Community of Fate

Li Xun came before Zhu Zhuqing and waved a hand in front of her eyes. "Why do you run into danger every time we meet?"

Looking at the hand before her eyes, Zhu Zhuqing instantly snapped awake, a flush rising to her pale face. "Thank you..."

Having been seen in such a sorry state twice in a row left her somewhat embarrassed.

"What did you say?" Li Xun leaned closer, cupping a hand to his ear beside Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly lowered her head. "...Thank you!"

"It's nothing... nothing. Just a small effort. I only saved you twice, that's all. No big deal."

A smile appeared on Li Xun's face as he repeatedly waved his hand, as though he had merely done something utterly insignificant.

"I-I'll repay you." Zhu Zhuqing hung her head so low that she seemed ready to burrow into the ground.

Even her words came out haltingly.

She felt extremely embarrassed now. She had clearly said just that morning that she would repay Li Xun, yet before she could make good on it, he had saved her again.

And given her current circumstances, she was not even sure whether she would survive. Such verbal promises of repayment were destined to be difficult to fulfill.

She felt like someone who owed money but lacked the means to pay it back, and guilt welled up within her.

"If this keeps up, I don't think I'll live to see the day you repay me."

Li Xun's smile faded, and his expression gradually turned serious. "Miss Zhuqing, if you truly have no family left in Star Luo, why not consider coming to Heaven Dou with me? Perhaps you'll have better prospects there."

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Li Xun, and I am the personal disciple of Ning Fengzhi, Sect Leader of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This is Sword Grandfather, a consecrated elder of our sect."

"I'll let you in on a secret—Sword Grandfather is a Titled Douluo." Li Xun whispered to Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing abruptly raised her head and looked at Li Xun and Sword Douluo.

As a member of a noble family, she could set aside other knowledge for the moment, but she had to know the famous powerhouses of the continent.

She had never expected these two to be core members of one of the Upper Three Sects, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

And the middle-aged man standing atop the flying sword beside her was actually Chen Xin, the renowned Sword Douluo of the continent.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Chen Xin. Greetings, Brother Li Xun..."

Zhu Zhuqing first bowed to Sword Douluo, then looked toward Li Xun.

For a moment, she did not know how to address him.

He had saved her twice, so out of respect, she could not simply call him by name.

Li Xun's smile widened at her words. "Little Sister Zhuqing, what do you think of what I said earlier?"

Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had an excellent reputation across the continent, and the flying sword beneath the middle-aged man's feet was indeed enough to prove their identities.

If she left with them, she certainly would not need to worry about her safety.

But she had grown up in the Zhu family, burdened by an inborn duty and shackles. If she ran away now, would she not be just like that coward?

"I..." Zhu Zhuqing was at a loss for words, struggling inwardly without end.

"Martial Soul: Hell Spirit Cat. You're from the direct line of the Zhu family? And judging by your age, you're very likely one of this generation's children chosen to marry into the royal family."

Just as Zhu Zhuqing did not know how to reply, Sword Douluo let out a soft sigh. "This child, Xiao Xun, probably won't come with us. From the moment they are born, the fate of their clan is decided. They must marry a prince and help him fight for the throne."

"And the process is exceedingly cruel. Siblings must slaughter one another until the final victor is decided. The losers either die or, at best, are exiled."

At Sword Douluo's words, Zhu Zhuqing's face instantly turned pale, and her hands unconsciously clenched the sleeves of her clothes.

"Sword Grandfather, can't she give up?"

Li Xun looked at Sword Douluo with a puzzled expression.

Sword Douluo's eyelid twitched, and he took a deep breath before reciting his lines. "No. In the Star Luo Royal Family, only the strongest can inherit the throne. And to prevent the other side from making a comeback, the victor eliminates that threat."

Zhu Zhuqing's body trembled. She clenched her pearly teeth and covered her injured left shoulder with one hand.

The royal family's rules were this cruel. Only through competition could one survive, and as those married into the royal family, the Zhu family sisters had no choice but to face the same decision.

Yet under such rules, someone had actually run away. That was undoubtedly giving up the two of them's chance to survive.

"Sword Grandfather, the Star Luo Royal Family is the Dai Family, right? If the princes die, they die—what does that have to do with the Zhu family?" Li Xun asked thoughtfully.

Sword Douluo's hand behind his back could not help but tremble. What Li Xun was saying now had already strayed from the script they had agreed upon.

"The women of the Zhu family have married into the Dai family for generations. When a Dai family descendant ascends the throne, the Zhu family woman becomes empress. Tell me, does it have anything to do with them or not?"

"Oh?"

Li Xun turned to Zhu Zhuqing. "Do you want to become empress?"

Zhu Zhuqing had still been immersed in fear of the royal family's rules.

Hearing Li Xun's question, her thoughts stalled. Only after a long while did she slowly shake her head.

"Then do you like the prince you're meant to marry?" Li Xun slowly stepped forward and stared into Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.

The two had drawn rather close. Zhu Zhuqing instinctively wanted to take a step back, but Li Xun's words caught her attention. She stood there, thought for a moment, and said, "No."

Her fate had been decided the moment she awakened her Martial Soul. After all, one's talent could not be too poor if one was to marry into the imperial family.

Besides, she was only nine this year and had not spent much time with Dai Mubai. It had not yet come down to whether she liked him or not.

It could only be said that the two were bound together by fate.

"How strong is that prince? What forces does he have under his command? And how strong is his opponent?" After thinking for a moment, Li Xun asked three questions.

The two were very close.

Close enough that Zhu Zhuqing could clearly hear his breathing.

But this concerned her fate, and he was very likely able to help her. Her face flushed red, yet she endured the awkwardness and did not step back.

"Dai Mubai is eleven this year. His Soul Power Level is twenty-five, and he has yet to gain the support of any other forces.

"His opponent is the First Prince. His Soul Power Level should be around forty by now." Zhu Zhuqing's voice grew softer and softer until she fell silent.

"The gap in strength is that huge?"

Li Xun was somewhat surprised. "How does that Dai Mubai plan to fight for the throne?"

"He ran away..." Zhu Zhuqing's mood sank.

Li Xun grinned. "Then what are you still holding on for? He already ran away. Are you planning to fight for the position of empress all by yourself?"

Zhu Zhuqing froze at his words, and her chest suddenly felt tight. "There is no escaping royal conflict. There can only be one victor."

"I want to ask: if the prince is killed, will you Zhu family sisters die with him?" Li Xun asked something that had been on his mind all along.

"..."

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly thought of her second sister and found herself speechless.

Her second sister's fiancé had been assassinated this year, yet her second sister had instead gained freedom through that misfortune.

But her situation was different from her second sister's. Her eldest sister had already sent people to assassinate her several times.

"But... Eldest Sister won't let me go." Zhu Zhuqing was despondent, her eyes filled with sorrow.

Hiss!

Li Xun sucked in a breath and scratched his head. "What's your eldest sister's Soul Power Level now?"

When people got stuck in a rigid way of thinking, they truly clung stubbornly to it.