Chapter 13: Ambush, Danger Approaches
Late at night.
The croaking of frogs echoed everywhere, making it hard to sleep.
The fire was nice, still burning strong.
Su Ye took out the sweet potato he had unexpectedly found and decided to prepare a late-night snack for someone.
There was no choice; the rumbling of someone's stomach was louder than the frogs.
Upon asking, Su Ye learned that Zhu Zhuqing had not eaten for a whole day, as she had been in such a rush to flee into the Star Dou Forest to hide.
"Why did you save me?"
While elegantly nibbling on the sweet potato, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly started a conversation.
Her cold, indifferent eyes looked over, with a faint, mysterious glimmer in them.
Though this person was rude, crude, and his mouth was sharp, and although they had some conflicts before…
She had to admit that, abandoned by the world, she had started to feel some affection for this boy, the only one who stood by her side.
But when she noticed his sausage-shaped lips, her heart skipped a beat, and she almost couldn't stop herself from laughing. She lightly covered her lips.
A faint smile flashed across her face, but it was like the sound of celestial music.
Her laughter was unusually pleasant, like the sound of a clear stream, graceful and elegant, completely different from her usual cold demeanor.
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing, with her flawless face and shy, elegant posture, made Su Ye momentarily stunned.
Although he was only fourteen, Su Ye was still a young boy.
Suddenly receiving such a gentle reaction, he didn't quite know how to respond.
They say that beautiful women are deceptive, and it turned out to be true.
He almost fell for it.
Su Ye continued to eat his sweet potato, keeping calm, and grumbled, "Don't get the wrong idea, I have no intention toward you."
"I'm just saving myself so that my conscience doesn't feel guilty."
Su Ye was being honest. He had really saved her just to save her.
As for anything else, it wasn't even on his radar.
But Zhu Zhuqing didn't think so.
Seeing the boy's shy expression, trying to cover it up, Zhu Zhuqing's face turned red for no reason. She thought that Su Ye must have those kinds of thoughts toward her.
Of course...
With her figure and beauty, it was rare for a man not to be moved.
No wonder this guy was trying to take advantage of her.
Was he trying to get her attention by doing this?
Zhu Zhuqing silently nodded and didn't continue the topic. She was the future princess consort of the Star Luo Empire; this was her fate.
Perhaps she hadn't even noticed that, despite being cold and disdainful toward other men, she didn't actually mind Su Ye's "ulterior motives."
"What's your name? Why are you here in the Star Dou Forest hunting soul beasts alone?"
"My name is Su Ye. What other reason could there be? I just came because I wanted to, and you, little cat, what are you doing here?"
"I'm trying to go to the Heaven Dou Empire, but I don't want anyone to know, so I took a detour through the Star Dou Forest."
Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him coldly, "Also, stop calling me little cat. I have a name. It's Zhu Zhuqing. You can call me by my name."
"Zhu Zhuqing?"
"Yes."
"Alright, little cat."
"..."
...
Considering Zhu Zhuqing's sister, Su Ye hadn't hunted soul beasts for the past few days.
He only searched the nearby area for some herbs and food and quickly returned to the cave.
After a few days of interaction, their relationship had become a lot closer.
Through Zhu Zhuqing's words, Su Ye also learned about the situation between the two sisters.
The fight for the throne of the Star Luo Empire was limited to only four people. Even though Zhu Zhuqing's sister, Zhu Zhu Yun, had many forces behind her, they weren't allowed to intervene in the fight between the two.
The only ones who could kill Zhu Zhuqing were probably Zhu Zhu Yun and Davis, which explained why no one came after them when they escaped.
It was clear that the Star Luo royal family's methods of "raising poison" were on full display.
Su Ye felt like he had been unlucky. This way, Zhu Zhuqing was actually safer than he was as an outsider.
(ーー゛)..
With someone around, even gathering medicinal herbs had to be done cautiously, and he couldn't hunt soul beasts to merge soul rings.
And he had to take care of her...
The problem was, she didn't talk much and didn't like to chat...
Su Ye felt like he couldn't continue living like this for another day.
"Here."
"Little cat, it's time for your medicine."
Having prepared the medicine, Su Ye put on a wooden expression and handed the wooden bowl to Zhu Zhuqing, looking as if he had lost all interest in life.
"Thank you."
As soon as the medicine entered her mouth, Zhu Zhuqing immediately scrunched up her face, her brows furrowing into a "川" shape as she forced herself to swallow.
The saying "Good medicine is bitter" was indeed true.
After a few days, her body had already healed to a large extent.
"Little cat, do you think I've run into eight generations of bad luck?"
Su Ye, leaning with his head resting on his hand, was muttering as if complaining to someone or talking to himself.
"I just took a storage ring as medicine money, and not only did I lose everything I had..."
"And now look, I'm stuck hiding here and can't go anywhere. Plus, I have to take care of you, this 'old lady.'"
"Hey, if your injuries are healed, hurry up and leave the Star Dou Forest. Don't delay me."
After a brief pause, Su Ye added another sentence.
"By the way, you'd better not go looking for that Davis guy. He's not worth trusting. No one is stronger than yourself."
"Yeah, try to break through to Title Douluo. At that point, no one will be able to control your fate. If it doesn't work, you can come under my wing as my disciple."
"We'll become strong, overthrow the royal family, and I'll become the emperor. You'll be the crown prince..."
"Hey, are you listening to me?"
Looking at Zhu Zhuqing, who was seriously practicing the Eight Extremes Fist stance just like him, Su Ye felt quite speechless at times.
He sighed and went to the side to continue his own training.
Standing in the horse stance, his feet grounded firmly.
His elbows and knees were positioned to form stable triangles.
"With the sky above and the clear spring beneath."
"Embrace the baby, elbows pressing the mountain."
This is the basic and most important stance in Eight Extremes Fist—Liangyi Stance (Two Forms Stance).
Liangyi Stance, also known as Heavenly Stance, is extremely beneficial for cultivating the sinking force of the lower body, sensing the internal energy flow, and adjusting one's emotions.
(σ≧▽≦)σ
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze slowly moved to Su Ye as a proud smile curled at the corners of her lips, an inexplicable feeling of revenge bringing her a sense of satisfaction.
After two more days of rest, Zhu Zhuqing's injuries finally healed.
Su Ye, unable to sit still any longer, prepared to return to the lake to check if his belongings were still there.
"Are you going too?"
"Yeah."
"…Isn't one time enough for me to drag you down? Are you planning to send your sister another round of experiences on how to kill you?"
"..."
"Wait here!"
Su Ye tossed the words out irritably, summoning his martial soul, the Golden Flame Eagle, to approach the lake cautiously.
"No one?"
After circling the sky a few times, Su Ye confirmed there was no danger and landed safely.
The Great Sword was still there.
The Bow and Arrow were also untouched.
It seemed Zhu Zhu Yun hadn't paid much attention to these items.
"Phew, luckily no soul beasts sensed the Nine-Rank Clear Spirit Grass!"
Relieved that nothing had been taken, Su Ye sighed in relief.
There was more than just one Nine-Rank Clear Spirit Grass in his backpack, but also a Seven-Rank Three-Flower Fruit, a precious item he planned to use to increase his soul power.
Since Zhu Zhu Yun hadn't taken anything and the soul beasts hadn't bothered them, it was the perfect outcome for him.
"Are you happy?" A slightly teasing, mature woman's voice suddenly rang out.
"Of course!"
Su Ye's smile froze, and his heart felt like it was being trampled by ten thousand horses.
Damn it, she was waiting by the spring…
This is seriously unfair!!
(End of chapter)