Seeing the young man's dejected, world-weary expression, Zhang Lexuan laughed with delight.
The resentment she had felt toward the person before her for scheming her into a corner vanished in an instant.
"Alright, I won't tease you anymore."
"But honestly, you're so young. Why are you so calculating?"
"Wouldn't it be better to put all that energy into cultivation~"
At that, Ning Huan rolled his eyes at her, then scoffed disdainfully:
"Heh~"
"Do you really think life is easy for sect disciples?"
"Strictly speaking, your background is indeed more tragic than most people's."
"But at least at Shrek, you don't have to worry about all the other things on top of that."
"As for me... Hmph, without a little cunning, I'd have been chewed up and spat out long ago!"
"The world has never been at peace!"
As he spoke, he couldn't help recalling some rather unpleasant experiences of his own.
A chill ran through him, and he shuddered unconsciously.
In fact, during the six years he had lived in Tianluo City, Ning Huan had been targeted more than once.
Of course, if he had exposed himself through carelessness, he wouldn't have complained for even a second.
That would have been his own fault.
But more often than not, the reasons he was targeted were downright baffling.
Sometimes it was simply for his money; other times, it was for human trafficking...
And some people had even set their sights on his body, which hadn't finished growing at the time, out of sheer perversion!
It was safe to say the sheer absurdity of it all had far exceeded his expectations.
If not for the wealth of experience he'd gained from books in his previous life, his timely adjustment of mindset, and his decisiveness and ruthlessness,
the outcome might have been far worse!
By contrast, Zhang Lexuan fell silent the instant she heard his mocking words.
Her red lips parted and closed several times, but in the end, she couldn't say a word.
Before opening that history book, she truly hadn't needed to worry about material needs or safety.
On the other side, seeing that the sky had grown bright and hearing the occasional sound of people chatting outside the window,
Ning Huan finally lost the urge to keep talking.
"Today's private conversation is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me. No one else will ever know."
"I think you understand how serious this is."
With that, he rose and headed upstairs without looking back.
He paid no heed at all to the exhaustion and complicated emotions on Zhang Lexuan's pretty face.
Suddenly...
"Wait!"
Her gentle voice, usually so soothing, was unusually urgent.
Curious about this sudden change, Ning Huan stopped and half-turned.
Standing on the stairs leading to the second floor, he turned his head and watched her quietly.
"The exact time Shrek Academy received the intelligence almost perfectly coincided with the time your talent manifested. Be extremely careful!"
"But the elders are currently divided into two camps when it comes to you."
"Most of them believe you should be left to develop on your own, and aren't actively responding."
"So even if the others have their own ideas, there's a good chance they won't do anything."
"You need to keep a low profile for a while. Don't give them even the slightest opening."
When she finished, Zhang Lexuan seemed to have set down a heavy burden. The relief on her face was plain to see.
There was no doubt that voluntarily revealing internal information was an incredibly difficult betrayal for a girl who had spent over a decade meekly accepting her lot.
"Your..."
"Wait again!"
"Uh..."
Ning Huan had just started to reply when she interrupted him again, leaving him both amused and exasperated.
But what she did next completely replaced that exasperation with shock.
After all...
What kind of sane person would hurt herself for no reason?
"Holy shit, what the hell are you doing? Trying to frame me?"
"I'm taking some blood!"
"I'm not blind! I'm asking why you're taking blood!"
"Hmm~ I thought you might need it."
"I nee... Wait! What do you mean?"
At that moment, Ning Huan could no longer maintain his earlier calm. His expression darkened, and killing intent filled his eyes.
His Soul Power stirred, ready to summon Chen Xin at any moment and use the chance to draw attention from outside.
He had never told anyone that he could form a Contract with living beings!
Not even Ning Hao and the others!
The most important thing was, it would be one thing if she were the only one who knew.
But what if Shrek knew too...
Tsk...
The consequences were unimaginable!
Just then, Zhang Lexuan, completely unguarded, walked quickly over to Ning Huan with a small bottle filled with blood.
Then, as he stood there dumbfounded, she firmly pressed it into his hand.
"Don't worry. I only just thought of this secret."
"And I won't tell anyone without your permission."
"Aren't you afraid I'll force you under my control?"
Feeling the lingering warmth of the dark-red blood in his hand, Ning Huan's thoughts grew tangled.
His earlier agitation gave way to an indescribable expression.
"If you can guess that I can form a [Contract] with the living, you should understand that I have this ability."
Though the price is steep, Ning Huan added silently.
"[Contract], huh... It suits you."
Zhang Lexuan murmured her assessment under his puzzled gaze, then continued solemnly:
"Since we're partners, we should each have a little leverage over the other, shouldn't we?"
"Besides, we need an efficient way to stay in touch, right~"
"...You're certainly easygoing."
His voice was so quiet that not a trace of emotion could be discerned.
But Zhang Lexuan smiled knowingly.
She understood that she had finally added her own piece to the inexplicable trust the young man had somehow already placed in her.
After all...
You want to use me to deal with Shrek, but why shouldn't I use your strength and that of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect...
I just feel like I've forgotten something... Oh! Ruoruo!
"No, I have to go! Ruoruo will definitely make a fuss if she can't find me!"
With that, Zhang Lexuan realized time was pressing and hurried toward the door.
Her steps were light; the weight of the exhaustion she'd felt a few hours ago was gone.
Watching her hurry away, Ning Huan seemed to think of something. His eyes narrowed slightly.
[Here's a piece of advice: when hunting your Eighth Soul Ring, try to bring along a few more Titled Douluo.]
The sudden voice transmission in Zhang Lexuan's ear made her pause, one foot suspended in midair.
But less than half a breath later, she set it down again and disappeared through the doorway in the blink of an eye.
No curiosity, no questions.
Even stopping for a moment seemed unnecessary.
Only the ever-broadening smile on her lips showed how happy she was.
At last, the library, which had been bustling for most of the night, returned to its usual silence.
Ning Huan stood halfway up the stairs for a long while, then shook his head with a laugh.
"Well, that was... an unexpected windfall."
"I should go make arrangements for Dai Huabin."
Three hours later...
"So you're saying Xiao Huan arranged for the Hidden Guards to investigate the whereabouts of the Second Young Master of the White Tiger for some private reason."
"But you didn't dare make the decision yourself, so you kept it from him and came to ask what I think?"
"...Yes!"
Ning Hao stared expressionlessly at the black-clad Soul Emperor kneeling on one knee before him, his gaze growing colder by the moment.
The pressure of someone in a position of authority made the man break out in a cold sweat. Within a few breaths, it had soaked through his clothes.
"Do you remember my previous order?"
"This subordinate remembers it clearly!"
"Repeat it!"
"If... if the Chief Disciple gives an order, everyone in the sect, including the worshippers, must give their full support..."
"Then what are you kneeling here for?! Do you take my orders for a joke?!"
His low scolding echoed through the office. The pure killing intent hidden in it frightened the black-clad Soul King into dropping to both knees.
"This subordinate wouldn't dare!"
"Then get moving! If you delay the Chief Disciple's important business, I'll hold you responsible!"
This time, the black-clad Soul Emperor didn't dare hesitate.
As he rushed out of the room and set off for the Star Luo Empire, he also resolved to obey the Chief Disciple's orders without question from now on.
Otherwise, with the sect master's methods...
Getting wiped out down to the ninth degree would be the best-case scenario!
Before you continue