The two walked out of the teaching building, one behind the other. Sunlight spilled across the tree-lined path, while the chatter and laughter of passing students still echoed around them.
Tang Ya looked flustered the whole way, a faint blush lingering on her cheeks. She turned toward Chen Jie beside her, deliberately finding something to say to ease the atmosphere:
"Chen Jie, I have a kitten in my dorm. It's really funny, and it can even do backflips. Let me take you to see it."
Chen Jie nodded slightly and slipped his arm gently around Tang Ya's waist, walking slowly with her toward the girls' dormitory.
They strolled along the woodland path and happened to run into Bei Bei passing from the other direction. It was purely a chance encounter.
Bei Bei had finished his errands and was heading back to his dorm. He happened to look up and immediately spotted the pair nearby.
When he saw Chen Jie's arm around Tang Ya and the two walking slowly side by side, their posture intimate, Bei Bei stopped dead in his tracks.
Their gazes collided across the distance.
Neither said a word. Only their eyes met in silent confrontation.
Chen Jie's expression was calm, a barely perceptible smile tucked into the corner of his mouth. His gaze seemed to say without words: Don't worry. I'll take good care of Xiao Ya for you. You have nothing to worry about.
That silent declaration slammed into Bei Bei's heart. The peaceful expression on his face vanished instantly, and deep disappointment and melancholy crept over his brow. His entire demeanor darkened, and a bitter ache welled up inside him.
With Chen Jie's arm around her waist, Tang Ya's cheeks grew even redder, but she did not push him away. She never noticed Bei Bei beside the path, focused only on moving forward as she gave Chen Jie's sleeve a gentle tug.
"Hurry up. Don't keep the kitten waiting."
Chen Jie withdrew his gaze from Bei Bei and let Tang Ya lead him onward.
Bei Bei stood frozen beside the path, watching their intimate figures recede. His heart knotted with gloom, he remained rooted there in a daze, unable to move for a long time.
Soon, the two arrived at Tang Ya's single dorm room.
With a click, the door was gently pushed open.
The room was clean and simply furnished, carrying a young woman's uniquely sweet, fresh scent. Before Chen Jie could look around, Tang Ya suddenly turned toward him. All the shyness vanished from her eyes, replaced by a trace of heat.
She suddenly lunged, throwing herself straight at Chen Jie.
Caught off guard, Chen Jie took two steps backward, and his back landed on the soft bed.
Tang Ya sprawled over him, her soft chest pressed tightly against his. Her hands braced on either side of his body, her hair falling slightly loose, and her hot breath brushed his cheek.
As their eyes met at close range, Tang Ya's ears flushed crimson, but her gaze was utterly earnest.
She leaned close to Chen Jie's ear and said in a soft, sweet voice:
"Little brother Chen Jie, hurry and use your divine artifact to help me increase my soul power and revive the Tang Sect!
"Then you'll be one of our Tang Sect's founding elders, its great benefactor, and my sect master's wife!"
Looking at the bashful Tang Ya atop him, Chen Jie's eyes rippled with an amused smile. He raised a hand to gently encircle her waist and said teasingly:
"Then, as the sect master's wife, I'll have to put in some serious effort to revive the Tang Sect. We can't wear our sect master out."
"You... all you do is tease me." Tang Ya's voice was as faint as a mosquito's hum, her eyes filled with both shyness and an urgent desire to revive the Tang Sect. "As long as I can restore the Tang Sect, I'm willing to do anything."
Two hours later...
Oh~ ho ho ho~
A long while later, she lay against Chen Jie's chest, her fingertips resting lightly on it and tracing little circles, sending delicate sensations through him. Her breathing quickened, her warm breath washing over his neck again and again, and her ears were so red they seemed ready to drip blood.
Tiny, glistening droplets clung to her delicate, fair skin, shining translucently in the soft light and making her graceful, gentle curves look all the more captivating.
Her eyes were half closed, her long lashes fluttering softly, and a deep, enchanting flush of excitement spread across her cheeks. After the surges of soul power and her breakthrough, her limbs were weak and aching, yet the burning thrill of her soaring soul power still coursed through her. Her breaths were shallow and quick, her chest rising and falling slightly.
The continuous infusions of soul power and adjustments to the contract had nearly drained all of Tang Ya's strength. Weak and aching all over, her delicate body lay limply atop Chen Jie. She had collapsed entirely against his warm chest, unable to move.
Tang Ya said wearily, "I'm so tired... but... my soul power actually went up four levels..."
She turned slightly and gently rested her head on Chen Jie's shoulder. Her strength had yet to fully return, but her heart brimmed with the joy of having her wish fulfilled.
Chen Jie looked down at the loose strands stuck to her forehead. He reached out tenderly and brushed the damp hair aside, revealing her delicate little face, flushed with excitement.
A gentle smile filled his eyes. With a thought, he quietly activated the exclusive martial soul upgrade card the system had given Tang Ya.
A rainbow-colored Martial Soul Evolution card, blazing with radiance and covered in sacred golden patterns, instantly appeared in midair. Its glow was gentle yet immensely powerful, and it immediately locked onto Tang Ya's martial soul.
In the next instant, the evolution card burst apart into streams of light that poured into Tang Ya's body, furiously tempering and reshaping the foundation of her martial soul.
A strange, tingling itch swept through Tang Ya in an instant, reaching from her meridians to her flesh and into the depths of her soul. It spread throughout her body, making her instinctively curl up a little and nestle closer to him.
She could clearly feel her blue silver grass martial soul ascending at an unbelievable speed. Every shackle on her cultivation shattered instantly, and the grade of her martial soul soared wildly!
At that very moment, gleaming golden words appeared deep within her mind-mutated blue silver emperor!
She froze completely, her mind rocked to its core.
My martial soul actually... evolved!
"How... how is this possible..."
Jet-black patterns wound along the vines, and tiny, dense thorns grew along the edges of their emerald leaves. Vigorous green light surged in wisps, while threads of black mist lingered around them. Abundant vitality intertwined with a fierce, devouring malevolence, and an emperor's oppressive aura instantly filled the entire dorm room.
I never imagined little brother Chen Jie's top-tier physique could have an effect like this, she thought.
The love she felt for Chen Jie grew even stronger.
Emotion stirred in Tang Ya's heart. She leaned forward slightly and kissed Chen Jie.
Oh~ ho ho ho~
Two hours later...
Chen Jie panted heavily, fine beads of sweat covering his temples.
He turned to look. Tang Ya had already fallen into a deep sleep, resting peacefully beside him. Her lower abdomen was slightly more swollen than before, and her lips were somewhat red and swollen, though they still held a moist sheen. Her long lashes rested quietly, and her breathing was slow and even.
After the sustained nourishment of his pure yang soul power, a faint blush still lingered on her face. The pure yang soul power had fully settled into her meridians and martial soul. She was sleeping soundly now, completely unresponsive to the outside world.
Chen Jie took out the pen he carried, gathered strength in his fingertips, and carefully wrote four large characters on Tang Ya's back, stroke by stroke-"For Chen Jie's exclusive use."
Once he finished, he gently wiped the sweat from his brow and gazed at the sleeping Tang Ya, tender yet resolute.
He carefully tucked the covers around Tang Ya and made sure she was sleeping peacefully. Only then did he soften his steps, quietly leave her dorm, and return to his own room alone.
Before you continue