After all, she had always been so cold toward Dai Mubai.
But the worry in her heart ultimately overcame her shyness. Seeing that Dai Mubai still hadn't moved after all this time, she finally took a step forward and carefully walked up to him, wanting to call out to him yet afraid of disturbing him. For a moment, she stood there at a loss.
Just as Zhu Zhuqing raised her head, gazing at Dai Mubai with a face full of concern, his eyes suddenly snapped open without warning. The unexpected movement startled Zhu Zhuqing so badly that she stumbled backward with a cry, nearly falling.
Dai Mubai reacted with lightning speed, sweeping her into his arms. Not a single misstep.
"You… let go of me." Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed crimson, but with Dai Mubai now awake, she visibly relaxed.
Dai Mubai grinned. "You threw yourself into my arms — you think you can just decide when to leave? Come as you please, go as you please?"
"You… you're shameless… let go of me. Who threw herself into your arms?" Zhu Zhuqing kept her head down against Dai Mubai's chest, struggling with all her might. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't break free from his embrace — arms as unyielding as cast iron and bronze. Though her Soul Power had increased considerably, how could she possibly match a strength-type Soul Master like Dai Mubai?
Dai Mubai lowered his head, leaning close to Zhu Zhuqing's ear, and whispered, "You do care about me after all. Relax — your husband is perfectly fine. Never been better."
"You—" Zhu Zhuqing jerked her head up, about to demand just who he thought he was calling her husband.
But her eyes met his Evil Eyes straight on. Within Dai Mubai's Evil Eyes blazed a radiance of genuine sincerity, gazing tenderly into hers.
There was no denying it — Dai Mubai's Evil Eyes were truly devastating. Zhu Zhuqing felt her thoughts go hazy, and the words on the tip of her tongue went unspoken. In his arms, her body softened ever so slightly.
Dai Mubai felt enormously pleased with himself. Being able to hold Zhu Zhuqing like this, so naturally and without resistance, made him even happier than the breakthrough past the level forty bottleneck he had just achieved.
But Dai Mubai's delight didn't last long. Suddenly he felt a slip in his arms — in the instant he relaxed his guard, Zhu Zhuqing had already wriggled free with cat-like agility. A flash of movement and she was standing to the side, shooting him a fierce glare. "Save those sweet words for your other lovers. And stop looking at me with those eyes."
"Uh…" Dai Mubai looked at her with a wry smile. "Zhuqing, can you stop being so stubborn? Haven't you noticed how pure and chaste I've been lately? Pure as Tang San himself."
Zhu Zhuqing snorted. "The day you can truly be as pure and immaculate as Third Brother, then we'll talk."
Tang San had to stifle a laugh and quickly changed the subject. "Mubai, did you break through?"
Dai Mubai looked at Tang San with a touch of helplessness. "I broke through the bottleneck, and my Soul Power is brimming. Once I obtain a Soul Ring, I might advance even further. Xiao San, when you've got some free time, you should teach me how to be 'pure as ice and jade, unstained by a speck of dust'…"
Perhaps from spending time with Dugu Bo, the old monster had rubbed off on Tang San somewhat, because he no longer quite the same honest, straightforward boy he used to be. He smiled faintly. "I'm afraid you won't get the chance. Unless you're still a virgin, how could the words 'pure as ice and jade' ever apply to you?"
Xiao Wu burst out laughing. "Exactly — only my brother truly qualifies. Pure as ice and jade, Young Master Tang San. Young Master Dai, you've missed your chance." The title "Young Master Dai" was the same one the innkeeper had used when she and Tang San first met Dai Mubai with his twin companions at that inn.
"Uh…" Dai Mubai was rendered completely speechless. Then he caught a trace of a smile on Zhu Zhuqing's face, and his heart suddenly surged with hope. "Xiao Wu, there's no need to mock me like that. But let me tell you — when a virgin meets a virgin, it's an absolute nightmare. Little Third could use some of my expert guidance in the future, you know."
Xiao Wu's smile vanished instantly. When it came to thick skin, she was no match for Dai Mubai. Her pretty face flushed a deep crimson, and she ducked behind Tang San, not daring to come out — though her small hands were busy twisting the fabric of his robe at his back.
Xiao Wu didn't notice that Tang San's gaze had gone somewhat distant, as though lost in thought. A hint of something unfocused and wistful flickered through his eyes.
Tang San's grand gift of the immortal herbs could be called a perfect conclusion. Every single member of the group had reaped tremendous benefits — even Xiao Wu, who hadn't been willing to consume the Lover's Heartbreak. The overall strength of the Shrek Seven Devils had jumped dramatically.
Of them all, the greatest beneficiary was neither Dai Mubai, who had broken through the level forty bottleneck, nor Zhu Zhuqing, whose Soul Power had risen by a full seven levels — it was Ma Hongjun, whose evil fire had been filtered and purged of its impurities.