’Fu Yuan wants to use that mark to prove Jiang Yunnuan’s identity!’

"I had my doubts about what you said, but this mark... it can’t be faked. I don’t know if she’s the real Jiang Yunnuan, but she is our Contract Master."

Si Xie’s expression instantly turned grim.

’He has that mark on him too, they just don’t know it!’

*

Jiang Yunnuan completed her advancement around nine in the evening.

She was several hours behind everyone else.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes were four men looking at her, each with a different expression. Ming Ye and Jun Yao, however, were bruised and swollen. Their handsome faces looked as if they’d been through some inhuman ordeal, making it hard to even look at them.

She didn’t know what was going on, but she was angry. Her face darkened as she glared at them in displeasure.

"What happened to your faces?"

’These two are my personal property. Their faces are so handsome; just one look can brighten my whole day.’

’But what is this?’

’They’re so swollen... not handsome at all anymore!’

At her words, Fu Yuan and Si Xie glanced at the two battered men, a hint of schadenfreude in their eyes. Ming Ye, however, just pursed his lips, acting as if it had nothing to do with him.

Only Jun Yao calmly explained.

"Ming Ye completed his advancement and used me for sparring practice."

Jiang Yunnuan: "..."

’Sparring is one thing, but did they have to aim for the face?’

’It’s true what they say, the people closest to you hit the hardest!’

"You two, come here!"

She waved her hand impatiently. Jun Yao’s brow twitched, and he was the first to walk over.

The tall, imposing man with his broad shoulders and narrow waist stood before her, his powerful presence instantly making the 165cm Jiang Yunnuan seem small and delicate by comparison.

She stood on her tiptoes and swept her hand across his face.

A gentle white light flowed out. Everyone felt a surge of mysterious power, and then they watched as the bruises and marks on the areas she touched vanished before their very eyes.

His outrageously handsome face was gradually restored to its original perfect state.

Jiang Yunnuan cupped his face and examined it from side to side, her lips curling into a satisfied smile. "Mm, much better. Handsome again. This is much easier on the eyes."

"As long as you like it."

Jun Yao looked at her, his eyes deep and dark, like a bottomless abyss, making it impossible to read his emotions.

Jiang Yunnuan: "..."

’Who would believe he could say that with an affinity of -1999?’

’The thought of his absurdly low affinity made her grind her teeth in frustration. She was so furious, she cursed him internally over and over.’

"Like it? Of course I do. I like you the most!"

She narrowed her eyes and teased him flirtatiously, then stood on her tiptoes in front of everyone and gave him a light peck on the lips.

’Hmph. This guy loves to put on a show, doesn’t he?’

’Fine. Two can play that game.’

And Jun Yao, being kissed in public, didn’t even twitch an eyelid, his face devoid of emotion, like a block of wood.

’His self-control is incredible. Is he a reincarnated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle?’ Jiang Yunnuan was once again in awe of his restraint.

The other three were stunned by this scene.

Ming Ye was the first to recover, nonchalantly averting his gaze. Fu Yuan’s expression remained unchanged, though his eyes darkened a few shades. Only Si Xie was left, gritting his teeth and glaring at them menacingly.

"Shameless couple... Have they no shame..."

He cursed very quietly, but was still heard by everyone. Jun Yao’s eyelids twitched, and he shot him a cold glance.

The next moment, the woman in front of him pushed him away, turned, and strode over to Si Xie. She glared daggers at him, threatening him with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

"Try saying that again!"

Si Xie: "..."

"Do you take us for blind? We were all watching you kiss him! If that isn’t shameless, what is? If you have the guts to do it, you should have the guts to hear about it!"

With a dark expression, he scowled and retorted furiously.

The next moment, his lips were covered. A familiar, sweet fragrance filled his senses. Si Xie’s heart skipped a beat as his eyes flew wide open.

Watching the man and woman kissing, Fu Yuan and Jun Yao’s faces were cold and indifferent. Both narrowed their eyes, but their fists clenched unconsciously.

’Damn it, that wretched woman kissed me again!!!’

It took a moment for Si Xie to react to the kiss. His dangerously beautiful face flushed crimson. Humiliated and furious, he moved to push her away, but Jiang Yunnuan had already pulled back.

With a look of utter disgust, she wiped her plump, pink lips with her sleeve, then gave him a mocking, wry smile.

"Well now, everyone was watching. Why didn’t you fight back when I kissed you? Looks to me like you’re pretty shameless yourself!"

Si Xie: "..."

’So, that wretched woman’s little stunt just now was purely for revenge?’

’She did all that just to throw my "shameless" comment back in my face?’

At this realization, he felt utterly humiliated. His expression turned so dark it was almost terrifying.

Having vented her spleen, Jiang Yunnuan couldn’t be bothered with him any longer.

She turned to Ming Ye, her pleasant voice a lazy drawl. "Do you want me to heal your face? If you do, come here. If not, go back to your room, and don’t show your face to me until it’s healed."

’She had no desire to keep looking at that swollen face. It was an assault on the eyes.’

Ming Ye wanted to turn and leave, but on second thought, he suppressed the urge to return to his room and walked towards her.

Seeing how tense he was, as if facing a formidable enemy, left Jiang Yunnuan at a loss for words.

She sneered and said impatiently, "You can relax. I’m not going to kiss you."

’She had only kissed Si Xie because he was asking for it. He’d provoked her with that mouth of his, so she decided to give him something to be disgusted about.’

’As for Jun Yao, she’d already kissed him before. Besides, the guy was so compliant with her every whim; kissing him was practically an afterthought.’

Hearing her words, Ming Ye seemed to breathe a sigh of relief as his tense body relaxed.

Jiang Yunnuan pretended not to notice. She healed his face with a wave of her hand and promptly walked away, true to her word.

"As you’ve all seen, I’ve awakened a Healing Ability. Jun Yao is healed, too. Tomorrow, let’s talk about taking on some missions..."

Before she could finish her sentence, she was viciously interrupted by Si Xie, who seemed determined to oppose her.

"I’m not going! Whoever wants to go can go! Anyway, I’m not doing any more missions!"

"Is that so?"

Jiang Yunnuan wasn’t about to humor him. She narrowed her eyes. "Fine. Remember you said that. Don’t come to regret it."

"Heh..."

At her words, Si Xie let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Regret not being your slave? Oh, you can rest assured, I’ll never regret it. If I do, I’m a dog!"

"Deal!"

Jiang Yunnuan nodded, then turned to the other three.

"I’ve awakened more than just a Healing Ability; I also have Purification. Since we’re all in this together, I won’t look for another team to work with. We’ll form our own group. Any rewards we get from missions will be split evenly between us."

"Any unexpected loot you find during a mission is yours to keep. From now on, I will absolutely not demand you hand over Star Coins, nor will I take your Cultivation Resources."

Hearing this, Si Xie’s eyes widened, and he was completely dumbfounded...