Zhu Zhuqing hadn't fully recovered from her shock.
She had returned to her human form, but her beautiful eyes remained dazed, fixed on Aoi Kenshin.
His first soul ring… a millennium in age? Even saying it aloud felt impossible. Nobody would believe it. What kind of prodigy is this boy?!
"Enough." Aoi Kenshin waved a hand in front of her, teasingly. "Snap out of it."
"I told you, according to our agreement, you owe me one thing."
"Mm? Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded steadily. "I'll keep my promise… as long as you don't ask for anything strange or unreasonable."
Aoi Kenshin smirked. "Heh, you sure are optimistic."
Seeing the faint flush of embarrassment on her face, he continued, voice light, teasing: "I want you to help me acquire my second soul ring."
Zhu Zhuqing froze for a moment, then her eyes brightened. Without hesitation, she nodded.
"Alright."
Her decisiveness left Aoi Kenshin momentarily speechless. After all, hunting soul beasts was no trivial matter.
He thought for a moment, then said, "Just so you know, my target is a millennium-level soul beast. If it feels too dangerous, I'll understand."
Zhu Zhuqing's expression remained calm as she took a step forward.
"I've already made up my mind."
She knew the risks—sure—but compared to the danger, her curiosity about how this boy could surpass levels to absorb a soul ring was far greater.
A few steps later, she realized Aoi Kenshin wasn't following.
She tilted her head, frowning. "I agreed to help, and you're still hesitating?"
Aoi Kenshin pointed in the opposite direction.
"You're going the wrong way."
Zhu Zhuqing: "…."
"I'm Aoi Kenshin," he said, tilting his head back and taking a swig of wine. "You help me this time, I owe you one favor."
Shaking off her earlier embarrassment, Zhu Zhuqing replied evenly: "I promised to help you, and I will. But you're far stronger than me—I worry I won't be much help."
Aoi Kenshin simply smiled and didn't reply.
They continued walking.
Seeing him constantly sip wine along the way, Zhu Zhuqing couldn't hold back any longer. "Aren't you worried you'll drop your sword if you drink like that?"
Aoi Kenshin wiped the corner of his mouth, swaying slightly with a lazy grin. "You don't understand. Wine… it's the soul of my sword. The more I drink, the wilder I become. The more I get drunk, the sharper my blade."
Zhu Zhuqing paused, staring at the boy's unrestrained silhouette. A glimmer of admiration—and something else—sparked in her eyes.
After walking for about the length of an incense stick, the towering trees grew taller, their leaves a deep, inky green.
They had reached the inner fringes of the Star Dou Great Forest.
A faint stench of blood and decay lingered in the air—a warning from the soul beasts to any intruders.
Zhu Zhuqing swept her gaze carefully across their surroundings.
"Aoi Kenshin, what kind of soul beast are you targeting?"
Aoi Kenshin furrowed his brow. Even he felt conflicted. He had planned a perfect route for acquiring his soul rings—but with the first ring unexpectedly turning out to be a millennium-level, his ambition had grown, and his original plan now seemed… tame.
"My target is a Swordtail Scorpion."
A Swordtail Scorpion was a soul beast that lived in dark, secluded areas. Unlike ordinary scorpions, its tail resembled a sword—poisonless, but deadly sharp.
According to the records, a single sweep of its tail could instantly kill a soul beast of equal age. Its combat prowess was terrifyingly extreme.
Aoi Kenshin intended to push the Azure Lotus Sword Martial Soul to the peak of offensive power. The Swordtail Scorpion was the perfect choice.
"Swordtail Scorpion?" Zhu Zhuqing's delicate brows knit. She had never heard of such a soul beast before.
But the name alone suggested a formidable power.
"Then let's move quickly and find it," she said. "If night falls, the Star Dou Forest will become far too dangerous."
Half an incense stick later, a hidden valley appeared ahead, nestled deep within dense foliage.
A faintly putrid wind blew from the valley mouth, carrying a mournful, almost weeping sound.
Aoi Kenshin warned, "Careful. This valley is perfect for Swordtail Scorpions to dwell."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded firmly.
They stepped into the valley cautiously, side by side.
The valley was about four to five meters wide, its damp undergrowth growing wildly. Deep fissures cut across the cliffs on both sides, jagged and foreboding.
Aoi Kenshin reached out to touch one of the fissures. His hand brushed a smooth surface, revealing just how razor-sharp the scorpion's tail had been.
"Not bad, not bad!" he praised, impressed.
The grooves were undoubtedly carved by the Swordtail Scorpions themselves. Their tail blades were far sharper than he had anticipated.
"Perfect for a sword-type Martial Soul," he mused. "If I absorb a soul ring from one, the power of the Azure Lotus Sword will increase even further."
He glanced at Zhu Zhuqing, her face tense, and chuckled.
"Zhu Zhuqing, if you want to back out now, you still can."
She shot him a sharp glance. "Hmph. Don't underestimate me. What I promise, I always keep."
Just as Aoi Kenshin opened his mouth to reply, a rustling sound came from deep in the valley, growing louder as it approached.
Aoi Kenshin's expression shifted slightly. He quickly pulled Zhu Zhuqing behind a large boulder.
Zhu Zhuqing, her small hand held firmly by him, felt her cheeks flush red. She tried to pull away.
But then she heard his voice:
"Look!"
Following his gaze, she saw it: half-meter-long scorpions swarming from the depths of the valley like a tide.
Their bodies were deep green-black, tails raised high like gleaming swords, each tip catching the faintest glint of light.
They reached the open space in the valley, sweeping their sword-like tails against the cliff walls.
Shing—! Shing—!
Under the scorpions' strikes, solid rock crumbled like fragile paper, sending shards cascading down.
"I… what do we do next?" Zhu Zhuqing's voice trembled.
They were too close—almost pressed together.
Aoi Kenshin remained focused on the scorpions, puzzled by their unusual behavior. Are they… training together? They're too disciplined.
Seeing that he didn't react, Zhu Zhuqing, her face burning, tried to edge slightly aside.
"Aoi Kenshin, you—"
Before she could finish, he swiftly covered her mouth with his hand.
"Mmph—"
Her wide eyes stared at him in shock.
Aoi Kenshin's expression turned serious as he shook his head slowly.
Zhu Zhuqing understood instantly.
The two froze, peeking past the boulder.
The Swordtail Scorpions had stopped their practice. Lowering their raised tails, they retreated quickly to the sides, leaving a clear space in the center.
And at that moment… with the stench of blood swirling through the air…
A menacing beast silhouette slowly emerged.