Zu Zong, Do You Still Remember Zhuqing from the Star Dou Great Forest?

The black figure visibly trembled upon hearing the name "Zhu Zhuqing," then grew even more furious. Her attacks became noticeably sharper.

Noticing the black figure's reaction, Zu Zong nodded to himself. So it really is Zhu Zhuqing! I just don't know what medicine she took today. She actually came to ambush me at night. If I hadn't recognized her breasts—cough, cough, improper, improper—my kunai would have slit her throat just now.

Dodging Zhu Zhuqing's attack with another flash, Zu Zong said helplessly, "Say, little sister Zhu Qing, why are you attacking my second brother for no reason? He didn't offend you."

Hearing Zu Zong call her "Zhuqing," the black figure stopped moving. Her voice was icy as she replied, "Defeat me, and I'll tell you!"

"First Soul Skill—Hell Stab!"

"Second Soul Skill—Netherworld Hundred Claws!"

"Damn it, again?" Left with no choice, Zu Zong activated his Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul. As Soul Power gathered in his right palm, hundreds of Blue Silver Emperor Vines as thick as arms surged forth and shot toward Zhu Zhuqing.

Zu Zong was tolerant toward girls, especially pretty girls—and she was even one of the girls he had liked in the original story. As long as she did not truly intend to kill him, he still loved them. Mm! So this time, he only used an ordinary Blue Silver Binding.

There was no surprise at all. Even Tang San's ordinary Blue Silver Grass in the original story had been enough to stop Zhu Zhuqing, so how could she possibly be a match for Zu Zong's Blue Silver Emperor?

Zhu Zhuqing's First and Second Soul Skills did not even touch the corner of Zu Zong's clothes. She merely snapped several dozen Blue Silver Emperor Vines before Zu Zong bound her against the wall with his Blue Silver Emperor, tying her hands and feet spread wide.

"Can you tell me now, little sister Zhu Qing?"

Zhu Zhuqing glared fiercely at Zu Zong. "Pah! Zu Zong, I really misjudged you. I never thought you were the same kind of man as Dai Mubai!"

What the fuck? Was this blame falling from the sky?

Could it be that she saw me bringing Xiao Wu and Ye Lingling into the Rose Hotel and thought I was having a one-dragon-two-phoenix battle?

After clearing his throat, Zu Zong said, "Ahem. First, let me make this clear. Xiao Wu, Lingling, and I are only in the same academy. Nine students from our academy came to Suotuo City, and because the hotels were full, we split into groups to look for places to stay. The three of us happened to be assigned together. Besides, I had my own room! I'm not as much of a scumbag as you say!"

Zu Zong's explanation eased the furrow in Zhu Zhuqing's brow somewhat. "Really?"

"Why would I lie to you? If you don't believe me, go ask the Rose Hotel receptionist."

Of course, there was one thing Zu Zong did not say aloud: Even if I did have a one-dragon-two-phoenix battle, what does it have to do with you?

Zhu Zhuqing met Zu Zong's gaze. After watching him for a long while and confirming that he was not lying, she finally let out a breath. "Hah... let me go!"

"Oh! But you have to promise not to attack again." Zu Zong feared neither heaven nor earth, but he did fear unreasonable young girls—especially the kind he liked. What a sin!

Rolling her eyes, Zhu Zhuqing said in a low voice, "Is that how unreasonable you think I am?"

"Right, right!" Zu Zong snapped his fingers, and the Blue Silver Emperor Vines in the alley immediately vanished.

Regaining her freedom, Zhu Zhuqing moved her joints to ease her stiff body from being tied up. When she lowered her head, the unfathomably deep cleavage gave Zu Zong quite a feast for the eyes.

Noticing Zu Zong's gaze, the cold look on Zhu Zhuqing's face faintly flushed red. "Tell me. Why did you pretend not to know me outside the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City today?"

"Nani?"

It was true that I knew her, but only from the anime and novels I had watched in my previous life! How had this suddenly become like we had known each other for years?

Zhu Zhuqing pouted her cherry-red lips and complained, "Nani? You're using words I don't understand again, just like last time. Don't change the subject. Answer me!"

Wiping away nonexistent sweat from his forehead, Zu Zong began to think. Could he return to the past in the future? No, impossible. Zhu Zhuqing was half a year younger than him, and she did not seem surprised by his appearance. That possibility could be ruled out.

"Um, little sister Zhu Qing, could you give me a hint?"

At his words, Zhu Zhuqing's face, which had only just cooled down with difficulty, became icy once more. She demanded, "You could recognize me in the darkness just now, but you couldn't recognize me in the bright area outside the Soul Fighting Arena in Suotuo City? Tell me, was it because of that Xiao Wu and that Ye Lingling?"

As she spoke, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes reddened. Tears blurred her vision as she choked out, "Zu Zong, do you still remember Zhuqing from the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Fuck, fuck, fuck!

Zu Zong screamed fuck three times in his heart!

He finally understood why, from the moment he first saw Zhu Zhuqing today, her gaze had given him such a strong sense of being in a melodramatic romance drama.

"Your Majesty, do you still remember Xia Yuhe by the Da Ming Lake?"

"Zu Zong, do you still remember Zhuqing from the Star Dou Great Forest?"

Look at that sense of familiarity. This was a typical Douluo version of My Fair Princess.

No wonder Zu Zong had failed to recognize her. Two years ago, Zhu Zhuqing had used the false name "Zhuqing," and her chest had only been the size of fried eggs. Who could have connected her to the Zhu Zhuqing of two years later, whose breasts were now the size of ostrich eggs? Perhaps that was the flaw of preconceived notions!

Time returned to two years ago.

Zhu Zhuqing had just broken through to level twenty.

Led by her family's guards, ten-year-old Zhu Zhuqing headed to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for her Second Soul Ring.

A family guard asked with a smile, "Second Miss, what kind of Soul Beast do you plan to hunt for your Second Soul Ring?"

At that time, Zhu Zhuqing had not yet fully developed. Compared to her fiery figure two years later, she was much more immature, a perfectly adorable little loli.

However, her expression was already somewhat cold, a chill that came from the depths of her heart, pure and clean. There was not even a trace of vitality in her black eyes, forming a tremendous contrast with her rosy little cheeks. "Uncle Zhu, I'm following the agility-attack path. Help me find a Black Wind Leopard with around seven hundred years of cultivation."

The guard called Uncle Zhu nodded. Black Wind Leopards were speed-type Soul Beasts. After absorbing one, a Soul Master had a high chance of gaining a speed-related Soul Skill. For Zhu Zhuqing, who possessed the Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul, nothing could be more suitable.

Uncle Zhu was a guard assigned to Zhu Zhuqing by her mother. His Martial Soul was the Mad Leopard, and his Soul Power had reached level fifty-one. He was a genuine agility-attack Soul King, primarily responsible for protecting Zhu Zhuqing's daily safety.

Zhu Zhuqing had been born into the aristocratic Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire. Although she appeared to live a glamorous life as the daughter of a powerful family, the Zhu Family's Hell Spirit Cat Martial Soul could perform the Martial Soul Fusion Skill—Hell White Tiger—with the White Tiger Martial Soul of the Star Luo Empire's imperial Dai Family, wielding formidable power that allowed them to fight above their level.

Thus, the two families had close ties and intermarried generation after generation. Zhu Zhuqing had been betrothed to Dai Mubai since childhood.

Bound by family rules, Zhu Zhuqing had to compete with her Older Sister, Zhu Zhuyun, for the position of family heir. The loser would be killed or confined to prevent internal strife within the family.

This was the fate Zhu Zhuqing had been born into.