Teaming Up? They Only Wanted to Cuddle

"I..."

Xiao Wu instinctively retreated another half step, avoiding Tang San's outstretched hand. Her soft pink lips trembled, and a flicker of complicated, indescribable resistance and panic passed through her eyes.

She wanted to say something, but it felt as though something was lodged in her throat.

In the dim hallway light, she could even feel the base of her rabbit tail faintly heating up—

The atmosphere instantly became subtle and tense.

Tang San's outstretched hand froze in midair. The gentle smile on his face shattered inch by inch like the surface of a frozen lake, leaving only stunned disbelief and the embarrassment of being publicly rebuffed.

"Tang San."

Lin Jiang's calm voice rang out clearly like a stone tossed into a placid lake, breaking the suffocating silence.

He stepped half a pace forward, positioning himself neatly between Tang San and Xiao Wu. His gaze fell upon Tang San's stiff, twisted face.

"It seems Xiao Wu doesn't really want to team up with you. A forcibly twisted melon isn't sweet. Why force it?"

Boom—!

It was as if a silent thunderclap had exploded in Tang San's mind!

He abruptly looked up at Lin Jiang, then stared fixedly at Xiao Wu behind him, who was biting her lip and avoiding his gaze. An icy, agonizing pain mixed with betrayal and absurdity instantly clenched around his heart!

My Xiao Wu... doesn't want to team up with me?

The thought bit into him like a venomous snake, nearly blackening his vision.

How was that possible?! How could Xiao Wu refuse him? How could she stand with Lin Jiang?!

As though he had not seen the stormy waves churning in Tang San's eyes, Lin Jiang remained composed. He turned toward Xiao Wu, his tone carrying a gentle note of inquiry.

"How about this? I'll team up separately with Rongrong and Xiao Wu for the two-on-two matches. What do you think?"

He looked at Xiao Wu. Within those deep eyes seemed to lie some reassuring power.

"Okay!"

Xiao Wu practically blurted it out. Her voice was clear and bright, carrying the lightness of someone finally relieved. All her earlier hesitation and struggle vanished in an instant.

She even unconsciously shifted a small step closer to Lin Jiang's side, as though that was the safest harbor.

That tiny movement was like a poisoned dagger, stabbing viciously into Tang San's eyes.

"Outrageous!" Yu Xiaogang's furious shout crashed through the strange atmosphere in the hallway like thunder.

He strode forward, fury blazing from his eyes as he stared directly at Lin Jiang.

"Lin Jiang! You're only at the twentieth rank! Xiao Wu is already a Soul Grandmaster in her thirties! Teaming up across ranks? Do you think the Soul Fighting Arena is child's play?"

"Your opponents will all be matched at the same level! Are you trying to get her killed, or yourself?"

His chest rose and fell violently. He was clearly livid.

This Lin Jiang opposed his obedient and outstanding godson at every turn. It was simply intolerable!

Faced with Master's surging fury, Lin Jiang merely raised an eyebrow. Not only did he not retreat, he instead stepped forward.

"Master, you worry too much. Whether it works or not, we'll know after fighting. Just watch my performance."

"You—!"

Yu Xiaogang was choked by Lin Jiang's impervious, faintly provocative attitude until his face turned ashen. His bony finger nearly jabbed Lin Jiang in the nose.

Just as his anger flared and he was about to use harsher words to completely cow this reckless brat—

[Ding! Green Light System mission triggered: Endure for a moment, and all will be calm!]

[Mission content: Accept Lin Jiang and Xiao Wu teaming up, and remain silent.]

[Mission reward: Luo Sanpao Golden Sacred Dragon bloodline purity +0.5%]

[Mission failure: Bloodline purity -1%]

The cold mechanical voice was like a basin of icy water dumped over his head, instantly extinguishing Yu Xiaogang's impending fury.

Golden Sacred Dragon bloodline... the temptation was like flesh dangling right before his eyes!

The muscles on his face twitched violently several times, as though an invisible hand had seized his throat. In the end, the finger pointed at Lin Jiang drooped helplessly. He squeezed out an order through clenched teeth, thick with unwillingness and frustration.

"Hmph! Arrogant!... Xiao San!"

He abruptly turned toward Tang San, whose face had gone pale as paper. His tone was stiff. "Then you'll only participate in one-on-one Soul Fights! Focus on improving yourself!"

"...Yes, godmother." Tang San's voice was dry and hoarse, like sandpaper scraping together.

He lowered his head, his nails digging deeply into his palms. Lin Jiang... just wait!

"I'll only participate in one-on-one matches as well."

Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice rang out. She did not even look at anyone. She simply turned and walked toward the registration counter, her long black hair tracing a cold arc behind her.

"Damn it!"

Ma Hongjun finally could not hold it in any longer. Ning Rongrong was pressed close to Lin Jiang, Xiao Wu stood on his other side, and even Zhu Zhuqing had left so decisively.

A blaze of wicked fire mixed with the humiliation of being completely ignored surged straight to his head. He cursed under his breath, the flesh on his fat face twisting.

"Fuck! Are you all blind? You only know how to look at some pretty boy like Lin Jiang!"

He stared at Lin Jiang's profile, whose sharp features and heroic air remained striking even in the dim corridor, then swept his gaze over the two lovely figures surrounding him.

A blaze of wicked fire mixed with jealousy, violence, and some vile thoughts churned wildly in his eyes, nearly burning through his reason.

"Just wait for me... sooner or later... sooner or later, I'll make every one of you kneel and beg me!"

He spat on the ground. His voice was very low, yet filled with venomous resentment.

The hotel corridor, deep in the night.

A door silently slid open a crack.

Xiao Wu slipped out, her bare feet stepping onto the cold, rough floor.

A loose white bathrobe draped over her. The belt was barely tied into a loose knot around her slender waist, revealing her delicate collarbones and a patch of smooth, snow-white skin.

Her wet long hair hung loosely around her, several strands sticking to the damp skin of her neck.

Like a flower bud freshly lifted from the water and beaded with dew, she quietly blossomed in the stillness.

[Ding! Mission: Walk around the hallway once while wearing a bathrobe!]

The cold system voice echoed in her mind.

She took a deep breath and was about to step forward—

"Sniff... ha... smells good... fucking smells so good..."

A suppressed, greedy gasp slithered out from the shadows at the end of the hallway like a venomous snake flicking its tongue!

Xiao Wu's scalp went numb, and she looked toward the sound.

There, Ma Hongjun's fat, bloated body was pressed against Zhu Zhuqing's door in an utterly twisted posture!

His greasy, fleshy face was plastered against the cold door. His nostrils flared wildly as he sniffed, as though he wanted to suck straight through the door!

His tiny eyes gleamed in the darkness with the murky, excited green light of a beast!

"Ma Hongjun?!"

Xiao Wu's voice abruptly rose from sheer shock and disgust, piercing the dead silence of the hallway.

"You disgusting pervert!!!"

That scream was like cold water poured into boiling oil!

Ma Hongjun, who had been immersed in his perverted fantasies, jolted violently. The shame and fury of being caught red-handed instantly ignited the wicked fire within him, which had already been on the verge of losing control!

He suddenly twisted his head around. Those eyes, burned bloodshot by desire, locked onto Xiao Wu like those of a starving wolf!

Under the dim light, the girl's graceful figure was vaguely visible beneath the oversized bathrobe. Her wet hair clung to her fair skin, and her face, filled with shock and anger, resembled a rose covered in dew.

The alluring vulnerability made more pronounced by her panic struck Ma Hongjun's nerves more fiercely than any aphrodisiac!

"Xiao Wu?"

A profoundly lewd, malicious grin spread across Ma Hongjun's lips. His voice was hoarse and dry, carrying a chilling excitement.

"Dressed so slutty... sneaking out in the middle of the night, which big brother are you trying to let have you? Why not... let me have you first?"