A Slap, Then a Sweet Date

"If I suffer any harm, or die for no reason..."

He deliberately paused, letting the threat ferment in the silent night before slowly enunciating each word:

"Every recording in this image recorder will immediately and automatically appear on the largest soul tool screen in the center of Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena!"

"Let everyone in the city get a good look at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess's 'splendor'!"

"So behave yourself. Don't cause me trouble, understand?"

His words were like icy chains, instantly binding all of Ning Rongrong's thoughts of resistance!

Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena? A massive crowd? A public execution?

Just imagining it sent a chill shooting from the soles of Ning Rongrong's feet straight to the top of her head. It was a hundred times more terrifying than the pain in her backside!

She had no doubt that this ruthless, meticulous young man could do it!

She was thoroughly terrified. Her body stiffened like wood, and she forcefully held back even her sobs, leaving only faint whimpers rolling in her throat.

All she could do was nod frantically, her eyes filled with lingering fear and submission.

Feeling the stiffness and slight trembling of the delicate body in his arms, Lin Jiang sneered inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged.

Holding Ning Rongrong, he adjusted his grip so she could be a little more comfortable, then started walking toward Shrek Academy.

Ning Rongrong curled up in his arms, her small body tense, too afraid to move.

After the initial terror and stiffness faded, an incredibly complicated feeling surged up within her.

The burning pain behind her constantly reminded her of the humiliation she had just suffered, and her hatred and fear of Lin Jiang had taken deep root.

But now, suspended in the air, she no longer had to endure the agony of her sprained ankle touching the ground or her backside rubbing against anything. The sturdy, warm chest beneath her actually gave her a sliver of... security?

Forced to press her little face against his rough but clean clothes, she could clearly feel his steady, powerful heartbeat and the gentle bumps of his steps.

A faint masculine scent, mixed with grass and sunshine, lingered at the tip of her nose. The sensation was strange and unfamiliar.

Her muddled mind was a complete mess, leaving only one thought: I absolutely can't anger this person! I absolutely can't let anything happen to him!

Holding this hot potato, Lin Jiang felt how light the girl in his arms was,

as well as the way she curled up stiffly, with a faint hint of dependence. An odd thought involuntarily surfaced in his heart:

Tsk... what's going on? A slap followed by a sweet date—even though this 'sweet date' was forced—and it works this well? This little witch is as obedient as a quail now...

He shook his head and cast aside the absurd thought. Holding Ning Rongrong, he walked beneath the starlight and night sky, step by step along the quiet country road toward the dimly lit Shrek Academy.

As the night deepened, several soul tool lamps cast dim yellow halos over Shrek Academy's shabby training ground, barely illuminating the open space in the center.

Headmaster Flander stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze behind the lenses as sharp as an eagle's as he surveyed the area before him.

In front of him, Dai Mubai, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing stood in a row, the atmosphere somewhat grave.

Tang San was absent because his injuries were too severe for him to take part in training.

They were clearly waiting for someone—the Ning Rongrong who had left the group without permission and had yet to return from her run.

Flander had already prepared a whole speech, ready to give this little witch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect a proper warning and make her understand Shrek's rules.

At that moment, a tall figure emerged from the shadows at the entrance to the training ground, carrying someone else as he walked in with steady steps.

The dim yellow light gradually outlined the newcomer's features.

Lin Jiang appeared before everyone, carrying Ning Rongrong.

His expression was calm, even carrying the ease of someone who had just done a good deed.

Ning Rongrong, meanwhile, was unusually quiet in his arms.

She buried her face deep in Lin Jiang's chest, seemingly unwilling to face anyone.

Most eye-catching of all was the coarse outer robe tied tightly around Ning Rongrong's waist. Its long hem hung down, cleverly concealing most of her rear and backside.

Flander's gaze instantly locked onto them. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as his sharp eyes paused for a moment on the clearly ill-fitting male outer robe around Ning Rongrong's waist.

He pushed up his glasses, his voice carrying its usual coldness and interrogation:

"What is this...?"

He looked at Ning Rongrong in Lin Jiang's arms. "Ning Rongrong! What about your twenty laps? Did you finish them?"

Lin Jiang did not stop walking until he reached a point several steps in front of the others.

He naturally adjusted his hold on Ning Rongrong, allowing her to face the group slightly—though Ning Rongrong still kept her head lowered—before looking at Flander and explaining evenly:

"Headmaster Flander, she sprained her ankle halfway through and was hurt badly. She couldn't walk on her own. I ran into her on the road, and seeing how pitiful she was, I helped carry her back."

Ning Rongrong's body stiffened almost imperceptibly in his arms.

She had not expected that this young man, who had just subjected her to "torture" and held her greatest secret in his hands, would actually take the initiative to cover for her now.

An incredibly complicated warmth quietly rose in her heart, mixed with overwhelming grievance, lingering fear, and a trace of grateful disbelief. It inexplicably made her nose sting.

He... is helping me?

Flander's gaze shifted from Ning Rongrong as he sharply scrutinized Lin Jiang.

The young man before him stood tall, with handsome features and calm eyes. Neither servile nor arrogant, he carried himself with quiet composure.

Flander found him somewhat familiar.

"You are?" Flander asked, his voice holding a trace of inquiry.

Lin Jiang gave a slight nod and answered frankly:

"I'm Lin Jiang, Headmaster Flander. Two years ago, I wanted to join Shrek Academy, but unfortunately... you rejected me."

There was little emotion in his tone. He merely stated a fact calmly.

"Oh—Lin Jiang."

A look of realization flashed through Flander's eyes behind his lenses. He remembered now.

That talented youth from Rice Fragrance Village, whose martial soul was the rather impressive Azure Vine. He had left some impression on him back then.

He nodded, his tone carrying a formal explanation and a hint of barely perceptible regret:

"So it was you. I remember. Sorry, but Shrek Academy has its own rules."

"We only accept those whose soul power has reached Rank 20 or above, or monsters under the age of thirteen. Two years ago, your soul power had not yet reached Rank 20, and this year..."

Flander's gaze swept over Lin Jiang. "You're already fourteen, aren't you? Unfortunately, you still don't meet our admission standards."

Those words clearly reached the ears of every student present.

Dai Mubai crossed his arms, the corners of his mouth curling into an undisguised sneer. He looked at Lin Jiang as though he were some country bumpkin who overestimated himself.

So he's a loser who got turned away. Does he think saving Ning Rongrong means he can climb the ladder? Dream on!