Ning Rongrong and the others ran along the road beneath the scorching sun, beads of sweat dripping from their foreheads like a dense shower of rain.
"It's so hot! Why is the sun so fierce?" Ning Rongrong wiped away her sweat and glanced at the heat rising from the ground. It was forty degrees out in the blazing sunshine. Even the insects knew to shelter in the shade of the trees, yet here they were, running under the burning sun like fools.
"That wretched Flender! Wretched, wretched, wretched!" Ning Rongrong was so furious she wanted to stamp her feet. "Once I get back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and find Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa, I'll have them take your bones apart! Hmph!"
As Ning Rongrong kept running, her consciousness gradually blurred. Suddenly, the color drained from her eyes, and her body silently followed the group like a walking corpse. Her soul, meanwhile, had been dragged into a dark space.
"Where am I?" Ning Rongrong came to her senses and looked around, but found no exit. "Hey! Is anyone there? What is this place?" she called loudly.
"Hello, little princess." The Heart Demon suddenly appeared behind Ning Rongrong, waving politely. She turned around and saw only an incarnation of the Heart Demon that looked exactly like her, as though she were looking into a mirror.
"Who are you?" Ning Rongrong knitted her brows. "Why have you taken on my appearance?"
"Me? I'm you, little princess." The Heart Demon floated into the air and circled Ning Rongrong. "I'm your most sincere companion. You can tell me any of your troubles, and I'll do my best to satisfy you."
"Really?" Ning Rongrong folded her arms across her chest and grinned mischievously. "Then finish my run for me. Let's see just how capable you are."
The Heart Demon stopped and stood before Ning Rongrong. "At your service, my little princess."
The Heart Demon snapped his fingers.
Snap!
A crystal appeared out of thin air before Ning Rongrong, projecting an image of her running beneath the blazing sun. In the image, she ran while chatting amiably with her companions.
"You really can do it?!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed in surprise.
"Of course. I told you I'd do my best to help you. Just leave your body in my care for a while, and I'll bear all the suffering you would have endured. Once training is over, I'll give it back." The Heart Demon snapped his fingers again, and their surroundings instantly transformed into a beautiful, sunlit beach.
After Qin Ye obtained his first soul ring, the Heart Demon's means of beguiling people had undergone a qualitative transformation. He could now change the environment within the dark space at will.
In the blink of an eye, Ning Rongrong was wearing sunglasses and reclining on a beach chair. She enjoyed the cool, refreshing sea breeze while sipping chilled coconut juice beneath a beach umbrella. Life was romantic and wonderfully comfortable.
"Well? Isn't this much more comfortable than training?" the Heart Demon said slowly beside her. "Just take a nap, and everything will be wonderful when you wake up. My little princess, rest here without a care. I'll come back for you once training is over."
"Mm, all right. Then I won't stand on ceremony." Ning Rongrong kicked off her shoes, swinging her exquisite, jade-like feet up and down on the beach chair. A fragrant bead of sweat slid down her white-jade toes and dripped onto the sand.
Ning Rongrong took a sip of coconut juice and cried out indulgently, "Now this is the life a young lady like me ought to be living!"
The Heart Demon slowly withdrew. In the real world, he had already taken control of Ning Rongrong's body.
Without Ning Rongrong noticing, her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda had been contaminated by the Heart Demon's soul power and begun emitting faint wisps of black mist. Her laziness and arrogance were the finest nourishment for his growth. As she enjoyed her beach vacation, her corruption value continued to rise.
Ning Rongrong's corruption value +1. Ning Rongrong's corruption value +1. Ning Rongrong's corruption value +2.
Watching the corruption value steadily rise put Qin Ye in an excellent mood. Even his running gained a little more vigor.
"Come on, everyone! We can finish this training! Keep going!"
Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing said, "Yes! Let's keep going!"
Under Qin Ye's leadership, the Shrek Seven Devils ran until dusk. Along the way, he scheduled their rest breaks scientifically and mixed salt water on the spot for each female team member to replenish her strength, displaying all the qualities of a captain.
Standing in the sky, Flender watched Qin Ye with satisfaction. "Mm, this boy will amount to great things someday. Shrek Academy really has taken in an extraordinary Little Monster this year." Flender had originally intended to make Dai Mubai captain, since his soul power level was the highest. But judging by the current situation, Qin Ye was clearly better suited to the position.
At dusk, the Seven Monsters stood in Shrek's square, gasping for breath. Ma Hongjun and Oscar collapsed weakly onto the ground, while Tang San lay with his head buried in the dirt, motionless as a corpse.
During the run, Qin Ye had extracted heart demon power from Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. Only with the combined support of Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun had he managed to endure.
While everyone was busy resting, Qin Ye quietly approached Ning Rongrong from behind and gave her slender waist a pinch. He had carried sandbags for her all day. Surely collecting a little payment before she returned wasn't too much?
"You're awful, Master," Ning Rongrong chided, casting Qin Ye a seductive glance. "That hurt, you naughty man."
"All right, drop the act in front of me." Qin Ye gave two dry coughs. "Hurry up and return her body before you give yourself away."
The Heart Demon sighed helplessly. "Fine, fine. What a miserable life. This is far more exhausting than being in Slaughter City."
The Heart Demon's negative traits had already been cleansed in Slaughter City. Now Qin Ye had absolute control over him, so no matter how unwilling he was, he could only obediently bring Ning Rongrong's soul back.
"Ah! That felt wonderful!" Ning Rongrong rolled her shoulders. "My body's a little sore, but that doesn't matter."
Ding! Ning Rongrong's total corruption value gain: +20. Ning Rongrong's current corruption value: 20. Currently accumulated corruption value: 100 points.
Qin Ye approached Ning Rongrong with a smile. "Rongrong, did you have fun today?"
Ning Rongrong turned around. At the sight of Qin Ye's meaningful smile, she immediately realized something. Then she plunged into his arms, giving him a soft, sweet-smelling hug.
"Thank you, Brother Ye! Rongrong likes you best! Being your little sister is wonderful. From now on, you're the best big brother in my heart-the best big brother in the whole world!" Ning Rongrong wheedled in his arms. Since Qin Ye stood half a head taller than her, he had a clear view of the scenery at her chest.
"Ahem." Qin Ye suddenly gave two dry coughs. "It's nothing. As long as you're happy."
"Rongrong, Brother Ye, what are you two doing?!" Zhu Zhuqing planted her hands angrily on her slender waist, watching them with jealousy in her eyes.
Just as Qin Ye was about to explain, Zhu Zhuqing came over of her own accord and hugged him from behind, pressing herself tightly against his back. Those two soft mounds shifted up and down against him like jelly.
"How could you hug without including me? I want to thank Brother Ye too. Brother Ye, thank you so much for helping us all along the way today. I like you best too!" Zhu Zhuqing smiled as she leaned against his shoulder, closing her eyes with happiness written all over her face and wholeheartedly savoring his sturdy arms.
As for Ma Hongjun and the others nearby, their teeth ached with envy, and they wished they could tear Qin Ye apart on the spot.
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