A Young Zhu Zhuqing

It had been about five and a half years since Tang San obtained his First Soul Ring.

In other words, Shrek Academy would be opening in a little while.

Tang San would definitely go to Shrek Academy to study then.

Luo Yan remembered that this was around the time Zhu Zhuqing had been pursued by her own older sister, Zhu Zhuyun, to the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

He wanted to get out and have a look, to see whether fate would bring him and Zhu Zhuqing together. If it did, perhaps he could get to Zhu Zhuqing first.

Thinking of that stubborn little cat, the corners of Luo Yan's mouth lifted slightly.

"Brother Luo Yan, haven't you already explored the outskirts?"

Xiao Wu sat beside Luo Yan. Hearing that he wanted to go explore the outskirts again, she wondered what he was planning.

"I want to wait for someone. I don't know if we'll run into her."

Luo Yan glanced at Xiao Wu but didn't explain outright.

Hearing that Luo Yan really had something to do, Xiao Wu didn't say anything more. They had already waited this long; waiting a few more days was no big deal.

She wasn't in such a hurry about her own affairs anymore. Her whole focus was on Luo Yan now.

"I'll follow your lead, Big Brother!"

Da Ming and Er Ming didn't object either.

After eating the roasted meat, they went off to cultivate on their own.

They had heard that the human who killed Xiao Wu's mother was incredibly powerful, strong enough to at least stand up to Xiong Jun.

So Da Ming and Er Ming wanted to get stronger too, so they could help Xiao Wu when the time came.

After finishing the roasted meat, Luo Yan took Xiao Wu back to the little house.

Neither of them slept that night.

The next morning, Luo Yan got up early to cultivate.

It wasn't until the afternoon that he headed for the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest. He made a point of going toward the side closest to the Star Luo Empire.

If Zhu Zhuqing was being pursued on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest, she would definitely pass through there.

On the first day, Luo Yan made a full circuit of the area. Apart from a few Soul Beasts that didn't know what was good for them, he didn't encounter a single human.

The second day went much like the first. Luo Yan set out in the afternoon and wandered through the forest.

This time, he did come across a human team hunting a Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

Several others stood nearby watching. They were clearly with the group. The young man leading them was powerfully built and fairly handsome.

His face also bore faint flame-like markings.

"Oh? Yan, one of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation?"

Seeing the young man, Luo Yan's expression shifted as he recalled the other's identity.

The young man's fiery red hair and flame markings were simply too distinctive.

"The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament is still about two years away. Has he already reached Spirit King rank?"

Luo Yan was puzzled by the group's appearance.

He remembered that Yan had entered the tournament with Soul Power at level fifty-two. If he'd already reached Spirit King rank now, then after two years, he couldn't possibly have advanced by only two levels.

But while Luo Yan was wondering, the group gave him an answer.

As the Spirit Hall deacons closed in on the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, its condition steadily deteriorated.

When it was down to half strength, the deacons withdrew and let Yan, who had released his Martial Soul, face it alone.

Yan fought the Soul Beast for his life, but didn't deliver the finishing blow.

Someone from the group of onlookers stepped forward to finish it off and absorb the Soul Ring. Yan didn't absorb it.

"So that's how it is!"

Luo Yan nodded slightly. This was probably a special trial assigned to Yan by Spirit Hall.

Seeing that, Luo Yan didn't go over or interfere.

His target these past few days had been Zhu Zhuqing. He wasn't in a hurry to harvest Resentment Points from Yan and the others.

But just like the day before, Luo Yan kept searching until dawn and still didn't find any trace of Zhu Zhuqing.

He could only return to the little house to catch up on some sleep.

For five days straight, Luo Yan couldn't find any sign of Zhu Zhuqing. He suspected the pursuit had ended long ago and that she was already on her way to Suotuo City.

But he didn't give up during the last two days. He still wandered around the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest as usual.

Then, on the sixth day, just as he reached a place he'd explored before, he spotted several men in black searching for something.

Hm?

Luo Yan remembered that the people pursuing Zhu Zhuqing were Zhu Zhuqing herself and a group of Zhu Family servants dressed in black.

At the sight of them, he couldn't help feeling hopeful.

After so many days without any results, he hadn't expected them to show up just as he was about to give up.

"Looks like even heaven thinks the little wildcat and I are fated to meet!"

Luo Yan smiled faintly.

Then he spread his spiritual sense across the surrounding area.

After breaking through to Fifth-Rank Demon King, he had developed spiritual sense.

Compared with the blind searching of those men in black, spiritual sense was far more useful.

Luo Yan's spiritual sense was especially powerful. It could cover a radius of ten li, allowing him to precisely sense everything happening within that area.

"So she's over here..."

Looking toward a spot five hundred meters to his left, Luo Yan murmured to himself.

But now wasn't the time to save Zhu Zhuqing. He would wait until she was truly on the brink of despair before stepping in.

Knowing what Zhu Zhuqing was like, he understood that otherwise it would be difficult to reach her heart.

He also spotted Zhu Zhuyun on the other side. At that moment, she was instructing the men in black to search.

"Zhu Zhuqing's older sister... Hmm, she's quite pretty too..."

After glancing at Zhu Zhuyun, Luo Yan found a higher spot, concealed his presence, and waited patiently.

In a little cave a hundred meters away, a beautiful young girl was curled up in silence.

Her features were sharply defined, and her skin was fair.

She was tall, with a full chest and long, strong legs. From those two details alone, Luo Yan could tell she was the runaway girl, Zhu Zhuqing.

At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing was covered in injuries.

They were still fairly minor, but she hadn't had time to bandage them. As time passed, they were getting worse.

Even so, her gaze was resolute.

Her willpower briefly helped her forget the pain of her injuries.

Zhu Zhuqing hoped the people outside wouldn't find this spot.

If they didn't find her after a while, she believed her dear older sister would give up the chase. Then she would be able to free herself from her family's control, just as she wished.

But things didn't go as she hoped. As she waited in silence, she heard footsteps nearby.

It was obvious that the men in black had found the little cave.

Zhu Zhuqing grew visibly tense.

But after coming closer, the footsteps stopped for some unknown reason.

Seeing that, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

But just then, the footsteps outside suddenly multiplied.

At the sound, Zhu Zhuqing went pale. She knew they had found her; they had only stopped to call in the others.

At that thought, she released her Martial Soul and dashed out through a weak point before they could surround her.