Suddenly, Xiao Hongchen asked in confusion, "Could it be that Jiang Jue doesn't just want to marry Meng?"
He was internally bewildered. A hundred-thousand-year-old soul bone was already incredibly precious, let alone a Transcendent Herb of even higher value.
"If I gave it, I gave it. Do I need to explain my actions?" Jiang Jue said, his originally calm gaze shifting slightly as he spoke.
The reason he gave Xiao Hongchen the herb was that the hundred-thousand-year-old soul beast embryo that originally belonged to Xiao Hongchen had been taken by him...
Because Jing Hongchen had handled the scene and suppressed all news, Xiao Hongchen was still unaware of this fact. This Transcendent Herb served as a form of compensation. As for that embryo, it was because the Snow Empress had insisted he keep it...
"Forget it, I'll keep the soul bone. You should give such a precious herb to Meng instead. After all, she was the one who worried about you the most while you were gone," Xiao Hongchen said, deciding not to overthink it.
"No need. As long as you are by my side, Jiang Jue, that is the best gift," Meng Hongchen said, shaking her head gently. Her clear, beautiful eyes were filled with deep attachment as she looked at him. She didn't care about gifts; she only cared about Jiang Jue himself.
"You don't need to worry about that. Meng will naturally have something better," Jiang Jue said with a gentle smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He had another important task upon his return: to completely resolve the flaw in Meng Hongchen's martial soul.
"I talked too much; I shouldn't have asked," Xiao Hongchen rolled his eyes after being fed a mouthful of "dog food" (public display of affection). He promptly tucked away the soul bone and the Eight-Petal Giant Orchid.
"By the way, there's no special way to consume this herb. Just chew and swallow it; the medicinal power will take effect on its own," Jiang Jue told him softly.
"Alright, I got it. Once I finish absorbing this, just you wait to be defeated by me," Xiao Hongchen said confidently. He had originally wanted to spar, but since he couldn't even sense Jiang Jue's current aura, he had naturally (and wisely) dropped the idea.
But the herb gave him hope. Moreover, once his cultivation was high enough to absorb that hundred-thousand-year embryo later, he might gain an extra martial soul. When that time came, he wouldn't necessarily be weaker than Jiang Jue!
"Brother, don't you feel like this room is a bit... full?" Meng Hongchen asked with a smile, looking at her brother standing nearby.
"Full of what?" Xiao Hongchen looked around, confused.
"Don't you feel like you should get out?"
"..."
Xiao Hongchen froze for a moment. Under Meng Hongchen's "threatening" gaze, he "voluntarily" walked out, even "thoughtfully" closing the door behind him.
Meng Hongchen nodded in satisfaction, then pulled Jiang Jue down onto the soft sofa. Leaning against his shoulder, she asked softly, "Jiang Jue, have you been doing well during this past period of time?"
"It was alright, but not as good as when you're around," Jiang Jue replied with a smile, feeling the warmth of her presence.
"I've already broken through to become a Soul Emperor now, so I can help you in the future. If we face difficulties again, General Meng can protect Private Jiang Jue."
"Alright, whatever you say." Jiang Jue agreed easily.
Under the soft lighting, the two whispered intimately to one another...
Suddenly, Meng Hongchen sat up. Her eyes held a trace of shyness, but it quickly turned into determination as she looked at him seriously.
"Jiang Jue, neither of us are naturally gifted when it comes to emotions, but I believe that in the time to come, I will always walk beside you—even until the end of time, until the seas run dry and the rocks crumble."
"Meng..."
Jiang Jue looked at her, about to speak, but she lunged directly into his arms. Her delicate hands lifted his face, her breath like orchids, as her passionate red lips pressed against his without hesitation.
Seeing her flushed face and misty eyes, Jiang Jue responded with an even more vigorous "attack."
After a long while, Meng Hongchen let out a sudden gasp of surprise, as if she had touched something massive.
"Jiang Jue, you... you..."
"Be good. You're the one who started this fire; you have to be responsible for putting it out..."
"Mm..."
Looking at the man she loved, Meng Hongchen nodded shyly. With a dreamlike murmur, she pursed her red lips and leaned down.
Hiss!
Grey soul power surged, and in the next instant, the two were in Meng Hongchen's bedroom. A young girl's longing was so incredibly fervent...
Outside the house, thunder roared and lightning flickered incessantly. A heavenly rain descended, moisturizing the parched earth. Surely, after the rain, all things would brim with life and a new vitality...
The joys and sorrows of mankind are not linked.
At this moment, inside the medical room, Huo Yuhao suppressed his internal tension, trying his best to remain calm.
Click!
The door was opened from the outside. The examining teacher gestured for Jing Hongchen and Lin Jiayi to enter. This time, however, the teacher stayed outside, closing the door and standing guard. Like the previous medical staff, he knew what should and shouldn't be heard; he just needed to wait quietly.
"Hey? Why are you here? Don't you need to continue checking the students?" another examining teacher happened to walk by and asked in confusion.
"Hmph, I don't need to do checks anymore."
"No! I won't ever need to do checks again."
"And from now on, address me by my official title during work hours."
The teacher's mouth twitched into a "Dragon King" smirk. After today, he was destined for a massive promotion.
"Are you daydreaming before you've even gone to sleep?" the other teacher laughed. "I think you've gone crazy from experiments. Get back to work, or Director Lin will dock your salary."
Inside the room.
Seeing Jing Hongchen and Lin Jiayi enter, Huo Yuhao took a deep breath. He had already awakened Skydream Ice Worm; if anything went wrong, he would flee immediately.
Huo Yuhao was about to speak, but he was interrupted by Jing Hongchen's kind smile.
"Student Huo, you've worked hard. Look at this—who put handcuffs on little Student Huo? How thoughtless. Jiayi, go unlock them."
"Yes!"
Lin Jiayi adjusted his glasses and approached Huo Yuhao with a smile. Huo Yuhao frowned, unsure of how to react to Jing Hongchen's unconventional approach.
Lin Jiayi reached Huo Yuhao, but instead of unlocking the cuffs, he raised his elbow. Huo Yuhao's pupils contracted as he watched the elbow strike grow larger in his vision.
Thump!
With a dull sound, Huo Yuhao slowly collapsed onto the bed.
"Jiayi, take our little Student Huo with us. Now that we have this leverage, we must make the 'cake' as big as possible and let him use up every bit of his remaining value."
Looking at the unconscious Huo Yuhao, Jing Hongchen's smile remained. However, for some reason, his heart felt empty, and he found himself unable to feel truly happy.
(End of Chapter)