The Eternal Mercenary

When the sky was dimly lit, Jun Shang was jogging along the mountain path of Qilin Park.

He had recently moved to this area, residing in a city village with a dense population near a building junction.

The surroundings were pleasant along the route, but there weren't many people engaged in morning exercises. The urban hustle and bustle had conditioned the younger generation to late nights, making it challenging to wake up early for morning workouts on workdays. Most of the people he encountered were seniors taking leisurely strolls towards the mountaintop.

Jun Shang maintained a brisk pace during his mountain run, quickly leaving others behind. However, after a while, he noticed that he hadn't seen anyone for a long time. It then dawned on him that he might have taken a wrong turn.

Arriving at a fork in the road, he realized he had veered off towards the mountainside, leading to a semi-mountain villa area. No wonder he hadn't encountered anyone else.

This deviation didn't bother him much; he didn't necessarily have to reach the summit of Qilin Mountain. He could run to the end of the path ahead and then turn back. While turning a corner, he spotted a graceful figure – a slender girl who was also jogging.

The sudden appearance of such a picturesque scene brightened Jun Shang's eyes. However, he didn't slow down to admire the "scenery" and continued at his own pace.

The girl's speed was slower than his, but perhaps fueled by a sense of competition upon noticing him behind, she accelerated.

From his rear perspective, Jun Shang could clearly see the girl's graceful figure. She wore a baseball cap with a ponytail swaying behind. Adorned in a light beige sportswear, the short sleeves revealed her delicate arms. The tight shorts accentuated her well-proportioned, slender legs, highlighting the curves of her petite buttocks as she ran.

Jun Shang couldn't help but silently praise her exceptional physique.

As the footsteps approached, the girl, seemingly driven by a competitive spirit, accelerated even more.

Amused by her competitiveness, Jun Shang decided to surpass her to dispel any notions of a competition.

Just then, the girl let out a surprised cry, stumbled, and seemed about to fall!

Jun Shang's initial reaction was amusement – running was just a form of exercise, was it necessary to be so intense? However, as a man, he couldn't just watch her fall.

Though he was still behind her, trying to grab her hand or support her was out of the question. What he could do was quickly catch up, extend his hands, and grab her waist to prevent her from falling.

Startled, the girl, with a slightly pale face, reflexively extended her hands to brace for impact. If she fell, she might scrape her face or injure her hands severely, possibly even spraining her wrist or dislocating it.

Just as her hands were about to hit the ground, she felt a weight on her waist, and her body abruptly stopped descending. A pair of large hands had embraced her from behind, bringing her a sense of security. She couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

"Are you okay?" Jun Shang, while still hugging her, helped her stand up and asked with concern.

The girl, almost falling to the ground, was now standing securely in Jun Shang's arms. The situation looked somewhat awkward, as from an outsider's perspective, it might seem like they were engaged in some illicit activity.

"I... ah!"

The girl, catching her breath, suddenly realized she was being held by a young man around her waist from behind. She couldn't help but blush and immediately struggled, reaching to free herself from Jun Shang's grasp.