Chapter 36: I want to become stronger

...

"No way!"

The young girl's gaze was fixed on Zeng Yi as she calmly spoke.

"Uh..."

Zeng Yi was a little bewildered. He had been quite clear in what he said! How could this girl still be like this? She really wants to snatch the cat from me.

"It seems like it doesn't like you." The girl said calmly.

"Uh... Well, I didn't lie to you. It really is my cat. We just had a small misunderstanding. It's just throwing a tantrum now, but it will make up with me soon." Zeng Yi approached the girl and smiled at her.

The man's presence around her made her feel disgusted. Her eyebrows furrowed and she coldly looked at the person in front of her.

"Stay away from me."

"Oh! Alright."

Hearing her words, Zeng Yi also realized that his behavior was inappropriate. They weren't familiar enough to be this close. He took a step back, distancing himself about five meters away from her.

This should be okay!

"Come on, please give Xiao Ju back to me. It really is my cat!" Zeng Yi pleaded, then looked at Xiao Ju in her arms and started coaxing it.

"Meow?"

Xiao Ju seemed to understand what Zeng Yi said and meowed, jumping up from the girl's arms to perch on her shoulder. It looked at Zeng Yi, making a fierce, growling expression, but it looked cute and amusing rather than scary. It seemed to be teasing him with a human-like gaze.

"Heh... Hehe..."

Seeing Xiao Ju's behavior, Zeng Yi's smile twitched uncontrollably. This... This little cat is truly mischievous!

Once I have you in my hands, I'll make you taste a father's love!

"Heh heh, Xiao Ju, stop messing around and come here! Your behavior is bothering others, you know!" Zeng Yi gently pleaded with the girl, then looked at Xiao Ju on her shoulder. 

The girl confirmed in her heart that the man in front of her was indeed this little cat's owner; otherwise, it wouldn't have acted this way.

Their relationship must be very good! It really makes people envious.

The girl held Xiao Ju in her hands, raised it in front of her eyes, and touched her forehead gently against its soft, furry head.

"Meow?"

Xiao Ju was a bit confused by this action and meowed in curiosity.

"It's a pity, I thought we could be together forever, Yumi." The girl murmured softly to Xiao Ju. Her tone was calm, but it conveyed a hint of sadness.

"Meow~"

The girl then gently crouched down, placing Xiao Ju back on the ground. She reached out her right hand to stroke its head, and those originally lifeless black eyes that were as cold as ink stared at Xiao Ju with unusual tenderness.

"Go back, I am not your family."

The girl said softly to Xiao Ju, then stopped stroking its head, stood up straight, and her gentle gaze returned to indifference.

"Meow?"

Xiao Ju looked up at the person in front of it and felt that she seemed lonely.

"Hey, Xiao Ju, come over here!" Zeng Yi squatted down and clapped his hands, calling out to Xiao Ju.

Seeing the appearance of its human slave, Xiao Ju instantly found this person detestable.

"Meow!" Xiao Ju hissed sharply and swiftly pounced on Zeng Yi.

"Hey! What are you doing?"

"Ah! Xiao Ju, why are you scratching my handsome face?"

"Don't... Don't scratch anymore!"

Xiao Ju rushed onto Zeng Yi and kept scratching his face, making him suffer. Seeing this scene, a faint smile appeared on the girl's indifferent face.

"It seems like you really offended it, Xiao Ju!" 

Seeing that Xiao Ju was still scratching, Zeng Yi became unhappy. Did it think it was powerful? It didn't even show me any respect in front of a beauty?

He quickly grabbed Xiao Ju by the back of its neck, lifted it up, and it struggled for a while before going limp.

"Heh heh, you little thing, playing with me like that. Do you want some roast chicken?" Zeng Yi adjusted his hair with his left hand and looked at Xiao Ju in his right hand, chuckling softly.

"Are you leaving?"

"Meow?"

When Zeng Yi saw the cold girl turning to leave, he stopped playing with Xiao Ju and asked her.

"Yes."

When she heard Zeng Yi calling her, the girl paused for a moment and replied calmly. Then she turned her head to look at Zeng Yi and glanced at Xiao Ju on his shoulder, saying softly, "Please take care of Yumi, and thank you for your help."

As soon as she finished speaking, the girl's feet tapped the ground, and she quickly ran in the direction she had just left.

Oh... Its name is Xiao Ju!

Hearing the girl's words, Zeng Yi's mouth twitched again. And her tone made it seem like I had snatched her cat. Xiao Ju was originally mine.

This girl is really strange!

Zeng Yi thought to himself, ruffling his hair helplessly and glancing at Xiao Ju.

"Xiao Ju, on my way here, I caught a few wild chickens. How about I make roasted chicken for you?" Zeng Yi affectionately rubbed Xiao Ju's head, speaking softly to it. Although he had wanted to teach it a lesson earlier, looking at the cute and adorable Xiao Ju, Zeng Yi couldn't stay angry.

"Meow!"

Xiao Ju's emerald green eyes immediately lit up upon hearing that.

"Hahaha, let's go find a quiet and beautiful place. This place is a bit depressing, hahaha." Zeng Yi laughed heartily, but then abruptly stopped, feeling a bit confused.

"But by the way, where am I now?"

A question mark flashed through Zeng Yi's mind.

"Ah! Miss, wait! Can you tell me where we are?" Zeng Yi quickly ran towards the direction the cold girl had left.

...

The young girl ran on her own, though the incident just now delayed her for a bit, it didn't have much impact on her.

At her current speed, it would probably take her about two days to reach her destination.

The girl thought to herself, but when she thought about meeting that man in the academy, her eyebrows furrowed and she felt unhappy.

I hope that academy can make me stronger!

I can't even control my own fate and have to rely on others. It's really ironic and pitiful!

Thinking of this, a hint of sadness appeared in the girl's indifferent expression. Then, the image of the man from earlier flashed through her mind.

That man, who seemed to be around the same age as her, was able to effortlessly kill a Soul Elder and a group of Spirit Grand Masters without breaking a sweat. His strength was truly terrifying, not to mention his speed, which was so fast that not even she could see it clearly. It was ridiculous for her to call herself an agile-type Spirit Master when he could easily kill her without using spiritual power, solely relying on skill.

Comparing herself to Zeng Yi, the girl clenched her teeth and fist, wearing a face full of resentment and bitterness.

If only I had his strength, I wouldn't be in such a sorry state. I am still too weak, far too weak! I must become stronger, much stronger!

The girl cried out in her heart, and the previously lifeless black eyes shimmered with determination.