Helping You Woo Zhu Zhuqing? She's My Girl!

Flender led the way, gradually increasing his speed.

He's testing our physical limits.

Oscar and Ma Hongjun had expected this. They adjusted their breathing and followed closely behind.

With the boosts from the Million Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone, Zhuge Lan had the strongest physique here and was the most relaxed.

Tang San had the Mysterious Heaven Skill, which allowed him to recover faster by regulating his breathing. Combined with the foundation of the Virgin Boy Skill, he was also handling it easily.

Xiao Wu went without saying. As a Soul Beast in human form, even without cultivating, she was among the best of her age.

But Zhu Zhuqing...

As an Agility Attack System War Soul Master, she focused more on explosive power.

Her endurance was naturally somewhat lacking.

However, she had consumed Whale Rubber, which had greatly strengthened her physique.

Keeping up with the group should not have been much of a problem.

Yet her steps were chaotic, and her breathing rhythm was disordered.

On top of that, she carried two heavy burdens and had to keep one hand wrapped around them to stop the big rabbits from bouncing everywhere.

Unable to maintain her balance effectively, she wasted even more stamina.

This puzzled Zhuge Lan.

Her foundation is this poor?

But when he considered Zhu Zhuqing's circumstances, he understood.

Amid the Star Luo Empire's royal power struggle, it was already impressive that Zhu Zhuqing, all alone, had survived this long.

It was perfectly reasonable that her cultivation had been suppressed.

Only halfway through the journey,

Zhu Zhuqing, stumbling along with uneven steps, had fallen to the back of the group.

Zhuge Lan saw it but had no intention of helping.

With Zhu Zhuqing's personality, stepping in now would only make her think he was hindering her cultivation.

Besides...

Only simps rushed to show off their attentiveness at the first opportunity.

For example, Dai Mubai, who caught up and saw Zhu Zhuqing in that state.

He first shot Zhuge Lan a grateful look.

Brother, you're loyal. You didn't take advantage of her weakness.

Then he stepped forward, intending to support Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing dodged him with a flash.

She even staggered in her haste to avoid him and nearly fell.

Zhuge Lan blurred into motion, appearing at her side and extending a hand.

Zhu Zhuqing grabbed it and steadied herself.

"Th-thank you."

Zhu Zhuqing thanked him politely, then released his hand.

When Dai Mubai approached, she shot him a vicious glare!

"My business has nothing to do with you!"

"I came to Shrek only to become stronger. That has nothing to do with you either!"

"From now on, stay away from me!"

"Young Master Dai!"

After issuing her warning,

Zhu Zhuqing forcibly accelerated and caught up with the main group.

Dai Mubai was left standing there stiffly, the pupils in his eyes nearly overlapping.

He felt utterly wronged!

Zhuge Lan leaned closer and teased him like a rotten friend—

"You were given a chance, and you still couldn't make it work!"

"If you hadn't told me about it last night, I would've gone to help her already."

Emotional Value +111

Emotional Value +444

Emotional Value +999

Well, damn!

You're the one holding a grudge now?

Between the two of you, who was actually in the wrong?

Dai Mubai's face twitched a few times before settling into a bitter smile.

"Zhuge, you don't understand." Dai Mubai laughed at himself. "I deserve all of this."

Zhuge Lan smiled.

He didn't understand?

No one on the entire Douluo Continent understood better than him just how cowardly Dai Mubai was!

So Zhuge Lan did not hold back—

"If you deserve it, then stop looking for her."

"She was already running out of stamina, and then you disrupted her rhythm. Now she's forcing herself to speed up. The second half of the journey will probably be difficult for her."

Emotional Value +1111

Knowing he was in the wrong, Dai Mubai could only answer with another bitter smile.

Seeing how even Zhuge Lan's breathing was steady, seemingly carrying a unique rhythm,

Dai Mubai remembered something.

"Zhuge, that Spiral Nine Shadows movement technique you used before... can it help save stamina?" he asked sincerely.

"Isn't that basic knowledge?" Zhuge Lan replied matter-of-factly. "Though Spiral Nine Shadows isn't particularly suited for long-distance travel, that's only relative to its dodging capabilities. At the very least, it's much better than Little Sanzi's movement technique."

Emotional Value +666

Emotional Value +1111

Tang San, running ahead of them, was producing Emotional Value like mad.

Yet he did not dare turn back and argue.

After all, they had sparred before. He truly was not even worthy of carrying Zhuge Lan's shoes.

That was why he was even angrier!

Emotional Value +5555

Zhuge Lan's lips curled up.

Tang San's petty temperament was simply perfect for his system!

"Great!" Dai Mubai said happily. "Then, Zhuge, could I trouble you to teach Zhu Zhuqing a few techniques?"

Zhuge Lan's smile vanished as he frowned at Dai Mubai.

Although he had exchanged for Spiral Nine Shadows precisely so he could teach Zhu Zhuqing,

she had to come ask him herself and owe him the favor.

With one word from you, the favor goes to you instead?

Who did you think you were?

Dai Mubai also realized something was wrong and hurriedly explained—

"That's not what I meant!"

"It's just that with your Spiral Nine Shadows, you should be able to teach her some simple breathing rhythms and methods of exerting force, right?"

"Zhu Zhuqing has been suppressed by her sister ever since she was young in the Zhu Family, so no teacher ever taught her these things. She could only figure them out on her own."

"And I..."

"Anyway, if Zhu Zhuqing can learn these things, then with her perseverance, she'll definitely be able to make it to Suotuo City!"

So that's it!

Zhuge Lan's answer was—

What a joke!

You wanted this young master to help you woo the woman he had his eye on?

Dream on!

"Breathing methods, footwork, and movement techniques are all paired with internal cultivation methods. They are secret arts that are never passed on."

"So, you understand."

"Why don't you ask Little Sanzi instead?"

Emotional Value +222

Zhuge Lan's reasoning was perfectly justified.

Though Dai Mubai was disappointed, he did not force the issue.

He sped up to Tang San and whispered a few words to him.

What he received was Tang San's wary gaze and an outright refusal.

That guy valued his inheritance more than his life!

He had not even taught Xiao Wu, so why would he teach you?

After failing twice,

Dai Mubai could only sigh helplessly and lower his head as he ran behind Zhu Zhuqing.

When she truly could not go on any longer, he would lend her a hand.

After another half hour or so,

Flender did not increase his speed again, but he did not slow down either.

Even Dai Mubai was drenched in sweat.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar had their tongues hanging out as they panted laboriously.

Tang San and Xiao Wu also felt their limbs going numb.

Zhu Zhuqing, who had maintained an intense sprint the entire time, had used up more than half her stamina. Her long hair was plastered to her graceful figure with sweat.

Yet Suotuo City still seemed endlessly far away.

Just as Zhu Zhuqing was about to collapse,

Dai Mubai gritted his teeth and prepared to suggest a rest to Flender.

Zhuge Lan, who still looked completely unchanged, accelerated and came to Flender's side.

"Dean Flender."

Zhuge Lan grinned.

"I've always been curious whether the soul skill of my second martial soul can affect a Soul Saint. How about we test it?"

Oh?

Flender was interested.

He swept his gaze over the group from the corner of his eye.

Every one of them was panting like a dog.

Zhu Zhuqing in particular looked as though her eyes were about to go unfocused.

He had gotten a rough measure of everyone's foundations.

So he nodded.

"Fine. Then let's stop and rest for a while."

Zhu Zhuqing immediately collapsed onto the ground and was about to lie down.

Zhuge Lan flashed over, pressing a hand onto her shoulder.

He forcibly pulled her back up and led her forward in a light jog.

Exhausted, Zhu Zhuqing raised her head and looked at Zhuge Lan in confusion.

Still, she did not struggle.

If it had been Dai Mubai, she would certainly have thought he had ulterior motives.

But Zhuge Lan...

She had practically rubbed herself against him last night, and he had still remained firm.

What was this compared to that?

"Don't stop immediately after intense exercise!"

Zhuge Lan explained loudly—

"Resting right after high-intensity exercise will damage your meridians!"

"Jog a little longer, then slow to a walk. Use Soul Power to regulate your meridians. Only sit down once your breathing has evened out."

"This will help slightly strengthen your meridians."

Emotional Value +666

Zhu Zhuqing nodded in understanding.

She grabbed Zhuge Lan's arm for support and continued forward.

The others looked toward Flender, but their bodies had already honestly started moving.

Flender blinked.

He had never heard of such a theory.

But as a "wild Soul Saint" without guidance from his family's accumulated experience,

he had indeed built up a body full of hidden injuries, which had caused his cultivation progress to slow.

This was a common problem among commoner soul masters.

And Zhuge Lan was "a genius with a mysterious background."

It was highly credible.

"Zhuge's handling plan is standard. Everyone, follow it," Flender said approvingly.

The group moved some distance farther before stopping to rest.

Zhuge Lan settled Zhu Zhuqing down.

Standing face-to-face with Flender, neither flushed nor out of breath,

he made everyone inwardly cry out that he was a freak!

Emotional Value +555

Emotional Value +666

Emotional Value +999

Flender stood with his hands behind his back, radiating absolute confidence.

Zhuge Lan summoned the Li Jing Longsword, revealing one pure white and two purple Soul Rings.

Emotional Value +1111

Emotional Value +1111

Oscar and Ma Hongjun's eyes widened!

Wait!

How did this new junior have Twin Martial Souls?

No one had told them!

Flender, however, let out a soft sigh.

"What a pity."

"Not only do you have two Martial Souls, but you've attached Soul Rings to both of them."

"And this Martial Soul's first Soul Ring is only white-grade?"

"Did no one in your family stop you?"

He shook his head in regret.

Emotional Value +99

Zhuge Lan could not help but laugh, his gaze strange.

A Million Year Soul Ring, and you're pitying me?

Even all seven of your rings combined don't amount to a fraction of mine!

Though he dearly wanted to make a bold declaration and harvest a massive wave of Emotional Value,

he held himself back.

Such a huge surprise would only earn him scraps right now, since he had no prestige.

Once everyone had broadened their horizons and understood how rare Million Year Soul Rings were,

then revealing it would be a real harvest!

For now,

he would let the facts speak for themselves.

"Dean Flander, be careful. Here I come!"

Everyone, please keep voting~

The second round's data is also very important. It determines the income after release, and how many words this book will have~