Chapter 30: Zhu Zhuqing’s Request
The other three had no objections, and the plan was to set off for Sunset Forest tomorrow.
The four left the Grand Soul Arena and headed toward the hotel where they were staying.
Halfway there, Meng Huaifeng quietly released the soul skill of his first soul ring, Mind Communication, activating the team voice chat.
After Dan Heng’s guidance, Meng Huaifeng had successfully mastered the ability to use soul skills without displaying soul rings.
Imaginary Energy is much more advanced than Soul Power, and its control over Martial Spirits is stronger, allowing Meng Huaifeng to achieve this.
“Someone is following us,” March 7th’s voice rang in the others’ minds.
“Could it be some pervert eyeing Little March and A Xing’s beauty?” Meng Huaifeng teased.
“This girl is beautiful and charming, so it’s not impossible,” March 7th said proudly.
“Can’t it be eyeing your and Dan Heng’s beauty?” A Xing counter-questioned.
“They’ve been following us since we left the Grand Soul Arena, with light footsteps—it sounds like a woman,” Dan Heng said.
“Eh? A Xing, you actually guessed it right,” March 7th exclaimed.
“Of course, call me Great Prophet A Xing from now on,” A Xing said smugly.
“Don’t guess wildly, it definitely isn’t because of that,” Dan Heng said speechlessly.
“Maybe they’re your brainless fans, attracted to you in the Soul Fighting Arena,” March 7th speculated confidently.
“Just ask and find out. I hope she has no bad intentions; otherwise, daring to tail us means she’s kicked an iron plate,” Meng Huaifeng said.
In an empty alley, the four stopped, and Meng Huaifeng turned and said, “Come out, we’ve already spotted you.”
The alley was quiet for a moment, then light, rhythmic footsteps slowly sounded, getting closer, and a black shadow appeared at the alley entrance.
With the four’s eyesight, mere darkness couldn’t block their vision.
The newcomer wore black tight leather clothes that outlined her fiery figure, with a slender waist bearing ample fruits, making one worry it might snap if not careful. Only her slightly youthful icy face revealed that she wasn’t very old.
“This person looks familiar—where have I seen her?” March 7th frowned in thought.
“At Shrek Academy, among those who ran out later.” Whether A Xing had better memory than March 7th or paid extra attention to pretty girls, she recalled it immediately.
“You’re Zhu Zhuqing from Shrek Academy?” Meng Huaifeng recognized her at a glance.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at the four with complex eyes and said, “Yes, it’s me. I didn’t expect the seniors to know my name.”
“Why are you following us?” Meng Huaifeng asked curiously.
Zhu Zhuqing’s lips trembled a few times, a blush appearing on her cold face. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, “May I ask the seniors’ ages?”
“Huh? Why ask that?” March 7th never expected Zhu Zhuqing to ask such a question and was stunned.
“I lost my past memories, so I don’t know how old I am either. But beautiful girls are forever eighteen,” March 7th scratched her head first, then puffed out her chest proudly.
“I’m less than one year old!” Stellar Core Spirit said smugly.
Meng Huaifeng pressed down on A Xing’s head and shoved her behind him.
“Don’t listen to her nonsense; she lost her memories recently too and doesn’t know her age. As for me, eighteen,” Meng Huaifeng said while fending off the constantly scratching A Xing.
Everyone looked at Dan Heng, who remained silent without answering.
Time was unknowable in the Prison of Torment; he didn’t know how long he’d been imprisoned there—probably one or two hundred years. After exile, he slaved away at The Company for decades, so he was probably over two hundred or three hundred years old?
Dragon Lord’s lifespan was much longer than ordinary Sustainers of the Hunt; two or three hundred years was just adolescence.
Seeing Dan Heng unwilling to answer, Zhu Zhuqing was a bit disappointed, but knowing one person’s age was enough.
That day back at the academy, the Shrek group had gathered to analyze the four of them.
Meng Huaifeng had the weakest strength, but setting aside combat experience, just in speed and power, Tang San swore it was no less than Zhao Wuji using his Martial Spirit.
Who was Zhao Wuji?
A Soul Sage!
No less than a Soul Sage—didn’t that mean Meng Huaifeng was at least Soul Sage level?
Eighteen years old, Soul Sage.
Alone, it seemed nothing special, but compared to the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament, the terror of an eighteen-year-old Soul Sage was clear.
The tournament age limit was under twenty-five, and in past events, teams with one or two Soul Kings were basically top contenders for the championship.
In other words, aside from the protagonist group’s cheats, twenty years old Soul King was basically the ceiling of Douluo Continent.
“Thud!”
Zhu Zhuqing suddenly knelt before the four.
“Hey? What are you doing? Get up!” The four were all startled; March 7th hurried over to pull Zhu Zhuqing up.
Zhu Zhuqing seemed determined to keep kneeling, but March 7th’s strength was something she couldn’t resist, so she was forcibly pulled up.
“Speak up—what do you need our help with? As long as it doesn’t violate morality, harm the rights of the innocent, the Nameless are never stingy with lending a hand,” Dan Heng promised solemnly.
Joy appeared on Zhu Zhuqing’s face; she’d thought the chances were slim and was just trying her all, but unexpectedly got their promise so easily.
“I want to become stronger, to control my own fate. Please teach me, seniors,” Zhu Zhuqing nervously made her request.
Dan Heng frowned: “Our cultivation methods are different; I’m afraid we can’t help you become stronger.”
Zhu Zhuqing’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.
“Can you tell us why you want to become stronger?” Meng Huaifeng wanted to give her an opportunity.
Honestly, when reading the novel before, his favorite was Zhu Zhuqing, but sadly she gradually became marginalized, reduced to a accessory for Dai Mubai’s Martial Spirit Fusion Skill.
Among Shrek Seven Devils, Tang San: double standards, hypocrite, often courting death. Xiao Wu: love-brained, troublemaker, forgot the huge grudge of her birth mother killed by Bibi Dong.
Dai Mubai: womanizer, bully of the weak and fearful of the strong, ran away alone to drown in debauchery. Ma Hongjun: perverted, born with Evil Fire, a brothel regular at twelve.
Ning Rongrong and Oscar might be okay as support Spirit Masters without major flaws, but not particularly likable either.
Only Zhu Zhuqing—setting aside looks and figure—was the youngest among the seven, with the lowest Innate Soul Power, yet her soul power level upon enrollment surpassed Ning Rongrong’s and matched Ma Hongjun’s.
If she didn’t become stronger, she’d die; she was self-disciplined, knew to work hard, had firm will, wasn’t crushed by immense pressure, and escaped alone from Star Luo Empire to Shrek Academy.
Regardless of the role her sister Zhu Qing actually played—real pursuit or disguised protection under the name of pursuit.
Zhu Zhuqing’s performance was outstanding, with no black marks on her.
Sadly, due to plot needs, the character gradually flattened into a foil.
Honkai: Star Rail’s memorial booklet arrived; it’s pretty good.
Also, thanks everyone’s monthly votes; I’ll keep working hard.
