Zhu Zhuqing, Do You Want to Be an Empress

"Miss Zhuqing, let's set out." Jiang Mian and Bear Lord returned to the Lake of Life, finding Zhu Zhuqing and Bi Ji sitting together, chatting and laughing without any barrier between them.

"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing nodded gently. She felt that meeting Jiang Mian was one of the greatest fortunes of her life. Not only had she easily obtained an extremely suitable second soul ring, but even this senior Bi Ji, whom she had just met, generously gifted her a stalk of Innate Spirit Grass upon learning she was Jiang Mian's friend.

Now Jiang Mian, without any disdain for her being merely a twentieth-level Great Soul Master, was even taking her to the Extreme North to train.

Such kindness left Zhu Zhuqing unsure how to repay Jiang Mian.

"Xiao Mian, have you packed everything?" Bi Ji walked over to Jiang Mian with a smile, a faint, ethereal floral fragrance wafting toward him.

As a ferocious beast, even the natural scent Bi Ji emitted was extraordinary, possessing the ability to calm the mind and heal injuries.

Before Jiang Mian could speak, Bear Lord cut in: "Don't worry, when the time comes, I'll save Jiang Mian some herbs and let him properly replenish himself."

"You're really asking for it, Bear Lord." Jiang Mian said nothing, but pinched Bear Lord's thigh hard.

But that level of force only tickled Bear Lord.

"Aren't the Auspicious Beast and Scarlet King going with you?" Bi Ji asked. "Di Tian took Zi Ji and the King of Ten Thousand Demons to the Sun Moon Forest. No telling when they'll be back."

"What are they doing in the Sun Moon Forest?" Jiang Mian asked in surprise.

"Seems like negotiations with the Evil Emperor. As for the outcome, I think it'll be very hard to succeed." Bi Ji pressed a hand to her forehead, speaking with some frustration.

"Forget about all that. I'll take Bear Lord to undergo the Heavenly Tribulation first. As for the trouble in the Sun Moon Forest, we'll discuss it when we get back." Jiang Mian said. "Worst case, we wipe out that Evil Emperor."

"Xiao Mian speaks so lightly." Bi Ji smiled faintly. "Even Di Tian wouldn't dare claim he could destroy the Evil Emperor. Wait until you become an existence like that before you say such things."

"Soon." Jiang Mian flexed his wrist, brimming with confidence. "That day isn't far off."

Zhu Zhuqing listened, utterly lost, but she didn't press for details. After all, she was just an outsider.

"Miss Zhuqing, let's go." Jiang Mian extended his hand. Zhu Zhuqing hesitated briefly, but still placed her hand in his.

"Cool and smooth, so soft."

Jiang Mian's heart suddenly raced. Zhu Zhuqing's hand was cool, delicate, and soft, like finely carved jade.

Truly a rare beauty in this world—even the texture of her hand was intoxicating.

Jiang Mian couldn't bear to grip her hand tightly, only holding it gently. Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flushed slightly, and she dared not lift her head to look at him.

Falling for you needs no reason—it's just that my heart happened to bloom when I met you.

Bear Lord followed behind the two, feeling utterly superfluous.

Bear Lord's method of travel was rather domineering. He casually reached out and grabbed a massive bird-type soul beast from the air, dragging it before him.

After a friendly exchange, the bird soul beast finally agreed to carry the two humans and one bear to the Extreme North. Truly, movement among soul beasts was far more convenient than in the human world.

In truth, Bear Lord was being considerate of Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing. If it were just him, he would have already flown over using his Soul Power. After all, as a powerhouse on par with a Limit Douluo, this distance was nothing to him.

They sat on the bird soul beast's back, flying straight toward the Extreme North. Jiang Mian asked curiously, "Zhuqing, what plans do you have next?"

"I don't know yet." Zhu Zhuqing shook her head and said softly, "Actually, I haven't told you—I'm a member of the Star Luo Empire's royal family."

"Star Luo Empire?" Jiang Mian didn't show much surprise, since he already knew Zhu Zhuqing's identity. But his calm demeanor made her see him as worldly and knowledgeable.

"The Star Luo Empire operates on survival of the fittest. Only the strongest are fit to be emperor." Jiang Mian said calmly. "The loser has their abilities crippled and is exiled to the borderlands, or executed outright. Am I right?"

"Mm." Zhu Zhuqing's eyes were resolute, showing Jiang Mian her never-surrender nature.

So what if her elder sister was born many years before her? So what if her talent was inferior to her sister's?

As heaven moves with vigor, so must a gentleman strive unceasingly!

Zhu Zhuqing held that degenerate Second Prince in utter contempt. He had long since fled in secret, avoiding reality because he thought he couldn't compete with his elder brother.

She, Zhu Zhuqing, was a little cat who would never bow to fate!

Jiang Mian had already formed an idea, but now wasn't the time to share it with Zhu Zhuqing.

He really wanted to ask her if she wanted to be the Empress of the Star Luo Empire. If she had such a thought, Jiang Mian could certainly help her ascend the throne!

"Survival of the fittest?" Bear Lord listened with great interest and laughed. "Little girl, how about I go play emperor in your empire for a couple of days?"

"Senior, please don't joke." Zhu Zhuqing gave a rare smile. "With your strength, Senior, I'm afraid the Star Luo Empire couldn't accommodate such a great figure."

"Hahaha." Jiang Mian slapped Bear Lord's shoulder and laughed. "If Zhuqing fails, how about we go and overturn the Star Luo Empire?"

"I don't want to fail, and I'll work hard not to." Zhu Zhuqing's tone was firm. "Thank you both for your kindness. Zhuqing appreciates it, but this is ultimately my family's affair. I dare not involve you two in its troubles."

With those words, you're definitely becoming Empress.

Jiang Mian lifted his head high, enjoying the breeze brushing his cheeks and blowing his hair back.

A young man's shoulders should be filled with beautiful things—set aside national grudges and family feuds for now, and first embrace the clear wind and bright moon, the swaying willows!

Zhu Zhuqing sat beside Jiang Mian, wrapping her arms around his. It gave her a strong sense of security.

Deep down, Zhu Zhuqing had already grown dependent on Jiang Mian. Though they hadn't known each other long, his actions brought her the long-lost warmth she had never felt in the cold, ruthless life of the royal family.

Zhu Zhuqing was a woman who was tough on the outside but soft within. She had to be strong to survive. But now, Jiang Mian's appearance gave her a shoulder to lean on.

This man—he was good, couldn't be better!

The air currents grew colder, as if warning the travelers that they had arrived at the Extreme North.

Looking down from the sky, everything was a vast expanse of white. Occasionally, a few Titan Snow Demons, their bodies as massive as mountains, shifted their forms, but in Jiang Mian's eyes, they were still as tiny as grains of sand.

Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing circulated their Soul Power to ward off the cold. Bear Lord, a rough fellow, wasn't bothered by the chill at all. He placed his hands on their backs, using his own Soul Power to help dispel the freezing currents.

"Snow Empress, I'm here." Jiang Mian's eyes sparkled with excitement, as if the ruler of the Extreme North was already within his grasp...

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