An encounter

In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.

"Where are you going?"

At Suotuo City's gates, a curvaceous girl in black leather frowned at Zhu Zhubao, who wanted to part ways.

"To take care of my own business."

"Remember to settle your own affairs. I have no intention of cleaning up your mess."

Zhu Zhubao spoke indifferently. He was definitely going to kill that person; it was merely a matter of a few numbers.

"I'll settle things with him."

"Stay safe."

Zhu Zhuqing opened her mouth, but in the end, she did not ask him to stay.

"See you~"

Zhu Zhubao nodded and walked off into the distance without a care.

If one's gaze stretched far enough, one would surely see that his destination was none other than Nuoding City!

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, shaking away the inexplicable sense of loss that had risen within her. Zhu Zhubao had been cold and distant since childhood...

Apart from calling her Mother a couple of times at the very beginning, he had only ever addressed her as "hey" afterward.

"What did you eat?!"

Zhu Zhuqing slowly gathered her thoughts and turned her gaze toward a boy and a girl at a roadside stall.

They looked rather alike. At that moment, the girl was pouting aggrievedly, looking so pitiful that anyone would feel sorry for her.

"Dunno~"

"You know what? After eating it, my legs stopped aching, my back stopped hurting, my level went up, and even my martial soul evolved. Wouldn't you say that's great~?"

Grinning, Ning Jiao held Ning Rongrong's soft, boneless little hand and teased her.

"How is that even possible?!"

Ning Rongrong's face was full of disbelief. After learning that Ning Jiao's martial soul was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Seal, she had guessed that he might have been abandoned because of martial soul mutation. But barely two days later, this bastard's martial soul had turned into a nine-treasure one!

Even his soul rings had all turned purple!

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong's two guards exchanged a glance, their eyes also filled with confusion.

Ning Jiao had clearly remained within their sight the entire time, yet they truly had not noticed anything unusual!

Let's keep reporting it.

The two exchanged a glance, planning to send another message that night.

They would leave this sort of thing for the sect master and the others to consider. All they needed to do was protect Ning Rongrong.

"Don't worry. Next time I find something good, you can eat it first, okay~?"

Ning Jiao rubbed Ning Rongrong's little head of pink hair and comforted her with an upturn of his lips.

"Who eats things they pick up off the ground?!"

Ning Rongrong looked dejected. Things had already come to this; nothing she said would help.

"Shrek Academy is recruiting today. Want to go take a look together?"

Ning Jiao ate his wontons in small mouthfuls and began changing the subject.

"Yes!"

"Hmph, when we get there, say you're my little brother."

"And then you have to obey your great big sister in everything, or you won't get any more food!"

Ning Rongrong pursed her lips. Since things had already come to this, she might as well use her little brother to show off first!

Although she somewhat suspected that Ning Jiao was her younger brother, there was still no conclusive proof, so her current relationship with Ning Jiao remained in a state of quantum siblings.

"Long live my great big sister!"

Ning Jiao put down his bowl and shouted outright!

"Shut up!"

Seeing the gazes drawn toward them, Ning Rongrong's pretty face immediately reddened. Without even caring about the grease on Ning Jiao's mouth, she reached out and covered it!

"Are you two going to Shrek Academy too?"

As the two were horsing around, Zhu Zhuqing slowly sat down opposite them.

With Zhu Zhubao's departure, she suddenly really wanted to find herself some company.

"Huh?"

"You too?"

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up, and she secretly glanced at Zhu Zhuqing's proud figure.

"More or less. I want to find someone."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes and spoke with some dejection.

"Ah!"

Rather than responding, Ning Rongrong cried out!

With a smack, she slapped Ning Jiao to the ground, then looked at the grease and saliva on her hand in disgust.

"That's what you get for covering my mouth."

Ning Jiao spat a couple of times, flicking his tongue, and spoke irritably.

"Gross!"

Ning Rongrong put on a fierce expression and glared hard at Ning Jiao.

"You two are really close..."

Zhu Zhuqing watched the scene in a daze and could not help speaking enviously.

Although she and her older sister had not followed the original story's old path for certain reasons, Zhu Zhubao's existence meant that the two did not exactly see eye to eye either.

"How are we close? I wish I could turn into a power attack system Battle Soul Master and ruthlessly pin him down!"

Ning Rongrong curled her lips, so angry that her chest felt a little tight.

"But the truth is, I'm the power attack system one, while Sister Rongrong is the support system one. No matter how naughty or troublesome I am, when it's time for serious business, Sister Rongrong still has to obediently put it on me!"

Ning Jiao looked thoroughly pleased with himself.

"I'll put it on your face!"

Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes with a wealth of charm. Of course she could tell that the brat was teasing her!

"Hello, I'm Ning Rongrong, and this is my little brother, Ning Jiao Jiao. Since we're all going to Shrek, why don't we go together?"

Ning Rongrong turned, composed herself, and gave Zhu Zhuqing a sweet smile.

"Ning Jiao, thank you."

Ning Jiao also studied Zhu Zhuqing thoughtfully.

He did not actually like his Zhu Zhubao clone very much, because the talent's side effects were too severe. As his cultivation rose, the degree of improvement to his cultivation efficiency remained unchanged, but the Zhu Zhubao clone's emotions became even more greatly suppressed!

That was why, when Zhu Zhuyun had hidden him under her covers earlier, he had not entertained any thoughts at all.

"Hello, my name is Zhu Zhuqing."

Zhu Zhuqing replied, then fell silent again.

Her social skills were poor, and she did not quite know how to start a conversation.

"Hello there, I'm Ning Rongrong. My soul power level is currently 26, and this is my little brother, Ning Jiao, whose soul power level is currently 39. We're about the same age, and we've both only cultivated for six short years~"

Ning Rongrong primly straightened her rumpled skirt and spoke to Zhu Zhuqing with feigned nonchalance.

"That's impressive..."

Zhu Zhuqing gave Ning Jiao a startled look. At this level, perhaps only Zhu Zhubao could surpass him among their peers!

"You don't seem surprised at all?"

Ning Rongrong was a little puzzled. Although Zhu Zhuqing was praising him, why did the emotion behind that praise feel wrong?

"I have a little brother too."

"He's cultivated for just as long, and he's level 66 now."

Zhu Zhuqing spoke indifferently, but the corners of her lips rose by an almost imperceptible degree.

"What a coincidence. I have a little brother too, and he reached level 99 before his martial soul even awakened."

The proprietress looked speechlessly at the two girls showing off at the table as she spoke.

These two girls were both quite pretty. How had they gone mad at such a young age?!

"Really?"

Ning Rongrong gave Zhu Zhuqing a strange look. She casually tossed down a Gold Soul Coin, took Ning Jiao's hand, and motioned for Zhu Zhuqing to follow as well.

"Really."

Zhu Zhuqing spoke softly. Her brows furrowed slightly, and she was somewhat unsure whether she should follow.

Of course, neither girl paid any attention to the proprietress's interruption.

A thick barrier already stood between them...

"Hey, hey! I haven't finished eating yet!"

"The wontons were delicious, ma'am. I'll order you again next time~"