Chapter 33: Ning Rongrong’s Astonishment

Upon seeing a figure slightly taller than herself behind her, Ning Rongrong instinctively took a few steps back. Her feet tripped over each other in her panic, and she tipped backward.

Xu Sheng, quick of hand and eye, lunged forward just as she was about to fall, wrapping his arm around her enviable waist.

As his fingertips brushed against that comfortable texture, Xu Sheng inwardly gasped, "Hiss... with such a slender waist, could she be a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms?"

Immediately, a fragrant scent wafted toward him—was that... the lingering smell of shampoo?

With her head buried, Ning Rongrong felt her sensitive waist held tightly, and her face flushed a deep red, though it was well-hidden by the night.

Once she regained her composure, she broke free from Xu Sheng’s warm embrace like a startled rabbit. Clasping her hands together, she asked nervously, "Who... who are you? Did my father send you to save me?"

Xu Sheng shook his head gently. "No, I just happened to be hunting soul beasts in the Sunset Forest."

Ning Rongrong looked at him with skepticism, covering her mouth and laughing softly. "Hunting soul beasts? You look about the same age as me; how could you possibly be hunting alone in the Sunset Forest?"

The Sunset Forest was filled with ten-thousand-year soul beasts; she did not believe anyone her age could hunt them relying on their own strength.

Perhaps even Ning Rongrong herself did not realize that as she spoke with Xu Sheng, her tone had lost much of its usual arrogance.

Just as Xu Sheng was about to reply, his spiritual power suddenly sensed dozens of soul beasts rapidly approaching.

Frowning, he warned Ning Rongrong, "Stand close to me. Aside from the Man-Faced Demon Spider, dozens more soul beasts have gathered around us! Their target must be us."

It made no sense; they hadn't done anything to attract them. How could they suddenly be surrounded by so many?

Hearing Xu Sheng’s words, Ning Rongrong’s face shifted again, her fear resurfacing. She believed his words implicitly. Thinking back to the Man-Faced Demon Spider from earlier, she realized that if she hadn't been lucky, she would have already perished under its claws.

Clutching her bleeding right arm, she stepped closer to Xu Sheng, her eyes filled with worry. "Can... can you handle this?"

Xu Sheng nodded solemnly. "Yes. Just make sure you don't leave my side."

He then noticed her clutching her right arm, and squinting, he could just make out the blood dripping from it. It seemed these soul beasts had been attracted by the scent of her blood.

Sure enough, over the next few moments, the hidden soul beasts emerged from all directions, surrounding the two of them. Among them were even two soul beasts with approximately thirty thousand years of cultivation.

Under the immense pressure, Ning Rongrong could not help but grip Xu Sheng’s clothes tightly, which was the only thing giving her a shred of security. Standing behind him, she felt as if she were being watched by countless eyes, and she didn't even dare to breathe.

Pressing her body close to his once more, she whispered tentatively, "Hey, there are so many of them. What are you going to do?"

Feeling her warm, supple body against his back, Xu Sheng coughed slightly. "I'll just kill them."

To him, these soul beasts were nothing more than targets to be slaughtered, but for the sake of the girl behind him, he had to be cautious.

Xu Sheng took a slight step and released the Nine-Heart Blood Begonia. It unfolded in a circular pattern on the ground, encompassing them both. The next moment, four pitch-black soul rings appeared beneath his feet.

Ning Rongrong covered her mouth, staring in shock at the four ten-thousand-year soul rings beneath Xu Sheng.

"He is a Soul Sect! And his first through fourth rings are all ten-thousand-year rings? That is impossible!" she thought in astonishment. Even she, the gifted daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, could only bear hundred-year soul rings for her first. Who on earth was this man?

Looking at the soul beasts prowling around them, Xu Sheng said coldly, "Third Soul Skill: Blood Begonia Defense."

Wisps of the Nine-Heart Blood Begonia slowly wove together around them, forming a seemingly fragile light barrier.

"Awoo!"

"Pfft!"

Dozens of soul beasts unleashed their claws and fangs, lunging forward impatiently from all sides. But as they collided with the light barrier, they were ruthlessly repelled by a massive, rebounding force.

Ning Rongrong, having grown accustomed to this, pursed her lips and couldn't help but reach out to touch the fragile-looking barrier. Where her finger touched, the barrier pulsed outward like a thin membrane. She could hardly believe this shield had blocked the simultaneous attacks of dozens of soul beasts. Her curiosity about Xu Sheng’s identity began to grow.

The cunning Man-Faced Demon Spider’s eyes shifted suddenly. It fired a web, precisely covering the area where the two were standing. The other soul beasts, having been knocked back, didn't pay any mind to the web covering the pair.

They launched another round of attacks.

...

Ning Rongrong suppressed the nausea rising in her stomach, trembling as she pointed toward the Man-Faced Demon Spider, which was currently feasting on the soul beasts that had exhausted their strength and become stuck in its web.

She made no effort to hide the disgust in her eyes. "This Man-Faced Demon Spider is so cunning, actually scheming against its own kind."

Xu Sheng cast a calm glance at the spider, which ignored them to continue feeding. "It probably knows it’s no match for me, so it’s just reaping the benefits."

He turned his gaze to Ning Rongrong, looking at her blood-stained arm. "Does your arm still hurt?"

Ning Rongrong looked down, bit her lip to endure the pain, and shook her head. "It's fine now."

Xu Sheng found this somewhat amusing. His first soul ring suddenly lit up. "First Soul Skill: Begonia Blossom!"

Petals of the Nine-Heart Begonia pressed against her wounded arm, and a tingling sensation followed. The wound began to scab over immediately, then the scabs slowly fell away.

Ning Rongrong’s eyes sparkled. She gently rubbed the spot and realized the injury was completely healed.

Her gaze then filled with confusion. "This is a recovery skill? Aren't you a Control-type soul master?"

Xu Sheng smiled and ruffled her hair affectionately. "I'll tell you later. Let’s get out of here first, so we don't attract even more soul beasts."

Ning Rongrong’s heart skipped a beat, and she felt a strange emotion rising from within. She had always loathed being touched by other men... but why, when this man touched her, did she feel no aversion, only a heart beating wildly?

She whispered a soft, "Mm."