'What is this girl imagining now?'
Yang Yunhai glanced back at Zhu Zhuqing. She stood there with her head slightly lowered, biting her lip. His mouth twitched.
Heaven and earth as his witness, the reason he brought Zhu Zhuqing along to Flender's shady shop was because he suspected Flender might jack up the price just like in the original story with Tang San. Bringing along a little rich girl like Zhu Zhuqing, worst case, he could borrow some money.
Flender's asking price turned out to be outrageous, so he had planned to play a game of retreat to advance and bargain him down.
With the strength he and Zhu Zhuqing had, he was certain Flender would recognize their potential. If he also expressed interest in enrolling at Shrek Academy, Flender wouldn't be able to sit still. Two genius soul masters wanting to join—how could he let them walk away?
Especially since Zhu Zhuqing carried two storage-type soul tools. Flender would definitely suspect she was from a major clan. With strength and background, if such a student joined Shrek, the benefits to the academy would be huge.
Maybe sometimes they'd even help fund the academy, or after graduating, their clan could spread Shrek's reputation. Wouldn't that be far more effective than Flender shouting into the wind himself?
Would a profiteer like Flender not think of this? His life's dream was to make Shrek Academy famous. For that reason alone, lowering the price was likely.
Besides, Flender clearly didn't even understand the true value of the Plate Crystal Gold. In the original story, he just handed it to Tang San for free.
'So now Zhu Zhuqing must think I deliberately brought her along to reveal Flender's profiteering face and make her wary of Shrek Academy?'
Girl, you're overthinking. I'm not that noble.
He had only revealed Flender's identity because he wanted to disgust Shrek a little. Zhu Zhuqing still intended to join Shrek, after all. With this buildup, plus her firsthand experience, there was no way she wouldn't feel wary now.
And with that, could the Shrek Seven Devils still be united in the future?
If Zhu Zhuqing could influence Ning Rongrong too, all the better.
'Revenge is a dish best served cold? I'm no gentleman! You tried to scam me for money? Let's see if I don't dig a pit for you.'
Glancing sideways at Flender's shop, Yang Yunhai straightened his chest, strode on, bathed in the sunset glow.
As they walked, suddenly—"???"—the footsteps behind him stopped. He turned around.
Zhu Zhuqing stood still, her gaze fixed in one direction, her face cold as ice, her eyes full of frost.
'No way? We just had to run into this?' Yang Yunhai followed her gaze.
On the main road, beside a paved stone side street, a broad-shouldered youth in formal clothes, with golden hair, had his arms around two young women in tight violet cheongsams that accentuated their figures.
The three laughed together as they walked toward a three-story building shaped like a red rose. The youth's hands occasionally wandered over their curves.
'Caught red-handed, huh,' Yang Yunhai thought.
Zhu Zhuqing turned back, her face composed again. She said flatly, "Let's go."
"Mm." Yang Yunhai didn't comment further, just turned and continued forward.
Soon, they stopped at a clothing shop. Yang Yunhai looked down at his worn clothes, then at Zhu Zhuqing, indicating he needed a couple of fresh outfits. She nodded and followed him inside.
Since it was his first time in the city, he didn't know which hotels had vacancies, so while browsing clothes he casually asked the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper, eager for business, cheerfully introduced a few places that usually had rooms available.
Two hours later, Yang Yunhai carried a bag of new clothes, and the two of them arrived at the recommended hotel.
Stepping inside, he found the interior just as described—slightly off the main streets, but well-decorated, tidy, and clean. Very satisfactory.
He went straight to the counter and said politely, "Hello, please book two single rooms for us."
"Single rooms?" The waiting attendant glanced at them, then shook his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, dear guests. All the single rooms are already booked. Only double rooms remain."
He explained further, "You know, this is the post-holiday return-to-work period, many people are entering the city. Since our hotel is slightly out of the way, our single rooms are cheaper, so they get booked quickly."
Yang Yunhai nodded. "Then, do you have two double rooms?"
"Yes." The attendant nodded, then asked again, "Are you sure you want two double rooms?"
"Yes, please—"
"One double room is enough," Zhu Zhuqing interrupted softly.
"After all, it's only for one night."
'What is this girl thinking now?' Yang Yunhai was baffled.
He turned, but Zhu Zhuqing's face was calm and unreadable.
"Alright then." Yang Yunhai nodded and told the attendant, "We'll take one double room, thank you."
Soon, they paid, got the key, and headed upstairs.
The room wasn't small: clean, cream-colored walls, two neat beds side by side, a balcony, and a bathroom.
"Zhuqing, you can wash first. I'll sort my things and go after."
"Okay." Zhu Zhuqing walked straight into the bathroom, while Yang Yunhai unpacked, set aside clean clothes, and sat by the window to rest.
After a while, the bathroom door opened. Zhu Zhuqing stepped out, her long hair damp, cheeks faintly flushed. She wore a loose black robe that was clearly strained in certain places.
She lowered her head slightly under his gaze and quietly walked to the bed by the window.
Yang Yunhai grabbed his clothes and headed in to wash.
When he came out, refreshed and dressed in a fitted blue robe, he saw Zhu Zhuqing had laid food on the table.
"Come eat," she murmured.
"Thanks." He smiled, sitting opposite her.
They ate—she delicately, he ravenously.
When finished, he stretched. "I'll go cultivate first."
"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, watching him sit cross-legged on the bed.
Her eyes lingered, conflicted, before she turned away, tidied her things, and joined him in quiet cultivation.
Night deepened. Outside, only insects chirped.
Zhu Zhuqing eventually opened her eyes, glanced at him still meditating, then quietly lay down.
Later, Yang Yunhai opened his eyes, glanced at her form, and lay down as well.
For a while, silence. Then a hesitant voice broke it.
"Yunhai… are you asleep?"
"Not yet," he answered, instantly alert. "What is it?"
A pause. Then Zhu Zhuqing's voice, soft and suppressed.
"I'm sorry. I have reasons I can't leave. It's what I owe them."
"Mm?" Yang Yunhai turned, a thought flashing in his mind. "So… you insist on joining Shrek Academy to help Dai Mubai defeat your elder sister and Dai Weisi in the Soul Master Tournament, to win him the right to vie for the throne? Then use that as the condition to sever ties with him, to end things, and give your Zhu Clan an explanation?"
"Mm." Her reply was faint.
Yang Yunhai fell silent for a moment, then said, "Zhuqing, have you thought about this? With your strength, could you really escape if your sister truly wanted you dead?"
The quilt across from him trembled.
He continued, "Your sister is at least a Soul Grandmaster, maybe already a Soul Elder. With the same martial soul as you, her techniques won't be much different. With a whole major rank between you, could you break free?"
"And those arrow wounds of yours… it means more than one person was after you. Likely ranged attackers with her. A full team hunting you. Could you truly cross half of Star Luo Empire and the Star Dou Forest and make it alive into Heaven Dou?"
"And more importantly—all your wounds were grazes. Except the shoulder, none were fatal. Don't you wonder why?"
"There's only one answer. Your sister never meant to kill you."
"This wasn't a hunt. It was an escort, disguised as pursuit. She wanted you driven out, away from the royal struggle. To force you to start anew in another land, beyond the empire's reach."
"Why… why wouldn't she tell me?" Zhu Zhuqing's voice cracked as she began to sob.
"Because if she said it outright, would you have gone?" Yang Yunhai asked softly. "Perhaps she knew your pride. Perhaps she has pride too—too proud to reveal her true heart."
He paused. "So now, Zhuqing—do you still want to join Shrek? Do you still want to help Dai Mubai win against your sister? If he gains the right to contend for the throne, what do you think he'll do to her when he returns?"
At that, Zhu Zhuqing's body went rigid under the quilt.
She knew. In Star Luo's bloody succession struggles, the losers were killed, or crippled and imprisoned for life.
Yang Yunhai let silence stretch, giving her space.
Finally, he spoke again, calmly. "Zhuqing. Come to Heaven Dou City with me. You've nowhere else to go now."
Her heart jolted. Images of their time together flashed through her mind. He was the first man who had ever touched her so closely, even if by accident.
'Could I ever accept another man doing the same?' She asked herself again and again. And each time, her heart recoiled.
She couldn't.
But… did she truly like Yang Yunhai?
She had to admit, she felt something for him, but it wasn't love yet. They barely knew each other.
Still, she couldn't return to Star Luo. And she couldn't betray her sister's sacrifice by siding with Dai Mubai.
Perhaps… she could try to know him better. Maybe, if fate willed it, he would be the only one.
"Mm." Her voice was quiet, but firm.
Yang Yunhai smiled faintly. "Then let's rest. Tomorrow we leave early."
"Goodnight."
He lay back, thoughts still restless. 'Heaven Dou City… may everything go smoothly.'
In truth, he had once thought of hiding away from the world. But he knew better. In this world, power was survival.
If he wanted peace, if he wanted a family, if he wanted children to inherit a strong future, he needed strength. Even godhood, if he could reach it.
And the immortal herbs… if there was a chance, he would seize them. For himself, for his descendants, to ensure they were never powerless prey.
With that, his mind slowly sank into rest.
Across from him, Zhu Zhuqing whispered, "Goodnight," wiping her eyes before pulling the quilt over herself.
(End of Chapter)
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