Depressed Zhu Zhuqing

"Hehe, little kitten Zhu Zhuqing was quite adorable when she was young." Aiven smiled.

He thought to himself, Coming to a place like this alone in the middle of the night... she's got some nerve. Isn't she afraid Zhu Zhuyun might send assassins to kill her?

Aiven knew that Zhu Zhuqing's family was cruel and cold, with little familial affection to speak of.

And because the Zhu Family and the Star Luo Royal Dai Family had intermarried for generations, competition among the Zhu Family's direct descendants had become even more brutal. They were forced to compete for the position of family heir.

In the end, those who lost the competition would either be ruthlessly killed or imprisoned for life.

As Aiven remembered,

before Zhu Zhuqing turned twelve, her elder sister Zhu Zhuyun had attempted to assassinate her several times in an effort to eliminate her.

Running here alone in the middle of the night—wasn't she giving Zhu Zhuyun an opportunity?

"You all stay here. I'll go take a look ahead."

With that, Aiven took several quick steps and arrived behind the young Zhu Zhuqing.

He struck up a conversation. "Little girl, why are you sitting alone in such a dangerous place? Aren't you afraid of falling?"

Zhu Zhuqing, who was wallowing in gloom, turned around.

She glanced at Aiven behind her and said coldly, "This isn't dangerous to me. Besides, you're not much older than I am. What makes you think you can call me little girl?"

"Don't mind that. May I sit here?"

Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes. "You're already sitting down, and you're still asking!"

"Hehe." Aiven chuckled.

He lay flat on the ground and looked up at the night sky. Noticing the hidden sadness in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes as he looked at her profile, he asked, "Are you in a bad mood?"

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for several seconds before answering, "My second sister was killed."

Aiven's expression changed.

At the same time, he had not expected someone with Zhu Zhuqing's personality to actually answer him.

The Zhu Family had four sisters.

The eldest sister, Zhu Zhuyun, was engaged to Dai Weisi, the First Prince of Star Luo.

The second sister was engaged to the Second Prince of Star Luo.

However, in the original story, that pair had been dealt with by Dai Weisi and Zhu Zhuyun very early on. Aiven just had not expected them to die around this time.

The third sister had no marriage partner, since Star Luo only had three Imperial Sons. She survived until the end in the original story, though she had little presence.

The fourth was Zhu Zhuqing, engaged to Dai Mubai, the Third Prince of Star Luo.

Her sister was killed. No wonder she's upset. Aiven pretended not to know and asked, "Why was she killed?"

Zhu Zhuqing felt stifled and miserable.

She actually needed an outlet, but there was no one she could talk to.

Yet the appearance of this unfamiliar little boy gave her someone to vent to. "She died because of family competition."

"What kind of family is that? People die over competition?"

Zhu Zhuqing did not reveal much. She silently clenched her fists and said, "A cold family without any familial affection. If I could, I would love nothing more than to escape my family and leave Star Luo City!"

She suddenly looked toward Aiven and asked, "You're not from here, are you?"

Aiven said in surprise, "You could tell?"

"You carry the scent of the sea. Only people who have lived in coastal cities for a long time have that scent."

This girl is pretty smart. Aiven smiled inwardly and said, "That's right. I'm from the Aiven Kingdom."

"You're actually from the Aiven Kingdom?" Zhu Zhuqing's large, bright eyes suddenly lit up.

Aiven looked puzzled. "Is there something wrong with that?"

Longing flickered in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. "If I could leave, I would want to study at the Aiven Kingdom Direct Academy. There are instructors as strong as Titled Douluo there, and I heard they even have top-tier resources that can improve talent and Soul Power levels."

"I want to become stronger. That should be the best academy."

"So that's how it is." Aiven smiled. "Hehe, if you want to go, I can take you there!"

As one of the main group, Zhu Zhuqing's talent was quite good. With some nurturing, becoming a Titled Douluo in the future would not be a problem.

A trace of loneliness appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's cool little face. "Right now, I can't leave. Even if I do, I still won't be able to escape my fate."

But Aiven said seriously, "As long as you want to, no matter what shackles bind you, I can settle them for you."

"You? A little boy? You can't do it." Zhu Zhuqing shook her head.

She simply could not believe him.

Once a marriage between the Zhu Family and the Star Luo Royal Family was decided, it would never be annulled. No one in this world could change that—unless someone died.

Aiven merely shrugged indifferently, rose to his feet, and prepared to leave.

He said again, "Nothing is impossible. Think it over. If one day you decide you want to go, write to the Aiven Kingdom Direct Academy."

"I will honor what I said tonight. I'll resolve some of those shackles for you, then take you away from Star Luo City."

"Alright, goodbye, little girl."

With that, Aiven turned and left.

But at that moment, a hidden arrow suddenly shot out from somewhere nearby, flying toward Zhu Zhuqing.

"Watch out!"

Aiven immediately struck, knocking the hidden arrow away.

Then he grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's little hand and pulled her into his arms.

He saw a shadow in the grass quickly fleeing, and frowned slightly. Did Zhu Zhuyun really send someone to assassinate Zhu Zhuqing?

But why attack before I left? Was she planning to kill Zhu Zhuqing and pin it on me?

"Damn it, Zhu Zhuyun!"

Zhu Zhuqing had also guessed who wanted to kill her.

But what surprised her even more was that this little boy was not simple!

Blushing slightly in Aiven's arms, Zhu Zhuqing said, "Just now... th-thank you."

Aiven looked at Zhu Zhuqing, whose little face had turned red while tightly held in his arms, then quickly released her. "It's nothing. I think you should come down the mountain with us. It won't be safe if you stay here any longer."

"Mm."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded and silently followed behind Aiven and the others.

Seeing the imposing and extraordinary people around Aiven, Zhu Zhuqing became even more convinced that his status in the kingdom was far from ordinary.

But she never could have imagined that this little boy was the king.

"Let's go."

Aiven led Zhu Zhuqing away from Star Sea Mountain and returned to the streets of the city.

By chance, they ran into Dai Mubai at that very moment.

Dai Mubai was not yet twelve.

But people in the Douluo Continent World matured quickly, so he was already quite precocious at that age.

At that moment, Dai Mubai had two scantily clad women in his arms as he headed toward a nearby hotel.

"Isn't that Dai Mubai? Wow, he sure knows how to have fun! Does he start with two at a time?"

"As expected of an Imperial Son. He really knows how to play!"

Aiven grinned and glanced at Zhu Zhuqing beside him.

At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing's expression had already turned extremely ugly. Her chubby little cheeks puffed up as she fumed with anger!

Dai Mubai's reputation as a playboy had long spread throughout Star Luo City.

It was said that he frequently indulged in drink and pleasure, and even—often hired prostitutes to do those filthy things!

But those had only been rumors. Zhu Zhuqing had never seen it with her own eyes.

Yet she never expected to catch him in the act tonight.

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