Successive Visits, a Choice

Back in the dormitory, Xue Ke took the Sunflower Scripture from beneath her pillow and turned to page five. The dust she had deliberately sprinkled over it was already gone.

"Tang San, I knew I wasn't wrong about you!"

Xue Ke sneered, circulated her Soul Power, and the Sunflower Scripture in her hand instantly turned to ashes.

Knock, knock, knock!

"Who is it?" Xue Ke ended her meditation, got out of bed, and asked.

"It's Zhu Zhuqing. I need to talk to you about something. May I come in?" Zhu Zhuqing's cool, indifferent voice came from outside the door.

Xue Ke hastily straightened her clothes before opening the door and letting Zhu Zhuqing in.

Zhu Zhuqing was still dressed in tight black clothes that night, her long black hair draped over her shoulders. Her black eyes still radiated a deathly chill, and there was not a trace of a smile on her exquisite face.

Xue Ke could not help comparing her to Ye Lingling.

Ye Lingling's "coldness" was the kind born of lonely self-admiration and detachment from the world, transcendent yet imbued with an ethereal aura, inspiring admiration. Zhu Zhuqing's "coldness," however, carried despair, loneliness, and lifelessness, making others afraid to get too close.

"What is it?" Xue Ke found chairs for herself and Zhu Zhuqing, and they sat down.

Zhu Zhuqing's willow-like brows furrowed slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she finally spoke in a flat tone devoid of any emotion.

"Could you teach me the movement technique you used in the Soul Fighting Arena? After using it, you were even faster than me. I won't learn it from you for nothing. You can name your conditions, and I will do anything within my power."

Xue Ke was stunned for a moment. She had never expected Zhu Zhuqing's late-night visit to be for this.

Zhu Zhuqing isn't bad by nature. She could be a friend worth having. But in the future, she'll stand with Tang San. Wouldn't teaching her the Floating Willow Movement Technique be helping the enemy?

Seeing Xue Ke frowning deeply and remaining silent with her head lowered, Zhu Zhuqing slowly stood and said, "I'm sorry for putting you in a difficult position. You have no reason to help me, and I can barely protect myself now, much less help you with anything. I'm truly sorry for disturbing you so late."

Just as Zhu Zhuqing was about to leave, Xue Ke called out, "Please wait!"

Zhu Zhuqing turned back and looked at Xue Ke in confusion, only to find Xue Ke's lively brown eyes fixed on her as well.

"I can give you my movement technique manual, but I have one condition," Xue Ke said solemnly.

"Please say it." A trace of barely noticeable delight flashed through Zhu Zhuqing's lifeless eyes.

"My condition is that after you graduate from Shrek Academy, you must serve me. If you agree, not only can I give you the movement technique, I can also give you something that will not only raise your Soul Power Level, but greatly improve your cultivation talent as well. What do you think?"

"I'm sorry, but I'm from the Zhu Clan of the Star Luo Empire. I cannot possibly join the Heaven Dou Empire and serve you." Zhu Zhuqing shook her head without hesitation and refused outright.

"No, I mean that you would serve me alone, not join the Heaven Dou Empire. You don't need to reject me in a hurry. Go back and think it over carefully first. Once you've made up your mind, you can come find me anytime."

"I can tell that you are the most diligent cultivator at Shrek Academy. You've put in more effort than Tang San and the others. But limited by your talent, you have always fallen short of them."

"If you truly want to control your own fate and break free from the cruel mission your family has forced upon you, you must rely on yourself. To be honest, Dai Mubai cannot be relied upon. Otherwise, he would not have abandoned you back then and hidden in this tiny Shrek Academy. But I can give you a chance to change your fate. Zhu Zhuqing, you must think this through carefully."

Xue Ke walked over to Zhu Zhuqing, took her slightly cool little hand, and looked straight into her eyes with sincere earnestness in her bright gaze.

Zhu Zhuqing fearlessly met Xue Ke's gaze for a long while. Her hands unconsciously tightened around Xue Ke's small hand.

"I believe you, Xue Ke! Let me think it over properly."

"Alright, I'll wait for you. I'm leaving tomorrow to return to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. If you decide, come find me in Heaven Dou City."

Xue Ke released Zhu Zhuqing's hand and gently patted her shoulder.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Who is it!"

Xue Ke had just finished washing up and was lying in bed, about to sleep, when someone came looking for her again.

Does no one sleep at night? Are they lining up to see me? Xue Ke thought irritably.

"Xue Ke, it's me! It's Rong Rong! Open the door! I need to talk to you!"

"What can't be said during the day? Why does everyone have to come at night?" Xue Ke complained as she opened the door.

The moment Ning Rongrong entered, she gave Xue Ke a huge hug and pulled the utterly lifeless-looking Xue Ke over to sit down.

"Hehe! Xiao Ke, I want to discuss something with you!" Ning Rongrong said with a grin.

"Spit it out already!" Xue Ke impatiently pulled her little hand from Ning Rongrong's grasp.

"Xiao Ke, can you teach me those powerful Self-Created Soul Skills of yours? If anyone tries to bully me in the future, I can beat them up too. We're both Support Soul Masters, so we should help each other! Besides, we've played together since we were little, and I helped you—"

"Stop, stop, stop! That's enough! Don't try to play the friendship card with me. This Princess won't fall for it! I already told you before, I won't teach you, so give up on that idea!" Xue Ke was utterly unmoved.

"Hmph—" The little witch Ning Rongrong grabbed Xue Ke's arm and shook it back and forth, blinking her large, sparkling eyes as she stared straight at Xue Ke with a pitiful expression. Yet Xue Ke remained as steadfast as a rock.

Unable to endure Ning Rongrong's pestering any longer, Xue Ke let out a deep sigh. She had no choice but to put on a stern face and say very seriously,

"Rong Rong, it's not that I refuse to teach you. It's just that this matter involves more than you and me. You are the heir of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, while I am the Princess of the Heaven Dou Empire. We come from two different major powers."

"Although our families are on good terms right now, there's no telling whether something unexpected might happen in the future. I don't want this matter to put us both in a difficult position someday. Do you understand what I mean, Rong Rong?"

Ning Rongrong immediately put away her playful smile, released Xue Ke's arm, and lowered her head in silence for a while. Finally, she said aggrievedly, "Alright. I won't bring this up again."

"Rong Rong, it's getting late. Go back and rest early." Xue Ke mercilessly sent her away.

After watching Ning Rongrong leave the room, Xue Ke returned to her bed and lay down, her delicate brows tightly furrowed.

I'm sorry, Rong Rong. Until you decide to stand on my side, I can't help you. Perhaps we may even become enemies in the future! Xue Ke gave a self-mocking smile.

Author's Note

Thank you all for your support! When this book's status can be changed still depends on the pandemic. The industrial parks in Shanghai are currently locked down, and the contract cannot be delivered for the time being. It's driving me crazy too!

I promise that once the status changes, I'll definitely return to two updates a day! And depending on the situation, I'll post even more!