A Rapidly Growing Tree

Xu Yu regretted it when he saw Zhu Zhuyun picking at the fish head. The meat from the fish head seemed tastier—why had he given it to Zhu Zhuyun?

"Have the tail. The meat is tender, juicy, and delicious. I'll handle the head."

Hm? Zhu Zhuyun was extremely wary of Xu Yu's nonsense. She guarded the fish head, alert for him to snatch it back.

She had never eaten fish heads before. In her eyes, only poor families would do such a thing. Today, driven by hunger, she had no choice but to eat it, only to discover that it was so rich and delicious. Of course, Xu Yu's superb cooking skills also played a part.

Fine, fine, it's all yours!

Other than using force, Xu Yu could think of no way to get the fish head back, so he could only give up.

During their conversations, however, Zhu Zhuyun agreed to return to Spirit City with him to meet Bibi Dong. She would not be joining Spirit Hall, but making a deal with them.

This was the only way Zhu Zhuyun could currently think of to break out of her predicament. She had no choice but to agree.

Once they had settled the matter of cooperation, Xu Yu repeatedly ventured deep into the sea in search of his spirit ring. After so many days, he really did find it.

But he could not kill that underwater spirit beast on his own, so he could only ask Zhu Zhuyun for help. Her sharp claws happened to be the nemesis of plant-type spirit beasts.

But Zhu Zhuyun got seasick. What could they do?

They could only spend another half a month training her. The best way to overcome fear was to face it.

Zhu Zhuyun knew full well that she was no longer the lofty Crown Princess of the Star Luo Empire. She could only overcome the trembling of her body and force herself into the sea. Whenever she fainted, Xu Yu would drag her back.

At first, Zhu Zhuyun had worried that Xu Yu might harbor improper thoughts while she was unconscious. But looking at it another way, if Xu Yu had truly intended anything, he would have done it long ago. Thus, she no longer hesitated.

For half a month, Xu Yu watched Zhu Zhuyun, pale-faced and facing the sea, still rush fearlessly into the water. He had to admit that he admired that determination.

"Can you help me hunt that spirit beast tomorrow?"

As night fell, Xu Yu asked the woman who had just returned from bathing.

Xu Yu did not dare reveal that he had taken her Storage Ring, so Zhu Zhuyun was still wearing his casual clothes. Her wet hair gave her a unique charm.

"I can, but you also have to help me hunt a spirit beast for a spirit ring."

Leaning against the large tree, Zhu Zhuyun quietly waited for her fish head. Her legs were stretched flat across the ground, looking long and straight.

Xu Yu, who was grilling fish, could not help glancing at them a few more times. Zhu Zhuyun snorted coldly. "Haven't you looked enough? When you sneak a look at me bathing, at least erase the footprints behind you!"

"Pfft!" Xu Yu nearly choked to death on a mouthful of water. His old face flushed with embarrassment as he looked at the cold-faced woman beside him and awkwardly asked, "When did you find out?"

"Hmph, I noticed on the first day!"

"..." Xu Yu did not know what to say. Was Zhu Zhuyun hinting at something?

But he could swear to heaven that he had only taken a few curious glances because he was worried Sea Spirit Beasts might attack. Zhu Zhuyun always bathed at night, when it was pitch-black. What was there to see? Besides, he had already seen everything the last time.

Still, every time he stood guard for her, no Sea Spirit Beast attacks occurred. Instead, the more he watched, the more uncomfortable he became. He could not sleep at night, his heart itching restlessly, so eventually he stopped looking.

"You know, so why didn't you stop me?"

"Why would I stop you? What if a Sea Spirit Beast attacked and you didn't have time to react? Besides, you can turn invisible, so I couldn't see where you were anyway. You looked, so you looked. After you've seen me a few times, I'm used to it. It's no big deal!"

Xu Yu had not expected Zhu Zhuyun to possess such broad-mindedness. Ashamed, he coughed a few times and changed the subject. "Once my spirit ring is settled, I'll help you find a spirit beast."

Originally, the price Zhu Zhuyun had paid for helping him hunt a spirit beast was for him to take her back to the mainland. Now, however, he had no choice but to help her too. Since she had exposed the matter right to his face, refusing would be hard to justify. It would be like a scumbag wiping his mouth and leaving after getting what he wanted. So he simply agreed. In any case, he was only a support; Zhu Zhuyun would be the one charging into battle. Xu Yu did not mind throwing a few skills her way.

Zhu Zhuyun nodded slowly, and the coldness on her face eased somewhat. Deep down, she was not as indifferent as she claimed, but her reason had always prevailed over her emotions. She understood that now was not the time to fall out with Xu Yu.

Moreover, during her escape, she had heard that the imperial capital was preparing to spare no expense to ransom back Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing. She knew that after she and Dai Weisi lost the Continental Elite Tournament, their chances had become precarious. That was why she had chosen to defect and flee early.

She and Dai Weisi had discussed it. If Dai Weisi had not left, perhaps his martial soul would already have been crippled and he would have been imprisoned. Alone, she truly needed a companion. Without one, she could not even hunt spirit rings.

She had also witnessed Xu Yu's support-type spirit skills. They were strong—very strong. Before finding other companions, she truly needed Xu Yu's help. Not to mention that she still needed him to arrange an audience with the Pope of Spirit Hall.

Although she doubted whether that connection would actually work out, an opportunity was right before her. At the very least, she had to try.

Swallowing her saliva, Zhu Zhuyun took the initiative to help grill the fish. She immediately cut off the fish head, unconcerned that her hands were coated in greasy fish oil. Ever since last time, she had fallen in love with fish heads.

Seeing how ravenous she looked, Xu Yu could not bring himself to fight her for it. He could only give her the fish head every time while picking out the freshest, most tender belly meat for himself. Together with the lobster meat he had unexpectedly found, the direct assault on his taste buds was indescribably enjoyable.

Seeing Xu Yu's expression as he indulged in his appetite, Zhu Zhuyun suddenly found the fish head in her hands far less appetizing.

As night deepened, Xu Yu wrapped himself in his bedding and fell asleep warmly. From time to time, he turned toward Zhu Zhuyun with a cozy, contented expression. Zhu Zhuyun's teeth itched with hatred as she curled up and shivered in the cold wind, helpless to do anything.

Even asleep, this guy wore such a comfortable expression. He must be plotting something sinister. Nearly frozen stiff, Zhu Zhuyun resentfully closed her eyes and prepared to force herself to sleep.

Then the rumbling sounds of battle in the distance caught her attention. Unlike Xu Yu, Zhu Zhuyun, who possessed the Hell Spirit Cat martial soul, had inherited a cat's powerful night vision. After activating her martial soul and looking in that direction, her heart jolted. Members of her family had searched their way here.

"Wake up, someone's here!" Zhu Zhuyun got up and shook Xu Yu awake.

Xu Yu cursed Zhu Zhuyun for waking him in the middle of the night, but the moment he heard that people from the Netherworld Spirit Cat Family had arrived, he instantly woke up. He sprang to his feet, grabbed Zhu Zhuyun, and prepared to hide in the sea.

"The campfire ashes will be discov—" Zhu Zhuyun spoke urgently, but before she could finish, countless roots burst from the earth, and every trace on the ground vanished cleanly.

Zhu Zhuyun gave the boy holding her arm a meaningful look. She had long noticed that there was something strange about that tree. In half a month, it had grown from just over ten meters to dozens of meters tall. From far away, one could see the Sky-Piercing Great Tree that had become the landmark of the Sea Island. If it had nothing to do with Xu Yu, she would not believe it even if beaten to death.

But she was a smart woman. She knew what should be said and what should not.

After hiding in the sea, Zhu Zhuyun shook free of Xu Yu's grip, furrowed her brows, and snorted coldly. The Water Repelling Pearl.

This guy was finally no longer hiding it. He was openly using her Water Repelling Pearl. She should have guessed it long ago. It was no surprise that the Storage Ring had been lost, but how could the Water Repelling Pearl she had held in her mouth have disappeared too?

Other than someone digging it out, the odds of it being knocked loose by an impact were extremely low.

There were only two people on this small island. Other than Xu, who else would be shameless enough to pry open her mouth and dig out the pearl? No wonder her tongue had hurt a little when she woke up last time. He must have scraped it with something.

Zhu Zhuyun was so furious she wanted to kill someone. But the seawater was churning violently. It seemed that Sea Spirit Beasts were attacking the Hell Spirit Cat Family's ship, so neither of them had time to care about that. They quickly found a good spot to watch the show.