As Angélia watched Zhong Shenxiu and Robin advance with a troop of Skeleton Warriors, a deep fear gripped her. Yet, unlike the young girls who studied magic, she didn't shriek; her hand instinctively flew to the sword belted at her waist.

The cold metal against her palm offered a momentary sense of calm.

But everyone knew—even Angélia herself—that this blade was utterly useless against Zhong Shenxiu and Robin. If they truly meant her harm, they could end her in an instant. The speed of Robin and the sheer strangeness of Zhong Shenxiu had burned indelible marks onto Angélia’s psyche.

Despite this certainty, she gripped the sword tightly; it was the only source of composure she possessed in that moment.

Angélia’s slightly pale complexion betrayed that much of her calm was an act. She was currently speechless, her body trembling uncontrollably. It was hard to reconcile this trembling figure with the one who had held the third position in the 'Academy Ranking Tournament' for two consecutive years. Now, she resembled little more than a startled rabbit.

Still, it wasn't a total collapse; the fact she hadn't fainted proved her courage was still considerable.

Zhong Shenxiu found her predicament amusing. You were quite the tough one last time, he thought. What happened now? Why the sudden meekness?

When Zhong Shenxiu finally stood before her, Angélia’s heart leaped into her throat. Seeing the line of Skeleton Warriors standing behind him only amplified the chilling sensation.

Zhong Shenxiu had no immediate intention of action; he simply stood there, observing her quietly. For a moment, they were locked in a silent, unmoving stare.

The scene, however, was rather comical: Angélia sat frozen, utterly unnatural; Zhong Shenxiu stood relaxed, perfectly at ease. What a stark contrast!

Zhong Shenxiu’s gaze made Angélia uneasy, causing her heartbeat to quicken unexpectedly.

But something felt truly strange. The sharp terror she’d felt moments ago was fading, replaced by an inexplicable tremor of excitement. This sensation intensified when she met the gaze of his profound eyes.

What is happening to me? Why this strange feeling? Angélia felt lost, and the hand gripping her sword involuntarily loosened.

This strange feeling was akin to her entire soul threatening to become lost within those deep eyes; the longer she stared, the more impossible it became to look away—a sensation utterly new to her.

The peculiarity, truth be told, was attributable to Zhong Shenxiu. Because of his practice of 'Dark Sorcery,' his eyes possessed a captivating charm capable of bewitching others. Any member of the opposite sex who gazed into them for too long would inevitably become deeply ensnared. Zhong Shenxiu remained oblivious to this effect, as his prolonged eye contact with women had been limited. Robin, having also studied 'Dark Sorcery,' already possessed some resistance and thus showed no obvious reaction.

"Hey, girl. What's your name?" Zhong Shenxiu suddenly broke the silence, adopting an overly mature tone.

Angélia visibly started, her mind a swirl of question marks, utterly bewildered by the address. Girl? Calling me 'girl'? Is he older than me? She couldn't fathom how she had suddenly become a 'girl.'

Perhaps she was truly stunned, or perhaps she was already caught in the thrall of his deep eyes; in any case, when Zhong Shenxiu asked, Angélia answered truthfully.

"Angélia!"

"Angélia? The name is passable!"

Hearing her reply, Zhong Shenxiu muttered something to himself, glanced at Angélia again, and stated plainly, "I can tell you responsibly, your current sitting posture is quite unbecoming. You should pay attention to that in the future!"

Angélia first blinked in confusion, then instinctively looked down. Indeed, her private parts were completely exposed toward Zhong Shenxiu! Although known as the 'Ice Beauty,' she was still a young woman, and even with her usual defiance, she felt her composure shatter.

Instantly, delicate crimson bloomed across Angélia’s fair face, strikingly beautiful. She reflexively clamped her legs tightly together, stealing furtive glances at Zhong Shenxiu.

How humiliating! Angélia could never have dreamed of experiencing such an embarrassing moment!

After waiting a moment for Angélia to regain some semblance of calm, Zhong Shenxiu moved on to the serious matters.

"You saw what happened just now. Don't blame us; those guys blocked us first. We were merely exercising self-defense, you understand?" To ensure she grasped the point, Zhong Shenxiu gestured toward the recent battlefield.

Angélia nodded dumbly, the blush on her cheeks still not entirely faded.

"Let's just consider this an event you never witnessed. It wouldn't be good for anyone if word got out, do you understand?" Zhong Shenxiu pressed again.

The line sounded distressingly like he was propositioning a minor.

Angélia nodded foolishly once more. This time, she finally grasped his objective: he wanted her to keep the recent fight a secret. In truth, given Angélia's nature, she wouldn't gossip even if he hadn't asked; she wasn't the type to spread rumors—her personality was more akin to a young man's.

"Good. Relatively obedient."

Zhong Shenxiu's unexpected praise left Angélia wondering if she should feel pleased or utterly speechless.

Zhong Shenxiu turned to leave with Robin and the Skeleton Warriors, but he seemed to recall something and paused, turning back to Angélia. "Oh, right. Since you seem decent, let me offer some advice. Swordsmanship is about the mind, not just the form! If you're interested, you might try practicing with a two-handed sword!"

With that, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin truly departed.

Angélia remained standing where they left her, puzzling over Zhong Shenxiu's words: "Mind, not form"? "Two-handed sword"? What could he possibly mean?

Zhong Shenxiu, having not gone far, found a stone nearby and sat down. He stared blankly at the Skeleton Warriors accompanying him. He currently needed so many bodyguards; it was incredibly inconvenient. Yet, letting them dissipate felt like a waste, as summoning them required a significant expenditure of his power.

Fine, I’ll let them stay here in the Magical Beast Forest for now, just like the 'Swift Eagle.'

That was Zhong Shenxiu's thought, but he wasn't about to let them stand around like mindless statues; they needed tasks, or they were a complete waste of manpower. As this idea solidified, a smile spread across Zhong Shenxiu's face, for a brilliant scheme had just hatched in his mind.