Dugu Bo's Forceful Move, the Mysterious Person's Gift, Zhu Zhuqing's Tears

Ning Fengzhi's face instantly turned iron blue, his chest heaving violently. He was clearly furious to the extreme.

But under Dugu Bo's blatant, near-mutual-destruction threat, he ultimately forced a single word through gritted teeth.

"...Fine!"

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three—!"

"Release them." Under Dugu Bo's icy gaze and countdown, Ning Fengzhi waved his hand with extreme reluctance.

Seeing this, Chen Xin could only snort coldly, withdraw the sword energy locked onto Zhao Linchuan, and clear the way.

"Let's go!"

Dugu Bo did not hesitate. He grabbed Zhao Linchuan with one hand, while Zhao Linchuan tightly held Zhu Zhuqing's arm.

The three figures turned into flowing light, instantly breaking through the obstruction and racing toward the distant horizon. They soon vanished from sight.

Looking at the direction in which they had disappeared, Chen Xin did not immediately help Gu Rong up from the ground. Instead, his brows furrowed deeply, his face filled with doubt and gravity.

"How strange... this Dugu Bo, the soul power aura on his body... when did it become so thick and majestic?"

"It's practically as if... he became a different person!"

In the blink of an eye, Zhao Linchuan and Zhu Zhuqing had been brought back to the Jade Phosphor Serpent Clan's residence by Dugu Bo.

Several days and nights of desperate escape with barely any rest had exhausted him physically and mentally.

Now that the crisis had temporarily passed, overwhelming fatigue drowned him like a tidal wave. Zhao Linchuan fell into a deep sleep that was nearly unconsciousness.

Who knew how much time had passed before Zhao Linchuan slowly woke up.

He rubbed his heavy eyelids and focused his gaze. Looking at the familiar furnishings in the room, imbued with a girl's gentle aura, he sat up with some helplessness.

"How did I... end up sleeping in Yanzi's room again?"

Just then, that gentle and mysterious voice rang directly through the depths of his mind once more, carrying a trace of apology.

"I am sorry. Because the Asura God had cast a gaze of scrutiny, I could not rashly intervene, lest I expose myself and attract bigger trouble."

"But fortunately, though you went through great danger, it became a blessing in disguise. You encountered a beauty's assistance and ultimately survived."

"The Asura God is watching me?" Zhao Linchuan's heart skipped a beat. His brows furrowed tightly as his thoughts raced.

"Is it because my existence disrupted the Fate Track he paved for Tang San, drawing his attention?"

He was silent for a long time before silently saying in his heart:

"I need a God-Bestowed Soul Ring, a sufficiently powerful Seventh Soul Ring, so that I can obtain a Martial Soul True Body matching my potential."

He knew that, when facing a god-level threat, he had to increase his strength as soon as possible.

"Of course."

A faint water-like ripple silently spread through the void.

Two golden light spots, radiating a soft and sacred glow, silently drifted down before Zhao Linchuan.

"Two?!" Zhao Linchuan extended his hand, and the two points of golden light lightly landed in his palm.

That voice continued:

"If these two God-Bestowed Soul Rings can make up for my failure to act in time, then they are yours."

Feeling the two masses of warm and powerful energy in his palm, Zhao Linchuan curled his lips into a smile. "Fine. Pleasant cooperation."

"The Asura God's gaze has already withdrawn. You should be safe in the short term."

"You may do some things you wish to do, but remember not to draw too much attention and attract unnecessary investigation."

The voice warned, "At the same time, to avoid being noticed by Him, I cannot act freely except under non-essential circumstances."

"You must be more careful on the future path."

After explaining those final matters, the voice disappeared as silently as it had arrived, as though it had never existed.

At that moment, the room door was gently pushed open from outside.

"You're awake?" Zhu Zhuqing entered carrying a basin of warm water with wisps of hot steam rising from it. "Wash up quickly. You've been asleep for a long time."

Zhao Linchuan nodded and threw back the covers to get out of bed.

He first washed his face with warm water, then pressed a hot towel against it, enjoying the comfort.

On the other side, Zhu Zhuqing silently poured a cup of warm water and handed it to Zhao Linchuan. "Drink some warm water. You slept for one day and one night."

Zhao Linchuan accepted it, thanked her, and drained the warm water in one gulp.

He set down the cup and looked at the cool and aloof girl who had reached out to help him at a moment of crisis. After hesitating, he finally asked:

"Zhu Qing... why... were you there?"

"And why did you leave Shrek? Also... after how I treated all of you in Suotuo City, why... were you still willing to help me?"

Hearing this question, Zhu Zhuqing's body stiffened noticeably. She instinctively bit her lower lip as the unbearable things she had experienced at Shrek flooded back into her mind.

She was silent for a moment. Her eye sockets gradually reddened, and she finally told him in a low voice, bit by bit, how Dai Mubai had attempted to violate her and how she had ultimately chosen to leave Shrek.

"Zhu Qing..." Listening to her account, Zhao Linchuan sighed inwardly. He reached out and gently patted her trembling back, his tone warm.

"If you need to... you can lean in my arms and cry for a while. There's no one else here."

Zhu Zhuqing lifted her reddened eyes to look at him. Her gaze was complicated, filled with struggle and hesitation.

In the end, she still shook her head, trying to maintain her habitual strength.

Seeing this, Zhao Linchuan said no more. He directly reached out, gently pulled her over, and let her lean against his solid chest.

"Stop pretending to be strong. Cry it out. You'll feel less miserable after you cry."

This sudden warmth and acceptance seemed to instantly shatter all of Zhu Zhuqing's defenses.

"Sob..." A suppressed whimper escaped her throat. Then, tears surged forth like a breached levee river.

She no longer held them back. Leaning in Zhao Linchuan's arms, she began to cry loudly.

It was not only because of Dai Mubai's harm, but also because of the perseverance she had maintained alone in the Star Luo Empire,

the hardships of traveling thousands of miles to the Heaven Dou Empire, her confusion about the future, and the loneliness and fear deep inside that no one understood and no one could listen to... all her pent-up emotions completely erupted at this moment.

Zhao Linchuan did not interrupt her, nor did he offer any empty words of comfort.

He simply held her quietly. One hand gently patted her back, while the other let her clutch his lapel tightly. He became a silent and reliable listener, allowing her tears to soak the front of his clothes.

After a long time, the heart-wrenching sobs gradually became quiet sniffles before finally calming down.

Zhu Zhuqing had cried until her voice was hoarse. With self-mockery, she whispered, "Linchuan... tell me, am I... very cheap?"

That word seemed to exhaust all her strength, filled with self-loathing.