The next day, Ye Guchen and Ma Xiaotao didn't wake until sunlight streamed through the window.
She looked at the disheveled room, then at Ye Guchen beside her, watching her with a deeply satisfied expression.
Memories of the previous night came rushing back. Ma Xiaotao edged closer to Ye Guchen, her eyes full of contentment.
Last night, she had been the one to tease him first, thinking she'd try the most primitive way of putting out her Evil Fire. But after one or two times, the Evil Fire had been completely purged, and they'd already rested. Somehow, though, he'd pulled her back in and made her put out her fire a few more times.
Just as Ma Xiaotao was preparing to do some morning exercises, Ling Luochеn's voice came from outside the door.
"Xiaotao, Guchen, what's going on? It's time to set out!"
At that, Ma Xiaotao glanced at the messy room and, without even checking whether she was dressed, sprang up and hurried to tidy everything.
Ye Guchen watched with great interest.
Just then, a shoe flew straight at him.
"What are you staring at? If Ling Luochеn sees this, we're done for! Get over here and help."
Her voice was urgent, though kept low.
"Got it."
Only then did Ye Guchen slowly get up.
After an all-out cleanup, Ye Guchen and Ma Xiaotao finally appeared before Ling Luochеn.
With an expression as calm as ever, Ma Xiaotao asked, "Are we setting out already?"
Ling Luochеn eyed them both suspiciously.
"Why did you take so long? You two never used to sleep in."
Faced with her good friend's questioning, Ma Xiaotao grew uneasy and could only change the subject.
"We overslept. Let's hurry over, or we'll get chewed out."
Then she grabbed Ye Guchen and hurried away.
Ling Luochеn was left baffled. She glanced into the room and sensed a strange, indescribable atmosphere.
She didn't think much of it and followed the two toward the assembly point.
But why was Xiaotao walking so strangely?
Soon, they reached the assembly point. Yan Shaozhe would be leading this training expedition.
Ye Guchen couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
"As long as it's not the Holy Spirit Cult's Supreme Elder!"
After arriving in this world, Ye Guchen had experienced firsthand just how unreliable Xuan Zi was.
"Since you all remember the mission for this training expedition, let's move out! Remember, I won't show up unless your lives are in danger!"
Everyone answered in unison.
"Yes!"
The eight of them set off toward the Star Dou Great Forest.
Yan Shaozhe followed close behind, on guard against any sudden danger.
But the moment his gaze swept over Ma Xiaotao, he sensed something was off.
For a romantic veteran who'd once wandered through a hundred flowerbeds without a single petal clinging to him, a subtle change like this naturally couldn't escape his notice.
A knowing smile spread across his face.
"She's all grown up!"
The eight maintained a loose but orderly formation.
Dai Yueheng and Xi Xi took the lead, clearing the way for the group. Ling Luochеn guarded the right flank, while Chen Zifeng watched the left. Ma Xiaotao and Ye Guchen brought up the rear, overseeing the entire group and ready to provide support at any moment. They kept the support-type Soul Master, Gongyang Mo, protected in the middle, while Yao Haoxuan stayed with him in case anything unexpected happened.
Since they were still on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, the group had a formation but wasn't yet fully on guard. A relaxed air still hung over them.
Ling Luochеn slipped between the two without drawing attention, occasionally eyeing Ma Xiaotao's gait from the corner of her eye.
"What are you looking at?"
Ma Xiaotao glared at Ling Luochеn, unnerved by her scrutiny.
"Nothing."
Ling Luochеn expressionlessly looked away. After a pause, she added, "I just think you're walking like you've spent three days and three nights on horseback."
Ma Xiaotao stumbled.
Ye Guchen reached out to steady her, his expression perfectly composed.
"Sister Luochеn, you're very observant. Sister Xiaotao did come up with a new body-tempering method yesterday. She just hasn't gotten the hang of it yet, so she hurt her foot."
"Is that so~?" Ling Luochеn drew out her words deliberately, eyeing them both with a teasing smile. "If it's such a great method, why not share it with everyone, Xiaotao?"
Ma Xiaotao shot Ye Guchen a glare, then turned to Ling Luochеn, her usual fiery temper returning.
"Why are you talking so much? Get back to your position!"
But Ling Luochеn seemed not to hear. She slowly moved closer to Ma Xiaotao and lowered her voice.
"Could it be...? Xiaotao, that's not very fair of you. Keeping all the fun to yourself!"
At that, Ma Xiaotao's face turned bright red. She slapped Ling Luochеn on the butt.
"What are you talking about? Watch it, or I'll make you regret it."
She even raised a fist at Ling Luochеn to show off her strength.
But the more Ma Xiaotao tried to dodge the subject, the more certain Ling Luochеn became that something had happened between them.
Once curiosity took hold, it was hard to sit still—and Ling Luochеn was no exception.
She was determined to get to the bottom of it.
Ye Guchen couldn't hold back any longer. If Ling Luochеn kept asking, they'd be exposed sooner or later. He summoned the Fire Luan Bird and had it crouch in front of him and Ma Xiaotao.
"Sister Xiaotao, tired? Let's ride up there and rest for a while!"
Seeing that Ye Guchen at least had some sense—and genuinely fearing Ling Luochеn—Ma Xiaotao jumped onto the Fire Luan Bird without hesitation.
"Hey...? You two..."
Watching them flee, Ling Luochеn could only point after them, grinding her teeth and stamping her foot.
Yao Haoxuan saw Ling Luochеn return to the group alone, looking dejected, and quietly came up beside her.
"Sister Luochеn, what happened?"
"Get lost!"
"Sure thing."
"What happened?"
Gongyang Mo was also utterly puzzled. Why had she come back looking so glum after going over there?
"No idea. Maybe Guchen took Xiaotao for a ride on the bird and didn't take her along!"
"Oh, I see."
"Stay alert. We've reached the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast zone!"
As Dai Yueheng's warning, infused with Soul Power, rang out, the group entered the core region of the Star Dou Great Forest.
"It's time for me to shine!"
Ye Guchen spread out his spiritual power and activated his first Soul Skill, "Spiritual Detection and Sharing."
As soon as the words left his mouth,
every detail of their surroundings flooded into the minds of the Shrek Seven Devils.
"What is this!?" The seven exclaimed together, all turning to look at the source of the spiritual power.
"Ye Guchen?"
Even the usually composed Dai Yueheng stared at Ye Guchen in disbelief.
Seeing how shocked everyone was, Ye Guchen felt a little smug inside, but kept his expression calm.
"Everyone, there's no need to panic. This is a new ability of mine."
But he couldn't hold back the corners of his mouth. Of course, that tiny detail was transmitted through the spiritual network into everyone's mind as well. Since everyone's attention was already fixed on him, his faint smile was magnified beyond measure.
Ma Xiaotao was the first to lose it.
She smacked him hard on the back.
"Keep that grin in check!"
Ye Guchen winced, rubbing the spot she'd hit as he looked at Ma Xiaotao with a wounded expression.
"What did I do, Sister Xiaotao?"
The scene was transmitted into everyone's minds, making them all burst out laughing.
Only Ling Luochеn didn't join in. For some reason, seeing the two of them play around so intimately left a sour feeling in her heart.
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