Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing stopped being so reserved.
She took a long look at the man on the high platform, a gentle smile appearing at the corner of her lips as she put away the Spirit Bone.
"Then thank you, Your Majesty."
Xiao Wu beside her pouted, looking envious.
"Wow! Boss, you're playing favorites!"
"I want one too!"
Dai Mubai glanced at her and smiled.
"Next time."
"If I get rewarded with a hundred-thousand-year-old carrot next time, I'll definitely give it to you."
Xiao Wu stomped her feet in anger.
"Who wants a carrot?!"
Laughter and cheerful voices echoed through the hall in the White World.
The relaxed atmosphere stood in stark contrast to the oppressive, greedy, jealous mood in the Black World.
Watching this scene, Black World Dai Mubai felt his cheeks burn.
Earlier, the young man on the Sky Screen had said Zhu Zhuqing was weak.
He had thought it was just an excuse.
But now—
The other Dai Mubai had turned around and given her a Spirit Bone.
Was that what it meant to look down on her?
Clearly, he cherished her to the bone!
"Damn it!"
"Damn it!"
Dai Mubai roared furiously in his heart.
This was not merely an overwhelming gap in strength. It was a gap in perspective, an all-around dimensional crushing.
Just then,
the scene on the Sky Screen changed again.
The relaxed atmosphere faded, replaced by a murderous air.
That grand voice rang out for the third time.
[Third comparison, beginning.]
[Period: Youth (engagement and escape).]
The scene gradually came into focus.
Once again, the setting was the imperial palace of the Star Luo Empire.
But this time, it was not a resplendent hall. It was a long, shadowy corridor, solemn and austere.
The sky was overcast and hung low, as if a torrential downpour could begin at any moment.
Black World Dai Mubai appeared in the center of the scene.
He looked about nine or ten years old.
Though still young, his heterochromatic eyes already held an eerie quality.
But there was not a trace of light in them.
Only fear, anxiety, and an oppressive gloom that refused to lift.
He paced back and forth, his steps unsteady. Every so often, he glanced around warily, like a frightened rabbit.
Just then,
light footsteps came from the end of the corridor.
A little girl in a black dress walked toward him.
It was Zhu Zhuqing as a child.
She looked a few years younger than Dai Mubai. Her frame was slight, but her tender little face was marked by a seriousness beyond her years.
The moment Zhu Zhuqing saw Dai Mubai, her eyes lit up.
He was the only glimmer of hope she had found amid the desperate struggle within the imperial family.
She was the second daughter of the Zhu Family.
She was Dai Mubai's fiancée.
Their betrothal bound them by fate—and sealed a pact of life and death.
Zhu Zhuqing stopped and took a deep breath, steadying herself.
She tried her best not to look afraid and to appear strong.
"Your Highness, Third Prince."
Her clear voice rang through the corridor.
Dai Mubai abruptly stopped, trembling all over like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
He spun around and stared at Zhu Zhuqing.
There was no affection for his fiancée in his eyes, not even the slightest hint of kindness.
Only fear.
It was as if the person standing before him were not a lovely little girl, but a grim reaper come to claim his life.
Startled by that look, Zhu Zhuqing instinctively took half a step back.
But she still mustered her courage, stepped forward, and held out her little hand.
"I'm Zhu Zhuqing."
"From now on... we'll have to work hard together."
"Prince Dai Weisi is very strong, but as long as we join forces, as long as we don't give up..."
Before she could finish,
Dai Mubai reacted as if something had struck a nerve.
"Shut up!"
He suddenly shouted.
His voice was shrill and hysterical.
Zhu Zhuqing froze, her outstretched hand hanging motionless in the air.
Dai Mubai panted heavily, his eyes darting around in a panic as he feared someone might discover him with Zhu Zhuqing.
"Who wants to work hard with you?"
"What do you know?"
"Dai Weisi is already past level twenty! He has the entire imperial family backing him! We're going to die! We're all going to die!"
Dai Mubai clutched his head, his face contorted with fear.
"I don't want to die..."
"I don't want to die with you!"
After saying this,
Dai Mubai didn't even dare look at Zhu Zhuqing. He shoved her frail shoulder aside and staggered toward the other end of the corridor.
His back looked as wretched as a stray dog driven from its home.
He left the little Zhu Zhuqing standing there alone.
The wind swept through the corridor, stirring the fallen leaves on the ground.
Zhu Zhuqing slowly lowered her head and looked at her little hands, which had not yet managed to hold on to anything.
The light in her eyes faded bit by bit.
She didn't cry.
But in that moment, her once-straight back seemed to buckle beneath some invisible weight.
"So..."
"Is this my fate?"
The scene froze on the lonely, disappointed figure of the little girl.
At that very moment,
in the Black World,
silence.
Another deathly silence.
Then, countless voices filled with scorn and anger rang out from every corner of the continent.
Heaven Dou City, inside a teahouse.
A burly Soul Master slammed his hand down, shattering the table in front of him.
"So this is the Star Luo Prince they talk about?"
"Bullshit!"
"He's a coward! He's not even as good as a little girl!"
"That little girl knew they had to join forces and work hard. But what did he do? He got scared out of his wits, shoved her away, and ran!"
"He's brought shame on every man!"
The people beside him looked just as disgusted.
"No wonder he later went to fool around at Shrek Academy. He'd been scared out of his wits since he was a child."
"Does someone like that even deserve the Evil Eye White Tiger Spirit?"
"I feel sorry for Zhu Zhuqing."
Star Luo Empire.
Countless citizens watched the Sky Screen, their eyes full of disappointment.
Was this the Third Prince they had once placed their hopes in?
Was this the man who had supposedly intended to compete with Dai Weisi for the throne?
What a disappointment.
If someone who only wanted to run away whenever trouble arose really became emperor, the Star Luo Empire would surely fall sooner or later.
Shrek Academy.
In the plaza,
everyone's eyes turned to Dai Mubai as one.
Their gazes felt like needles, making Dai Mubai ache all over.
Even Ma Hongjun, who was usually closest to him, opened his mouth but couldn't come up with a single joke.
It was too embarrassing.
There was no way to defend him.
Oscar scratched his head and awkwardly looked away.
Tang San furrowed his brows. He said nothing, but a trace of disdain flickered deep in his eyes.
In his previous life, he had been a disciple of the Tang Sect and had valued courage and responsibility above all else.
In his eyes, Dai Mubai's behavior was truly disgraceful.
Before you continue