Chapter 39: Returning to Shrek City (1/1)
"Jiang Li, what should I do next?"
On a tree-lined path, Snow Empress followed beside Jiang Li, asking in a cold voice.
Jiang Li only glanced at her and replied calmly: "Nothing for you right now. I'll notify you when I need your help."
"Then where should I go now? Should I go with you to Shrek Academy?" she asked again.
Jiang Li waved his hand casually. "It's just an assassination commission. I can move alone more conveniently. If you appear in Shrek City, the Golden Tree will detect you, and Mu En will notice."
Snow Empress frowned slightly. "Do you think I can't beat Mu En?"
"Don't overthink it." Jiang Li tapped her forehead lightly. "I just don't want you exposed yet."
"Why?" Snow Empress asked, puzzled.
Jiang Li did not explain further. "No reason. That's an order."
"…"
Snow Empress fell silent.
Soon she accepted it. Since it was an order and she had signed a contract, she had to obey.
Jiang Li glanced at her from the side. "If you have somewhere you want to go, go ahead. I'm going to handle the commission."
Snow Empress thought for a moment and said, "I want to return to the Extreme North and guard Ice Empress so she can safely undergo her tribulation."
Jiang Li nodded. "Go then. After she succeeds, bring her to me."
Snow Empress blinked. "Why do you need Ice Empress? Isn't having me enough?"
Jiang Li paused for a moment, then said casually, "Little Snow, she listens to you, and you listen to me. That's just free labor."
"…"
Snow Empress fell silent again.
They soon reached a fork in the road.
"We'll separate here for now," Jiang Li said, waving his hand as he left without looking back.
Snow Empress watched his figure disappear into the distance, then turned toward the Extreme North.
—
Some time later, Shrek City.
Because of his special "Heavenly Cursed Body," Jiang Li easily infiltrated the city.
Unlike before, he now restrained his aura completely, blending into the crowd without a trace.
Most of the people on the streets were Shrek Academy students.
Hands tucked into his sleeves, Jiang Li strolled leisurely through the city in plain black clothes, completely unremarkable.
His goal was to kill Huo Caitou, but there was no rush.
There was still time before Xu Tianran's deadline. For now, he would wander and see if there was anything worth profiting from.
Just as he was considering whether to scout near Shrek Academy, his eyes caught a familiar figure.
A tall girl in a light blue dress, cold and elegant, with a distant aura.
Ling Luochen.
At that moment, she was carrying a food box, apparently just leaving a pastry shop. When she turned around, she bumped straight into Jiang Li.
Their eyes met.
Ling Luochen's pupils shrank sharply, nearly dropping the box. Her cold expression was replaced with shock, then panic and guilt.
Jiang Li only glanced at her and looked away, preparing to leave.
But she quickly stepped forward and stopped him.
She bit her lip, her usually cold voice trembling slightly.
"Jiang Li… I…"
She never expected to meet him here.
After completing her last mission, she had reported Jiang Li's information to Yan Shaozhe.
She had thought the academy would try to recruit him. Instead, she learned about Xuan Lao's involvement.
Since then, this matter had become a thorn in her heart.
She felt she had betrayed his kindness.
This guilt had grown over time, weighing heavily on her.
Now seeing him again, she could no longer hold it in.
She took a deep breath and bowed deeply.
"Jiang Li… I'm sorry!"
The bow was sincere, drawing attention from nearby passersby.
Jiang Li remained expressionless, silently watching her.
Ling Luochen lifted her head. Her eyes were slightly red, tears faintly forming.
"I know what I did was wrong… I don't ask for forgiveness, I just needed to apologize."
Her voice trembled with guilt.
Jiang Li finally spoke.
"You feel guilty?"
"Yes… I've always felt guilty," she replied quickly.
"I reported you hoping the academy would give you better resources, not to get Xuan Lao to trouble you…"
Her voice grew shaky. "After I heard he came to fight you, I was worried for a long time…"
Jiang Li looked at her tearful face and said calmly:
"That old man didn't count as trouble."
But Ling Luochen became even more anxious.
"That wasn't my intention! I really didn't mean it that way!"
She looked close to crying. "I was worried something would happen to you…"
Jiang Li waved his hand, uninterested in continuing.
"Do you know what happened to that old man?"
Ling Luochen looked up in confusion. "What happened?"
Seeing she truly didn't know, Jiang Li changed the subject.
"Forget it. Let me ask you something else."
"Is there a tall bald student in your academy, uses a cigar-type martial soul?"
Ling Luochen was confused. "I'm in the inner court, I don't know much about outer court students…"
Jiang Li wasn't surprised.
Then Ling Luochen suddenly said, "I can help you find him."