Zhang Lexuan

Star Dou Great Forest, Mixed Area

The commotion inside the cave had already subsided. Ji Lin held the soaking-wet Zhang Lexuan in his arms, his face filled with frustration and grievance.

Although he had taken full advantage of Zhang Lexuan, this was not what he wanted.

Just then, Zhang Lexuan, who was in Ji Lin's arms, frowned slightly, her eyelids trembling gently. She had clearly regained consciousness.

Yet she did not open her eyes right away. She was obviously pretending to be unconscious. Given the current situation, she did not know how to face Ji Lin.

She might as well keep pretending for now and sort through her thoughts.

Before taking that piece of 100,000-year Whale Jelly, she had actually known about its side effects. After all, as Shrek Academy's most outstanding Inner Court disciple in three thousand years, she had taken ten-thousand-year Whale Jelly before.

She was therefore well aware of Whale Jelly's side effects. That was the true reason she had hesitated when Ji Lin handed it to her earlier.

However, the side effects of the ten-thousand-year Whale Jelly she had taken before had also been fierce. At the time, she had forcibly suppressed them with her cultivation. This time, her cultivation was even higher—she was already a Soul Douluo. She had thought that with her strength, she could easily suppress such minor side effects.

Yet things did not go as she had hoped. When she refined the Whale Jelly, when that scorching heat filled her entire body, rushed into her mind, and shattered her reason, she had already mentally prepared herself.

Though she had no experience in such matters, she had read a few books on the subject. Thus, she knew what she would become once the side effects of the Whale Jelly overwhelmed her.

Earlier, she had been ruled by desire and her mind had been in chaos. But after regaining consciousness, she recalled everything that had happened, along with the conversation between Ji Lin and Chi Yuan.

So she knew very well that Ji Lin could not be blamed entirely for this. After all, he had done it to save her, not to despicably take advantage of her vulnerability. His intentions had been different.

The reason she did not wake up immediately was simply because she did not know how to face Ji Lin.

Suddenly, Zhang Lexuan felt Ji Lin's hand climb onto her breast again. She could no longer endure it and slowly opened her eyes, staring directly at Ji Lin.

Ji Lin had just placed his hand atop Zhang Lexuan's ample breast when he met her clear black eyes. His entire body stiffened.

"S-Sister Lexuan, you... you're awake! Listen to my excuse—ah, no, listen to my explanation. It's not what you think."

Seeing Ji Lin's flustered expression and incoherent words, Zhang Lexuan sighed and said softly, "Why don't you take your hand away first?"

Hearing that, Ji Lin hurriedly withdrew his hand, his face full of embarrassment.

Zhang Lexuan climbed out of Ji Lin's arms. The moment she stood up, her legs went weak. After taking only one step forward, she stumbled and nearly fell.

Ji Lin quickly reached out and supported her.

"Sister Lexuan, are you all right?"

Zhang Lexuan hesitated, but ultimately did not push Ji Lin away. Instead, she turned her head aside and said softly, "I'm fine now. You don't need to worry. I'm going to wash up and change clothes."

"Oh, all right."

Ji Lin promptly pulled back his hand and watched Zhang Lexuan head behind a large boulder.

"Turn around. Don't peek."

Zhang Lexuan's voice came from behind the boulder.

Hearing those words, Ji Lin's face lit up. He hurriedly replied, "Don't worry, Sister Lexuan. I won't peek."

Only then did Ji Lin finally relax. He knew Zhang Lexuan did not hate him because of this, even though he had done something so excessive to her.

Now he could finally rest easy. He still wanted to take things further with Sister Lexuan someday; he did not want it to end before it had even begun.

Zhang Lexuan took out clean water and clothes from her Storage Spirit Tool, removed her drenched garments, and began washing herself.

Lowering her head to look at the bruises on her full breasts, Zhang Lexuan thought of that promise, thought of Bei Bei, and two streams of tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

She did not know how she would face Bei Bei in the future. She had been Bei Bei's child bride, and all this time she had honored her agreement with Mu En, regarding herself as Bei Bei's fiancée. Bei Bei and Tang Ya's relationship had already left her heart full of bitterness and helplessness.

Now that something like this had happened between her and Ji Lin, she had even less idea what she should do in the future.

After washing up and changing clothes, Zhang Lexuan walked out from behind the boulder and saw the white-haired youth standing with his back to her. She remembered how he had called her sister and praised her beauty when they first met. She remembered how he had descended from the sky in her moment of danger, grabbed her hand, and fled with her.

She remembered how the youth had let her absorb the precious Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, how he had given her the priceless 100,000-year Whale Jelly so that she could safely absorb the Soul Ring, and she remembered that joking remark from back then.

What happened in the cave had only been an accident, but his kindness toward her was sincere. She could see that.

With that thought, Zhang Lexuan looked at the white-haired youth's back, and her gaze softened.

Then she thought of Bei Bei and Tang Ya again, and Zhang Lexuan silently sighed.

"Ah... it's time to let go. Bei Bei has already found his true love, and I... it seems I'll have to break my agreement with Elder Mu. I should go back and apologize to him."

Having thought it through, Zhang Lexuan calmed herself and once more became the beautiful, aloof Senior Disciple Sister of the Inner Court.

Hearing footsteps behind him, Ji Lin knew Zhang Lexuan had come out. He hurriedly turned around and called out, "Sister Lexuan..."

Before him stood Zhang Lexuan, dressed in white like snow, her black hair cascading like a waterfall over her fragrant shoulders. Beautiful and cool, she was as lovely as the bright moon in the heavens.

Ji Lin was momentarily entranced.

Seeing him like that, Zhang Lexuan smiled faintly.

"What are you looking at? We should head out. Chi Yuan should have been waiting for a long time."

"Oh, right. Let's go quickly. Teacher Chi Yuan is still waiting for us."

Ji Lin snapped out of it. Seeing that Zhang Lexuan did not mention what had happened earlier, and that the smile on her face showed she was not angry with him, he let out a huge sigh of relief. Tactfully, he did not bring up the earlier matter either, and he and Zhang Lexuan headed out of the cave together.

Chi Yuan, who was guarding the cave entrance, heard footsteps behind her and turned around. She found the two walking side by side toward her, their expressions perfectly normal as they chatted and laughed, as though nothing had happened. Chi Yuan was utterly confused.

She had thought Ji Lin would get a thorough beating, or that Zhang Lexuan would stop speaking to him altogether. The outcome was completely different from what she had expected.

"Could the books have been wrong? Why isn't it like what the books said?"

Seeing Chi Yuan's puzzled expression, Ji Lin quickly gave her a meaningful look. Fearing that Chi Yuan might bring up what had happened earlier, he hastily asked, "Teacher Chi Yuan, is the Silver Moon Flood Dragon Emperor still alive? Can Sister Lexuan absorb the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring now?"

Seeing Ji Lin's expression, Chi Yuan immediately understood and nodded without revealing anything.

"I used Soul Power to stabilize its injuries. It's still alive for the moment."

Then Chi Yuan examined Zhang Lexuan's body with Mental Power before saying, "Her physical condition meets the requirements, and her Mental Power is strong as well. She should have no problem absorbing this Silver Moon Flood Dragon Emperor's Soul Ring."

Zhang Lexuan saw through the secret exchange Ji Lin and Chi Yuan believed was hidden. Though she found it amusing, she also let out a sigh of relief. She too feared Chi Yuan would mention what had happened earlier. If she truly brought it up, the situation would become unbearably awkward.

"That's good. Sister Lexuan, it's up to you now. Teacher Chi Yuan and I will stand guard for you."