The hustle and bustle of Suotuo City was left far behind as the carriage returning to Tianxing Academy rolled steadily along the main road. Inside the carriage, the newly joined Zhu Zhuqing sat alone by the window, her gaze drifting toward the scenery rapidly receding outside, her cold, delicate profile appearing somewhat blurred amidst the dappled light and shadow.
After a few brief exchanges with Ning Rongrong, Meng Yiran, and the others, she had returned to her customary silence, as if an invisible barrier separated her from the slightly lively atmosphere within the carriage.
The teammates around her were either whispering about the previous battle or resting with their eyes closed, but Zhu Zhuqing's thoughts had long since drifted away, back to that oppressive and struggling Star Luo City, back to the night that marked the turning point of her fate.
Zhu Zhuqing traveled alone, relying on the speed and concealment abilities granted by her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul to carefully traverse towns and wilderness.
Her youthful yet already cold and beautiful face bore deep exhaustion, and those bright cat-like eyes were intertwined with stubbornness, worry, and a trace of an indelible expectation.
After months of sleeping in the open and tracking, the clues finally pointed to the prosperous city located on the southwestern border of the Heaven Dou Empire—Suotuo City.
"Dai Mubai... you are hiding here, living what kind of life? Could it be that you are biding your time?" Zhu Zhuqing stood on a small hill outside Suotuo City, looking at the brightly lit city below, her heart filled with a complex mix of emotions.
The cruel competitive pressure within the family had almost crushed her; she was forced to flee, not only to find a glimmer of life but also to try and grasp that last straw of hope in her despair, the one called "fiancé." However, Dai Mubai's initial departure without a word and his avoidance had long since carved deep distrust into her heart.
As night fell, the largest den of iniquity in Suotuo City—the Suotuo Great Soul Arena—was at its most boisterous moment. Zhu Zhuqing hid in an inconspicuous shadow outside the arena, her keen perception extending into the venue like invisible tentacles. She was not there to watch a battle, but to sense that familiar aura belonging to the Star Luo White Tiger.
Inside the arena, amidst deafening cheers, a fierce soul battle had just ended. The tall, blond young man, none other than Dai Mubai, was wearing his signature wild smile, with a pair of charming twin sisters in his arms, enjoying the glory of a victor and the embrace of beauties. He looked high-spirited, as if he had long since thrown the suffocating family strife of the Star Luo Empire to the back of his mind.
Just as Dai Mubai laughed and prepared to take his companions away from the arena to a place of greater indulgence, a soul power fluctuation, originating from the depths of his bloodline, incomparably familiar yet carrying a cold chill, pierced through the noisy air like an ice needle, precisely stabbing into his perception. That was the aura of the Hell Spirit Cat!
The smile on Dai Mubai's face froze instantly, his wild and uninhibited expression replaced by disbelief and astonishment. He stopped abruptly, his sharp golden eyes shooting like electricity toward the direction from which the soul power fluctuation came—the dim shadow at the entrance of the soul arena.
From the shadows, a petite yet upright figure slowly walked out. The moonlight and the neon lights of the distant arena outlined her exquisite silhouette. The young girl wore tight black leather clothing, and despite being travel-worn, with a few imperceptible tears in her clothes, it could not hide her cold and stunning beauty.
Her complexion was somewhat pale, the fatigue of a long journey evident, but those deep cat-like eyes were now burning with cold flames, staring straight and unreservedly at Dai Mubai, as well as the pair of twins in his arms.
That gaze held no surprise at a long-awaited reunion, no reliance, only deep disappointment, the cold anger of being betrayed, and a heavy, silent scrutiny that seemed to be questioning him.
Dai Mubai's heart felt as if it had been gripped hard by an invisible hand, his breathing stifled. He almost subconsciously released the twins he was holding, the habitual frivolity on his face vanishing in an instant, replaced by a pallor mixed with shock, guilt, and complex emotions. He opened his mouth, and a name was squeezed out of his throat with difficulty, carrying a tremor he hadn't even noticed:
"Zhu... Zhuqing?!"
Zhu Zhuqing did not answer. She just looked at him coldly, looking at this fiancé who should have been fighting side by side with her, yet was now indulging in wine and lust in a foreign land, enjoying the false freedom brought by avoidance. The last faint light in her eyes seemed to extinguish, leaving only the dead silence of a cold pool.
The next moment, just as Dai Mubai attempted to step forward to explain or grab her, her figure flickered like a true spirit cat merging into the night. She turned without hesitation and disappeared into the depths of the intricate streets of Suotuo City at an astonishing speed, leaving behind only a resolute and cold back view.
Dai Mubai's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, the twin sisters pouting and pulling at him in confusion, while the surrounding voices remained boisterous and noisy. However, all of this seemed to have drifted away from him.
He stared at the direction where Zhu Zhuqing had disappeared, his golden eyes revealing panic for the first time and... a trace of indescribable stinging pain.
He knew she had come, carrying the heavy shackles of the family, carrying complete disappointment in his cowardly avoidance, like a cold, biting wind that instantly tore to shreds the illusions of debauchery he had deliberately ignored for these past few years.
Zhu Zhuqing's heart sank into an ice cellar bit by bit. A few months ago, she had fled from that suffocating family cage with a glimmer of hope, traveling thousands of miles, enduring pursuits, hiding and dodging, only to finally find Suotuo City.
She had imagined the scene of their meeting countless times—perhaps he was also cultivating diligently, perhaps he was also accumulating strength, perhaps... they could still join forces to fight against that predetermined, cruel fate.
But reality dealt her the heaviest blow.
What she saw was the "fine reputation" of the eldest young master of the Dai family squandering money and lingering among flowers in Suotuo City. What she saw with her own eyes was his ugly state of holding beauties and living a life of drunken dreams.
For his sake, she had endured the pressure that should have been shared by both of them. The infighting within the family, the coercion from Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun's side... she had gritted her teeth and endured all the suffering, only because of that marriage contract, that slim "future."
But now, this "future" had become a joke.
"Heh..." A very light, cold laugh filled with deep self-mockery spilled from Zhu Zhuqing's lips. She clenched her fists, her nails digging deep into her palms, bringing a sharp pain, yet it was not even one ten-thousandth of the pain of her dead heart.
She turned and plunged into the deeper darkness without hesitation. Her back view was resolute, as if she were determined to completely abandon everything from the past, along with that pathetic person.
However, the threads of fate did not break there.
Just as her heart was surging and she was wandering aimlessly through the dark alleys, a slender figure blocked her path silently.
The person was wearing tight purple leather armor, outlining a hot figure, her appearance seven or eight parts similar to Zhu Zhuqing's, but with a bit more maturity and sharpness, especially those cat-like eyes, which were now looking at her quietly with a complex and unclear emotion.
Zhu Zhuyun. Her own sister, and the one who had been ordered by the family to "pursue and kill" her all the way here.
Zhu Zhuqing's body tensed instantly, her Hell Spirit Cat martial soul almost ready to emerge and enter a battle state. She stared fixedly at Zhu Zhuyun, her eyes as cold as knives.
"What? Not running this time? Or do you feel there is no need to run anymore?" Zhu Zhuyun spoke, her voice carrying a hint of laziness, yet revealing a sharpness that saw through everything.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through Zhu Zhuqing's shell of feigned strength, seeing the despair and confusion deep within her heart.
Zhu Zhuqing pursed her lips tightly, saying nothing. She knew that with her level 38 soul power, facing her sister who was already at the peak of the Soul Ancestor realm, she had no chance of winning; it was just that she was a little tired and didn't want to run anymore.
"It seems you have met the person you wanted to see?" Zhu Zhuyun took a step forward, closing in on Zhu Zhuqing, the powerful pressure of her soul power making the surrounding air stagnate. "How is it? How has our good brother-in-law been living in Suotuo City? Is it 'comfortable'?"
The sarcasm in her words pricked Zhu Zhuqing's heart like needles. She suddenly raised her head, anger finally igniting in her eyes: "What exactly do you want? If you want to kill me, just do it! No need to be hypocritical here!"
"Kill you?" Zhu Zhuyun sneered, shook her head, and a trace of imperceptible pity flashed in her eyes. "My silly sister, if I wanted to kill you, do you think you could have walked out of Star Luo City alive? Could you have run safely to this Suotuo City thousands of miles away?"
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned, her eyes wide as she looked at her sister in disbelief.
She looked at her sister's red, swollen eyes and pale complexion, a trace of imperceptible heartache flashing deep in her eyes, but it was quickly covered up by her customary indifference.
"Not just this time," Zhu Zhuyun's gaze became deep. "Including some of the small actions against you in the clan before, many were also secretly blocked or resolved by me. Otherwise, do you think you could have grown up safely to this day? Do you really think Dai Weisi and his mother are pushovers?"
Zhu Zhuqing felt as if she had been struck by lightning, staring blankly at her sister. She had always thought her sister was on the side of Dai Weisi and the family interests, and only felt disgust and suppression toward her "disobedient" sister.
"Why... why?"
"Because you are my sister." Zhu Zhuyun's voice was very soft, yet carried an unquestionable firmness. "Struggle is inevitable; such is the fate of the Dai family, and our Zhu family is tied together and cannot stay out of it. But this cruelty should not be borne entirely by you, and even less should it be at the cost of your life."
She held Zhu Zhuqing's cold hand and continued: "The Dai family is no longer the royal family it once was. Under the current Federation, we emphasize rules and laws; it is no longer the barbaric era of the past where life and death were at stake at every turn.
Without our Zhu family, the Dai family would find it difficult to support the current situation alone. Similarly, without the Dai family, our Zhu family would be nothing! But this does not mean that our Zhu family must still be subservient to the Dai family as before, or even treat our daughter's life as a bargaining chip for their internal strife!"
Zhu Zhuqing's heart beat violently; her sister's words seemed to have opened a door to a new world for her.
"Father... also knows?" she asked with a trembling voice.
Zhu Zhuyun nodded: "Although Father values family interests, he feels for you just the same. It's just that as the family head, there are many things he cannot do openly. Your departure was tacitly approved by Father. Sending you to Suotuo City to see Dai Mubai's current state with your own eyes, so you could give up completely, was also our intention."
So... she wasn't a pawn discarded by the family? Father and sister had been protecting her in their own way all along? The massive influx of information left Zhu Zhuqing's thoughts in chaos. Tears welled up uncontrollably again, but this time, they were not tears of despair, but a complex emotion mixed with grievance, relief, and a hint of warmth.
"Dai Weisi and Dai Mubai fighting for power is their Dai Family's business. Them fighting to the death is their fate. But the daughters of our Zhu Family have no need to be buried with them!"
Zhu Zhuyun's tone was resolute, "Father's meaning is clear: as long as you give up on Dai Mubai, the family will no longer force you. And I, your sister, will no longer have to play this 'pursuit' charade."
"But... will the Dai Family let me go?" Zhu Zhuqing looked up, worry still in her eyes. Betraying a marriage contract was something the Dai Family would never let slide.
"That is the backup plan Father and I have laid out for you." A gleam flashed in Zhu Zhuyun's eyes, "Join Tianxing Academy. As long as you can become an official student and gain the academy's protection, even if the Dai Family is unwilling, they would never dare to touch a single hair on your head!"
She paused, her tone carrying a hint of awe: "Don't forget, above the Federation, there are those truly transcendent existences. Yu Yuanchen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Qian Daoliu of the Martial Soul Hall, Tang Chen of the Clear Sky Sect... They established the Federation and allowed old powers like the Dai Family and the Xue Family to exist, not out of caution, but because they simply do not care."
"In the face of absolute power, the Dai Family's influence is nothing more than ants. They dare not, and will not, provoke the rules of the Federation or anger those individuals just for one 'disobedient' daughter of the Zhu Family."
Zhu Zhuqing's heart began to beat violently. A brand new path, filled with light and hope, seemed to slowly unfold before her eyes. It was no longer a desperate future tied to Dai Mubai, but an opportunity to use her own talent to enter the continent's top academy and take control of her own destiny!
"Tianxing Academy..." she whispered the name. Tianxing Academy had the backing of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and it was filled with powerful experts.
"A seed team from Tianxing Academy happens to be training in Suotuo City these few days." Zhu Zhuyun watched the light reignite in her sister's eyes, the corner of her mouth curling slightly.
"Their leader is Yu Yunliu of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, a powerhouse at the Soul Douluo level. Father has already reached out to her in the name of the Zhu Family. The rest depends on your own performance. As long as your talent and resolve are recognized by her, she will give you a chance to be evaluated."
"Sister... I'm sorry... I..." she choked up, throwing herself into Zhu Zhuyun's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. All the grievances, fear, and despair were vented in this moment.
Zhu Zhuyun gently patted her sister's back, her expression complex. This stubborn and silly sister of hers had finally... grown up.
Zhu Zhuyun's voice carried a hint of pride and determination: "Remember, Zhuqing, your destiny should be mastered by yourself. You are the most talented of our generation in the Zhu Family. Go to Tianxing Academy; there is a vast world there. As long as you are strong enough, in the future, you may well be like those heaven-gifted women, possessing the power to choose your own life!"
That night's conversation completely changed the trajectory of Zhu Zhuqing's fate.
The next evening, outside the Suotuo Great Soul Arena.
Zhu Zhuqing waited quietly according to the address her sister had given her. She had changed into a clean black training suit that outlined her figure perfectly, and her cold, elegant face seemed to be coated with a soft glow under the sunset.
When Yu Yunliu's scorching and powerful aura appeared, Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath, suppressed the nervousness in her heart, and stepped forward to meet her.
Before Yu Yunliu, Zhuqing displayed her full strength. Speed, stealth, attacks, willpower... she held nothing back.
Yu Yunliu's eyes, which seemed capable of seeing through the human heart, lingered on her for a long time, eventually turning into a smile of appreciation. "Not bad, a good seedling. Your temperament is a bit cold, but you are resilient enough. Come back to Tianxing Academy with me. Pass the entrance exam, and you will be a member of Tianxing."
Thus, the scene in the lounge earlier had come to pass.
When Yu Yunliu introduced her to the members of the Tianxing Team, Zhu Zhuqing could clearly feel the curiosity and scrutiny in their gazes, as well as the friendliness from the girl with the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
She knew this was a brand new beginning. Dai Mubai, Star Luo City, those oppressive pasts... would all be completely severed.
The road ahead might still be full of challenges, but this time, she would fight for herself.
The carriage jolted slightly, pulling Zhu Zhuqing back from her memories to reality.
She looked into the carriage. Ning Rongrong was whispering to Meng Yiran about the concept of a new Soul Tool, her eyes bright; Lei Dong and Song Qing were analyzing the details of team coordination in low voices; the other members were also cultivating or resting.
This was a team full of vitality and hope, completely different from the oppressive and calculating environment she had lived in for over a decade in Star Luo City.
Although she was naturally cold and disliked talking, at this moment, surrounded by these geniuses of her own age, feeling the pure atmosphere among them—where there was competition, but more importantly, mutual support and common progress—the frozen lake of her heart seemed to have a trace of imperceptible melting.
The sunlight outside the carriage window passed through the glass, casting mottled light and shadows on her cold face. In those eyes, which were like deep pools, something seemed to be quietly changing.
The carriage continued to move forward, carrying the youths with their different thoughts toward Tianxing Academy, and toward an unknown but possibility-filled future. Zhu Zhuqing's chapter had just turned a new page.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan