"Xu Ran, what are you thinking about? You seem so engrossed," Hulena asked curiously.
She felt inexplicably sour in her heart; as a girl, she naturally hoped that her beloved would only have eyes for her.
"I'm not thinking about much. Just wondering how to protect you in the future. I'm really worried that an enraged Tang San might harm you. It would be troublesome if I couldn't protect you in time. I wouldn't want to see anything happen to such a beautiful girl," Xu Ran said with a smile. Of course, he wouldn't admit to thinking about another woman like a clueless man.
He certainly didn't have the obliviousness of such men.
"Oh." Hulena felt warm inside and, for a moment, a bit guilty. She had been overthinking it; Xu Ran was thinking about her.
She felt a unique satisfaction and happiness from being protected, especially by the man she admired—that made her even more delighted.
She had been worried that Xu Ran wouldn't like her, but now... Could it be that Xu Ran also had feelings for her?
"Actually, I'm fine. Tang San probably wouldn't dare to lay a hand on me. Pope Bibi Dong is my teacher, and if he dared to do that, Tang San wouldn't be able to get by in the Martial Soul Hall. I'm quite powerful in the Martial Soul Hall myself; ordinary people don't dare to mess with me," Hulena said softly, her eyes tender and affectionate as she gazed at Xu Ran.
"You're unfamiliar with Tang San and don't know how despicable he can be."
"Your teacher may be strong, but she can't do anything to Tang San. Tang San doesn't care all that much about his position in the Martial Soul Hall; he might escape from the Martial Soul Hall after this competition," Xu Ran shook his head. Now that the Martial Soul Hall had become his domain, Tang San naturally wouldn't stay for long.
"What? Tang San is stronger than the teacher? That's impossible," Hulena said in shock, her eyes wide with disbelief. Even if Tang San was strong, he couldn't possibly reach such a level. Her teacher was a dominating Female Pope, so powerful that she looked down upon the entire Martial Soul World.
And Tang San's strength was comparable to her teacher's?
"Some powers far exceed Soul Power, and Tang San has mastered that kind of power. Even if Tang San's "Cultivation Level" is still modest, being touched by that power has elevated him above the ordinary,"
"Tang San is that strong," Hulena was astounded.
She had never imagined that Tang San could hide his abilities so deeply; probably even her teacher didn't know he could be that strong.
If Tang San was this powerful, then his being in the Martial Soul Hall must be for an ulterior motive.
But what shocked her even more was Xu Ran's strength.
Tang San was so powerful, yet Xu Ran had him pinned to the ground, utterly unable to resist; how terrifying that was.
Xu Ran's strength might have reached the level of Grand Elder Qian Daoliu, or perhaps even stronger. But that level of strength was far beyond her comprehension.
Hulena felt ashamed.
Xu Ran was too exceptional; probably every woman who wanted to stand by his side would have their insecurities. Under such intense radiance, even she felt like she had lost her luster.
She was the Soul Hall's Saintess and the beauty queen of the Martial Soul Academy. She had always been self-important and prideful. But after meeting Xu Ran, she had been repeatedly humbled.
What were her achievements worth?
A mere goddess was nothing in front of Xu Ran. Even her once-prized beauty seemed ordinary among Xu Ran's many beautiful acquaintances. No matter how lovely she was, in their company, she could only be considered average.
And she had heard from Qian Renxue that Xu Ran still had many close female acquaintances in Tiandou City. Moreover, there were some that not even Qian Renxue knew about, women she had never met but was certain existed.
With many more beautiful women around Xu Ran in the future, what capital did she have to win Xu Ran's favor?
"Silly girl, what are you thinking about? Come for a walk with me. I haven't had the chance to properly explore the Martial Soul Hall. You'll make a good guide." Xu Ran said with a slight smile, stepping forward to take Hulena's small hand.
Hulena's hand was very hot, and her palm was sweaty, making her seem like a steam doll.
"Oh," Hulena blushed, wanting to pull her hand back, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't free it, so she could only let Xu Ran hold her small hand while her face turned red.
Her heart raced, as not even her brother Evil Moon had held her hand since she had grown up.
She was very mindful of keeping herself pure, never having held hands with the opposite sex in the Martial Soul Hall.
Holding hands with Xu Ran like this, she always felt somewhat at a loss. Yet, she also felt happy because it seemed as if she and Xu Ran were a couple.
In the Martial Soul Academy, she had seen couples holding hands like this. Back then, she was envious, looking forward to her own other half. But she didn't like any of the boys from the Martial Soul Academy until Xu Ran arrived.
If only she and Xu Ran could interlock their fingers, that would make them look even more like a couple.
The two didn't speak, just wandered around holding hands.
When they encountered patrolling guards, Hulena would blush and lower her head, always feeling embarrassed.
The night enveloped them, and the surroundings became very quiet, with only the rustle of the wind and the faint beating of their hearts. Hulena looked down at her beautiful legs, lost in thought.
In the silence, she had more time to think, but the more she thought, the more anxious she felt, the more she couldn't grasp her own thoughts.
In the deep of the night, with just a man and a woman, it made her, who was always a good girl, feel anxious. Normally, at this time, she would be bathing and getting ready for bed.
But now, she was aimlessly wandering with Xu Ran.
What if Xu Ran did something to her at this moment?
Xu Ran was so powerful, she had no ability to resist.
She couldn't just cry out, that would be so embarrassing, and it would also draw the nearby guards over.
A girl's thoughts are always complex. Soon, Hulena began to slowly concoct a complex scenario in her mind. Xu Ran would overpower her, and then under the night sky, do as he pleased. No matter how loudly she screamed, Xu Ran wouldn't stop and would say that no one would come to save her even if she screamed her throat raw.
Yet strangely, although she resisted, she quite naturally accepted these things. As Hulena thought about these scenarios, her emotions grew more and more excited, and her pretty face became increasingly red.
"Hulena, oh Hulena, you call yourself a pure maiden, yet all you think about are these naughty things." Hulena scolded herself inwardly. She hadn't ever fantasized about these things before, but now she couldn't help it.
However, she still didn't know exactly what couples were supposed to do together. Aside from kissing and holding hands, everything else in her fantasies was quite vague.
But even just that was embarrassing enough.