Zhu Zhuqing's breathing fell into a stable rhythm—she had used this technique many times throughout her escape, slipping away just long enough to create space and regain her footing.
'Just a bit more… just a little farther and I'll throw them off again…'
Behind her, Zhu Zhuyun watched the direction her younger sister vanished in. A complicated expression crossed her face—half helplessness, half melancholy.
"Sigh…"
There was no anger in that breath. Only quiet resignation.
Zhu Zhuyun raised her hand slightly and gestured toward the archer.
A warning signal.
No intent to harm, but only enough force to scare Zhu Zhuqing into slowing down .
The black-clothed archer reacted instantly. He had done this countless times during the journey—firing threatening but harmless shots that diverted soul beasts or nudged Zhu Zhuqing away from danger.
With a fluid motion, he kicked off a trunk, leaping into a high vantage point among intertwined branches. His bow was already in his hand before he even landed. He drew the string back smoothly, muscle memory guiding his aim.
'Let' s do it again.....Just close enough to shock her.'
His eyes narrowed, tracking the faint rustle of leaves marking Zhu Zhuqing's route. In the dim forest light, he blended with the shadows.
His Six soul rings lit up and his Martial Soul Bow took aim at Zhu Zhuqing's direction
The arrow tip gleamed faintly.
He released the string.
Fourth Soul Skill : Wind's Snake
Whoosh!
At that exact moment—as if fate itself twitched—
A large squirrel burst out from a hollow tree trunk, its claws scraping against the bark with a frantic chitter.The sudden movement passed right across the archer's focused line of sight.
His pupils shrank.
His trained hand flinched.
The string slipped from his fingers—
And the arrow, meant to fall harmlessly, veered off course.
The shaft sliced through the air like a snake's hiss, streaking toward Zhu Zhuqing.
----
Whoosh
Zhu Zhuqing—still sprinting under her first soul skill's doubled speed—heard a faint whistle tearing through the air behind her.
She had no time to react, before a violent force struck her chest with a sickening impact.
"—!"
Her breath froze, as her steps faltered.
Zhu Zhuqing looked down, disbelief widening her eyes.
An arrowhead protruded from her chest, gleaming coldly as she trembled.
Her vision blurred, as her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the forest floor.
----
Zhu Zhuyun, who had been calmly signaling another warning arrow moments ago, turned at the sudden shift in atmosphere—and saw the arrow embedded in her sister's chest.
Her mind went blank.
"ZHUQING!"
She darted forward faster than she ever had, her boots barely touching the ground as she rushed to the fallen girl.
Kneeling, she pulled Zhu Zhuqing into her arms. Blood—far too much for her heart to bear—flowed between her fingers.
"Hold on! We have to take her away!" Zhu Zhuyun ordered frantically, voice cracking."Find a healing-type soul master! Hurry! We can still save her— we can still—"
Her hands shook uncontrollably as she lifted Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders.
Zhu Zhuqing stared blankly at her sister's face—eyes no longer cold, but soft, helpless, full of grief she had never shown before.
Zhu Zhuqing parted her lips, wanting to speak.
Only blood trickled out.
A faint smile tugged at her mouth. It was a lonely, resigned smile.
Her eyes lost their light and her head fell forward.
Zhu Zhuqing's final breath faded away
Zhu Zhuyun before screaming "Zhuqing… no… no, no… ZHUQING—!"
Her cry tore through the forest, raw grief in her voice
She didn't know how long she cried.Long enough for her tears to run dry… and stain her cheeks white.
Finally, with trembling hands, she gently closed Zhu Zhuqing's lids—eyes that had once held dreams of freedom, of strength, of tomorrow.
Eyes that would no longer open.
The archer knelt in front of Zhu Zhuyun, forehead pressed to the ground.
"Mistress… I deserve death. I had no intent to harm the young lady. Punish me as you see fit."
"I know. It was unintentional, bad luck." Zhu Zhuyun's voice was coldBut the dried tear trails on her face revealed the storm inside her heart.
She looked at Zhu Zhuqing's silent, peaceful form… and whispered:
"She died because she chose to trust a coward who ran away from his responsibilities.""Dai Mubai… this is the result of your abandonment."
Her fists clenched.
"Take her. I want my sister to have a proper burial."
The group respectfully lifted Zhu Zhuqing's body.
They turned back toward the Star Luo Empire—.
A young girl's life, future, potential, and dreams had ended before Shrek Seven Monsters was even formed.
In another timeline— she would have been one of the Shrek Seven Monsters.
-----
Spirit City: Unknown Location
Sunlight poured gently into the room, casting warm gold across polished floors.
At a wooden desk sat a girl with shimmering golden hair, her quill scratching rhythmically on parchment.
The words she wrote were simple:
"Shrek Seven Monsters has now been reduced to six."
Qian Renxue's expression did not change.
Zhu Zhuqing's death was nothing more than an experiment for herAn experiment to see if the so-called protagonists group of Douluo Dalu the Shrek Seven Monsters —truly possessed some form of protection from fate or higher dimension.
Qian Renxue closed the notebook and tapped her quill lightly.
Her eyes shimmered—calm, analytical, amused.
"It seems that only Tang San… one whose existence seems to brush against a higher dimension is worth monitoring"
Her voice was soft, but her smile was sharp.
The rest of Shrek Seven Monsters might amounts to nothing more than lab rats for her other experiments.
The golden sunlight framed her silhouette like a divine portrait.
But her presence felt nothing like an angel.