Chapter 69: Lost (Patreon)

"Since this is a bet, what do I get if you lose?" Lu Feng rubbed his nose.

Just a single knee and shoe polishing? Compared to Zhu Zhuyun's "three-day male servant" wager, this was practically generous.

A single-knee kneel was the posture of a vassal paying homage—or a man proposing marriage.

The little devil clearly wanted a taste of conquering Lu Feng.

"I'll give you money!"

Ning Rongrong blurted it out without thinking.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had more wealth than they knew what to do with—and she was the patriarch's only daughter.

Ma Hongjun, overhearing this, nearly choked on his spit.

This girl… If she'd been at the Spirit Arena tonight and seen Brother Feng casually toss out storage soul tools worth hundreds of thousands of gold spirit coins, she'd never have said that.

After witnessing that move, Ma Hongjun had promptly decided Lu Feng was the one worth sucking up to—hence the nonstop "Brother Feng this, Brother Feng that" on the way back.

"I don't want your money. I want you to do the same for me."

Lu Feng's implication was clear: You'll be the one kneeling to polish my shoes.

"What?! That's too much! She's a girl—a gorgeous one at that!" Oscar leapt to her defense.

Ning Rongrong ignored him entirely, rushing to seal the deal before Lu Feng could reconsider: "Fine! But you only get twenty counts to make your move. Otherwise, you lose!"

"Deal." Lu Feng nodded.

"Then let's begin~" Her smirk widened.

In the next instant, her dazzling Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda materialized, two soul rings rising as the second one flared bright. A melodic incantation chimed like birdsong:

"Second Soul Skill—Seven Treasures Shine! Second Treasure: Speed!"

A surge of speed enhancement enveloped herself—and then she bolted, leaving afterimages in her wake as she shot eighty meters away in a blink.

Can't beat him? Then outrun him.

The group stared, dumbfounded.

No one saw that coming.

Lu Feng's brow twitched. "Ning Rongrong, is this what you call a duel? Where's the basic trust between people?"

"I don't care! With my speed boosted, good luck catching me! Oh, and you're already at four counts~ Teehee!"

Her triumphant laughter tinkled through the night air.

This little schemer…

"Hahaha! Cheeky, but duels don't forbid running! Lu Feng, you're done—HAHAHA!" Oscar clutched his stomach, howling.

SCREECH!

Lu Feng had zero intention of kneeling to polish shoes. Golden-Winged Roc wings erupted from his back, flames roaring as he launched into pursuit.

A scalding gale from his wingbeats sent Oscar stumbling, eyes squeezed shut—

—and when he opened them, Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu stood before him, expressions icy.

"Find it funny? I challenge you."

Zhu Zhuqing's words were knives.

She moved.

Her kick—amplified by her agility-focused build and the speed-boosting wind and lightning leopard king soul bones—was practically teleportation.

Ning Rongrong had tricked her husband. Oscar had mocked him. And then laughed.

She was pissed.

This was for Lu Feng.

Oscar spun to flee—

THUD!

Her foot planted between his shoulder blades, sending him face-first into the dirt.

One move. One KO.

Clean. Efficient.

Not that Oscar stood a chance even with preparation—a food-system soul master versus Zhu Zhuqing's agility was a joke.

She hadn't used soul power or targeted vitals. This was just discipline.

"Damn… scary and brutal…" Ma Hongjun gulped.

Ma Hongjun shuddered in relief.

Thank the heavens Zhu Zhuqing hadn't been the one to fight me earlier—I'd never survive that speed and power.

His mental list of "Reasons Not to Piss Off Lu Feng" gained a new entry:

#5: Brother Feng's fiancée, Zhu Zhuqing—zero warning, all violence.

Meanwhile, in the trees—

Zhu Zhuyun's jaw dropped as Lu Feng's second martial soul materialized.

She nearly toppled off her branch.

Holy—! This kid…has twin martial souls?!

And this second one was just as monstrous as the first—world-shaking.

Given the sister's calm reaction, she'd clearly known all along.

You hid this from me so well…

Not that she could blame him. She wasn't family—not really.

Not when she still carried a mission that could threaten Lu Feng… one she'd never carry out.

Back on the ground—

Ning Rongrong's smug grin vanished when whooshing wings closed in behind her.

She glanced back—and shrieked.

Lu Feng was airborne, golden wings wreathed in flames, gaining on her faster than her boosted speed.

What happened to the "tree soul" and bananas?!

Lies! All lies!

He'd already entered attack range by her mental count of eight.

In this open field, dodging a soul skill was hopeless.

But the forest—trees could block his sight and slow his flight!

She pivoted hard toward the woods.

Zhu Zhuyun's eye twitched.

Why are you running toward me?!

At this distance, Lu Feng might spot her—and then how would she explain lurking outside Shrek Academy after their "farewell"?

She prepared to retreat—

—when two shadowy figures darted forward instead.

Their fluid movements screamed professional spies… the kind who also excelled at assassination.

Someone's targeting Lu Feng?

Instantly, she froze—then stalked the shadows.

Protecting Lu Feng outweighed any personal awkwardness.

As for Ning Rongrong?

RIP.

She'd learn what Zhu Zhuyun had the hard way: Lu Feng's root-binding skills were deadliest in wooded terrain.

The lesson was swift.

Vines. Branches. Roots.

They swarmed Ning Rongrong like living nets, hoisting her into the air mid-scream.

"Ah—! H-how?! You do have a plant-type martial soul… You're twin-souled?!"

Realization dawned: the forest had been a trap.

But even in the open, she'd have lost.

One move. That's all it took.

…I'm doomed.

Just as Ning Rongrong was inwardly lamenting her fate, two dark figures suddenly sprang into action—one lunging at Lu Feng, while the other drew a blade aimed not at Ning Rongrong, but at the vines binding her.

"Scram!"

Lu Feng's second soul ring flashed, casting twin beams of emerald light onto the black-clad, masked assailants.

Almost simultaneously, roots coiled around them, restraining them tightly.

Lu Feng quickly deduced that these two were likely sent by Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's patriarch, Ning Fengzhi, to secretly protect Ning Rongrong. With that in mind, he held back from lethal force.

With a flick of his vines, he hurled them over a hundred meters away, keeping them firmly entangled and immobilized.

At that moment, Lu Feng sensed another presence.

Through his shared plant perception, he recognized a familiar, curvaceous figure—crouched in a cat-like stance atop a tree branch.

Big Sister Zhu Zhuyun... So you didn't leave after all.

Spying on us?

But from the way she had followed the two black-clad figures, it was clear her intent was protective.

After all, she had no allegiance to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

Since Zhu Zhuyun didn't want to reveal herself, Lu Feng decided not to expose her—for now.

"Ning Rongrong, you tried to cheat, but you still lost."

Lu Feng stepped closer, his gaze sweeping over her.

Ning Rongrong knew exactly how to showcase her beauty.

Her stylish, flowing hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing her youthful, rosy-cheeked face. Her sapphire-blue eyes sparkled like gemstones, her nose delicate and perfectly sculpted. Her well-tailored dress hugged her still-developing but undeniably graceful figure, radiating youthful charm.

She didn't wear stockings—likely because she was especially proud of her legs.

And rightfully so.

Her slender, jade-like legs were flawlessly smooth, her dainty feet encased in sparkling high heels that accentuated their elegance.

Most people wouldn't dare to beat such perfection... But I, being a noble and righteous man—

SMACK!

Lu Feng's palm landed squarely on Ning Rongrong's snow-white thigh.