Chapter 712: Action Plan! Ling Shuang

"Xia Lan?"

Xu Jingming and Ling Shuang both froze, surprised to encounter the two here.

"Teacher Ling, Jingming, I sensed familiarity from afar—I didn't expect it was really you."

Xia Lan and Elena ran over from across the street, Xia Lan's face lit with delight.

Yet she also felt a flicker of confusion—how could Teacher Ling be appearing with Jingming on Rhine Commercial Street?

"It's Xia Lan."

Ling Shuang's expression turned slightly awkward, and she instinctively explained:

"In two days, I'm returning to Da Xia with Jingming for the Director's Meeting, so we came early to buy some things to take back."

"Director's Meeting? So that's why." Xia Lan understood.

As a member of the Thunder Martial Arts Academy's Elite Training Camp, she was aware of this annual meeting.

Given Jingming's combat performance this morning, he was certainly qualified to attend the Director's Meeting.

"By the way, Jingming, your villa was destroyed—where are you staying tonight?" Xia Lan asked, turning to Xu Jingming.

"I'm staying with Ling..."

Xu Jingming instinctively replied, but before he could finish, Ling Shuang cut in:

"I booked him a hotel. If you want, I can book one for you too."

"No thanks, I plan to train overnight at the academy building." Xia Lan shook her head.

"All-night training? Fine." Ling Shuang nodded approvingly, then smiled:

"You two keep shopping. I'll buy a few more things with Jingming and head back."

"Hmm, he's going to the hotel; I have another villa here in Mocheng."

Why emphasize where she was going?

Though puzzled inside, Xia Lan still smiled and said: "Alright, Teacher Ling, Jingming, goodbye."

"Teacher Ling looks absolutely stunning tonight."

After Ling Shuang and Xu Jingming left, Elena exclaimed in awe.

Ling Shuang had always been beautiful, but tonight's appearance was clearly different—obviously meticulously dressed.

"Xiao Lan, don't you think so?"

Elena turned to Xia Lan, only to find her head bowed, lost in thought, completely ignoring her.

"Xiao Lan, what's wrong?" Elena asked, concerned.

Xia Lan snapped back to attention and shook her head lightly: "Nothing. Let's go."

She had a strange feeling that Teacher Ling and Jingming seemed off tonight—but she couldn't pinpoint why.

She dismissed it as her imagination and stopped thinking about it.

"Why didn't you just tell them both about our relationship?"

After walking a ways, Xu Jingming teased with a grin: "It felt like we were sneaking around."

"I wanted to tell her later."

Ling Shuang sighed softly. "After we return from Da Xia."

She was Xia Lan's teacher—telling her directly about her relationship with Jingming felt oddly inappropriate.

More importantly, she could sense that Xia Lan harbored some special feelings for Jingming.

"Alright then." Xu Jingming nodded, saying no more.

Though he didn't care about Ling Shuang's status or age, he respected her wishes.

Undeniably, Rhine Commercial Street was bustling.

Xu Jingming and Ling Shuang shopped until past two in the morning, yet hadn't even covered a third of the shops.

But by now, they'd bought everything they needed, so they teleported directly back to the villa.

"Teacher Ling, we're back at the villa—aren't you going to keep your promise?"

Xu Jingming sat on the sofa, grinning mischievously.

"I'll take a shower first."

Thinking of what was about to happen, Ling Shuang felt her body flush with heat and hurried toward the bathroom, swaying her waist.

Undeniably, Ling Shuang's figure was exceptional.

From behind, one could see the subtle, full curve at her ribcage.

"Teacher Ling really can't take teasing," Xu Jingming chuckled.

Only after her slender silhouette vanished into the bathroom did he turn his gaze away, mentally planning his next moves.

"First, Ability Points—my system panel is nearly depleted.

After returning from Da Xia, I must quickly kill monsters to regain sufficient Ability Points.

Now that I've reached the seventh tier, my power has surged dramatically.

Whether on the frontline or in the wilderness, my efficiency in harvesting Ability Points is far higher.

Also, I need to make a trip to Sakura Nation..."

During the Talent Competition, he assigned Sakura Rin a task.

To gather as many monsters as possible, regardless of rank.

Nearly four months have passed—Sakura Rin should have made some progress by now.

When the time comes, slaughtering all those monsters at once should yield a substantial amount of Ability Points.

"Speaking of which, nearly half of Sakura Nation is occupied by monsters.

If I could eliminate them all, I'd gain an astonishing number of Ability Points!

Unfortunately, the U. . is involved in Sakura Nation—if I try to mass-kill monsters in the wilderness,

I will definitely draw the attention of the ninth-tier experts stationed there, and it will cause complications.

Xu Jingming's eyes flickered.

Of course, not now—but not forever.

Once his strength grows further, conquering Sakura Nation won't be an issue.

"Besides Ability Points, I must also rapidly upgrade my Body Strengthening Art to SSS rank.

From current evidence, the Divine Blood Secret Technique can be fused into the new SSS-ranked Body Strengthening Art."

Xu Jingming thought silently.

Even if he evolved the Body Strengthening Art directly via the system panel, he still needed accumulated knowledge.

"This trip to Da Xia, I must collect as many SSS-ranked Body Strengthening Arts as possible for reference..."

As Xu Jingming pondered, a series of crisp bell sounds drifted from the bathroom.

"Ding ling ling~~~"

Xu Jingming turned his head and saw Ling Shuang stepping out of the bathroom.

Unlike the red long dress she wore before entering, she now wore only a thin, sheer veil.

Her slender waist, barely held in one hand, and her full, trembling curves shimmered faintly beneath the fabric, intoxicatingly alluring.

The veil's hem ended just below her hips.

Two perfectly plump, long legs, slightly soft with flesh, were fully exposed to the air.

Ling Shuang's figure and face were already breathtaking—but the most stunning sight was her feet.

Like exquisitely carved art, her skin glowed with a captivating luster.

Her toes were long and even, gently curved like tender lotus roots, irresistibly enticing.

Her ankle contours were elegant, radiating charm.

A silver metal anklet lightly wrapped around her ankle and instep, contrasting beautifully with her fair skin.

Each link was delicate and refined, swaying gently with her steps, emitting clear chimes.

"Ding ling ling~~"

"Ding ling ling~~~"

With the chimes ringing, Ling Shuang glided gracefully before Xu Jingming, her eyes smoldering:

"Satisfied now?"

Xu Jingming was speechless, gasping for breath, and as Ling Shuang let out a soft cry, he swept her into the bedroom.

Soon, rhythmic, crisp chimes of the anklet echoed through the bedroom...