Chapter 233: Xiao Wu: If You Like Him, Then Go After Him, Zhuqing!
Lin Qingmo and his group's soul-hunting trip in the Sunset Forest had finally come to an end.
Liu Erlong brought Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Dugu Yan back to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy first.
Lin Qingmo, however, headed alone toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
Soon.
Lin Qingmo found the poisonous barrier region, passed through it, and entered the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.
His gaze fell upon the vibrant Blue Silver Grass growing at the center of the spring.
Ah Yin.
The moment he approached, Ah Yin's leaves began trembling uncontrollably.
Her broad leaves carefully stretched toward him, gently brushing against the back of his hand.
There was intimacy and longing in that movement.
Lin Qingmo crouched down, reaching out to gently stroke the leaves, a soft smile forming at the corner of his lips.
"Ah Yin, long time no see." His voice was light and gentle.
Ah Yin's leaves immediately spread open, swaying happily.
More leaves extended over, softly wrapping around his hand, pouring all their joy and excitement into him at once.
He really still remembered her.
"Ah Yin, I came this time to take you away."
Lin Qingmo looked at her, his tone serious.
"I know you don't want to stay here."
"Your condition is very stable now. When I go to hunt my fifth soul ring, I'll send you back to the Blue Silver Forest."
"That's your home. You should return to your clan. With your people there, there should be a way to help you recover quickly."
According to the original work,
The Blue Silver Grass in the Blue Silver Forest could evolve Tang San's martial soul into the Blue Silver Emperor through sacrifice.
They should also be able to use sacrifice to restore their emperor, Ah Yin's, cultivation.
Ah Yin's leaves suddenly froze for a moment, then began trembling gently, with fine droplets of dew forming upon them.
Her leaves tightly wrapped around his hand, transmitting gratitude and dependence together.
Finally, someone understood her.
Finally, someone wanted to send her home.
Lin Qingmo smiled, and with a flick of his fingertip, released a strand of gentle soul power, carefully enveloping Ah Yin's main body, lifting her out of the soil bit by bit.
"Don't worry, I'll definitely send you home."
…
Two days later.
Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Zhu Zhuqing sat in her room all afternoon.
The sunset outside the window slowly sank inch by inch.
Her fingers repeatedly twisted the hem of her clothes, weighed down by matters that had been weighing on her heart for far too long.
After thinking for a long time, she finally stood up and walked toward Xiao Wu's room.
This had to be said. She had to apologize to Xiao Wu to feel at ease.
Standing at Xiao Wu's door, she took several deep breaths before raising her hand and knocking lightly.
"Come in."
Xiao Wu's crisp voice came from inside.
Zhu Zhuqing pushed the door open and closed it behind her.
Xiao Wu was sitting by the table, gnawing on a carrot. Seeing her enter, she smiled and waved.
"Zhuqing? Come sit. What's wrong? You don't look too well."
Zhu Zhuqing walked over and stopped in front of Xiao Wu.
"Xiao Wu, I'm sorry."
Her voice was filled with guilt.
"Huh?"
Xiao Wu froze for a moment, putting down the carrot and looking at her in confusion.
"What's wrong, Zhuqing? Why are you apologizing? Did something happen?"
Zhu Zhuqing raised her head and met Xiao Wu's clear eyes, the guilt in her heart deepening.
She bit her lip and said word by word, "I… when we were in the Sunset Forest… I kissed Ah Qing."
"I know you're his lover. I shouldn't have done that. I'm sorry."
After speaking, her face flushed red, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Xiao Wu's reaction.
"…"
The silence made Zhu Zhuqing's heart tighten with tension.
She had already prepared herself to be scolded or even hit.
After all, she was the one who did something wrong.
But to her surprise, Xiao Wu only widened her eyes slightly when she heard it.
Then she smiled and waved her hand lightly. "That's all? I thought it was something serious."
"Hm?"
This indifferent response confused Zhu Zhuqing.
"You… you don't mind?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
"You're clearly Ah Qing's lover. I did something like this. How could you not mind?"
"Sigh."
Xiao Wu let out a soft sigh.
She took Zhu Zhuqing's hand and pulled her to sit beside her, looking at her seriously.
"Zhuqing, I like Ah Qing; I really, really like him. But I can't have him all to myself."
When she said this, a trace of helplessness flashed across her face.
She knew it clearly.
That woman, the Titled Douluo who claimed to be Ah Qing's master, was terrifyingly powerful.
She couldn't defeat her. In front of that person, she couldn't even protect Ah Qing, let alone monopolize him.
She needed to gather more people—more people who liked Ah Qing and truly treated him well.
Only by standing together with her could they resist that terrifying woman who toyed with Ah Qing. Only then could they protect him.
Zhu Zhuqing was a good girl, strong in character.
If she could bring her to her side, that would be ideal.
Of course, she would never tell Zhu Zhuqing these things.
Nor could she let her know about Ah Qing's master's excessive behavior.
Xiao Wu's gaze rested on Zhu Zhuqing as she spoke seriously. "Zhuqing, tell me honestly. Do you like Ah Qing?"
"!!!"
Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks instantly turned red, as if her thoughts had been exposed.
Although she didn't answer immediately,
Her reaction had already answered for her.
Xiao Wu smiled, patting her hand, her tone encouraging. "If you like him, then tell him."
"Be a little proactive. Make your feelings clear. Ah Qing will understand."
"Th-this…"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't know what to say for a moment.
What kind of girlfriend encourages someone else to pursue her own boyfriend?
This was far too strange.
"Xiao Wu, you… you really don't mind?"
She asked again, still unable to believe it.
Just putting herself in Xiao Wu's position, Zhu Zhuqing knew she could never do something like this.
Xiao Wu shook her head and smiled openly. "I don't mind~."
"I like Ah Qing, so I want him to be happy. I hope more people like him and take care of him."
"One more person treating him well isn't a good thing?"
"…"
Zhu Zhuqing looked into Xiao Wu's sincere eyes.
The weight in her heart finally lifted.
A trace of courage also rose within her.
That's right. She liked Ah Qing. Why shouldn't she say it?
Xiao Wu was opening the door to a whole new world for Zhu Zhuqing.
…
What they didn't know was that outside the door, Ning Rongrong was hiding behind a pillar in the corridor, having heard every word of their conversation.
…
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Main Hall. The warm white jade floor was smooth as a mirror.
The light-attributed gemstones embedded in the pillars broke the sunlight into fragments of golden brilliance, flowing across every carved detail within the hall.
Ning Fengzhi sat on the main seat, holding a white jade teacup between his fingers.
The rising steam softened his refined features, slightly obscuring the depth in his eyes that seemed to see through everything.
The hall doors were gently pushed open by the guards outside.
A figure dressed in moon-white brocade robes slowly walked in.
The person who arrived was none other than the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe.
End of Chapter.
[35+ advanced chapters available on Patreon—next arc already unlocked (search: Taichu372).]