A Chance Encounter with Zhu Zhuqing

At the order, the convoy stopped to rest. Li Yan and his two companions were at the front, lighting a fire and cooking.

"Brother Yan, the Soul Master World really is cruel. This is our first trip far from home, and we've already run into a fight."

Tang San took a sip of water. He was like a fish in water here in the Star Dou Great Forest; the Blue Silver Grass carpeting the ground served as his eyes and ears.

"That's right. That's why we have to work even harder at cultivation, so we'll have enough strength to protect the people we want to protect in the future."

Tang San nodded, then his expression suddenly changed.

"Brother Yan, the Blue Silver Grass on the ground tells me that group is approaching us quickly."

Li Yan's expression changed. He was now level 45, with actual combat strength around that of a level 62 or 63 Soul Emperor, but how weak could Soul Masters who dared to fight in the Star Dou Great Forest be?

"Little San, can you sense their exact strength? If they're strong, we'll pack up and leave right now."

Tang San's expression grew grave. He began communicating with the Blue Silver Grass on the ground while activating his First Soul Ring.

With his First Soul Ring activated, Tang San could spread his divine sense over the Blue Silver Grass within several miles in a place like this, making it an ideal way to gather intelligence.

He sat cross-legged, and hazy images appeared in his mind.

Four people: three Soul Masters were ganging up on a girl.

The girl was being driven back at every turn. She had only two Yellow Soul Rings and was around level 26.

As for those behind her, they weren't much stronger. Tang San figured he could kill them all by himself.

"Brother Yan, I've checked. Three male Soul Masters, the strongest a Soul Ancestor and the weakest a Soul Grandmaster, are chasing a girl with two Soul Rings."

At this point in time, a group like that—no way...

Li Yan pressed him. "Could you see any of their Martial Souls?"

"The girl's is a purple cat."

"They're here!"

The moment Tang San finished speaking, several figures appeared within the range of Li Yan's divine sense.

At the very front was none other than the Hell Spirit Cat.

Was heaven telling me to steal Dai Mubai's wife?

Li Yan froze for a moment. Zhu Zhuqing was already close to the convoy and would reach it within a minute if nothing was done to stop her.

"Oh well, saving someone isn't a bad thing."

"Little San, get ready to fight. We're saving her."

Hearing this, Tang San's expression changed. He poked Xiao Wu with a finger and whispered to her.

"Xiao Wu, Brother Yan's smitten. I bet he's taken a fancy to that girl."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up, her face full of anticipation for the gossip.

The minute passed quickly, and everyone in the convoy caught sight of Zhu Zhuqing being pursued.

Zhu Zhuqing saw that most of the people in the convoy were ordinary folk. She gritted her teeth and prepared to run in another direction.

Could it be that I'm really going to die here today? Dai Mubai... I hate you so much!

Just as she fell into despair, an unfamiliar man's voice sounded in her sea of consciousness.

"Even in danger, you're still thinking of others. You're a good person."

"Come to us. The people behind you won't be able to touch you."

Those two sentences were undoubtedly the last lifeline she could grasp. She had no other choice.

She gritted her teeth and rushed toward the convoy.

At the very front of the convoy, Li Yan led the way, with Tang San and Xiao Wu close behind him.

"Little Black, catch her."

Zhu Zhuqing used the last of her strength to rush over and leaped down from a large tree, only to be grazed by a Soul Skill from a masked Soul Master pursuing her. She lost her balance in midair.

At the command, Little Black, the young black dragon, swiftly sprang into action and caught Zhu Zhuqing securely in midair.

Zhu Zhuqing had already braced herself to be knocked unconscious by the fall, but instead she felt herself land on something extremely hard. That thing was breathing.

She opened her eyes and found herself sitting on a Soul Beast.

Am I... saved?

To be able to keep such a terrifying Soul Beast, could this young master be a disciple of some great sect or clan?

Before Zhu Zhuqing had time to think further, Little Black brought her to Li Yan's side.

She staggered down, covered in wounds and drained of Soul Power. She could barely stand.

"Thank you all for coming to my aid. My name is Zhu Zhuqing. I am deeply indebted to you today."

"There's no need for formalities, miss. Rest in the convoy first, and drink some hot soup to warm yourself. Leave the rest to the three of us."

Tang San and Xiao Wu exchanged knowing looks. It was the first time they had seen their big brother act so politely toward a girl.

"She really is beautiful. Li Yan may be a big scoundrel, but his taste is as good as ever."

Xiao Wu gave him a thumbs-up.

It had to be said that Zhu Zhuqing's looks were beyond reproach. She had a graceful figure and a stubborn look in her eyes. Even with her clothes in tatters, she still made people want to protect her.

"Young master... one of the people pursuing me is a Soul Ancestor. You... must be careful."

Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment. In her eyes, the three were about her age. Even if they were hidden geniuses, their cultivation could only be at the Soul Grandmaster level. How could they stand against a Soul Ancestor?

"It's all right. The three of us haven't stretched our muscles in a long time. Those three are nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs to us."

Xiao Wu waved a hand, utterly unconcerned.

The three masked men had already drawn near. Four Soul Rings pulsed around their leader.

One white, one yellow, and two purple.

"Friend, this person is our target. If we don't kill her, we can't answer to our employer. Please hand her over. We don't want to make an enemy of you, young master."

"I see. What if I say no?"

Li Yan smiled faintly.

"Then don't blame us for showing no mercy."

The three released their Martial Souls together: one Soul Ancestor, one Soul Elder, and one Soul Grandmaster.

But the people in the convoy clearly paid them no mind, each carrying on with whatever they had been doing.

"Miss, are you badly hurt? Here, have some broth."

Zhu Zhuqing accepted the broth. As she saw it, the strongest person here was only a Soul Elder. How could they resist a Soul Ancestor?

Li Yan clicked his tongue. It seemed he was being underestimated.

"Since you've been reasonably polite, I'll spare your lives."

"Little Black, they're yours."

The young black dragon roared and lunged straight at the three men with all four sharp claws.

In just a few breaths, Little Black had dealt with the Soul Elder and Soul Grandmaster, leaving only the Soul Ancestor struggling to hold on.

Yet every simple swipe of Little Black's claws made him feel that even resisting with all his might wouldn't be enough to withstand it.

It was like... an old man playing with a naughty child.

Zhu Zhuqing stared in astonishment. Not only was that Soul Beast obedient, but its combat strength was so great too?

"Little Black, finish the fight."

Little Black roared and lashed out with his tail, slamming the Soul Ancestor straight into a tree trunk and ending his Martial Soul Possession.

"I've always been a reasonable man. If I say I'll let you go, I'll let you go. Otherwise, you'd be dead already."

The three masked men climbed to their feet.

"Thank you, young master!"

The three exchanged glances. Their mission to chase Zhu Zhuqing on the surface, but actually escort her to the Heaven Dou Empire, was complete.

"Retreat!"

After the three had withdrawn, Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward to thank them.

"Do you know why I didn't kill them?"

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.

"They were probably sent by someone you know. That Soul Ancestor is an agility attack type. If he'd really meant to kill you, you'd be dead already."