The Simp Dai Mubai, Tang San Caught in the Crossfire

After running for nearly two hours, Zhu Zhuqing, her footsteps chaotic and her breathing ragged, was unsurprisingly left far behind by the rest of the group.

Sweat from her temples trickled down her neck, soaking her form-fitting tube top. The large rabbit in her arms seemed to sense its owner's exhaustion and kicked restlessly, causing her to stumble violently and nearly fall.

"Damn it..."

Zhu Zhuqing bit her lower lip, her nails digging deep into her palms as the circulation of soul power within her body became sluggish.

The explosive power of an Agility Attack System soul master was completely useless during a long-distance sprint. She had to maintain her speed while simultaneously pinning down the squirming, jumping rabbit in her arms. Her arms were already aching and swollen, her sense of balance was in shambles, and every step felt like she was treading on cotton.

For the first time, she felt that the large rabbit on her chest was nothing more than a useless burden.

Li Xiaoyao watched Zhu Zhuqing's miserable state, but he had no intention of helping this little kitten.

Given Zhu Zhuqing's incredibly strong-willed personality, if he were to step in and help now, she would only view it as him hindering her training and growth.

Just as Zhu Zhuqing prepared to push for a sprint—

An accident occurred!

Zhu Zhuqing forcibly channeled her remaining soul power, attempting to increase her speed to catch up, but the prolonged running had already left her legs sore and numb.

Her feet suddenly gave way, her center of gravity shifted instantly, and the large rabbit in her arms was startled by the sudden jolt, struggling violently. Her already precarious balance collapsed completely, and she fell headlong toward the ground.

Zhu Zhuqing's sudden predicament attracted the attention of everyone present.

Given the distance between Zhu Zhuqing and the others, the only ones who could react and arrive in time were Li Xiaoyao, who possessed the Spatial Teleportation soul bone, and the team leader, the seven-ring Soul Saint Zhao Wuji.

But neither Li Xiaoyao nor Zhao Wuji moved!

After all, as the saying goes, only a simp rushes to curry favor at the first opportunity.

Take Dai Mubai, for instance—who was constantly keeping an eye on Zhu Zhuqing. Seeing that she was about to fall, wasn't this his chance to play the hero saving the damsel?

Dai Mubai's eyes narrowed, his soul power instantly surging through his limbs. With a low shout, his figure transformed into an afterimage as he dashed out.

Ignoring the rapid depletion of his soul power, he reached her side just as she was about to hit the ground, grabbing her arm and steadily supporting her falling body.

Dai Mubai pressed his advantage.

He took the initiative to show his concern—

"Zhuqing! Are you okay?"

"If you don't have the strength left, I can carry you."

Before Zhu Zhuqing could even speak, this scene of gossip caused Ning Rongrong to lose focus. She tripped over a protruding rock, instantly lost her balance, and fell face-first toward the ground.

"Ah! Brother Xiaoyao!"

"Save me! Rongrong doesn't want to be disfigured!"

Li Xiaoyao's mouth twitched.

This brat, she could even get distracted while watching a show. But there was no helping it; she was his woman after all, so he just had to spoil her!

Almost the instant Ning Rongrong shrieked, he activated his 100,000-Year Angel Spatial Teleportation Spirit Bone skill. The next second, he appeared out of thin air behind her.

Li Xiaoyao's long arms slid under the crook of Ning Rongrong's knees and across her back, lifting her horizontally into a steady bridal carry.

Ning Rongrong, still shaken, curled up in her lover's arms. Her cheeks were flushed, and she subconsciously wrapped her arms around Li Xiaoyao's neck, patting her chest as she complained in a small voice.

"Huu, huu, huu! You scared me to death, Rongrong!"

"It's all Dai Mubai and Zhuqing's fault for making me lose focus!"

Li Xiaoyao flicked her forehead with his finger, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"You weren't watching where you were running, yet you blame others?"

Even so, he didn't put Ning Rongrong down.

Having run for nearly two hours and over twenty kilometers, Ning Rongrong, a support-type with no combat ability, had pretty much reached her physical limit.

"Blehh!"

"Who told them to be so eye-catching!"

Ning Rongrong's face grew even hotter from Li Xiaoyao's words, so she simply buried her face in the crook of his neck, her voice muffled.

"You little troublemaker, just wait until tonight—I'll teach you a lesson!"

Li Xiaoyao raised an eyebrow and deliberately swayed his arms, drawing a gasp from Ning Rongrong, who subconsciously hugged him even tighter.

Not far away, Zhu Zhuqing pulled her hand away from Dai Mubai.

"Get lost! You're interfering with my cultivation and progress!"

"And another thing, I don't need your hypocritical concern!"

"If you spent some time, you could afford the 100,000 Gold Soul Coins to buy cultivation resources yourself; there's no need to waste time on me."

"From now on, please stay away from me, you top-tier VIP of the Rose Hotel, Young Master Dai!"

Zhu Zhuqing's voice was cold and sharp, like a blade tempered in ice, every word carrying immense piercing power.

"Zhuqing... you..."

Dai Mubai's expression stiffened. His heterochromatic eyes were bloodshot, and his chest heaved violently, but her words had struck a nerve, leaving him unable to utter a single syllable.

The VIP guest of the Rose Hotel, the playboy Young Master Dai—these labels he had deliberately downplayed were torn away by Zhu Zhuqing in front of everyone, slicing at his self-esteem like a dull blade.

What made him feel even more stifled was what happened last night at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel: he had purchased finished cultivation resources for himself alone, without preparing a single thing for Zhu Zhuqing, his "fiancée."

He had thought he kept it very discreet. The only people present were Li Xiaoyao, Tang San, and Oscar. How could it have reached Zhu Zhuqing's ears?

Dai Mubai subconsciously glanced at the three of them not far away.

Li Xiaoyao?

It couldn't be him who leaked it.

Since this morning, the other party hadn't had any private contact with Zhu Zhuqing. Besides, Li Xiaoyao had always been the type to stay out of other people's business; he wasn't the gossiping sort.

Oscar?

That was impossible too!

Oscar wouldn't do something so stupid, and his mouth was much tighter than that loudmouth Ma Hongjun. He had stayed in the same room as him last night, and hadn't left his line of sight all morning.

With those two ruled out, that only left Tang San!

Dai Mubai's heterochromatic eyes narrowed sharply, his gaze locking onto Tang San.

It was him! It was him! It had to be him!

Last night at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Hotel, Tang San had constantly been observing his surroundings with those deep eyes. Perhaps he had been harboring a grudge ever since the conflict at the Rose Hotel.

Furthermore, this morning, Tang San had returned to Shrek Academy together with Zhuqing. They had plenty of opportunities for private contact.

It was highly likely that Tang San had added fuel to the fire in front of Zhuqing, deliberately trying to sow discord between him and her!

The more he thought about it, the heavier Dai Mubai's suspicions grew, and the rage in his chest felt as if it were about to burst forth.

He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. His soul power stirred restlessly within him, and the air around him seemed to grow scorched with tension.

Tang San sensed Dai Mubai's hostile gaze. He frowned slightly and instinctively stopped running.

He could clearly feel the animosity radiating from Dai Mubai, yet he was filled with confusion—how had he managed to offend him?

Only Li Xiaoyao let out an unkind chuckle—