The Sin Has Already Been Committed

Ji Jing and Wang Dong had lost interest in the other treasures within the Treasure Gathering Pavilion and were just about to leave when they ran into several acquaintances.

It was Beibei, Tang Ya, Huo Yuhao, and Xu Sanshi's group.

Huo Yuhao and Xu Sanshi had already cleared up their misunderstandings, and the two were currently chatting about something, the atmosphere appearing quite harmonious.

However, when Xu Sanshi's gaze inadvertently swept over to Ji Jing, his face turned pale in a flash. His body instinctively shrank back half a step, hiding behind Beibei.

The fear brought about by that one-punch knockout still left him with lingering tremors, even after so much time had passed.

"Brother Ji, Wang Dong, you two are here as well."

Beibei greeted them with a gentle smile, and Tang Ya also nodded at them with a smile.

"Senior Brother."

Wang Dong responded politely.

Ji Jing merely nodded faintly, his gaze lingering on Huo Yuhao for a fleeting moment before shifting away.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two groups passed each other by.

But just then, a slightly shy and nervous voice came from behind them.

"Class Monitor, Wang Dong..."

The two turned back to see Xiao Xiao standing not far away, a suspicious flush coloring her fair cheeks.

She seemed to have gathered all her courage to come forward and greet them, yet her eyes were somewhat unfocused, not daring to meet their gaze for too long.

"Ah... I'll head in first! You two take your time!"

Before Ji Jing and Wang Dong could respond, she bowed slightly like a startled little rabbit and hurried into the Treasure Gathering Pavilion.

Walking out of the magnificent Treasure Gathering Pavilion, the cold winter wind brushed against their faces. Wang Dong couldn't help but tilt her head to look at Ji Jing, a hint of confusion on her face:

"Ji Jing, don't you think Xiao Xiao looked so strange today? Her face was so red, and she was rambling incoherently."

Ji Jing looked at her innocent expression, a faint, imperceptible smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he calmly stated the truth:

"It might be because she saw our intimate behavior."

"And she doesn't know you're a girl."

"..."

Wang Dong's footsteps came to a sudden halt. Her brain raced for a moment, and she instantly understood the implication behind those words.

A girl, seeing two "boys" holding hands so intimately...

What would she think?

In an instant, Wang Dong's cheeks flushed bright red, feeling both shy and annoyed.

She bit her lower lip and suggested viciously:

"How about... I sneak into her dormitory tonight, knock her out, and give her amnesia!"

Ji Jing's mouth twitched, and he quickly stopped her:

"That is entirely unnecessary! Absolutely not!"

"Hehe,"

Seeing him nervous, Wang Dong immediately broke character and stuck out her tongue playfully.

"I'm just joking! I wouldn't really hit her."

She hooked her arm through Ji Jing's and leaned her little face against his shoulder, her tone filled with longing and anticipation:

"However, this misunderstanding won't last many more years. I've heard that the Inner Court hosts a grand event every year called the Sea God's Fate Blind Date Festival."

She tilted her head up, her pink-blue eyes shining as she looked at him, saying with utmost sincerity:

"I want to hold your hand in front of everyone then. By that time, I will definitely have returned to my female form. When that happens, all the misunderstandings will disappear."

Ji Jing's heartstrings were gently plucked. He reached out and took Wang Dong's hand, saying softly:

"Alright, I'll wait for you."

The two smiled at each other, everything understood without a word.

Deep within a dark alley they had just passed, a figure was staring intently at their retreating backs.

Dai Huabin held a simple soul tool communicator, lowered his voice, and issued an order with a tone full of resentment and madness:

"They're out, kill them for me!"

The cold moonlight could not penetrate the dense foliage, and only sparse silver radiance spilled down, casting mottled and eerie shadows on the forest path.

Ji Jing and Wang Dong walked side by side, with nothing but the chirping of insects and the rustling of the night wind through the leaves surrounding them.

Suddenly, Ji Jing's footsteps paused, and his originally gentle eyes turned icy cold in the darkness.

Almost at the same instant, several streaks of light shimmering with soul power tore through the night, shooting out from the shadows on both sides of the road, silently and soundlessly aiming straight for their vitals!

In the pitch-black environment, these attacks appeared particularly lethal!

"Watch out!"

Wang Dong exclaimed, her Radiant Goddess Butterfly martial soul instantly manifesting. Brilliant golden butterfly wings suddenly lit up in the dark night, illuminating the surroundings.

However, Ji Jing was faster.

He merely raised his left hand casually and flicked it forward.

An invisible wave of air appeared out of thin air, and those soul power attacks that had ambushed them in the darkness vanished without a trace, as if they had sunk into the sea.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Eight black shadows flashed out of the forest like ghosts, all dressed in night-traveling clothes that blended into the darkness, their faces covered by black masks.

The leader's aura was the most powerful; he was clearly a six-ring Soul Emperor!

The other seven were all five-ring Soul Kings!

"Quite the grand gesture."

Ji Jing's voice sounded exceptionally clear in the silent night, devoid of any joy or anger.

Ignoring the assassins, he turned to the side and retrieved two Soul Tools from his storage Soul Tool, thrusting them into Wang Dong's hands.

One was an exquisitely crafted flight-type Soul Tool, and the other was a defensive shield radiating heavy fluctuations of soul power; they emitted a faint glow in the dark night.

"Level 6 Soul Tools, enough for you to handle the current emergency."

He stared into Wang Dong's eyes, his tone brooks no argument, "Get away from here now, fly toward Shrek Academy immediately, and don't look back. I will deal with them."

"No! I want to stay with you!"

Wang Dong refused flatly, her brilliant butterfly wings flapping violently as her soul rings rose.

"Be obedient."

Ji Jing's voice grew heavier, his golden-red eyes burning like flames in the darkness, filled with firm strength, as if saying: Trust me.

Wang Dong understood everything from his gaze.

She knew that staying here would only make her a burden to him.

She gritted her teeth and nodded heavily:

"You must be careful!"

Though she did not use the Soul Tools, she flapped her own butterfly wings, transforming into a golden-blue streak of light that soared into the sky, cutting through the night air as she sped toward the brightly lit Shrek Academy in the distance.

"You think you can leave?"

The lead Soul Emperor snorted coldly and waved his hand, "You three, go after her! Make sure to cut the weeds and pull up the roots!"

Three Soul Kings responded instantly, their soul rings flashing beneath their feet as they prepared to take flight and pursue.

Just then, Ji Jing moved.

In the palm of his hand, the Best Wine Cup in the Village appeared instantly.

In a flash, the empty wine cup was filled with blood-red nectar that appeared out of thin air.

Ji Jing flicked his wrist, splashing the wine from the cup toward the surroundings!

The liquid transformed into countless fine blood-red droplets in the air, and the moment they hit the ground, a loud "boom" erupted, turning into towering crimson flames!

This fire was blindingly bright in the pitch-black night, instantly illuminating the area for hundreds of meters as if it were broad daylight!

The flames rose rapidly as if they had a life of their own, forming a ring-shaped fire barrier that reached into the sky, completely sealing off the area, including Ji Jing and all the men in black!

The three Soul Kings who were about to pursue slammed into the wall of fire, letting out screams as they were forced back by the scorching heat, their clothes instantly turning to ash.

Ji Jing retracted the wine cup and slowly raised his head.

Reflected in the raging firelight, wisps of extreme evil energy spread like ink within his golden-red eyes, making him look incredibly eerie and heart-stoppingly handsome.

"From the moment you made your move,"

He declared softly, his voice sounding like a demonic chant from the Nine Netherworlds, "The sin was already committed."