Thick in Every Sense, Crazy in Every Sense

"My Martial Soul is the Wood Azure Dragon. My Soul Power Level is fifty-four."

Zhao Linchuan was already dressed and was fastening his belt.

"Wood Azure Dragon? What is that? Wait, you said you're level fifty-four?!"

The tears vanished from Ning Rongrong's face in an instant. She stood frozen, her mouth slightly open. Tear tracks still remained on her cheeks, but her expression had been completely replaced by shock.

Level fifty-four? At twelve years old?

Ning Rongrong thought Zhao Linchuan was most likely lying to her.

How old was the youngest Soul King on the entire continent?

Sixteen, perhaps? Or eighteen?

In any case, it could not possibly have been a twelve-year-old boy.

Yet something deep inside her had been violently stirred by those words.

She desperately, desperately wanted Zhao Linchuan to truly be as he said—a level fifty-four, monstrous, unparalleled genius unlike any before or after him.

"I said I'm level fifty-four."

Zhao Linchuan seemed to have noticed the longing and doubt in her eyes. Rather than explaining, he gave her an answer through his actions.

With a thought, five Soul Rings—yellow, purple, black, black, black—instantly rose from beneath his feet and slowly revolved around his body.

After all, in this day and age, Soul Rings did not lie.

"Yellow, purple! Black! Black! Black!!"

"G-Good heavens!"

Ning Rongrong stared at Zhao Linchuan's Soul Ring configuration in disbelief. Even her voice changed pitch, becoming so shrill that it nearly cracked.

"A thousand-year second ring! A ten-thousand-year third ring!"

"How was this possible?"

"How could anyone possibly achieve that?"

Her gaze slowly moved from the five Soul Rings to Zhao Linchuan's face.

"And your Soul Power Level... are you really only twelve?"

"Want to know?"

Zhao Linchuan withdrew his Soul Rings, and the light inside the tent returned to normal.

"Mhm..."

"Be a good little wife for me from now on, and I'll teach you."

Ning Rongrong fell silent for a moment. She bit her lip and spoke in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "Will you treat me well?"

"If I didn't treat you well, would I have forced myself to stop while holding back my anger?"

Zhao Linchuan walked over to Ning Rongrong, crouched before her, and gently took both her hands.

The tent fell quiet again for a while.

Ning Rongrong lowered her head, her gaze somewhat evasive.

After a long time, she took a deep breath. As though she had made some momentous decision, she said in a barely audible voice:

"I'm already your woman... As long as you treat me well from now on, I'll stay by your side and take care of you."

Upon hearing that, Zhao Linchuan raised his other hand and gently lifted her chin. His fingertip rested against the smooth line of her jaw, forcing her to meet his eyes.

"Is that all right?"

Ning Rongrong's gaze shifted several times, as though she did not dare look at him, yet also as though she were secretly peeking at him.

Her cheeks grew redder and her ears hotter, as if they were burning.

At last, she lowered her eyes. Her lashes trembled slightly, and she squeezed out a response from her throat so soft it was nearly inaudible.

"Mhm..."

After a long while, the storm finally subsided.

Zhao Linchuan and Ning Rongrong lay side by side on the bedding.

Ning Rongrong turned her head, her hazy eyes gazing up at Zhao Linchuan's profile.

She was extremely satisfied with the man before her—satisfied in every sense of the word.

Not only because of those astonishing five Soul Rings, but also because of the formidable strength he had displayed over the past two hours, which left her both frightened and enamored.

Zhao Linchuan lowered his head and reached out to pinch Ning Rongrong's thigh.

The soft flesh beneath his palm was smooth and springy, like dough kneaded to perfection. His fingertips sank into it before it bounced back, feeling unbelievably good.

"Mmm~~"

A soft moan escaped Ning Rongrong's lips. She shot him a reproachful glare, yet she did not brush his hand away. Instead, she shifted slightly and moved her leg closer to his hand.

It had to be said that Ning Rongrong's thick bread was truly thick, and she was truly crazy as well.

She did not possess the slightest trace of a young lady's reserve or dignity. She was nothing like an heir raised by a great clan such as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Not only had she agreed to all sorts of requests Zhao Linchuan made, she had even taken the initiative to suggest things he had never even heard of.

There were so many variations that he could not help wondering where this little girl had learned all of it.

Her reasoning was perfectly sound as well: "I want to leave myself with a perfect soul battle. I don't want any regrets."

"So sticky..." Ning Rongrong said weakly.

She straightened up, tilted her head toward Zhao Linchuan, and coquettishly said:

"Big brother, can you take me to the stream to bathe?"

"Can your body handle cold water in its current condition?" Zhao Linchuan asked sincerely.

"Don't underestimate me." Ning Rongrong blinked playfully. "I'm a Soul Grandmaster, after all. My physical condition isn't that poor."

"Besides, you treated me just now. My injuries healed long ago... except in certain places."

She meaningfully moved her legs, then let out another soft hiss.

Seeing how she was trying to act tough while unable to hide the pain, Zhao Linchuan could not help laughing.

He half-crouched, bent over, wrapped one arm around her shoulders and back, and slid the other beneath her knees, lifting her into his arms.

Then Zhao Linchuan carried her through the tent flap and headed outside.

A short while later, by the stream.

Zhao Linchuan found a large bluish stone half-submerged in the water and gently placed Ning Rongrong on it.

The stream rose to her waist, pressing her soaked clothes tightly against her body and outlining the slender, graceful curves of the young girl.

Ning Rongrong sat on the stone with both hands braced behind her, her head tilted as she watched Zhao Linchuan crouching by the bank and washing clothes.

As she watched, the corners of her lips suddenly curved upward, and she leaned closer.

The water splashed. She leaned forward, braced both hands on a stone at the bank, and brought her face nearly to Zhao Linchuan's ear as she softly said:

"Big brother, this stream is so cold. Do you think it could cool you down and make your 'Soul Skill duration' last a little longer?"

Zhao Linchuan's hands stopped instantly in the middle of scrubbing clothes. He had never considered that question before.

He looked around and said with some concern, "What if Xiao Wu and the others suddenly come back?"

"That would make it even more exciting..." Ning Rongrong said something startling, her voice filled with temptation. "It would also show just how strong you are..."

"Th-That wouldn't be right, would it?"

Zhao Linchuan hesitated. His reason told him he should refuse, but his body clearly had other ideas.

Ning Rongrong smiled when she saw this. She slid down from the bluish stone and stepped into the water, sending droplets splashing up before they fell again.

She walked over to him, took his hand, and said in a delicate voice:

"Big brother, let's go a little farther into the deep water."