Chapter 45: Hero Saves the Beauty
Zhu Zhuyun watched as Zhu Zhuqing leapt out of the trap, holding a jade tablet and making strange gestures. She didn't think much of it and casually waved her hand.
The soul master beside her immediately drew his bow and shot.
Swish!
Zhu Zhuqing flipped aside to dodge, caught the arrow midair, and hurled it back. She hadn't taken more than two steps forward when another cold arrow shot toward her from behind.
Whoosh.
A formless sword aura suddenly swept past from ahead, shattering the incoming arrow.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes instantly lit up.
He's here.
Zhu Zhuyun's brows tightened, surprise flashing in her eyes.
Someone actually came to rescue her?
Could it be that coward Dai Mubai?
"Boiling the beans to make soup, filtering the bean broth. The beanstalk burns beneath the pot, while the beans cry within. Born from the same root—why torment each other so hastily?"
The voice arrived before the person did.
Upon hearing the poem, both Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing trembled inwardly. The verses felt far too fitting… far too poetic.
Under their astonished gazes, a handsome young man with long, black, curly, fluffy hair slowly walked into view from a distance.
The way Su Yan made his entrance… both sisters internally scored him eighty-two points—and the remaining eighteen they offered in the form of a big, fat "666."
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes filled with doubt. So this is Su Yan?
He seemed around the same age as her.
Not bad.
She originally thought he'd be some old man, considering how mysterious and mature he sounded in the chat group. She never expected him to be a handsome youth only slightly older than herself.
The thought made Zhu Zhuqing almost want to laugh.
Wait.
Isn't this the person that the little princess from the group said she was looking for?
He…
He rode from Nuoding City the entire night… just to save her?
As this realization hit, a blush crept across Zhu Zhuqing's face. Her gaze softened with shyness—how could she possibly repay such a life-saving grace?
Zhu Zhuyun was puzzled. She glanced at Zhu Zhuqing—and then noticed her sister was actually blushing.
Seriously?
You're blushing at a time like this?
I'm literally trying to kill you!
Use your brain!
As Su Yan walked all the way to Zhu Zhuqing's side, Zhu Zhuyun's expression grew serious.
"Who are you? That poem you recited—was it meant for us?"
"You know who I am?"
Su Yan nodded lightly.
"I'm Zhuqing's good friend. From now on, I'll be protecting her. You can leave."
"As for knowing who you are—though you're wearing a mask, you look the same as Zhuqing. I recognized you instantly."
Zhu Zhuyun: "???"
She was stunned. This young man was so familiar with her?
Recognized her instantly?
He wasn't Dai Mubai—so how could he possibly recognize her at a glance?
Zhu Zhuqing couldn't help feeling speechless. Are you seriously just telling the whole truth like that?!
Zhu Zhuyun didn't ask further.
No matter who this young man was, no matter what his relationship with Zhuqing was, she had to test his strength.
"You want to save her? Then let's see whether you have that ability."
"Go."
With a wave of Zhu Zhuyun's hand, the four soul masters around her instantly activated their martial soul forms and charged toward Su Yan and Zhu Zhuqing.
"Su Yan, watch out…"
Zhu Zhuqing grew nervous the moment she saw the attack coming.
"Little Monkey."
Su Yan only spoke softly.
Little Monkey shot out instantly. Three soul rings lit up around him—golden armor, iron staff, flowing cape—leaving only a blurred afterimage.
Boom!
The leading Soul Ancestor didn't even have time to release a soul skill before Little Monkey smashed his head open with a single strike. The remaining three instantly halted and stumbled backward, terror flooding their eyes.
What… What was that thing?
A soul beast?
A martial soul?
Beast-type martial soul or weapon-type martial soul?
How could a three-ring soul master possess such terrifying strength?
Zhu Zhuqing was stunned.
She knew Su Yan had access to the chat group and possessed all sorts of mysterious knowledge, but seeing him ride over personally, appearing to be only a three-ring soul master—how could he possibly possess such overwhelming power?
Zhu Zhuyun was equally dumbfounded.
Just like Zhu Zhuqing, she couldn't even tell whether this was a beast martial soul or a weapon martial soul. It was simply a monkey holding an iron staff—yet one swing was enough to smash a soul ancestor's head apart.
"Too bloody. Let me handle the rest."
Su Yan sighed helplessly.
Though he thought about killing every day, even he found Little Monkey's brutal fighting style difficult to accept.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Su Yan flicked his hand, and three formless sword auras shot out. The remaining three Soul Ancestors had been mentally prepared, yet they still didn't understand what was happening before their bodies were pierced clean through.
"Instant soul skill. Invisible and formless."
"You…"
Zhu Zhuyun instinctively stepped back several paces to widen the distance. With her skills, she might be able to dodge one of those strange attacks—but two would be difficult, and three would be fatal.
Not to mention the monkey holding the iron staff, who could smash someone's head open with a single strike. That alone made him impossible to provoke.
Zhu Zhuyun still couldn't tell whether the creature was a beast martial soul or a weapon martial soul. What kind of martial soul could run off on its own to fight?
Truly unheard of.
"Su Yan."
Zhu Zhuqing looked toward Su Yan and gently shook her head.
The situation was clear.
Although Su Yan appeared to be a mere three-ring soul elder, his true strength was unfathomable. Her sister Zhu Zhuyun absolutely could not defeat him—and would definitely die at his hands.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't want Zhu Zhuyun to die.
Su Yan nodded lightly, understanding her intentions.
"Zhuyun, I know your family's situation. None of this is truly what you want. You can't bring yourself to kill Zhuqing, and Zhuqing can't bring herself to kill you."
"You should leave."
"In two years, I'll bring Zhuqing back. By then, the Zhu family can choose its own fate, and you can choose yours as well. If you need help, you can come to me."
"My name is Su Yan."
When he finished—
Su Yan glanced at Zhu Zhuqing. She nodded softly, and they turned to leave together.
Zhu Zhuyun stared at their departing figures with mixed emotions. Together, they looked like an immortal couple—while she, in comparison, felt like nothing more than a stray dog.
Yet she was completely baffled. After being abandoned by that scumbag Dai Mubai, how had her little sister suddenly found such an exceptional lover?
It didn't make sense.
Zhuqing had always been under her watch. When had she met him?
"Zhu Zhuqing."
Zhu Zhuyun suddenly spoke.
Zhu Zhuqing stopped but didn't turn around.
Zhu Zhuyun said:
"Take care. Once you leave… don't come back."
"It's not worth it."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing turned around, her expression filled with complex emotions.
"Big sister…"
She wanted so badly to say, Let's leave together.
But it was clearly impossible.
Zhu Zhuyun said nothing more and disappeared into the forest.
She hated the family rules. She hated the cycle that forced sisters to kill one another. She even hated the future—where her own children would be forced into fratricidal competition.
But she was powerless to change anything.
Zhu Zhuqing watched her sister's lonely silhouette fade into the forest and let out a deep sigh.
Su Yan gently patted Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder. She lifted her head to look at him—a handsome face still carrying traces of youthful softness.
The rising sun lit the sky, bringing life to the world.
Scarlet dawn scattered across the horizon.
The sight of the handsome young man illuminated by the red sunrise felt like a glimpse into a beautiful future—dreamlike and enchanting, stirring her heart with emotion she couldn't suppress.
She rose onto her toes to touch the dream.
He lowered his head to welcome love.
—
End of Chapter