System

Jiang Mu and Jiang Nannan did not hesitate in the slightest and quickly ran toward the source of the sound.

When they arrived nearby, they finally saw what was happening.

Below them stood a man and a woman. The scream from earlier must have come from the woman.

The woman wore a fitted blue outfit, her long hair tied in a high ponytail. She had short boots on her feet, black thigh-high stockings wrapped around her long, slender legs, and a skirt that exposed her thighs.

She exuded a youthful air.

Though this was hardly the time to be admiring her, was it?

His beautiful phoenix eyes stared somewhat nervously at the snake swarm ahead.

"Blue Silver Grass Parasitism!"

Blue Silver Grass erupted wildly at the woman's call, instantly engulfing those Mandala Snakes.

Looking at the Blue Silver Grass she had summoned, her identity was not difficult to guess.

Tang Ya?

Then the other one should be Bei Bei. Jiang Mu turned his gaze toward the man, whose right hand crackled with lightning. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul truly belonged to Bei Bei.

What a coincidence. He had actually run into them here.

Jiang Nannan swept her gaze over the situation below and helplessly pursed her lips. "So that's all it was."

Although the pair below were dealing with a swarm of Soul Beast snakes, their average cultivation was only around a hundred years. Most of them were even ten-year Soul Beasts. They had probably eaten something that attracted the snakes' attention.

As for why there had been screaming, it seemed she had simply been startled. Jiang Nannan wordlessly withdrew her gaze and looked toward Jiang Mu.

Yet she discovered that her younger brother was staring fixedly at the woman below.

"Hmm?"

Jiang Nannan briefly thought she had seen wrong. She frowned and looked back and forth.

"Huh?"

He really was looking at that woman. What was so good about her? She only had a lousy Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, screamed when she got startled, and had no courage at all. She was not even prettier than her!

As though feeling jealous, Jiang Nannan instinctively compared herself to Tang Ya below.

Due to certain changes, Jiang Nannan had not enrolled at Shrek Academy and did not know Tang Ya.

What was more, Tang Ya had attracted her younger brother Jiang Mu's attention at their very first meeting. Naturally, Jiang Nannan could not feel any goodwill toward her.

But was that really the case?

Jiang Mu was merely thinking.

He had already encountered someone who counted as a key protagonist, so why had his cheat not arrived yet?

Since he happened to be facing Tang Ya's direction, it looked like he was staring at her. In truth, however, he was absentmindedly lost in thought.

Is getting a cheat really this difficult?

But Jiang Nannan did not know that Jiang Mu was still inspecting things. She immediately gave a snort.

"Hmph, what is there to look at? If you like them, I can wear them for you too."

"Hmm?"

Jiang Mu withdrew his gaze in confusion and looked at Jiang Nannan's jealous expression.

Black stockings?

Why was he so baffled?

Still.

The suggestion Jiang Nannan had just made.

If she meant black stockings...

Jiang Mu instinctively examined Jiang Nannan's long legs, presently clad in white thigh-high stockings. Her skin was snowy white and tender, her legs round and straight.

Black stockings would probably make them even more alluring.

"..."

"Mm~"

Jiang Nannan gently raised her leg and stomped her foot against the tree trunk. Her short boots made a tapping sound as she puffed out her cheeks, looking utterly adorable.

Crackle, crackle! Snap, snap!

While they were talking, the battle below had already neared its end. After all, one was a level-thirty Soul Elder and the other a level-twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster. Dealing with a few hundred-year Mandala Snakes was effortless.

"Xiao Ya has finished them off."

"Mm."

Though Tang Ya had been startled at first, she had recovered afterward. Her Blue Silver Grass had taken down quite a few as well.

"It's just a shame none of them are useful to me."

Tang Ya sighed softly. She had originally been hoping for a Mandala Snake, but her third Soul Ring needed to be at least a thousand years old. The ones here were only ten- or hundred-year Soul Beasts.

"Hehe, it's fine. Since Mandala Snakes are here, there will definitely be a thousand-year Soul Beast that meets the requirements."

Bei Bei continued comforting her. They had been searching for a long time, and even their spirits had begun to wear thin.

Just as he was about to say something else, a sound from the trees caught his attention.

He abruptly looked toward where Jiang Mu and Jiang Nannan were standing.

"I wonder who is hiding in the shadows. We are students of Shrek Academy."

Bei Bei did not know who was concealed in the darkness, but anyone capable of hiding and observing them for so long was clearly not weak. They were likely at his level or even stronger. He quickly revealed their identities to prevent being robbed and killed.

Hearing Bei Bei act so cautiously, Tang Ya also thought some great danger was nearby. She swallowed nervously and looked around.

Shrek Academy's status was still quite useful against most people.

Even those who looked down on it would not deliberately provoke it. Shrek was protective of its own; that was common knowledge.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, most people would give it some face.

Up in the tree, Jiang Mu glanced lightly at Jiang Nannan.

Jiang Nannan also looked a little embarrassed. She pressed her palms together toward Jiang Mu in apology. She had acted without thinking and had not expected them to be discovered.

The two could not keep hiding, so they both leaped down with a whoosh.

The appearance of a young man and woman made Tang Ya and Bei Bei breathe a sigh of relief.

Even if a conflict broke out, they would not necessarily lose. Besides, judging from their appearance alone, they did not look like bloodthirsty people.

Tang Ya, in particular, stared at Jiang Mu's face.

The little deer in her heart began wildly bumping about.

Ah~ How could he be so handsome?

Leaves rustled softly.

With the forest full of wind stirring the grass and trees, it was not particularly noticeable.

"Uh, who are you two?"

"Hehe, we came to the Star Dou Forest to hunt Soul Rings, of course. We heard someone scream and thought someone was in danger, so we came over."

Jiang Mu shrugged. He was not lying; after all, that was why they had come here.

And they truly had come with the intention of helping. They were not evil people or Evil Soul Masters. If they encountered someone in danger in the forest, they would help if they could.

Of course, they still had to remain cautious, since there was no ruling out the possibility of swindlers who used others' kindness to lure them into ambushes.

Bei Bei relaxed upon hearing this. Just as he sighed, Tang Ya hurried forward two steps and asked excitedly.

"Then... then what's your name?"

At Tang Ya's reaction, Bei Bei felt that something was wrong. The heart he had just set at ease immediately rose again!

"Huh?"

Jiang Mu did not react at first. He shifted his gaze away from Bei Bei and back to Tang Ya, only then realizing that she was staring directly at him. The heat in her eyes was impossible to conceal, and he found it strange.

Moreover, the little hand that had just been wielding Blue Silver Grass was now half-clenched into a fist, nervously gripping the hem of her blue-and-white training uniform.

"Mm~"

The moment Jiang Nannan saw this, she became jealous. Women understood women best—Tang Ya was trying to steal her little brother!

While Jiang Mu was still utterly bewildered, a voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

Ding!

[Important male supporting character Bei Bei has developed killing intent toward the protagonist. Congratulations, you have awakened the Causal Retribution System.]