Douluo: Poisonous Tongue, Loves Telling the Truth

What kind of teacher could train a genius capable of challenging an opponent thirteen levels higher, despite having a martial soul that countered their own?

She was convinced that Xia Ran possessed a better approach to growth than any of the academy teachers, which was the very reason she remained at Shrek Academy.

"I have a reason I must become stronger; please, I beg you to teach me how to cultivate."

"I am a daughter of the Star Luo Zhu Family and the fiancée of Dai Mubai. Once I come of age, I must survive a life-or-death battle to inherit the throne."

"But, the way he is now..."

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

Ever since she awakened her martial soul, she had been tethered to the destiny of another person.

Their honor and disgrace were shared, their life and death intertwined.

When Zhu Zhuqing learned that he could not withstand the pressure and had fled the royal family, she felt as though her life had entered a countdown.

It was only when she followed in his footsteps, escaped the Zhu Mansion, and embarked on a journey to find him that she felt a glimmer of hope for survival.

Yet, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

That cowardly man had fled to a remote place, seeking pleasure and wallowing in wine and women every day, completely indifferent to whether she, his fiancée, lived or died.

He had even done so right before her eyes...

The agonizing memories and the weight of her fate filled Zhu Zhuqing's eyes with tears as she looked at Xia Ran with a pitiful expression.

However, the answer she received remained a cold refusal.

"Focus on your cultivation! The rules passed down by the royal family for so many years are not so easily broken."

That single sentence felt like a death sentence to Zhu Zhuqing; it was the one thing she had cared about most for years.

The Imperial Throne Succession War, the rules inherited by the royal family—it was those very rules that had bound her fate to that pathetic man from the very beginning.

She was unwilling to accept it.

Tears broke through the dam, and her voice was choked with sobs.

"Then what about you!"

Purple Nightgown

"Why do you challenge opponents who suppress you in both level and martial soul?"

Hearing this, Xia Ran was stunned.

In truth, there was no "why"—if one wants to become stronger, one must work hard.

His current strength was earned through countless battles; no one forced him to participate in any of them, so he had to possess a powerful internal drive.

Even though he was already a prodigy among his peers, when facing Chen Xin, was he not still unable to utter a word?

Therefore, only by becoming stronger could he have freedom!

Ning Rongrong, standing to the side, set aside her playful mood and began to plead on Zhu Zhuqing's behalf.

"Xia Ran, just help Zhuqing!"

However, the only response they received was a cold refusal.

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

"I will not spend my time helping someone who has nothing to do with me."

After saying this, he stopped responding to Zhu Zhuqing's entreaties.

Xia Ran's attitude left the two girls speechless; they were not children, and they knew that Xia Ran was under no obligation to help anyone.

The atmosphere among the group was heavy until they returned to the academy and went to their respective dormitories.

Xia Ran felt somewhat restless. Upon returning to his room, he didn't start cultivating, but instead lay down on his bed.

Chen Xin's words today had given Xia Ran a sense of crisis; without reaching the Title Douluo realm, one would always be considered inferior.

For years, relying on his Innate Full Soul Power and the Night Mimicry Cultivation Environment, his strength was unquestionable, placing him at the very pinnacle among his peers on the continent.

But Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others could not provide true protection; in the end, he had to rely on himself.

Today it was Chen Xin, who had held back because of his relationship with Ning Rongrong, but what if it were Qian Daoliu who came later?

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

"It seems I won't be able to stay at Shrek Academy for much longer!"

Xia Ran rested his head on his hands, still contemplating his next steps, when a knock suddenly came at the door.

He pushed the door open to find Zhu Zhuqing, who had returned; it seemed she had gone back to her dormitory to change into pajamas.

The loose purple fabric looked somewhat bulky on her, though Xia Ran knew that was only because of her prominent chest.

The girl still had tears swirling in her eyes, which were as red as a little rabbit's.

"What are you here for?"

Xia Ran was puzzled; he had made his refusal quite clear just moments ago.

Logically, someone with Zhu Zhuqing's strong-willed personality shouldn't continue to pester him, yet the girl opposite him said nothing and walked straight into the room.

"Hey... you... forget it, just sit down first!"

He had no choice but to close the door first, walk to the kitchen, and prepare to pour a glass of water for Zhu Zhuqing, deciding that he might as well try to talk some sense into her.

"The matter of teaching you is not..."

"No... you..."

His words came to an abrupt halt, because as Xia Ran turned around and looked up, he saw the most unforgettable scene of his two lifetimes.

The young girl had shed her loose purple nightgown, standing completely naked and exposed before him.

Her explosive figure was on full display, especially those two mounds on her chest...

Neither in his past life nor his present had he ever witnessed such a sight.

Zhu Zhuqing's expression was somewhat pitiful, even humiliated.

Her skin was like congealed fat, and the bright moonlight shining upon her figure formed a breathtakingly beautiful painting...

The hand holding the water glass stiffened, and Xia Ran widened his eyes, unable to snap out of his daze for a long time; the two of them just stood there in silence.

[Detection: Zhu Zhuqing's favorability has increased. System quest issued: Raise Zhu Zhuqing's favorability to 100%. Complete to claim rewards.]

"Xia Ran, I beg you..."

The system's notification sound interrupted his thoughts, and only then did Xia Ran realize how absurd his behavior was, staring at her for so long.

He hurriedly turned his head away, and while he was at it, awkwardly turned his stiff body around.

"Stop! You don't need to beg me, put your clothes on immediately!"

Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing's tone carried a sense of pleading and a sob, her arms hugging her shoulders, and that pair...

"I know I'm useless, but..."

"I'm sorry, this is the only way I can..."

By the end, she burst into tears.

Her head was buried low, her beautiful hair completely obscuring her face.

"Put your clothes on, quickly."

Xia Ran's tone was flustered, with a hint of impatience.

He had intended to resolve this quickly and have her put her clothes on, but hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing assumed that Xia Ran was disgusted by her.

A sense of humiliation occupied all her consciousness, and not knowing what she was thinking, Zhu Zhuqing actually hugged Xia Ran directly from behind.

A pair of fair, slender forearms wrapped around his waist, and the sensation of two soft mounds pressed against his back.

Xia Ran's hand holding the teacup stiffened even more, his body tensed straight, not daring to make any reaction.

"Are you disgusted by me? I am not like Dai Mubai!"

"Xia Ran, as long as you are willing to teach me, I can become your woman."

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

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

"That's enough, don't say any more."

Xia Ran hurriedly activated Martial Soul Possession and used Shadow Escape to break free from her embrace.

The room was left with only the girl standing alone, and when he reappeared, he was already outside the door.

Through the door, he said to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Put your clothes on properly; I agree to teach you."

"Do not objectify yourself. At any time, you are not anyone's bargaining chip, including your own."

Hearing this, the girl was stunned for a moment.

"Objectify myself! A bargaining chip!"

"Is this the reason why I have felt so insecure for all these years?"

Immediately, her tightly furrowed brows relaxed.

"I am just myself!"

The second young lady of the Star Luo Zhu Family, the fiancée of the Third Prince, the future Imperial Throne Succession War—all these identities had made it impossible for her to breathe.

She had always lived for others, and even her reason for wanting Strength was merely the laughable goal of winning a duel; she had never even thought about using her power to resist the rules.

Xia Ran's words had brought her to a complete realization...

She silently returned to the dining table, picked up her nightgown, and put it back on.

However, once she had tidied her clothes and recalled her impulsive behavior from just moments ago, she wished she could crawl into a crack in the ground.

"I'm dressed, you can come in."

Hearing the girl's voice, Xia Ran finally dared to return to his room.