Ning Qiu's Triumph

Ugh!

Zhu Zhuqing's expression stiffened. Someone had actually spanked her butt.

Whoosh.

Seeing the branch's black shadow sweep toward her again, Zhu Zhuqing moved and dodged in a flash. Even so, Ye Xuan still caught up to her.

Smack.

Another crisp sound rang out as Zhu Zhuqing's butt was struck by Ning Qiu once more.

Ning Qiu was truly angry this time. He did not hold back, and Zhu Zhuqing's butt burned with pain from the blows. Her face flushed crimson in embarrassment at being spanked, and her first soul ring lit up.

Since she could not dodge, Zhu Zhuqing decided to face him head-on.

"Competing in speed?" Ning Qiu smiled.

A dark glow surged from Ning Qiu's back, condensing into Iron Feather Wings with the texture of metal and stone. Ning Qiu's speed immediately increased dramatically.

Moreover, they were inside the Gravity Swamp. Zhu Zhuqing's speed was even less comparable to Ning Qiu's.

Smack.

The branch whistled through the air and landed on Zhu Zhuqing's perky butt for the third, fourth, and fifth time.

She could neither beat him nor escape him.

After being struck more than a dozen more times, Zhu Zhuqing simply stopped running and resisting. She allowed Ning Qiu to whip her butt, her delicate hands clenched tightly into fists.

Ning Qiu vented the dissatisfaction in his heart. He had already lost track of how many times he had struck her. However, Zhu Zhuqing's butt was covered in marks stained by the liquid from the branch.

Ning Qiu looked at Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Qiu.

The two stared at each other.

This time, Ning Qiu broke the silence. He tossed away the branch in his hand, letting it fall to the ground, and scolded, "I hope you learn your lesson this time. I'll say it again: I wasn't following you. I only went near the pond because I wanted a drink of water. Everything that happened was merely a coincidence."

Zhu Zhuqing said nothing, her hands remaining tightly clenched. Not only had someone seen her body clearly, but she had also been taught a lesson in such a humiliating manner. The burning pain in her butt made her wish she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

At the same time, after being struck so many times, aside from the burning pain, her butt strangely carried an indescribable sensation. That feeling made Zhu Zhuqing strangely expectant, as though she was looking forward to being taught another lesson by Ning Qiu like this.

After speaking, Ning Qiu withdrew his martial soul.

This time, Zhu Zhuqing did not attack Ning Qiu again. She knew she was no match for him at all. Attacking again would only let Ning Qiu take advantage of her for nothing.

"I really don't know what's going on in that head of yours. As an Agility Attack System soul master, assassination and sneak attacks are your strengths. Going head-to-head against a Power Attack System soul master—isn't that just asking to be beaten?" Ning Qiu scolded irritably.

Ugh!

Zhu Zhuqing's heart tightened.

This wasn't showing off! But this kind of subtle bragging was even deadlier!

Zhu Zhuqing bit her red lips with pearly teeth and glared at Ning Qiu in shame and anger.

"I heard from Grandpa Jack that you want to join our Holy Soul Village?" Ning Qiu brought up the key question.

"You're not the village chief. What's the point of discussing this with you?" Zhu Zhuqing replied.

"Who said I'm not the village chief?" Ning Qiu asked with a smile.

"I'm not in the mood to joke with you," Zhu Zhuqing said.

"I'm not in the mood to joke with you either," Ning Qiu said.

"You really are the village chief?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

"Do I not look like one?" Ning Qiu asked.

"I heard the villagers of Holy Soul Village say that their village chief is an outstanding person. Kind to others and upright in character. Learned and handsome. Selfless and helpful. An unparalleled genius within five hundred li," Zhu Zhuqing said.

"Really? Is that truly how the villagers evaluate me?" Ning Qiu smiled smugly.

"You really are the village chief of Holy Soul Village?" Zhu Zhuqing asked Ning Qiu again, no longer quite so certain.

"You don't believe me?" Ning Qiu asked.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded.

"Come on. We can find one of our villagers and verify whether it's true or not!" Ning Qiu smiled. To him, true gold feared no fire.

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.

"What is it, Village Chief?" Old Jack asked curiously.

"Nothing, Grandpa Jack." Ning Qiu smiled and looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "Don't you have something to say to me?"

"I want to join Holy Soul Village and become a registered villager!" Zhu Zhuqing said.

"Are you sure?" Ning Qiu asked.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded firmly.

"Why?" Ning Qiu asked.

"I want to become stronger!" Zhu Zhuqing replied.

Back in the Star Luo Empire, Zhu Zhuqing had overheard her parents talking by chance and learned that Dai Mubai had left the Star Luo Empire for a small village in the Heaven Dou Empire.

Originally, Zhu Zhuqing had not intended to follow in her fiancé's footsteps. After all, Dai Mubai was the Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire, a man of exalted status whom even many officials could not simply meet. Zhu Zhuqing had only seen Dai Mubai a few times, and they were not close.

That changed two months ago. Because of her family's cruel survival rules, Zhu Zhuqing had been targeted by her Eldest Sister, Zhu Zhuyun, and had nearly lost her life because of it. To survive, Zhu Zhuqing had no choice but to become stronger.

However, Zhu Zhuyun was more talented than Zhu Zhuqing. Zhu Zhuqing knew that if she remained in the capital of the Star Luo Empire and stayed with the Zhu Family, she would never have a chance of defeating Zhu Zhuyun.

That was why Zhu Zhuqing left the Star Luo Empire and came to Holy Soul Village in the Heaven Dou Empire. Of course, when she first came to Holy Soul Village, she had merely wanted to see whether it could make her stronger.

After entering Holy Soul Village, Zhu Zhuqing was stunned by the strange fact that one could gain Soul Power simply by sweeping, farming, and completing tasks in the village. Believing that Holy Soul Village could make her stronger, she had remained there for so long.

"Is that the only reason?" Ning Qiu asked.

"To become stronger," Zhu Zhuqing answered.

"Isn't there any other reason?" Ning Qiu continued.

"To become stronger," Zhu Zhuqing replied again.

Perhaps Ning Qiu had been wrong. In the original storyline, Zhu Zhuqing had entered Shrek Academy not merely to keep an eye on Dai Mubai. Her primary goal had been to become even stronger.

"Any more questions?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

"No." Ning Qiu shook his head.

"Can I join Holy Soul Village and become a registered villager of Holy Soul Village?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.