Na'er's Commission, Qiangu Dongfeng, The Pain of a Simp

"It's gone, there's really nothing left this time."

Watching Jiang Xiu take every last one of the oranges, Na'er felt like crying but had no tears. She looked at Jiang Xiu with a pitiful expression; those had been her entire stash, and now Jiang Xiu had squeezed her dry.

"Alright, I'll take this job. Tell me, who do you want me to... ah, no, who do you want me to help you suppress?"

Jiang Xiu peeled an orange, finding Na'er's pathetic look quite amusing. This display was no less dramatic than when he'd had his takeout stolen in his past life.

"You agreed?!"

Seeing Jiang Xiu accept, Na'er instantly dropped her pitiful act. Her lips curved into a crescent moon, and she trotted over to stand before him, her expression turning serious.

"I've already scouted it out. The opponent is a Great Soul Master whose martial soul is an elemental type—an Elementalist. Hmm... also, her intelligence probably isn't very high; she might lose control and go feral."

"Boss, when the time comes, you have to train her hard. It would be best if you beat her until she's completely crushed."

A gleam flickered in Na'er's purple eyes, and she waved her delicate fists from time to time as if she had already foreseen the scene, growing more excited the more she spoke.

Hearing this, the corner of Jiang Xiu's eye twitched slightly. He couldn't help but feel that Na'er and Gu Yue were like oil and water, acting just like a pair of bickering rivals.

Is this the opposition between humanity and beastliness? A single thought between god and demon?

Jiang Xiu chuckled inwardly.

"Jiang Xiu, are you even listening?"

Na'er watched Jiang Xiu, who had a smile hanging on his lips. She stood on her tiptoes, thrusting her pretty face toward his, her beautiful eyes wide.

Just then, a breeze swept by, causing Na'er's silver hair to dance and scatter a faint, delicate fragrance across Jiang Xiu's handsome face.

"I'm listening, I'm listening. I will certainly fulfill the instructions of Lady Na'er."

Jiang Xiu chuckled and stuffed the peeled orange into Na'er's mouth, which finally made her relax and drop back onto her heels.

Gu Yue, even though you split seventy percent of the origin, I, Na'er, have a ringer. So, you'd better just surrender obediently.

Na'er thought with pride. She could see through Gu Yue's intentions at a glance; it was nothing more than wanting to join the Spirit Pagoda just like her, preparing for the revival of the Soul Beast clan. But one pagoda could not house two dragons; she had to strike first.

The struggle for the Spirit Pagoda had always been this way!

"Then we'll set off with Master tonight!"

Na'er lifted her chin; this time, the advantage was definitely hers!

"Fine. It's only morning, so we have plenty of time. Come and learn how to engrave soul guidance arrays with me; this will be useful for crafting battle armor later."

Jiang Xiu nodded slightly, then led Na'er under a large tree in the courtyard and took out two books on the production of core soul guidance arrays.

Over these past four years, in addition to raising his cultivation and expanding his Abyss Plane Shadow Legion, his other major professions had been progressing in tandem.

Na'er looked at the dense, complex core arrays in the book, and her eyes instantly lost their focus. She rested her chin on her hand.

"I can't learn this. I really can't learn this!"

The ahoge on top of Na'er's head drooped in helplessness.

Although she was a top student from Star Dou Great Forest Cultural Co., Ltd., when faced with these core arrays, her "culture" was clearly limited.

Looking at the handsome youth beside her, Na'er arched her brows slightly and called out softly.

"Jiang Xiu, Jiang Xiu."

"I'm here."

"What are we eating for lunch today? Spicy barbecue mixed noodles or yellow-braised chicken with rice?"

"Either is fine."

Na'er chirped away beside Jiang Xiu like a little bird, and Jiang Xiu's lips curled up from time to time as time slowly slipped away.

At this moment, the sun was bright, the wind brushed the treetops, and they were in the prime of their youth.

Evening, the sun was setting.

Fiery red clouds scattered across the horizon, and the brilliant light was refracted by the tall metal walls of the Spirit Pagoda, as if the sunset had fallen upon the earth.

Below the Spirit Pagoda headquarters, Na'er stood beside Jiang Xiu, watching the bustling street and glancing around with her beautiful eyes, as if waiting for something.

"Xiao Xiu, Na'er."

Just then, a cold, elegant voice rang out from afar. Leng Yaozhu walked out from the Spirit Pagoda headquarters with a graceful figure. She was dressed in a long red gown, her jade-like arms glowing with a soft luster, and her dark red hair matched the sunset perfectly.

Compared to four years ago, time seemed to have left no mark on Leng Yaozhu.

However, a middle-aged man was following closely behind her. He was tall with a handsome face, a high nose bridge, and slightly small eyes, exuding a powerful sense of intimidation.

After speaking, Leng Yaozhu walked straight toward Jiang Xiu and Na'er, her gaze not lingering on the middle-aged man beside her for even a second.

"You two little ones, let's go."

Leng Yaozhu arrived before Jiang Xiu and Na'er, a smile appearing on her cold, elegant face, and she prepared to lead them toward the outskirts of Shrek City.

"Yaozhu, do you want me to accompany you to the East Sea? After all, the Spirit Pagoda isn't busy these two days."

Seeing this, the middle-aged man coughed lightly and called out from behind.

"Many thanks for your concern, Tower Master Qiangu, but I can go by myself. Besides, it is not working hours right now; there is no need for you to keep following me."

Jiang Xiu's gaze shifted slightly as he looked at the middle-aged man behind Leng Yaozhu, instantly recognizing him as the current Tower Master of the Spirit Pagoda and the head of the Qiangu Family, Qiangu Dongfeng.

Naturally, he had been pursuing Leng Yaozhu in secret.

"Oh, and Tower Master Qiangu, we aren't that close. You may simply call me Leng Yaozhu."

Before Qiangu Dongfeng could reply, Leng Yaozhu turned back and gave him a standard smile.

A smile is sometimes a courtesy, and sometimes, it is a warning.

After speaking, Leng Yaozhu led Jiang Xiu and Na'er away, merging into the flow of the crowd.

Qiangu Dongfeng watched their retreating figures, his expression turning slightly gloomy, but then he thought of something, and the corners of his mouth curled upward.

"Leng Yaozhu, once my Qiangu Family completely controls the entire Spirit Pagoda, you will be mine sooner or later!"

He snorted coldly in his heart, looking as if victory were already in his grasp. Although his grandson, Qiangu Zhangting, lacked the potential of a Limit Douluo, he could provide him with immortal herbs and battle armor; when that time came, their Qiangu Family would ascend to even greater heights.

Within the Spirit Pagoda, who dared to suppress them, and who dared to defy them? As for the Phoenix Clan, they were nothing more than declining, pathetic rabble.

Thinking of this, Qiangu Dongfeng turned around confidently and re-entered the Spirit Pagoda.

To tell the truth, he had been quite busy these past few days; he had only claimed to be free just now to create an opportunity to be alone with Leng Yaozhu.

Night fell.

A pitch-black, Black-grade mecha streaked across the sky, piercing through thick layers of clouds.

"Xiao Xiu, Na'er, you two should get some rest early. We will arrive at the East Sea tomorrow, and then it will be up to you two to show what you can do."

Inside the cockpit, Leng Yaozhu's beautiful eyes held a smile, and her red lips parted as she spoke.

"Master, I see that Gu Yue is nothing more than a clown seeking her own demise. Tomorrow, you can just watch as I... as Jiang Xiu probes her true strength."

Na'er lifted her chin, her violet eyes filled with absolute confidence.