A Life-Saving Debt Shall Be Repaid Someday!

"There is no reunion now."

Luo Li's voice was calm, like the still water of an ancient well, without a single ripple.

It was as though nothing had happened just now.

The sight instantly shattered the courage of the remaining few.

Daring not to linger for even a moment, they scrambled and fled into the distance.

Luo Li did not continue the pursuit. The longsword in his hand vanished as he withdrew his gaze.

His purpose of killing the chicken to scare the monkeys had already been achieved. As for the rest, if they wanted to flee, then let them flee.

It could also be considered making the Star Luo Empire swallow a silent loss.

Members of the Star Luo Zhu Family had brazenly pursued and killed someone within the Heaven Dou Empire's borders. Whether it was an internal matter or not, they were still in the wrong.

Because of Spirit Hall, the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire were currently in a delicate balance.

The Star Luo Empire would not break that balance over a single assassin from the Zhu Family.

"Thank you."

Having escaped with her life, Zhu Zhuqing gratefully thanked Luo Li.

Luo Li shook his head slightly and said indifferently, "It was merely part of my duty."

That was the truth.

If this had not been within Heaven Dou territory, he would certainly not have interfered.

Having said that, he did not linger any longer. He turned and led the White Robe Army back onto the road home.

Watching the vast procession depart, Zhu Zhuqing parted her lips slightly, as though she wanted to say something. Yet nothing came out. She merely followed quietly some distance behind them.

Shen Bei, the Soul Saint-level lieutenant, noticed Zhu Zhuqing following not far behind the army and cast Luo Li an inquiring look.

"General, that girl is still following us."

Hearing this, Luo Li glanced back and met Zhu Zhuqing's gaze, which had been directed toward him.

As if shocked by electricity, Zhu Zhuqing hurriedly looked away.

Luo Li could roughly guess what she was thinking.

Some melodramatic love at first sight was certainly impossible. More likely, she simply thought it was safer to stay near them.

This was a border region of the Heaven Dou Empire, and public order was far from ideal.

Besides the Zhu Family's assassins, there were also plenty of bandits and robbers.

Zhu Zhuqing was a two-ringed Soul Master. Traveling alone could be dangerous for her, but following behind them was another matter entirely.

After all, no bandits or robbers would dare set their sights on the White Robe Army.

They would already be grateful if the White Robe Army failed to notice them.

So-called bandits and robbers were simply not worth mentioning before a regular army.

It was like striking a stone with an egg—they would shatter at the first touch!

"It's nothing. Ignore her."

Luo Li withdrew his gaze.

If she wanted to follow, then let her follow. In any case, she would not interfere with their business.

Seeing Luo Li withdraw his gaze without ordering anyone to drive her away, Zhu Zhuqing inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, while feeling even more grateful.

Just as Luo Li had guessed, Zhu Zhuqing did indeed want to rely on the White Robe Army to avoid trouble and danger.

Having only just escaped alive from the assassins sent by her elder sister, Zhu Zhuyun, she was like a frightened little beast, desperately lacking any sense of security.

Luo Li had not driven her away and had tacitly allowed her to continue following the White Robe Army. Coupled with his life-saving grace earlier, Zhu Zhuqing truly did not know how to repay him.

Unfortunately, given her strength and status, there was truly nothing she could offer in return.

Pressing her red lips together, Zhu Zhuqing silently made up her mind.

If she was fortunate enough to survive, then if there ever came a time when she could help Luo Li, she would repay today's life-saving grace even if it cost her everything!

And so, Zhu Zhuqing followed not far behind Luo Li's White Robe Army like a little tail.

With the White Robe Army clearing the way, no blind fool came looking for trouble.

The White Robe Army traveled much faster than ordinary troops, but not so fast that Zhu Zhuqing could not keep up.

After all, though they had not deliberately slowed down, Zhu Zhuqing was an Agility Attack Type Great Soul Master. When it came to traveling, she was an expert.

Although every member of the White Robe Army was also a Soul Master, constrained by the overall quality of Soul Masters in the Heaven Dou Empire, their cultivation could not be too high.

Most had two or three rings. Their cultivation was not much higher than Zhu Zhuqing's to begin with, and they were not traveling at full speed either.

It might have seemed rather ordinary, but in truth, it was already quite rare.

Among the powers on the continent today, aside from Spirit Hall, which could assemble Soul Master armies with comparatively high cultivation across the board, every other faction struggled to do so.

Between the major kingdoms and the two great empires, ordinary soldiers remained the most common fighting force.

A long while later,

As evening fell, Luo Li gave the order to make camp.

After hesitating for a long time, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been following behind the White Robe Army, walked toward Luo Li.

Shen Bei's expression turned peculiar, and his smile carried an unclear meaning.

"General, I suddenly remembered there are still some matters I need to explain. I'll take my leave for a moment."

With a wave of his hand, he led away several squad leaders who had yet to react and were resting nearby.

"Lord Shen, what is it?"

The men he called away were somewhat bewildered.

The campaign was over, and they were returning in triumph. What else needed to be explained?

Shen Bei irritably smacked the speaker's helmet.

"Idiot. Didn't you see that little girl coming over to find the general?"

"So what?" The squad leader who had been smacked was still utterly confused.

Shen Bei sighed helplessly.

Why did he have brothers who were so slow-witted?

Lowering his voice, Shen Bei gave a sly grin. "Don't you think our general is of marriageable age now?"

At those words, even these rough men immediately understood what Shen Bei meant.

"Lord Shen, are you saying that girl has fallen for our general? No way, right?"

"From the looks of it, the general and that girl have only met this one time."

Shen Bei raised a finger and gently shook it. "This is where you don't understand."

"Who is our general?"

"Heaven Dou's acknowledged most handsome man, the dream lover of countless noblewomen and young ladies in Heaven Dou City."

"With the debt of saving her life, and with our general being so handsome and dashing, isn't love at first sight perfectly normal?"

Listening to Shen Bei's supremely confident words, the several squad leaders nodded in a daze.

The reasoning seemed sound enough.

Unaware of their conversation, Luo Li ate his rations and slightly raised his eyes, looking at the black-clad girl who had arrived before him and was fidgeting awkwardly.

"Is something the matter?"

Zhu Zhuqing's small hands were tightly entwined before her.

She took a deep breath, and her ample chest rose and fell slightly.

Her dark eyes looked earnestly at the young marquis in white before her. "Thank you!"

"I know you only acted because this happened within Heaven Dou territory, but the fact remains that you saved my life."

"I'm leaving. If we have the chance to meet again, I will certainly repay today's kindness!"

For the cool and aloof Zhu Zhuqing, saying such a long passage was no easy feat.

Luo Li did not think Zhu Zhuqing could really repay him in any way, but seeing the earnest expression on her still somewhat youthful face, he did not discourage her.

He merely replied,

"We'll talk about it next time."

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her red lips together. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, yet exceptionally resolute.

"There will be a next time!"

Even if it was only to repay today's life-saving grace, she would do everything she could to keep herself from dying because of that foolish rule!

After bidding Luo Li farewell, Zhu Zhuqing continued on her journey.

She had to accomplish the purpose of this trip away from the Star Luo Empire.

If she was disappointed, then she would use the life that was already destined to end in death to repay today's life-saving grace!

Moonlight shone like silver, while the sky was dark as ink.

The slender black figure gradually disappeared into the night.