Zhu Zhuqing's Other Path

The air fell into a brief silence.

Only the rustling of leaves stirred by the evening breeze could be heard.

Ye Liuyun stood with his hands in his pockets, looking up at the moon in the sky. His tone was as though he were telling someone else's story:

"The Hell Spirit Cat Family."

"Since ancient times, they have married into the royal Evil Eye White Tiger Family."

"Every generation of heirs has had to fight their way out among countless brothers and sisters."

"The winner becomes king. The loser..."

Ye Liuyun turned his head and stared directly at the pale, trembling Zhu Zhuqing, speaking each word distinctly:

"Either dies, or has their Soul Power crippled and is imprisoned for life."

"Your sister—the biological sister who is several years older than you, more talented than you, and more ruthless than you—is waiting to kill you, isn't she?"

"You—!!!"

Zhu Zhuqing's pupils constricted. It was as if she had been struck by lightning as she stared at Ye Liuyun.

This matter was not exactly a top secret.

But he was only a commoner Spirit Master from some small place!

How could he know about this kind of upper-level conflict?

Then Zhu Zhuqing gave a self-mocking smile. He was a genius; how could she judge him by the standards of an ordinary low-level Spirit Master?

"That's right. Then you also know Dai Mubai was once my fiancé, don't you?"

"He abandoned me and ran away. He came here."

"But I wasn't willing to accept it. I wanted to try once more, so I escaped by every possible means and came here."

"But he's exactly that kind of worthless man. I can't see any hope at all."

"Even if I train myself to death, it would still be better than being imprisoned for the rest of my life, or even possibly... becoming the new emperor's plaything."

Zhu Zhuqing laboriously raised her hand, spreading her palm to block the moon. She peered at the stars through the gaps between her fingers, her lips dry and cracked.

"I can't see any hope."

Zhu Zhuqing slid down the tree trunk and slumped onto the ground. Hugging her knees with both arms, she buried her head deeply against them.

Her voice choked with sobs and despair:

"My sister is seven years older than me. Her Soul Power is more than a whole realm above mine. No matter how desperately I try or how ruthlessly I push myself, the seven-year gap is like an uncrossable chasm."

"The final battle is in two years. I can't win."

In this world, talent and time were cruel.

For two equally gifted sisters, a seven-year gap in Soul Power was nearly an impossible gulf to cross.

Ye Liuyun looked at this little kitten struggling in a swamp of despair.

"You can win. I know how."

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly raised her head. A flame called hope appeared in her previously lifeless eyes.

"How can I win?"

Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ye Liuyun expectantly, hoping this genius could offer her advice that would let her grow stronger quickly.

She bit her lip, her gaze resolute. To survive, she could give up anything.

Ye Liuyun thought about it. As long as Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai ate Immortal Herbs, their strength could surpass their opponents in a short time.

But what did that have to do with him? He shrugged.

"Don't want to say."

Zhu Zhuqing froze.

Then a wave of humiliation at being toyed with surged into her heart.

"You... you were playing with me?!"

Zhu Zhuqing trembled with anger, tears welling in her eyes.

"If you didn't want to help me, why did you give me hope?!"

"Do you know what I'm facing? The Star Luo Empire! The cruel iron laws of my family! This isn't something you can solve just by moving your lips!"

"What else can I do besides fight with everything I have? Sit around and wait to die?"

Looking at the hysterical Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Liuyun sighed and gave her the look one gave an idiot.

He pointed toward the girls' dormitory building in the distance. In that direction was Ning Rongrong's room.

"Is it really that hard to stay alive?"

"Go build a good relationship with Ning Rongrong. Even if you have to become her personal guard, join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might not dare confront the Star Luo Royal Family head-on for your sake, you're only the youngest daughter of the Zhu Family, not a claimant to the throne."

"You're just a tool for marriage alliances. If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is willing to protect you, the Star Luo Empire may not be willing to completely tear relations apart over a 'tool.'"

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned.

This path... she truly had never considered it.

But before she could think it through, Ye Liuyun's voice rang out again:

"If you think the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't secure enough."

"Then there's an even simpler option."

Ye Liuyun turned and pointed toward the distant east.

"Spirit Hall."

"You have no grudge against Spirit Hall."

"Go to Spirit Hall and show them your talent. Becoming a Title Douluo might be a little difficult without a fortunate opportunity, but with your diligence, becoming a Spirit Douluo definitely won't be a problem."

"If you encounter the right opportunity, becoming a Title Douluo isn't impossible either."

"Spirit Hall would surely do its best to nurture such a promising and hardworking newcomer."

"Do you think the Star Luo Empire would dare go to Spirit Hall and demand you back?"

"Even if that emperor had a hundred times more courage, he wouldn't dare provoke Spirit Hall over a daughter of the Zhu Family!"

"Spirit Hall is powerful enough to force the two great empires to huddle together for warmth, handing over huge sums every year for Spirit Hall to distribute as subsidies."

"By then, you'll have the strongest force on the continent at your back. Eat whatever you want, drink whatever you want."

"What exactly are you worrying about, now that you've already escaped the birdcage?"

"The world is vast. Where could you not go?"

Boom!

Ye Liuyun's words were like a bolt from the blue, instantly smashing apart the dead end that had trapped Zhu Zhuqing's mind for so long.

She stood there blankly, her mouth slightly open and her mind utterly empty.

A single remark awakened the dreamer!

That was right...

She had always been trapped in the vicious cycle of "family competition."

Because of the two families' Martial Soul Fusion Skill, because of how she had been raised, she had always felt that she existed to serve her husband and raise children, to support Dai Mubai.

If she did not depend on Dai Mubai for survival, she would die.

Everyone had told her that only by defeating her sister could she live.

But in truth, she did not necessarily have to win.

If she could marry some important figure from Spirit Hall or one of the Upper Three Sects, this matter would be over.

Dai Mubai had no choice. That did not mean she had no choice.

Yet she had foolishly struggled so desperately, trying to pull Dai Mubai back onto the right track.

The person who should have worked hard had given up on himself. Why should she, someone with choices, live for Dai Mubai?

But now that she had found a way out, the spirit that had driven her to train to the death immediately weakened.

She slumped onto the ground to rest and gave a self-mocking laugh.

Ye Liuyun happened to sit down as well, teasing her.

"What, reluctant to give up the position of empress?"

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head frankly. With part of the pressure lifted, she finally felt like talking.

"Compared to status, I'd rather stay alive."

"I suddenly feel so tired. I don't want to work that hard anymore."

"Why did you come out tonight?"

Ye Liuyun did not hide it.

"I trained until I was exhausted, so I came out to get some air."

Zhu Zhuqing hesitated, but she still could not help asking:

"Do geniuses like you also work day and night?"

Ye Liuyun pressed a hand to his forehead as though he had a headache.

"I'm actually very lazy. If I were really rich, I'd love to eat, sleep, and live like a useless parasite."

Then he pointed toward the boys' dormitory.

"Tang San is a genius with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, but he also works tirelessly day and night."

"There are many, many powerful people like that. They're all striving desperately too."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced toward the boys' dormitory in the direction Ye Liuyun pointed.

"I thought you and Tang San didn't seem to get along, so you would speak badly of him. I didn't expect you to acknowledge his hard work."

Sitting on the ground, Zhu Zhuqing looked like an ordinary young girl, her arms resting on her legs and her chin cradled in both hands as she muttered to herself.

"Why does Tang San work so hard? And you too? Neither of you has a reason that forces you to become stronger."

Ye Liuyun seriously considered the question as well. Why did he work so hard to become stronger?

People were truly strange.

Take school, for example.

There were obviously so many troublesome matters, yet some people still competed to become class monitor.

Getting high scores was obviously exhausting, yet everyone wanted first place in every exam.

Zhu Zhuqing smiled and teased him.

"What if Tang San works so hard that he surpasses you one day?"

Ye Liuyun gave a disdainful sneer.

"I'd be inferior to him?"

"Enough talking. I'm going back to train."

If there was a reason to work hard, it was two words: Refuse to accept it.

Heroes beneath heaven were as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river, but who the hell did you think you were?

Zhu Zhuqing also rose and brushed the dust from her backside.

Although she had already found a way to avoid death, she still decided to train hard.

And one day in the future, she would defeat her sister.

Only to prove that it was not because she was inadequate, but because that useless Dai Mubai had held her back.

The two went their separate ways and returned to their dormitories.

But this scene was seen from afar by Dai Mubai, who had slept all day and come outside for some air.

Watching Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Liuyun chatting intimately beneath the moon.

Dai Mubai's eyes nearly split with rage as he viciously cursed,

"Bitch!"