Purple Nightdress

What kind of teacher could produce a genius who could challenge an opponent thirteen levels above him, despite that opponent's Martial Soul countering his own?

She was convinced Xia Ran had a better path to growth than the teachers at the academy. That was also why she had stayed at Shrek Academy.

"I have a reason I have to become stronger. Please, teach me how to cultivate."

"I'm the daughter of the Star Luo Zhu Family and Dai Mubai's fiancée. When we come of age, we'll have to fight to the death before either of us can inherit the throne."

"But he's like this now..."

"I don't want to die..."

Ever since her Martial Soul awakened, she had been bound to another person's fate.

They shared honor and disgrace, life and death.

When Zhu Zhuqing learned that the other person couldn't bear the pressure and had fled the imperial family, she felt as though her life had already begun counting down.

Only after following in his footsteps, escaping Zhu Mansion, and setting out to find him did she feel a glimmer of hope that she might survive.

But the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

That cowardly man had fled to some remote place, where he spent every day indulging in wine and women, completely unconcerned about whether his fiancée lived or died.

Even though she was right there in front of him...

The painful memories and her wretched fate filled Zhu Zhuqing's eyes with tears. She gazed at Xia Ran pitifully.

Yet his answer was still a cold refusal.

"Just work hard at cultivating! The rules the imperial family has upheld for so many years aren't so easily broken."

His words were like a death sentence. This was what she had cared about most for years.

The Imperial Throne Succession War—the rules passed down by the imperial family. Those so-called rules had bound her fate to that scoundrel's from the very beginning.

She wasn't willing to accept it.

Her tears burst forth, and her voice caught with sobs.

"What about you, then?!"

Chapter 17: Purple Nightdress

"Why did you challenge an opponent who had both a higher level and a Martial Soul that countered yours?"

Xia Ran was taken aback.

There wasn't any complicated reason. If he wanted to become stronger, he had to work hard.

His strength now had come from countless battles. No one was there to make him fight in any particular one, so he had to push himself.

Even though he was already a genius among his peers, he still hadn't dared to say a word in front of Chen Xin.

That was why he had to become stronger. Only then could he be free!

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong put aside her playful mood and began pleading with him on Zhu Zhuqing's behalf.

"Xia Ran, please help Zhuqing!"

But the only answer they got was a cold refusal.

"Sorry, I have things of my own to do."

"I won't spend my time helping someone I have nothing to do with."

After saying that, he stopped responding to Zhu Zhuqing's pleas.

Xia Ran's attitude left the two girls speechless. Neither of them was a child; they knew he had no obligation to help anyone.

The mood among them grew heavy. When they returned to the academy, they each went back to their dormitories.

Xia Ran was in a foul mood. When he got back to his room, he didn't start cultivating. Instead, he lay down on the bed.

Chen Xin's words had left Xia Ran feeling threatened. Until he became a Titled Douluo, he would always be looked down on.

For years, his Innate Full Soul Power and the Night Mimicry Cultivation Environment had ensured that his strength was beyond question. He was already at the very top of the continent among his peers.

But Flender and Zhao Wuji couldn't offer him real protection. In the end, he still had to rely on himself.

Chen Xin had come today. He had at least held back because of Ning Rongrong and hadn't attacked him directly. But what if Qian Daoliu came the day after tomorrow?

Besides, as long as he refused to join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Chen Xin would always see him as a threat.

"Looks like I won't be able to stay at Shrek Academy much longer!"

With his hands behind his head, Xia Ran was still thinking about what to do next when a knock suddenly came from outside.

He opened the door and found Zhu Zhuqing, who had left earlier, back again. It looked like she had just returned to her dormitory and changed into a nightdress.

The loose purple fabric made her look a little bulky, though Xia Ran knew it was only because of her figure.

Tears still shimmered in the girl's eyes, and they were as red as a rabbit's.

"What are you doing here?"

Xia Ran was confused. He had made his refusal perfectly clear just moments ago.

Given Zhu Zhuqing's strong-willed nature, she shouldn't have kept pressing him. But the girl in front of him said nothing and walked straight into the room.

"Hey, you... Forget it. Sit down first!"

He had no choice but to close the door and head to the kitchen to pour Zhu Zhuqing a glass of water. He could at least talk her through it.

"About teaching you, I can't—"

"No... You..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence. When Xia Ran turned around, he saw the most unforgettable sight of either of his two lives.

The girl had taken off her loose purple nightdress and stood before him unclothed.

Her figure was fully exposed, especially her chest...

He had never seen anything like it in either of his lives.

Zhu Zhuqing looked pitiful, even humiliated.

Her skin was luminous, and the moonlight fell over her, creating a beautiful picture...

Xia Ran's hand, holding the cup, went stiff. His eyes widened, and for a long moment he couldn't react. The two of them stood frozen in place.

[Zhu Zhuqing's favorability has increased. System task issued: Raise Zhu Zhuqing's favorability to 100% to claim the reward.]

"Xia Ran, please..."

The system prompt jolted him from his thoughts. Only then did Xia Ran realize how outrageous his behavior was—he had been staring at her for far too long.

He hurriedly turned his head away, then awkwardly turned his rigid body around as well.

"Stop! You don't need to beg me. Get dressed, now!"

Zhu Zhuqing's voice was pleading and choked with tears. She wrapped her arms around herself, covering her chest...

"I know I'm not good for much, but..."

"I'm sorry. This is the only way I can..."

By the end, she was crying outright.

Her head hung low, and her hair hid her face completely.

"Get dressed."

Xia Ran sounded flustered, with a hint of impatience.

He had only meant to resolve the situation quickly and get her dressed. But Zhu Zhuqing thought he was disgusted with her.

Humiliation swallowed up all her thoughts. For reasons even she couldn't explain, she suddenly hugged Xia Ran from behind.

Her pale arms circled his waist, and her body pressed against his back.

The hand holding the teacup went even stiffer. Xia Ran didn't dare move; he stood rigid as a board.

"Are you disgusted with me? I'm not like Dai Mubai!"

"Xia Ran, if you'll teach me, I can be your woman."

"Don't you like me? Don't you like my figure?"

Zhu Zhuqing pressed her face against Xia Ran's back.

"Enough. Don't say another word."

Xia Ran hurriedly used Martial Soul Possession, then escaped her embrace with Shadow Escape.

The girl was left alone in the room. When he reappeared, he was already outside the door.

He spoke to Zhu Zhuqing through it.

"Get dressed. I'll teach you."

"Don't objectify yourself. You're no one's bargaining chip—not even your own."

The girl froze.

"Objectify myself? A bargaining chip?"

"Is that why I've felt so unsafe all these years?"

Then the furrow between her brows relaxed.

"I'm just myself!"

The second daughter of the Star Luo Zhu Family, the Third Prince's fiancée, and a future participant in the Imperial Throne Succession War—these identities had weighed on her until she could hardly breathe.

She had always lived for other people. Even her reason for becoming stronger was absurd: to win the final battle. She had never once considered using her strength to resist the rules.

Xia Ran's words made her understand at last...

She quietly went back to the table, picked up her nightdress, and put it on again.

But once she had straightened her clothes, she remembered what she had done on impulse and wanted to crawl into a hole.

"I'm dressed. You can come in."

Only after hearing her voice did Xia Ran dare return to his room.