When Lin Jie mentioned taking her home, a blush crept up Zhu Zhuqing's face. Was she... about to meet his family?
She remembered Lin Jie telling her that he lived with his mother and a younger sister. So wouldn't this technically be... meeting the in-laws?
Then she heard Lin Jie say he planned to go hunt for his fifth Spirit Ring alone. That made her a bit anxious. After all, fifth-ring hunts were extremely dangerous. She had wanted to go with him—not just to keep him company, but also so they could look out for each other. However, after a moment's thought, she understood. Lin Jie wouldn't go alone unless he was confident. Besides, he had hunted his fourth Spirit Ring solo before—and that had been a ten-thousand-year Spirit Beast.
Liu Erlong also nodded thoughtfully at his words. Her talent was indeed exceptional. At just a little over thirty years old, she had already reached Rank 79 Spirit Sage. In recent years, she had been too caught up with running the academy and had neglected her own cultivation. Otherwise, she would have long since broken through to Spirit Douluo. Now that the academy was in Flender and Zhao Wuji's hands—and with her completely letting go of Grandmaster—she was finally ready to focus on her own progress. She was confident that within a year, she could reach Rank 80.
Still, hearing that Lin Jie planned to hunt his fifth ring alone made her uneasy. "Xiao Jie, a fifth Spirit Ring hunt is no small matter. Why don't we go with you?" she suggested.
Lin Jie laughed confidently. "Erlong-jie, do you not trust my strength? I hunted my fourth ring alone too, remember? Don't worry—I've got a few secret weapons up my sleeve."
That was true. Lin Jie's strength was remarkable. Still, Liu Erlong couldn't help but worry. Ten-thousand-year Spirit Beasts weren't easy to deal with. What if something went wrong?
Seeing the concern on both Zhu Zhuqing and Liu Erlong's faces, Lin Jie said warmly, "Don't worry, Zhuqing, Erlong-jie. I'd never do something I wasn't confident in. And even if things go south, you think I don't know how to retreat?"
That finally put their hearts at ease.
The next day, Lin Jie, Liu Erlong, and Zhu Zhuqing left the Secluded Forest Cottage and returned to Shrek Academy to catch up with the others.
At the time, Ma Hongjun and Oscar had returned briefly after graduation, spent a few days with Flender, and then set off on a journey across the continent together.
Most of the students who graduated had already left, leaving only Lin Jie and Zhu Zhuqing. Liu Erlong officially handed management of Shrek Academy over to Flender and the others, declaring she was stepping back to focus entirely on cultivation. Her training grounds would, of course, be the Secluded Forest Cottage.
That area had always been Liu Erlong's private residence. In the past, it was occasionally visited by others, but now it had returned to its quiet solitude.
Currently, only Lin Jie, Zhu Zhuqing, and Liu Erlong lived there.
That night, under the moonlight, the Secluded Forest Cottage glowed with a gentle, silvery radiance. Liu Erlong and Zhu Zhuqing had already gone to bed, but Lin Jie was still awake.
Over the past few months, though he had spent most of his time with Zhu Zhuqing, their focus had been on competition and cultivation. It had been a long time since they'd dual cultivated. Lin Jie felt a certain... itch in his heart.
So, he got out of bed and walked out of his room. The sky outside was bright with moonlight, though the interior of the cottage remained dim.
The Secluded Forest Cottage had four rooms arranged in a semi-circle. Wanting to avoid disturbing Liu Erlong, Lin Jie slipped outside and quietly climbed into Zhu Zhuqing's room through the window—a route he was all too familiar with. Of course, it wasn't anything sneaky. He just didn't want to make noise at the door.
Because it was nighttime, Lin Jie didn't see clearly who was in the bed. He simply heard the soft, steady breathing of someone asleep. But he was certain this was Zhu Zhuqing's room.
The person lying in bed stirred as he approached. As she opened her eyes, the moonlight from the window illuminated the intruder's outline—it was Lin Jie. Curiously, she didn't speak, wondering what he was up to.
Lin Jie, thinking nothing of it, climbed onto the bed. He and Zhu Zhuqing were already as close as could be—this kind of thing had become natural.
He flipped back the covers and slipped in beside her, arms smoothly wrapping around the warm, delicate body beneath. His motions were fluid, practiced—almost instinctual.
As he embraced her, the figure's body tensed slightly. She wanted to speak, but no words came—just a soft, muffled sound.
Lin Jie leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Zhuqing... I missed you."
The room was dark, so he hadn't clearly seen her face. But the familiar scent reassured him—it had to be Zhu Zhuqing.
Feeling the softness in his arms, and with months of dual cultivation abstinence weighing on his heart, Lin Jie couldn't hold back anymore. He lowered his head and kissed those sweet, tempting lips.
The lips felt unfamiliar—stiff, hesitant.
He figured Zhu Zhuqing was just shy, since it had been so long, and continued the kiss passionately. But as the kiss deepened, he noticed the body in his arms remained tense. Still thinking it was just nerves, he reached out to caress her gently.
She had wanted to stop him—but his lips silenced her. All she could do was let out barely audible murmurs.
Then something unexpected happened—her heart began to stir.
Lin Jie's kiss was too practiced, too passionate. Her breath quickened; her face flushed a brilliant red in the darkness.
Their lips parted as the heat intensified. The moment Lin Jie's movements became more assertive, the woman beneath him suddenly pushed him away with surprising strength.
Something wasn't right.
The scent, the movements—they were off. They were familiar, but… not Zhu Zhuqing's.
A sudden, strange premonition crept over Lin Jie. He propped himself up on one arm, half-sitting, and looked down.
"You've had enough. Let go of me!" a flustered, embarrassed voice rang out in his ears.
The words struck him like a bolt of lightning.
He knew that voice. He heard it every day. He couldn't possibly mistake it.
Liu Erlong.
Frozen in disbelief, he reached toward the bedside lamp's switch—he had to confirm it.
She noticed and tried to stop him. "No—!" she cried.
Too late.
Click.
A soft sound echoed.
But in their minds, it was like thunder exploding across the sky.
The light flicked on.
And there she was.
Her beauty was otherworldly—graceful brows and bright eyes, delicate cheeks like ripened lychees, skin as smooth as porcelain. Her cherry lips were slightly parted, and her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders.
A sheer, half-transparent chest wrap barely concealed her figure, its faint outline accentuating her slender curves and flawless jade-like body. She radiated purity, softness, and allure in equal measure.
Her eyes shimmered with confused emotion. Her lips glistened with the lingering kiss.
Lin Jie was stunned, utterly speechless.
This close, her fragrance filled his senses. Sight, sound, smell, touch—every sensation collided at once. It overwhelmed him.
They stared at each other in complete silence.
He was... entranced. Utterly lost.
Liu Erlong, meanwhile, was overwhelmed by a complex storm of emotion—shame, confusion, shock, and a hint of... desire?
She had not expected to be touched like that—by Lin Jie, her sworn younger brother.
And yet... she had responded.
She hadn't felt something like that in a long time. The last person to stir her heart had been Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang. But after he abandoned and avoided her, those feelings faded.
It was Lin Jie who gradually filled that void.
It was Lin Jie who made her confront and sever ties with Yu Xiaogang.
And now, it was Lin Jie who had reawakened those long-dormant emotions.
Yes... she had been moved.
Once again, because of him.