Zhu Zhuqing, Hunted Down

The autumn breeze was slightly chilly as it brushed through the rustling forest leaves.

A black figure darted through the woods in great haste, as if fleeing from something.

Several figures chased relentlessly behind her.

"Second Miss, stop this futile struggle. It'll make things easier for everyone."

Hearing the voices behind her, Zhu Zhuqing clenched her silver teeth.

She could feel the Soul Power within her body beginning to run dry.

If this continued, she would be unable to keep running once her Soul Power was exhausted.

Just as despair set in, a patch of white suddenly appeared in her field of vision.

Without time to think, Zhu Zhuqing instinctively ran straight toward it.

The people pursuing Zhu Zhuqing immediately followed after her.

Halfway there, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly stopped and stared blankly ahead.

"Second Miss, not running anymore?"

Seeing this, the several people chasing Zhu Zhuqing immediately revealed smug smiles.

"The Zhu Family is handling its affairs. Those who know what's good for them should..."

Their voices abruptly cut off.

Only after approaching did they see the scene before them clearly.

A patch of white?

How was this merely a patch of white? It was clearly an expanse of white!

Before them stood a young man in white atop a white horse, followed by tens of thousands of soldiers in white armor.

This distinctive sight immediately let them guess the origins of the group before them.

The Heaven Dou White Robe Army!

The people chasing Zhu Zhuqing immediately stopped, not daring to approach any further.

They were no strangers to the Heaven Dou White Robe Army.

Although the overall situation between the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire remained fairly stable, friction still arose in certain minor areas.

Small-scale wars occasionally broke out.

And the White Robe Army was the Star Luo Empire's most troublesome enemy.

The Star Luo Empire's overall strength surpassed that of the Heaven Dou Empire, and the same was true of its army's combat power.

But the White Robe Army was the sole exception.

This army, commanded by a young general in white, had displayed strength completely beyond what a Heaven Dou Empire army should possess.

The White Robe Army had clashed with the Star Luo Empire's forces five times.

Without exception, the Star Luo forces had returned in crushing defeat.

The strongest among those tasked with hunting Zhu Zhuqing down were merely Soul Kings. After encountering the White Robe Army, how could they dare act rashly?

Watching the scene before him, Luo Li froze for a moment.

Black clothes, cat ears, a baby face, huge...

This was Zhu Zhuqing?

Knowing the original story's plot, Luo Li instantly realized what he had stumbled into.

He had not expected that simply leading his army back would bring him face-to-face with someone from the Original Protagonist Group.

Judging by the situation, Zhu Zhuqing should have been preparing to flee the Star Luo Empire, right?

Zhu Zhuqing also noticed the handsome, immortal-looking youth at the very front of the army.

Luo Li, the White Robe God of War.

She had heard her father, Duke Youming, mention that name more than once, and had also seen his portrait in her father's study.

One of the White Robe Army's five battles against the Star Luo Empire had been led by her father, Duke Youming.

Yet the result had still been a crushing defeat. Duke Youming had even secluded himself in the estate to recover from his injuries for nearly half a year.

Duke Youming often sighed:

"A young hero without equal, peerless beneath the heavens!"

Because he was only seventeen, Zhu Zhuqing had been deeply impressed by him.

Sometimes, she wondered: if her fiancé, who was around the same age as this White Robe God of War, possessed such strength, would things still have turned out this way?

Unaware of Zhu Zhuqing's thoughts, Luo Li calmly withdrew his gaze.

He had no intention of meddling in other people's affairs.

Zhu Zhuqing was part of the Original Protagonist Group, but what did that have to do with him?

Luo Li had no interest in any so-called protagonist group.

She was merely a stranger he had met by chance. There was no reason for him to save her.

The people assigned to hunt Zhu Zhuqing down were also in a terrible predicament.

They had never imagined that they would encounter the White Robe God of War in a place like this.

They were not optimistic about the situation.

After all, the relationship between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire could hardly be called friendly. They did not believe Luo Li would refrain from interfering.

After all, the Youming Zhu Family's relationship with the Star Luo Empire was anything but ordinary.

Making the Youming Zhu Family suffer would also be a tremendous blow to the entire Star Luo Empire!

After hesitating for a moment, one of them slowly stepped forward.

He looked at Luo Li, whose expressionless face revealed nothing of what he was thinking, and said:

"Marquis White Robe, this is a private matter of the Zhu Family. I hope you can make things convenient for us."

Just as Luo Li, who had not wanted to meddle, was about to lead his men away, he heard the lieutenant beside him mutter unhappily:

"These Youming Zhu Family people are going too far. This is Heaven Dou territory, yet they openly use force to hunt someone down here and still expect us to leave!"

At those words, Luo Li suddenly changed his mind.

Indeed.

Although he did not wish to concern himself with Zhu Zhuqing's affairs, nor did he care whether this unfamiliar second miss of the Star Luo Zhu Family would die here because of him,

as the lieutenant had said, this was Heaven Dou Empire territory.

If the Star Luo Zhu Family was allowed to openly use force within Heaven Dou territory, right under their noses no less, that would indeed be inappropriate.

Having witnessed the disgusting conduct of the Heaven Dou royalty and nobility, Luo Li felt little sense of belonging toward this nation's upper ranks.

But he could not disregard the feelings of the soldiers under his command.

If he gave the order to leave now, the White Robe Army's discipline meant that no one would voice any objections.

But they would certainly feel stifled inside.

Unlike Luo Li, a transmigrator, the soldiers of the White Robe Army were natives. Their feelings toward this nation differed from his.

They had chosen to follow him, and he had no reason to make them feel wronged when it was unnecessary.

With that thought, Luo Li had already made up his mind.

He changed his mind and no longer intended to leave just like that.

The Sun Eclipse Sword slowly rose, gradually gleaming with dazzling light beneath the golden afterglow.

Luo Li looked calmly at the few people before him, his voice cold:

"What if I say no?"

A gentle breeze swept by, making his white robes flutter.

Seeing their general take a stance, the White Robe Army soldiers, who had already held their own thoughts on the matter, immediately cast aside their reservations.

The sounds of blades leaving their sheaths rang out one after another.

Cold edges pointed directly at the members of the Star Luo Zhu Family.

At a single command from Luo Li, they would charge forward without hesitation and chop the few Star Luo Zhu Family members before them into mincemeat.

The battle-hardened killing intent of the White Robe Army instantly drenched the backs of the Star Luo Zhu Family members in cold sweat.

They did not believe they could stand against the White Robe Army, which had crushed even the forces led by their own family head.

Without any hesitation, they turned and left.

Compared to the Eldest Miss's orders, they believed their own safety was more important.

One of them was unwilling to accept this. Before leaving, he did not forget to turn back and threaten Luo Li.

"Marquis White Robe, the Star Luo Zhu Family will remember what happened today. Mountains and rivers may bring us together again; we will repay this debt someday!"

Whoosh!

A flash of cold light swept through the air.

Blood burst into the sky like blooming crimson roses.

A round object rolled to the ground.

Luo Li sheathed his sword, his white robes pristine as snow.

"Now we won't meet again."