Douluo : Capture the goddess starting from peerless tang sect

Ma Xiaotao's red clothes clung tightly to her body from the sweat, her figure outlined vividly for Qian Ran to see. Below her chest, the curves of her toned hips and long legs were visible through the damp fabric, with no sign of any other clothing beneath.

Her body was truly something to behold.

Her temperature naturally ran hotter than most girls, even without her Phoenix Martial Spirit's fire coursing through her.

"Thank you, Qian Ran," she managed, standing up and expressing her gratitude, her face flushed with embarrassment as she pieced together what had just happened.

Had she really acted like that in front of him? Even with her fiery personality, she was still a young woman, after all, and the memory left her both humiliated and angry.

"Ugh, what a mess! How humiliating…" Ma Xiaotao clenched her fists, replaying everything in her mind. No matter how bold she was, the memory made her want to hide. For someone who prided herself on self-control, this was utterly shameful.

"Don't worry about it, Senior Sister. I'm just glad you're okay," Qian Ran said casually, admiring her silhouette. The way her damp clothes clung to her curves was a sight he couldn't get enough of.

Ma Xiaotao, though, suddenly narrowed her eyes at him, realization dawning. "Wait a minute…" she muttered. A flash of annoyance crossed her face.

Sure, his angelic spirit helped in the end, but didn't Qian Ran have something to do with her sudden outburst in the first place? If he hadn't… poked around… things wouldn't have gone that far.

"Ugh, this brat's in for it later," she muttered, her face reddening. She was definitely going to make him pay for this. For a young woman like her, this wasn't a small matter—it was a huge deal. Their interaction had definitely gone beyond acceptable limits.

Not that she didn't notice Qian Ran was easy on the eyes. He was better looking than the average boy and had a sturdy build to boot, without all the flashiness of some pretty boys who lacked substance. But no, Ma Xiaotao, what are you even thinking?!

She patted her cheeks to stop herself from spiraling.

"Senior Sister Ma, just keep an eye on things when you're back at your dorm," Qian Ran advised, leaning close and lowering his voice. "You know, so the evil fire doesn't… flare up again."

"What did you say?" she demanded, though she understood his point. She also knew he wasn't wrong. Inheriting the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Spirit meant she had to contend with its unique drawbacks.

When Qian Ran jumped back, she sent a fierce look his way. "Jerk," she muttered, half-embarrassed, half-annoyed, before reaching out to give him a swift kick to the rear.

If not for his cheeky interference, things wouldn't have gotten out of hand. He'd even suggested she should "not hold herself back"—inappropriate advice to offer to any girl, let alone her. But… he had a point, which only added to her frustration.

"Professor Zhou Yi, I'm sorry about earlier. I really didn't mean for any of that to happen," Ma Xiaotao said, scratching her head. She couldn't deny she'd embarrassed herself, and unfortunately, Qian Ran got to enjoy a bit of the show.

"No worries. It wasn't entirely your fault," Zhou Yi replied, glancing at Qian Ran. If anyone was to blame, it was him. Ma Xiaotao lost control, but Qian Ran, the rascal, was completely aware of what he was doing.

"Alright, let's go," Ma Xiaotao announced, seizing Qian Ran by the shoulder. "We still have some things to settle."

Zhou Yi felt a sense of curiosity. Was Ma Xiaotao planning to exact some payback on him? She couldn't deny her interest in how strong Qian Ran had become, since, as his instructor, she could never quite gauge his full potential.

"Let's go, little Junior Brother. We're having a sparring session," Ma Xiaotao declared, dragging Qian Ran to Shrek Academy's Sparring Grounds, where students could battle and test their strength.

The grounds were open after classes until midnight, and students who wished to duel could register and pay a fee. Fights between notable students were even broadcasted across dormitories to allow for wider audiences, with half the ticket sales going to the winner.

However, Ma Xiaotao didn't care about the money, and with her status as a prominent figure in the inner court, she had no trouble securing a private arena for the match.

"Professor Zhou Yi, will you act as our referee?"

"Little Junior Brother, I'll go easy on you," Ma Xiaotao added with a smile, though there was a glint in her eye that made Qian Ran shiver.

Maybe it wasn't so wise to have teased her earlier.