Restraint, Teasing Her!

"Ah~"

The touch was soft, smooth, and delicate, light as a feather and exceptionally comfortable, making her unable to stop herself from letting out a coquettish murmur.

Ning Rongrong had raised her hand of her own accord, but before she could react, her jade-like hand was still suspended in midair when Ao Yin moved decisively, reaching out and firmly taking hold of her slender, fair hand.

Ao Yin smiled faintly to himself.

He had never been the bashful, pretentiously reserved type.

That sudden bold gesture made Ning Rongrong's heart skip a beat.

Her heart lurched, and her mind instantly became a mess.

Her pretty face stiffened slightly as inexplicable panic flashed through her heart. This guy... Could it be that I took the initiative to strike up a conversation, only to walk right into a trap?

Yet she subconsciously looked up.

What met her gaze were Ao Yin's clean, clear eyes.

Open and composed, without the slightest trace of lechery or frivolity.

They were so pure that there was nothing to criticize.

The wild thoughts in Ning Rongrong's heart instantly vanished, though a faint blush quietly crept onto her cheeks.

A little shy, she gently withdrew her hand. Her ears felt slightly hot, and her heart was in turmoil.

The young princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had never, from childhood until now, been touched so decisively and proactively by a strange boy.

At that moment, her heartbeat was racing almost out of control.

Seeing the change in Ning Rongrong's demeanor, Ao Yin smiled slightly. So what if she was a little witch? Before [Max-Level Charm], even she couldn't resist!

After exchanging a few polite words with Ning Rongrong, Ao Yin naturally turned to look at Dai Mubai, who was glancing around and deliberately pretending to be busy.

In a relaxed, teasing tone, he took the initiative to speak.

"Mubai, we meet again."

"What? You see me, and you're not even going to say hello?"

As soon as he said that, Ning Rongrong turned around curiously. Her slender swan-like neck tilted slightly as her gaze landed directly on Dai Mubai.

Ning Rongrong was filled with surprise.

So Ao Yin and Dai Mubai had known each other for a long time?

But Ao Yin had clearly only come to register today. Like her, he was a new student.

Logically speaking, everyone should have called Dai Mubai senior.

Yet judging from that tone, it seemed Dai Mubai was actually afraid of him?

On the other side, Dai Mubai's heart skipped a beat, and his scalp went numb.

This was Shrek Academy!

The teachers were here, the new students were here, and even parents were here!

If it were exposed in public that he, Boss Dai of Shrek, had acknowledged a new student outside the academy as his big brother—

On the very first day of school, he would lose all face completely!

Absolutely not!

Dai Mubai braced himself and hurried forward. He bent slightly, leaned close to Ao Yin's ear, and lowered his voice with a hint of pleading.

"Brother Ao! My dear Brother Ao!"

"There are so many people watching. Can you leave me a little dignity?"

"If there's anything, let's talk about it privately once we're inside the academy, okay?"

Watching his embarrassed, pleading appearance, Ao Yin's lips curled upward as he nodded lightly.

"Fine."

With that one sentence, Dai Mubai instantly felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted.

"Mubai, there's another one who passed the test!"

Li Yusong scratched his head and pushed Tang San toward Dai Mubai. Today's recruitment was far better than in previous years!

Afraid that Ao Yin would expose him in public, Dai Mubai did not dare delay for even a moment. He immediately led the way with great enthusiasm, hurrying everyone deeper into the academy.

There were too many people at the village entrance, too many prying eyes.

If he stayed any longer, he would truly die of embarrassment.

Dai Mubai quickly completed a simple handover with Li Yusong, then led those who had passed the assessment into Shrek Academy.

The academy grounds were quiet and secluded, with lush trees providing shade.

They had only walked a short distance when Ao Yin abruptly stopped.

His eyes lifted slightly, his gaze accurately locking onto the dark shadows beneath an ancient tree by the roadside. His tone was calm, yet certain.

"Stop hiding."

"Since you passed the assessment too, we'll be classmates and companions from now on."

"Come out. Walk with us."

The air instantly fell silent.

Beneath the dim shade of the tree, there was utter stillness.

Only after several breaths of silence did a slender, graceful figure slowly emerge from the shadows.

Long black hair fell softly over her shoulders, stirring gently in the breeze.

Her figure was slim and exquisite, her waist supple as a willow branch.

Though she looked very young, she possessed an utterly captivating figure and face.

Her cool brows and eyes, fair skin, and aloof aura that kept strangers at a distance were mixed with a faint touch of softness and charm.

Pure yet cold, beautiful yet alluring.

She carried a seductive charm far beyond that of girls her age, enough to stir one's heart at a single glance.

The newcomer was none other than Zhu Zhuqing, one of the future Shrek Seven Monsters.

Her eyes were lowered as she stood quietly in place, her temperament cold and her silence almost excessive.

Yet the moment she stepped out of the shadows, Ao Yin merely gave her a faint glance before withdrawing his gaze and turning to continue forward calmly.

His steps were steady, his expression indifferent, without the slightest unnecessary scrutiny or loss of composure.

Others might have been entranced into a daze by Zhu Zhuqing's breathtaking beauty.

But Ao Yin understood perfectly.

Zhu Zhuqing was aloof, sensitive, and slow to warm up.

If he looked at her greedily now, deliberately struck up a conversation, and acted infatuated—

He would only completely disgust her and leave an awful first impression.

Once that first impression was ruined, forget getting along in the future—even normal conversation would become incredibly awkward.

Ao Yin was steady-minded.

He did not seek to rapidly close the distance in one step.

He only wanted to get along with her slowly. Gently melting the ice, being mild and restrained—that was the best way to grow closer.

Tang San, on the other hand, kept trying to talk to Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, hoping to draw their attention, but neither of them was interested in him at all.

Ao Yin gave a cold laugh and continued onward.

A petite, lively figure immediately came bouncing over.

Xiao Wu's eyes curved into crescents, her face full of delight as she hurried to Ao Yin's side. Her soft little hand naturally looped tightly around his arm.

Her entire body was soft and warm as she leaned against him with utmost intimacy.

"Little Brother Ao, why are you walking so slowly?"

"I thought you'd snuck off!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Wu's lively gaze swept over and instantly landed on Zhu Zhuqing, who was quietly following behind them.

A stranger, aloof, and breathtakingly beautiful.

A pretty older sister she had never met before.

Xiao Wu tilted her head slightly, her eyes filled with curiosity as she asked softly.

"Little Brother Ao, who is she?"

Ao Yin glanced sideways and asked casually.

"Who?"

Ao Yin's expression remained indifferent as he deliberately pretended to know nothing of the girl behind him.

Zhu Zhuqing, however, silently fell quiet for a long while because of it.

Her cool eyes remained lowered, but her heart stirred faintly. Back in the shade of the tree, she had already gotten a clear look at this boy.

What attracted her most was not his terrifying strength at such a young age, but the innate aura around him that naturally made people feel favorably toward him!

She secretly raised her eyes, her gaze lightly passing over Ao Yin's handsome, upright back.

Her gaze lingered for a moment, and an indescribable, strange feeling rose in her heart.

Only after a moment did she withdraw her gaze and introduce herself in a cool voice.

"Zhu Zhuqing, level twenty-seven agility-attack system Soul Master."

"My martial soul is the Hell Spirit Cat. I've come to take the fourth assessment."

Her voice was soft and cool, gentle yet distant, pleasant enough to make one's heart itch faintly.

Xiao Wu's eyes immediately lit up. Without a trace of unfamiliarity, she bounced forward.

Her little face was sweet, and her smile was incomparably bright.

"Wow! Sister Zhuqing, you're so pretty! My name is Xiao Wu!"

"I'm a level twenty-nine assault system Soul Master. My martial soul is the Soft Bone Rabbit, hehe!"

After saying that, Xiao Wu completely opened up, her quirky and mischievous nature showing in full.

She curiously examined Zhu Zhuqing's slender, graceful figure, her eyes full of envy as she chattered away with endless questions.

"Sister Zhuqing, did you come to take the Shrek exam alone?"

"Your figure is way too good! How do you usually take care of yourself?"

"Your skin is so fair and pretty. I've never seen such a beautiful older sister before!"

A stream of soft, girlish questions spilled out one after another, lively and noisy.

Ao Yin laughed helplessly, his eyes filled with indulgence.

This little girl had always been so familiar with everyone, with curiosity overflowing from her.

He looked toward Zhu Zhuqing, seeing the cool girl's slightly helpless expression as Xiao Wu clung to her.

His heart stirred faintly, and he gave her a gentle nod, a trace of apology in his eyes.

It was an apology on Xiao Wu's behalf for her chatter.

Their eyes met for a brief instant.

Zhu Zhuqing's usually cold heartstrings inexplicably trembled softly.

The boy before her was powerful, steady, restrained, and exceptionally gentle and courteous.

He was completely different from every peer she had ever met.

She had never liked making eye contact with others, yet she did not avoid his gaze this time.

She merely dipped her neck slightly, the movement extremely light and faint, silently accepting the apology.

Their wordless interaction was quiet yet ambiguous.

A subtle atmosphere that others could not understand quietly spread between them.

At that moment, not far away.

Dai Mubai, who had just arrived while leading a burly figure over, suddenly stiffened, his entire body instantly becoming uncomfortable.

He stared fixedly at Zhu Zhuqing's familiar, cool face. Panic, guilt, and evasiveness flashed through his eyes.

His thoughts instantly became a tangled mess.

But the rough-looking, muscular man beside him did not notice anything strange about him.

He merely assumed that Dai Mubai had once again seen a pretty girl and failed to change his nature.

He did not take it to heart at all.

The burly man shifted his gaze, piercing straight through the crowd and firmly locking onto the most dazzling person present—Ao Yin.

His aura abruptly sank, and an oppressive presence rushed forward.

His deep voice rumbled like thunder.

"You are Ao Yin?"

The entire area instantly fell silent.

Facing the powerful aura pressing down like a mountain, Ao Yin stood tall and straight as a pine.

His eyes were calm and undisturbed as he raised his head to meet the other man's gaze, neither hurried nor humble.

"That's me."

"What guidance does Teacher have for me?"

Those simple words were full of confidence, without the slightest hint of fear or retreat.

The air across the entire assessment grounds instantly froze completely.

A suffocating, heavy, murderous atmosphere enveloped the entire area.

"Could this one... be another Soul Emperor?"

Including Tang San, everyone dared not even breathe loudly. Their hearts were tense as they feared that a violent storm would break out the next moment.

But after several breaths of silence.

The expected scolding, harassment, and oppression did not come at all.

The burly man suddenly threw back his head and burst into booming laughter!

His bold, unrestrained laughter made the surrounding leaves tremble slightly!

He raised a hand in a thumbs-up, his eyes full of admiration as he looked straight at Ao Yin.

"Good kid! Your courage, presence, and temperament are all impressive!"

"Let me introduce myself."

"I'm the teacher in charge of your fourth practical assessment."

"My name—Zhao Wuji!"

Everyone fell silent, secretly growing tense and uneasy.

Ao Yin alone became slightly solemn the instant he heard that name.

Others might not know, but he knew all too well.

The rugged, easygoing-looking brute before them was no ordinary teacher.

He was several times stronger than Li Yusong, who had handled admissions at the gate!

Immovable Bright King, Zhao Wuji!

A level seventy-six Strong Attack-type Soul Sage!

How could this final assessment be a simple test?!

It was clearly a one-sided crushing!

Zhao Wuji stood with his hands behind his back, his tone casual yet overbearing as he slowly laid out the rules for the fourth assessment.

"This final round is very simple."

"You little brats only need to hold out steadily against me for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, and you'll pass."

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to look at Dai Mubai beside him and casually instructed him.

"Mubai, explain this round's rules to them."

"Don't let them fail to last even half an incense stick. That would be far too boring."

After giving his instructions, Zhao Wuji simply closed his eyes and stood still, his body as immovable as a mountain.

He appeared carefree, resting with his eyes closed, yet the overwhelming pressure innate to a Soul Sage burst forth!

???

Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and Tang San all wore baffled expressions.

The vast assessment grounds instantly fell deathly silent.