Next, they found a place to stay in a nearby town.
Coincidentally—or not—it was called the Rose Hotel.
Of course, it could only share a name with that famous luxury hotel from the original story, because this one was far too shabby.
After all, they were southwest of Heaven Dou City; the local aura of fate made everything around look bleak.
Plain plank walls were patched with simple cement bricks, and the hotel staff were all listless and slack-eyed.
"How many? Luxury room or standard?"
The attendant's tone was unfriendly; he didn't even lift his head.
Zhu Zhuqing said, "Two, and…"
"Luxury room, single. Make it spacious if possible."
Dai Mubai cut in quickly, smoothing his hair to keep up his dashing image.
Zhu Zhuqing's face darkened; she sighed softly, knowing Dai Mubai was up to his old tricks again.
Still, what else besides lust could make Dai Mubai lower himself in such a dump?
"By the way, I can pay you extra, but the service had better be top-notch, understand?"
Dai Mubai stressed it again, his eyes drifting to two female guests brushing past.
Zhu Zhuqing could only clench her teeth; the betrothal made Dai Mubai her fiancé, and she found it hard to let go.
Once the rooms were sorted, Dai Mubai showed slight conscience: "You'd better stay safe; don't leave the hotel while I'm out."
"You're going out?"
Zhu Zhuqing felt ill from the climate but was too embarrassed to say; Dai Mubai didn't care in the least.
Yet he still wanted to go out at this hour—dusk—what could he be up to?
"None of your business. I've got big things to do. If you hadn't fled the Coalition yesterday, I could've taken a break."
Dai Mubai even blamed her; there was nothing left to say.
Zhu Zhuqing shook her head helplessly and went straight back to her room.
Right now she cared about more than Dai Mubai—she had to plan what came next.
If she kept running, by the time Tang San descended to fix the crisis, chances would be slim.
Wiser options were limited: Spirit Hall or some weird Daoist Sects—neither appealed to her.
"They say Ziyao Palace is famous; its master, Dao Ancestor Chu, is extraordinarily powerful—though people claim their cultivation is too dark."
Inside her room Zhu Zhuqing spotted a recent newspaper.
In this Douluo era all sorts of anachronisms were piled together; with cultivation added, the paper felt jarringly out of place.
Still, the gossip-filled pages offered odd amusement.
Yet Zhu Zhuqing wasn't amused; she was serious, and the unknown Dao Ancestor Chu intrigued her.
Thinking, she flopped onto the bed—exhausted from travel—Bang-bang-bang!
The creak of the next room's planks woke her; she scanned the room alertly.
"Night already?"
Moonlight outside was bright, the air cool.
Wait—that's Dai Mubai's room next door.
Furious, she stormed out and found several women queuing.
One greeted her: "Hey, you here for Lord Dai Mubai too?"
Zhu Zhuqing burned with rage, the stink of cheap powder filling her nose.
At a time like this Dai Mubai still chased women, right under her nose.
Back at Shrek he'd been sneaky; now he was brazen.
"Serve General Dai well, and when I rise you might share the glory."
"Thank you, General Dai!"
Laughter spilled from the room; Dai Mubai was clearly having a blast.
Zhu Zhuqing's gaze turned icy, but she was powerless.
Too weak, with enemies all around, she still needed Dai Mubai.
Yet relying on such a womanizer broke her heart.
She spun away and strode downstairs; she needed to cool off and think straight.
Out alone in the town, she regretted her impulse—streets were eerily desolate.
Abandoned houses creaked in the cold wind like the underworld.
Who's there?"
Zhu Zhuqing sensed someone but couldn't see a thing.
Even with spirit power past rank one-hundred and plenty of spiritual energy, she couldn't tell.
Which meant she still couldn't handle her sister Zhu Zhuyun.
Backed by Star Luo royalty, her sister's growth was lightning-fast and her methods crueler.
Zhu Zhuqing prayed she wouldn't run into trouble—"Dai Mubai, get out! Where's my sister?"
Zhu Zhuyun reached the hotel and began shouting, domineering as ever.
Dai Mubai yawned, sleepy after his "big business," eyes half-closed.
"You didn't find her? Then she stepped out. Why keep trying to kill her—same roots, after all."
He still had some culture, though he phrased it bluntly.
Zhu Zhuyun snapped, "By rights a general colluding with a Coalition traitor should die, but General Dai Weisi is merciful and set aside the Star Luo succession feud. The Zhu Family, though, won't be so soft—rules are rules."
"Why slave for Dai Weisi? Chasing thousands of li—take a break and enjoy life."
Dai Mubai, muddle-headed, cracked a joke.
Zhu Zhuyun glared. "Garbage that thinks with its groin—watch him. The rest, comb the town with me."
Thud-thud-thud!
Several elite Coalition soldiers ringed the hotel. Dai Mubai yawned again, flopped onto a nearby sofa, too sleepy—and figured Zhu Zhuyun wouldn't kill her sister.
But if he understood the Zhu Family he wouldn't have fled Star Luo royalty; he was a coward at heart.
He glanced at the soldiers, jingled the general's token at his waist, and felt at ease.
Zhu Zhuyun plunged into the night—she couldn't miss this chance to finish the family plan. At the town entrance…
Huff… huff… huff…"
Ah Yin wiped fragrant sweat from her forehead, panting, clothes soaked through.
Chu Feng, watching, said, "All right? Tens of thousands of li in a day—time to rest."
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