Chapter 199: Going Home But No Bloodbath, Xiao Wu's Identity Exposed
The two walked in silence for quite a while before Han Li finally turned to ask, "Oh, I forgot to ask do you need to go back and pack your things?"
"No need. Everything I own is in my storage soul tool."
Zhu Zhuqing gestured to the small pouch on her waist, then paused briefly. "But I think I need to meet with the Tian Dou Crown Prince."
"Because of your withdrawal from the academy? Or did you promise him something?"
Han Li raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Qian Renxue to make moves on Zhu Zhuqing as well.
"No, I just want to inform him that Dai Mubai is no longer worth the investment."
Zhu Zhuqing's voice was cold and emotionless, as if she were simply stating a fact.
"You really hold grudges. But there's no need for you to go in person I'll have someone deliver the message."
Han Li realized he had still underestimated this woman's thirst for revenge. She truly wanted Dai Mubai dead.
"Oh, I forgot. Rumor has it that you and he get along quite well. Or are you worried that bringing me along will affect your relationship?"
Zhu Zhuqing spoke with an expressionless face, yet her words were cutting.
"Mmm, let's go with that." Han Li replied indifferently, barely sparing her a glance. "But let me remind you according to our earlier agreement, you've already sold yourself to me. Keep acting so hostile, and I will make your life difficult."
Zhu Zhuqing gave an indifferent "Oh." and fell silent.
After another five minutes under the cover of Han Li's illusion, the two had left the academy. He tossed Zhu Zhuqing a pendant and had her link it with her soul power before summoning a carriage. They set off toward Tian Dou City.
Tian Dou City, a luxurious mansion under the merchant association's name.
Across the table, three women stared at Han Li and the girl behind him in silence. The table was filled with various snacks they had bought earlier.
"Saint Han, you move fast. We were only gone for half a day, and you've already brought home another little sister. Are we three not enough to satisfy you?"
Dugu Yan's tone was laced with sarcasm, deliberately imitating the voice of a delicate and sickly woman from one of the stories Han Li had once told them.
The corner of Han Li's eye twitched violently. He suddenly regretted sharing that story with them now it was coming back to bite him.
"You should know Zhu Zhuqing. Anyway, this is how things turned out." Han Li remained unfazed. "As for the details, well, let's just say it's not what you're thinking. Maybe hear me out first before you judge."
He had barely begun explaining when he stopped, suddenly realizing how complicated the whole situation was. "Forget it it's too much to explain. I'll just show you."
Without further ado, he activated his mental link, pulling everyone into his spiritual space and replaying the entire incident.
Tianmeng Skull preserving life's precious moments.
Zhu Zhuqing, despite having lived through the events, found herself among the audience once again, this time observing from an outsider's perspective.
And that's when she noticed something strange.
Something was wrong.
In Han Li's perspective, behind Xiao Wu, there was a massive phantom image of a rabbit, surrounded by a gray mist.
But… Xiao Wu hadn't been in Martial Soul Possession form at the time.
Even if she had been, it wouldn't have looked like this. Xiao Wu's Martial Soul Possession resembled hers there should be no phantom figure behind her.
Yet in Han Li's vision, there it was.
She wasn't the only one who noticed. The three other women had also immediately realized something was off about Xiao Wu.
Unlike Zhu Zhuqing, they had personally scanned the Skydream Iceworm using Han Li's spiritual sharing before. They knew exactly what soul beast aura looked like.
And now, they recognized it here.
"A 100,000 year old soul beast in human form? And… still in the adolescent stage?"
Dugu Yan was the first to react, gasping in shock before turning to Han Li for confirmation.
"Yep. That's exactly what you think it is a transformed 100,000 year old soul beast."
Han Li nodded with an oddly amused smile.
"You knew about this long ago, didn't you?"
Dugu Yan narrowed her eyes suspiciously. The way he was grinning he was definitely up to something.
"Does it matter?"
Han Li shot back with a smirk, deliberately avoiding a straight answer.
"This is impossible. How could Xiao Wu be a soul beast? She's met the three elders before. Even Sword Douluo has seen her!"
Zhu Zhuqing was visibly shaken. She struggled to recall whether Sword Douluo had actually met Xiao Wu face to face.
The only thing she was sure of was that Xiao Wu had been in the presence of the academy's three elders before but had she been standing behind them the whole time?
"You two have a good relationship? Close friends?"
Dugu Yan gave her a curious look.
"Just classmates. Nothing more."
Zhu Zhuqing instinctively responded.
"Then why are you so nervous?"
Dugu Yan tilted her head, studying her reaction.
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent, unsure how to answer.
Could she even explain it?
Because the truth was she didn't know either.
Han Li, watching the whole exchange, resisted the urge to chuckle.
Poor girl she just needs some love.
Her upbringing had shaped her personality any act of kindness, no matter how small, would make her cling to it desperately. This was exactly how she had behaved at Tian Dou Academy. Even when Xiao Wu had clearly stood against her, she had considered dying rather than fighting back. Instead, she had chosen to ignore everything.
"Alright, let's keep watching."
Han Li shook his head at Dugu Yan, signaling her not to press further. He resumed controlling the playback.
As the scene unfolded, the three women watching became even more furious far angrier than Zhu Zhuqing herself.
"These people should be thrown into the Killing City especially those two teachers, and that bastard Tang San. They're disgusting."
"Not bad. I didn't expect you to be this bold you were pretty badass."
"You did well, but you went too easy on them. That perverted fat guy? You should have given him a taste too."
"And they're this weak why didn't you just kill them?"
…
Zhu Zhuqing found herself surrounded by the three women, their hostility toward her gone in an instant, now replaced by shared outrage. She was momentarily dazed. Why are they angrier than I am?
Also… were they really that weak?
She had planned carefully just to land a single strike. If it had been a head on fight, she wasn't even sure she could win.
"That about sums it up. Any other questions?"
Han Li ended the mental link, freeing Zhu Zhuqing from the three women's intense scrutiny. Of course, he had been a bit sneaky he had not included his private conversation with her in the playback. So far, the results were exactly what he wanted.
"So, what are you really trying to say? Are you claiming that bringing her back was an accident?"
Dugu Yan, having argued with Han Li for years, wasn't so easily fooled.
"Accident or not doesn't matter. What does matter is that she's one of us now. So, who's in favor? Who's against?"
Han Li smoothly sidestepped the question, subtly shifting the conversation.
The three women exchanged glances before looking at Zhu Zhuqing. They didn't say anything.
What could they even do?
She was already here. Objecting wouldn't change that. Their only option was to glare at Han Li begrudgingly they couldn't exactly start a fight over it.
"Settled then. She and Ye LingLing will temporarily be outer members of our group. Consider them Seven Treasures Sect outer disciples for now."
Han Li made something up on the spot. He mainly wanted to draw a clear line between Zhu Zhuqing, Ye LingLing, and the other three just to make his stance clear.
Besides, he didn't fully trust them yet. The only thing he had toward them was a faint sense of favorability from his past life.
"By the way, Yan jie, send a letter to Ye LingLing. Tell her not to rush into getting her fourth spirit ring. Have her wait for instructions from the Seven Treasures Sect's channels. Also, don't mention our whereabouts just tell her to stay put for a few days."
Han Li remembered that Ye LingLing was about to break through and quickly gave his orders.
"Got it. I'll have someone deliver it right away."
Dugu Yan paused for a moment, then realized that the playback had indeed mentioned Ye LingLing's upcoming breakthrough.
Zhu Zhuqing, meanwhile, silently absorbed this information. So, Ye LingLing has also been recruited by him…
Han Li glanced at her standing alone and waved her over.
Zhu Zhuqing wasn't sure what he wanted, but she still walked up to him.
"Alright, now we get to the real topic."
Han Li gave her a serious look. With a flick of his left hand, he produced a document covered in tiny, densely packed writing.
He handed it to Zhu Zhuqing.
"What's this?"
Curious, the three women leaned in.
"A new Martial Soul Pact."
Han Li admitted a little sheepishly.
He had long planned this. This document was a mix of treaties, contracts, and novel inspired agreements, covering every aspect imaginable.
Before, he had made it just to pass the time. But now, with real power in his hands, this Martial Soul Pact had actual weight.
"There's so much…?"
Dugu Yan had already moved next to Zhu Zhuqing, reading alongside her.
After skimming a few lines, her head started spinning. The wording was ridiculously complex just reading it was a headache.
She shot Han Li a "Are you even human?" look before snatching the paper from Zhu Zhuqing's hands and stuffing it into her own soul tool.
"A normal Martial Soul Pact is enough. This one? Save it for outsiders."
Her words clearly indicated that she had accepted Zhu Zhuqing, distinguishing her from outsiders.
"Fine. We'll go with the standard one."
Han Li didn't argue. Instead, he played along, agreeing with a slight smirk.
Then he noticed Zhu Zhuqing glance up at him and shoot him a look of disdain.
Oh.
He had forgotten Zhu Zhuqing had an incredibly sharp sense for emotions.
Still, that wasn't necessarily a bad thing.
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