(A beautiful picture of Zhu Zhuqing)
Tang San said in disbelief, "You mean the dean takes Ma Hongjun to that kind of place?"
He had heard of brothels in his previous life, so he naturally knew what kind of place that was.
Dai Mubai said, "There's nothing else to be done. Aside from that flaw, Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul is one of the most formidable Beast Martial Souls, and he's also the dean's personal disciple. We can't just make him give up cultivation or watch him explode and die, can we?"
Zhu Zhuqing spoke up for once, saying coldly, "Men are all filthy."
Xiao Wu nodded in agreement. After what happened yesterday, she now realized Tang San was no good either, but Xiao Jue seemed pretty good.
Dai Mubai said irritably, "Fine, we're all filthy, happy? But my taste is a lot better than Fatty's."
When he glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, he noticed she was looking at him too, though her gaze seemed even colder.
The girl snorted and suddenly stepped in front of Dai Mubai. "Your taste is better than his?"
Dai Mubai froze, not knowing how to answer.
"Zhu Zhuqing, I..."
He had already realized he had misspoken. Saying his taste was better than Fatty's still meant he was talking about women in that particular profession, didn't it?
Whether high-class or low-class, whether a phoenix in a straw nest or a courtesan queen, what difference was there in their line of work?
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes suddenly filled with disdain and contempt. "You disgust me!"
With that, she turned and left.
Seeing this, Xiao Wu followed her. "Zhu Zhuqing, don't leave me to walk with them alone. Those guys are each more disgusting than the last!"
Zhu Zhuqing said, "Right!"
All she could think about now was Xiao Jue: raise Xiao Jue's favorable impression of her and grow stronger!
That way, she wouldn't have such a hard time winning in Soul Fighting!
On the road back to Rice Fragrance Village.
Ning Rongrong and Xiao Jue walked along, chatting and laughing. Moonlight spilled over the path, casting two long shadows.
Ning Rongrong rubbed her hands together and breathed out a puff of white mist. "It's pretty cold at night."
Without another word, Xiao Jue took her icy little hand in his. "It is pretty cold."
Ning Rongrong's face instantly turned red, but she didn't resist, letting Xiao Jue hold her hand.
Her little hand was wrapped in his large one, and waves of warmth spread through it.
The two continued walking, and the atmosphere grew a little subtle.
They were almost at the village, and its lights were faintly visible in the distance.
Ning Rongrong suddenly stopped and called softly, "Xiao Jue..."
Xiao Jue stopped too. "Rongrong?"
Xiao Jue turned around and saw moonlight falling on Ning Rongrong's face.
What a face it was.
The moonlight was like water, gently bathing her cheeks and giving her a silvery-white glow.
Her large, watery eyes sparkled in the moonlight like two brilliant stars.
Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, casting faint shadows.
Her cheeks were rosy, like ripe apples that made one want to take a bite.
Her lips were soft and pink, slightly parted, and her breath turned into wisps of white mist in the cold air.
Her white dress looked especially pure in the moonlight. A breeze lifted her long hair, its strands drifting gently through the air. She was unbelievably beautiful.
Xiao Jue was a little dazed as he looked at her.
He slowly drew closer to her.
Ning Rongrong held his hand tightly, her palm a little sweaty, but she didn't let go.
The two drew closer and closer...
Close enough to feel each other's breath.
Xiao Jue said softly, "Rongrong, you're so beautiful."
Ning Rongrong's heart was beating so fast it felt ready to leap out of her chest.
She plucked up her courage, rose on tiptoe, and closed her eyes.
Then-
Her soft pink lips pressed against Xiao Jue's.
Like a dragonfly skimming the water, they touched and parted.
Like a startled little rabbit, Ning Rongrong turned and ran toward the dormitory.
"I'm going back first!"
Her voice carried a slight tremor as she disappeared into the night.
Xiao Jue stood there in a daze and touched his lips, unable to keep the corners of his mouth from rising.
Watching that lovely figure disappear into the night, he felt very happy.
"That girl..."
He shook his head and walked toward his little villa, humming a tune.
Early the next morning.
Everyone gathered on Shrek Academy's training field.
Oscar excitedly announced that he had broken through to level 30, and Flender decided to take them to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain a Soul Ring.
Xiao Jue came over. "Dean Flender, take me along."
Flender glanced at him with a look of disdain. "What was your name again? What are you going for?"
Xiao Jue was just about to speak. "Xiao Jue, I-"
Before he could finish, Ning Rongrong jumped in. "Take him along! One more person won't make much difference!"
Flender scratched his head. "But..."
Xiao Wu raised her hand too. "I agree!"
When Zhu Zhuqing saw Xiao Jue, her face instantly turned red, and she nodded lightly as well.
Flender looked at the three girls, then at Xiao Jue, and muttered inwardly, When did this kid get so popular?
He coughed twice. "First, you have to keep up with our pace. And once we get to the Star Dou Great Forest, I won't care whether you live or die."
Xiao Jue patted his chest. "No problem!"
Flender thought, Forget it. I don't mind having another person to do odd jobs on the way. If he dies, he dies. I won't be responsible.
They had a day, and there wasn't much for them to prepare.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, everyone gathered on the training field to find Zhao Wuji already waiting for them.
Ning Rongrong looked around, puzzled. "Strange, where's Xiao Jue?"
Dai Mubai scoffed. "That cleaner? Maybe he got scared, hahaha."
Zhu Zhuqing shot Dai Mubai a fierce glare.
Ma Hongjun joined in. "Yeah, he's just a kid who's never seen the world. He probably hasn't even left Rice Fragrance Village!"
Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Tang San all laughed.
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes, roasting them furiously in her mind. How can these guys be so ordinary and yet so confident? Who gave them that sense of superiority?
In Xiao Wu's eyes, Tang San was now the same kind of person as Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.
Just then, a carriage came rumbling over.
Ma Hongjun's eyes lit up. "Whoa! Did the sun rise in the west? The dean actually rented a carriage?!"
Oscar also looked surprised. "Could he be worried we'd get too tired from running?"
Tang San was overjoyed. Perfect! If I ride in the carriage, I won't have to run. Otherwise, running with hemorrhoids would be torture!
The carriage stopped in front of them, and Tang San couldn't wait to climb aboard. "Let's get in!"
Just then, the carriage curtain was swept open, and Xiao Jue leaned out from the waist up.
"Hey, hey, hey, Tang San, this carriage isn't for you."
Tang San looked utterly bewildered. "??? Xiao Jue? Didn't the dean hire this carriage?"
Xiao Jue raised an eyebrow smugly. "What do you mean, the dean rented it? I rented it."
He winked at Ning Rongrong.
Ning Rongrong suddenly understood. So that's why Xiao Jue borrowed money from me yesterday-he wanted to rent a carriage!
Xiao Jue cleared his throat and announced loudly, "This carriage only seats four, so of course the places are reserved for the three ladies."