Chapter 71: Ning Rongrong's Counterattack
Time flew like an arrow, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed.
In the first month, Zu Zong and Xiao Wu, along with the mixed formation of the Emperor Battle Team, successfully earned the Silver Spirit Fighter title.
In the following two months, Zu Zong and Xiao Wu formed a duo spirit battle team called "Zongwu." Originally, their idea was to name it after the combination of their names—Zong and Wu—but just like the original "Sanwu" team, the name ended up wrong again.
During these few months, Zu Zong and Xiao Wu also achieved flawless victory records in solo battles, earning the Gold Spirit Fighter title individually.
It's worth mentioning that the day after their battle with the Mad Battle Team, Zu Zong encountered Yu Tianheng in a one-on-one match. Brimming with fighting spirit, Yu Tianheng was met with Zu Zong's unyielding response.
Truth be told, in terms of current strength, Yu Tianheng was already stronger than Dai Mubai without immortal herbs. Under Zu Zong's regular Blue Silver Emperor state, using only "Blue Silver Area Bind," he still couldn't subdue Yu Tianheng immediately.
His ferocious dragonized Thunder Claw was truly formidable, shredding Zu Zong's Blue Silver Emperor vines into tatters. In the end, Zu Zong had to unleash his "Second Spirit Ability—Blue Silver Blade" to forcibly knock him off the platform.
Even so, it was enough to prove the strength of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul.
Of course, Zu Zong had only used the basic Blue Silver Emperor. If he had activated the "Extreme Flame Blue Silver Emperor," infused with the sub-fire essence of the "Golden Emperor Burning Sky Flame," then Yu Tianheng's mere thunder powers would have been completely overpowered.
A few days earlier, Zu Zong's spirit power had increased by another level. The cultivation speed of the Nine Yang Divine Technique was astonishingly fast.
Combined with the fire attribute within Zu Zong's Blue Silver Emperor, calling it rapid progress would be an understatement. In just under three months, he had gone from level 38 to 39—a speed no one would believe if they heard it.
During his free time, Zu Zong would often sneak off to a sparse grove near Shrek Academy to secretly meet with his little kitty.
Meanwhile, as in the original story, Yu Xiaogang had been putting the Shrek students through all sorts of hellish training. Every time Zu Zong came to see his little kitty, she would be lying weakly in his arms, completely exhausted.
It made Zu Zong's heart ache. He would immediately channel the Nine Yang Divine Technique's spirit power to nourish her body. But he also knew that enduring this training would benefit her greatly in the future, and so he eventually came to terms with it.
That night, just like always, his little kitty lay on a large flat stone with Zu Zong.
She rested in his arms, and the two gazed up at the starry sky. The moonlight was like flowing silk, soft and hazy. It bathed everything in a delicate glow, like a layer of sheer gauze, obscuring their view just slightly.
A shooting star streaked across the sky. Zu Zong whispered, "Make a wish."
Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes at him. "We're not kids anymore. You still believe in making wishes on shooting stars? That's just something adults made up to fool children."
Zu Zong's mouth twitched in mild embarrassment. "Well, don't books say that when couples see a shooting star together, making a wish is super romantic?"
"What nonsense have you been reading?" she muttered, but still, Zhu Zhuqing sat up, clasped her hands together, fingers interlocked, and closed her eyes to make a wish.
A moment later, she opened her eyes again—the shooting star had vanished.
What had appeared in its place was a familiar face. Their eyes met at close distance, his gaze steady. Under the moonlight, Zu Zong had somehow leaned in close without her noticing.
Feeling the unique masculine scent from Zu Zong and the warmth of his breath, Zhu Zhuqing's face turned rosy. With a hint of shyness, she asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"So beautiful," Zu Zong murmured, unable to stop himself.
At his words, even Zhu Zhuqing's breathing grew heavier. Her heartbeat accelerated, blood rushing.
Neither of them said another word. In the silent night, even the insects seemed to quiet down. Alone, under moonlight, the atmosphere turned more and more ambiguous.
Everything felt natural. Zu Zong gently cupped Zhu Zhuqing's chin. Without needing any words, their lips slowly moved closer.
A long while later, their lips parted. Zhu Zhuqing, face flushed red, leaned against Zu Zong's chest, panting softly.
Though they had kissed dozens of times over the past few months, she still ended up losing every time.
Zu Zong brushed aside the hair on her forehead and asked gently, "Zhuqing, can you tell me what wish you just made?"
"I—"
Before Zhu Zhuqing could finish her sentence—
Crack—a branch broke not far away. A figure fell from a tree.
"Ow! My butt!" came a slightly pained female voice.
Startled, the two quickly separated. In such an intimate pose, anyone would have easily misunderstood what was happening. They approached to get a better look at the person.
"Miss Ning? (Rongrong?)" ×2
Zu Zong's brows furrowed slightly. This was his and Zhu Zhuqing's rendezvous spot for the past two months. Even during the day, few people passed through here—just the occasional villager collecting firewood—so he'd never been particularly cautious.
Who would've thought someone had been hiding nearby all this time without him noticing? Luckily, it wasn't an enemy—otherwise, the consequences could've been dire.
"Love really does dull the senses," Zu Zong sighed inwardly.
Zu Zong said, "Miss Ning, may I ask what you were doing hiding here?"
"I—I came here to look at the moon. Yes, that's right, I came to look at the moon," Ning Rongrong mumbled, rubbing her sore backside. Her speech was hesitant and stammering—it was obvious she was making excuses.
Zu Zong's mouth twitched. This girl didn't even know how to lie properly. He then winked at Zhu Zhuqing and said in a mock serious tone, "Zhuqing, looks like Miss Ning has been here quite a while. Since she enjoys moon-gazing so much, how about I use my martial soul to lift her a hundred meters into the air so she can get a better view?"
Zhu Zhuqing shot Zu Zong a sharp glare. What a black-bellied man. But thinking of how Ning Rongrong often "tormented" her, she couldn't help indulging in a bit of mischief herself.
"Sure! Rongrong is a good friend of mine. If she likes the moon that much, send her closer to it."
Hearing this, Ning Rongrong's face went pale. She raised her free hand—the one not rubbing her rear—and quickly waved, "No no, this is fine, really!"
Zu Zong grinned mischievously. "Don't be shy."
As he spoke, spirit power gathered in his right hand, and the Blue Silver Emperor appeared in his palm. It was clear he truly meant to tie her up.
The Blue Silver Emperor vines slowly inched toward Ning Rongrong. Her expression changed drastically—so he was serious?
"Zhuqing, help me!" Ning Rongrong looked like she was about to cry as she pleaded with Zhu Zhuqing.
Seeing Ning Rongrong in such a sorry state, Zhu Zhuqing felt a touch of satisfaction. But not yet—if she let her off now, who knew how Rongrong might tease her later back in the dorm.
"Rongrong, I'm helpless here. You'll have to beg Xiao Zong yourself." Zhu Zhuqing spread her hands with a helpless expression.
"Still not telling the truth, Miss Ning?" Zu Zong looked directly at her.
By now, Ning Rongrong knew her lie had already been exposed. If she didn't speak up, she really might end up high in the sky, drinking cold wind.
Taking a deep breath, Ning Rongrong said, "I—I'll say it. I discovered it some time ago. Zhuqing often sneaks out at night. Out of curiosity, I secretly followed her tonight…"
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's face turned even redder. She understood—Ning Rongrong had probably seen the entire intimate scene between her and Zu Zong tonight.
No—perhaps not just tonight. She remembered there were several times when Rongrong returned to the dorm later than she did. Did that mean—?
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