Chapter 51: Unsheathed

Her long, black hair was splayed out, wet strands clinging to her delicate, jade-like skin. Water droplets meandered down the contours of her body before vanishing into the soft curves. Her striking face, framed by willow-shaped eyebrows and deep phoenix eyes, was a picture of bewilderment. Her lips parted slightly, bestowing upon her an air of vulnerable innocence.

Two sharp little canine teeth peeked out, lending a perilously adorable aspect to her demeanor. The cat ears atop her head quivered faintly as a blush of embarrassment spread across Ning Fengwan's cheeks.

She clasped her hands over her chest, her long cat tail with the platinum ring at its tip, wrapping around Xue Jing's head to shield his eyes.

"Don't look!" she implored, her voice quivering on the brink of tears.

Xue Jing remained silent.

The smooth, soft, slightly furry texture pressed against his chest heightened the tension in his expression. He wasn't looking anymore, but the situation had deepened beyond mere visual contact.

After a moment, Xue Jing tried to offer some comfort. "Teacher Wan, calm down. I didn't see anything."

Realizing that her tail effectively covered Xue Jing's eyes, Ning Fengwan began to relax slightly.

Yet, she soon became acutely aware of another, more disturbing sensation—an almost electric thrill that coursed through her.

"Hmm~"

The soft murmur slipped from her lips unintentionally, complicating Xue Jing's expression further.

"Why did... I suddenly change back?" Ning Fengwan gritted her teeth, trying to contain the overwhelming feelings.

"Perhaps the conditions for this divine relic's transformation were inadvertently met," Xue Jing suggested, maintaining a steady voice despite the growing tension.

His pulse raced. His youthful body felt like a primed tinderbox, a force barely held in check.

"Trigger conditions?"

Ning Fengwan pushed past her embarrassment, piecing together the recent events. She had removed Xue Jing's glasses, felt an unfamiliar emotion stir within her, just a trace, and then transformed back into a human? Was this some absurd, fantastical plot straight out of a cat-girl anime? The thought made her wince; she had seen enough anime to recognize the trope.

Now fully human, except for her cat ears, sharp teeth, and tail, she cursed inwardly.

Damn "God," what kind of legacy is this?!

"You..."

Frustrated, Ning Fengwan gave Xue Jing a light slap. "Don't harbor any strange thoughts; this was merely an accident!"

she had noticed that the holy sword... had unsheathed.

"This isn't something I can control," Xue Jing stated calmly.

After a pause, he added, "But... if you don't leave soon, that won't be the only thing I can't control."

Ning Fengwan hesitated, then huffed, "Fine. I'll move my tail, and you cover your eyes with your own hands..."

Xue Jing nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Ning Fengwan carefully leaned on the edge of the bathtub, preparing to stand.

However, another mishap ensued.

Whether from her flustered state or the residual slickness of shower gel on the tub's edge, Ning Fengwan slipped as she attempted to exit, causing water to splash wildly.

And somehow, Xue Jing's body felt exceedingly slippery, causing her to slide down...

"Hmm~"

"Hiss..."

Xue Jing inhaled sharply.

"Teacher Wan, you..."

On the brink of tears, Ning Fengwan stammered, "I didn't mean to..."

Xue Jing covered his eyes with his hands, his body trembling slightly.

His voice shook as well "I know... but you need to get out quickly."

"Otherwise, it might be too late."

Witnessing the veins bulging on Xue Jing's body and feeling the heat of his surging emotions, Ning Fengwan panicked. She quickly stood and hurried out of the bathroom.

As the door closed, silence enveloped the room.

Xue Jing exhaled deeply, struggling to calm the tumultuous energy within him. But settling down was more challenging than expected. The holy sword was sharp, far more difficult to manage than an AK-47.

He touched his chest curiously; whether from the shower gel or something else, it felt sticky...

Xue Jing's expression grew even more perplexed.

---

Meanwhile, in South City, within a concealed basement...

Jiao Hongyuan, a tall, imposing man with a weathered face, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed intently on the center of the basement.

There loomed an enormous "nest," about four meters tall, resembling a beehive but colored a sky blue. Its surface writhed like living flesh, pulsing rhythmically as if harboring a beating heart.

"Clang."

The baffle above the basement lifted, and a figure, his head swathed in bandages and leaning on a cane, descended the stairs.

Jiao Hongyuan eyed the newcomer, his curiosity piqued. "Kaiping, what occurred?" he inquired.

Duan Kaiping, supporting himself on his cane, bowed reluctantly to Jiao Hongyuan. "Greetings, Master."

"Something transpired today..." He looked sheepish as he recounted his attempt to provoke Lou Huiying, only to end up ambushed and shot in the head with a bat.

Jiao Hongyuan's brow furrowed.

"Didn't I instruct you to avoid trouble recently? Are you hard of hearing?"

Duan Kaiping felt as if he had plummeted into an icy abyss under Jiao Hongyuan's chilling stare. He broke out in a cold sweat and hastily knelt, his thigh throbbing painfully.

"Master! I erred!"

He swallowed hard, sensing a metaphorical guillotine poised above his neck, ready to deliver its fatal blow.

After a tense, prolonged silence, Jiao Hongyuan's stern gaze softened marginally. "Forget it, rise."

"Yes." Duan Kaiping exhaled in relief, only then noticing the sweat that had drenched him, forming a small puddle at his feet.

"Has 'Number One' grown now?" Jiao Hongyuan queried suddenly.

Duan Kaiping nodded swiftly. "I just inspected the cage; it's now larger than a dog and is growing at an alarming rate."

As he mentioned 'Number One,' a shiver of fear flickered in his eyes, his skin prickling. It wasn't the creature's strength that unnerved him but its grotesque appearance.

Jiao Hongyuan nodded.

"Number One is merely a test subject. Its proportions aren't ideal yet, but the Tianxu Insect Mother can still produce superior offspring..."

"However, it appears the Kant Company is eager to test its efficacy first. Once Number One reaches full maturity, they plan to release it."

Duan Kaiping responded respectfully, "Understood."