Ji Jing placed the fragrant Ice-Fire Mint Chicken on a plate, ladled two bowls of creamy white mushroom soup from the casserole, and quickly stir-fried two refreshing vegetable dishes.
A sumptuous lunch was ready.
"Time to eat."
Ji Jing smiled at Wang Dong, who had been watching hungrily for a while.
"Coming, coming!"
Wang Dong cheered and immediately sat down at the table. She picked up her chopsticks and eagerly reached for a piece of golden chicken.
The chicken skin crunched softly as she bit into it, and an exquisite aroma burst across her tongue.
Next came the tender meat, so soft it nearly melted in her mouth, brimming with rich juices.
First came the robust flavor of the spices, followed by the delicate fragrance of lotus leaf, then a hint of mint that left a refreshing sweetness. Each layer unfolded into the next, a taste beyond compare.
"Mmm... It's so good!"
Wang Dong's eyes narrowed with delight. Her cheeks were puffed out like a little squirrel that had stolen a pinecone, and she could barely speak clearly.
Seeing how pleased she was made Ji Jing feel as though his heart were full, too.
He didn't rush to eat. Instead, he gently ladled her a bowl of soup and set it in front of her.
"Take your time. Don't choke. Have some soup first."
Wang Dong obediently picked up her spoon and brought a mouthful to her lips.
The rich, savory broth perfectly blended the mushrooms' fresh flavor with the deep taste of bone broth. It slid warmly into her stomach, chasing away her hunger and fatigue until nothing remained but comfort and warmth.
For the rest of the meal, Wang Dong swept the food from the table like a whirlwind.
She ate most of the Ice-Fire Mint Chicken herself.
Her lips glistened with oil, and her belly was slightly rounded. At last, she leaned back in her chair with a satisfied sigh.
Full and content, Wang Dong seemed to have regained all her energy.
As she watched Ji Jing clear the table, she suddenly slipped her arms around his waist from behind and pressed her cheek against his broad, warm back.
Her voice was soft with post-meal laziness and affection as she murmured:
"Ji Jing, you're so good to me... I like you best!"
The sudden confession made Ji Jing stiffen slightly.
He stopped what he was doing and reached back to hold her small hands around his waist, replying softly:
"Mm. I know."
Wang Dong rubbed against his back like a cat seeking attention.
A moment later, she reluctantly let go. With a bright smile, she started stacking the bowls and chopsticks on the table.
"You made such a delicious meal. Thanks for all the effort! Leave a little thing like washing dishes to me!"
With that, she picked up the stack of dishes and walked out of the dorm, humming a little tune as she headed for the communal washroom.
A few days of cozy time alone passed in a flash, and the new semester at Shrek Academy officially began.
The first order of business was a strength assessment.
Students had to enter the Beast Arena one by one and, under their teachers' watchful eyes, challenge a Soul Beast alone. Their overall scores would be based on their adaptability, technique, Soul Skill use, and other aspects of their performance in battle.
It was a considerable challenge for most students, but to Ji Jing, it seemed rather unnecessary.
His strength had long surpassed the level of an outer court student. There was little point in playing house with thousand-year Soul Beasts.
So he went straight to Yan Shaozhe, the dean of the Martial Soul Department, and submitted a request to be exempted from the test.
Yan Shaozhe knew that his strength far exceeded that of his peers, so he simply waved a hand and approved the request.
And so, while the other students fought in the Beast Arena for their new semester scores, Ji Jing lounged in the dorm and devoted all his attention to designing and making Soul Tools.
Night fell. The dorm door opened quietly, and Wang Dong walked in, looking a little tired.
She had taken the assessment that day and, without a doubt, earned an excellent score.
She tossed her schoolbag onto the bed, then went over to Ji Jing and peered at the odd-shaped parts on his desk, asking curiously:
"How's the research going?"
"Pretty well."
Ji Jing answered without looking up, his hands still swiftly assembling a complicated component.
Wang Dong said, "Oh," and didn't disturb him. She poured herself a glass of water.
After resting for a while, she seemed to remember something important. Excited and surprised, she said to Ji Jing:
"Oh, I have to tell you something! During today's assessment, that guy Huo Yuhao actually used a Martial Soul with the Ultimate Ice attribute!"
She thought the news would surprise Ji Jing. After all, Ultimate Martial Souls were rarer than one in ten thousand.
Yet Ji Jing's hands paused for only a moment before resuming their smooth movements. His tone was indifferent as he replied:
"So-so."
As though it were nothing worth mentioning.
When he showed no reaction, Wang Dong pursed her lips in disappointment.
But when she thought about it, it made sense. Ji Jing's Martial Soul wielded two ultimate flames, so an Ultimate Ice attribute really wasn't much.
Soon, though, she found another topic and chattered away, sharing all the things she'd seen and the amusing stories she'd heard at the academy that day.
Ji Jing focused on his work, occasionally answering with a word or two. The atmosphere between them was quite pleasant.
After they talked for a long while, Wang Dong rubbed her stomach, tugged at Ji Jing's sleeve, and swayed it as she spoke in a soft voice:
"Ji Jing, I'm hungry. Make me something."
"Sure."
Ji Jing set down the component and smiled, helpless but indulgent.
Since it was late, he didn't make anything complicated. He simply cooked two bowls of steaming-hot shredded-pork noodles and served them with two refreshing side dishes.
Wang Dong ate to her heart's content, wiped her mouth with a napkin, then stood up and started gathering the dishes while shooing him away:
"Okay, I'm done eating. Go outside for a bit. I'm going to take a bath."
Ji Jing was used to this by now. He nodded and headed out of the dorm.
He had just closed the door behind him when he turned and saw a familiar figure standing not far away, apparently waiting for someone.
It was Yan Shaozhe, the dean of the Martial Soul Department.
A trace of urgency showed on Yan Shaozhe's face.
Before Ji Jing could greet him, the door to the neighboring dorm opened, and Huo Yuhao stepped out.
As soon as Yan Shaozhe saw Huo Yuhao, he hurried over to him.
He had clearly come to find Huo Yuhao, and the matter seemed rather urgent.
Ji Jing understood at once. It was most likely about the Evil Fire inside Ma Xiaotao.
With Huo Yuhao's current cultivation, he wasn't strong enough to eliminate the Evil Fire caused by Ultimate Fire. But thanks to the nature of his Ultimate Ice Martial Soul, suppressing it would be more than easy.
Yan Shaozhe noticed Ji Jing standing nearby and nodded to him in greeting. Then, without wasting any more time, he said a few words to Huo Yuhao.
A mighty wave of Soul Power enveloped Huo Yuhao. The two shot into the sky, becoming a streak of light that quickly vanished into the night.
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