heaven Dou Empire was, it lacked top-tier experts.
It was normal for Xue Tianyu to look down on them.
Receiving a glance from Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi sighed inwardly, suppressing the pride of being a leader of one of the Upper Three Sects. He stood up and raised a cup of wine.
"Little friend Tianyu, in that matter, Ning Rongrong was indeed in the wrong. As her father, I also bear great responsibility for failing to discipline her properly."
"We have come specifically to apologize to you, hoping that you can let bygones be bygones."
"If you ever need the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the future, just say the word, and I will not hesitate."
"To express my sincerity, I will drink this first."
Without waiting to see if Xue Tianyu would accept the toast, Ning Fengzhi tilted his head back and drained the cup in one go.
"Little friend Tianyu, we can interact more in the future. If my daughter has done anything to displease you, I will have her change."
"I also hope that you can take care of her in the days ahead."
He then downed three more cups of wine in succession.
He felt that he had shown the utmost sincerity.
If Xue Tianyu still refused to acknowledge it and remained silent, there was nothing else he could do.
Fortunately, after he finished drinking, Xue Tianyu finally raised his cup.
"If you want my forgiveness, it's very simple." Xue Tianyu looked at Ning Fengzhi calmly, then raised his hand and pointed at Ning Rongrong.
"Make her kneel and apologize to me."
Both Ning Rongrong and Ning Fengzhi were momentarily stunned.
Kneel?
"Impossible!"
Ning Rongrong, who was already proud and had a deep dislike for Xue Tianyu, immediately exploded with rage.
"This is blatant humiliation!"
Glaring at Xue Tianyu, she stood up abruptly, slamming one foot onto her chair in a completely unladylike manner. Pointing at him, she snapped back,
"It's all because of you! Third Brother ran away, and even Oscar left me!"
"The one I chased after and the one who chased after me both left at the same time! Do you have any idea how much emotional damage that causes someone as pure-hearted as me?"
The more Ning Rongrong spoke, the more tears welled up in her eyes.
She was unwilling to accept this!
Life had been so perfect—she had admirers, she had dreams, and she even had a fallback option.
At worst, there was always Oscar, the reliable fool who would never leave her.
But in a single night, everything was ruined!
Thinking about it, she suddenly recalled Dai Mubai's terrifying moment.
Tears instantly streamed down her face.
"And you even killed Brother Dai! He was the prince of the Star Luo Empire!"
"Our Shrek Academy has already fallen apart! Isn't that enough of a price to pay? And now you're demanding that I kneel and apologize?"
"You're just bullying honest people!"
The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, her voice rising in pitch.
Then…
"Slap!"
A crisp slap echoed through the banquet hall, plunging it into a brief silence.
Clutching her face in disbelief, Ning Rongrong turned to Ning Fengzhi. "Father… you hit me?"
A clear red handprint appeared on her cheek.
The overwhelming sense of grievance surged through her.
From childhood to now, Ning Fengzhi had never even scolded her harshly.
And now, for the sake of Xue Tianyu, he had actually struck her!
She couldn't accept it.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo looked at her red, swollen face with distressed expressions. Their faces grew complicated.
"Dad, you hit me for an outsider… for the first time ever." Ning Rongrong looked at Ning Fengzhi, her heart aching. "He's just an outsider! And he even bullied your daughter!"
"Enough, Rongrong."
Though Ning Fengzhi couldn't bear seeing her suffer like this, he felt this was necessary.
After all, they were facing someone who could pin down even the legendary Clear Sky Douluo and beat him senseless.
"Dad!"
Ning Rongrong couldn't believe it—her father actually said she was making a fuss!
People always said daughters tended to side with outsiders, but when had she ever seen a father do the same?
Tears welled up in her eyes. "He's the one being unreasonable, yet you say I'm the one causing trouble?"
Ning Fengzhi looked up, letting out a long, melancholic sigh.
He knew this was only temporary pain.
This step had to be taken.
Then, steeling himself, he ordered Ning Rongrong in a firm voice.
"Kneel!"
"…What?"
Ning Rongrong was stunned.
She couldn't comprehend what had gotten into her father today.
"Dad, do you even know what you're saying?"
"I told you to kneel!"
Ning Fengzhi commanded again, his tone even more forceful.
"No!"
Ning Rongrong's heart shattered.
Was this really the same father who had always loved, protected, and spoiled her?
He was actually demanding that his own daughter kneel before a man in front of everyone?
This was the ultimate humiliation!
She had grown up cherished and adored within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
If even a stray dog barked at her too loudly, someone would immediately drag it away and execute it.
And now, her father was ordering her to kneel!
The overwhelming sense of injustice crushed her completely.
"You're not my father. You're not!" Ning Rongrong staggered back two steps, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Never in her life had she suffered such a disgrace!
Even back when she stood outside the hotel of the Tianshui Team, she still held onto hope.
But now, all her hope had turned to despair.
"Sect Master!"
Sword Douluo couldn't bear it any longer. He stood up and pulled Ning Rongrong behind him protectively. "Don't force her anymore! She's just a child!"
"Yes." Bone Douluo looked at the tear-streaked Ning Rongrong, whose sobs were bordering on breathlessness, and felt deeply troubled.
"She's still young…"
However, before he could finish his sentence, Ning Fengzhi shook his head resolutely.
He had to make his stance clear before Xue Tianyu.
Otherwise, this would end in complete failure.
"Young age is not an excuse for mistakes."
He looked at Ning Rongrong. "Come here. Don't make things worse."
His voice was heavy, more so than ever before.
Ning Rongrong had never heard her father speak to her like this. She bit down hard on her lower lip, her eyes brimming with despair.
"Hurry up."
Seeing that she still wasn't moving, Ning Fengzhi got up and grabbed her directly.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo watched in pain.
They couldn't understand why Ning Fengzhi was humiliating his daughter like this.
Even now, they still believed that with their combined strength, they could defeat Xue Tianyu.
At worst, he was just a tough opponent.
But Ning Fengzhi knew better—this couldn't be settled so recklessly.
Dragging Ning Rongrong to Xue Tianyu, he pressed down with a forceful tone once more.
"Kneel!"
Trapped between Ning Fengzhi and Xue Tianyu, Ning Rongrong felt as if she were in hell.
Even though her father was beside her, she felt utterly alone.
Thud!
In the end, unable to withstand the pressure, her face turned pale as she slowly fell to her knees.
At this moment, the once proud Ning Rongrong was utterly broken.