An Unexpected Outcome

"Hmph, not necessarily!"

As the Blue Silver Grass lunged at her, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly unleashed all her strength and charged at Tang San at a speed far greater than her previous top speed. It had happened so abruptly that Tang San's Blue Silver Grass couldn't react in time, and Zhu Zhuqing simply broke through his defenses.

"Oh no!"

Tang San hurriedly recalled the Blue Silver Grass, trying to trap Zhu Zhuqing like a turtle in a jar and bring her under control. But the grass blades couldn't catch up with Zhu Zhuqing at full speed. And so, with a five-step lead over the Blue Silver Grass, she reached Tang San first.

"First Soul Skill, Hell Stab!"

Tang San didn't panic at the sharp claws now inches from him. He used his Mysterious Jade Hand to strengthen his defense while also employing another of the Tang Sect Secret Arts: Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon. If he could restrain Zhu Zhuqing for even three seconds, his Blue Silver Grass could form a cage she'd never escape. But just as Tang San's hands were about to touch Zhu Zhuqing, his vision suddenly blurred. Zhu Zhuqing pivoted on her left foot, sweeping her right foot around like a compass leg, and dodged his attack to appear behind him.

"Damn!"

Tang San had never expected Zhu Zhuqing to pull off such a move. Instinctively, he aimed his wrist behind him, his finger already pressing against the Sleeve Arrow's trigger.

"I win."

As Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice rang out, the Hell Spirit Cat's claws stopped at the back of Tang San's neck.

"My heavens! What am I seeing? An Agility Attack System Soul Master has just defeated a higher-level Control System Soul Master—the very type who should have had her completely countered—in an instant, on a stage where she couldn't even fully use her abilities!?"

From the host's vantage point, he naturally couldn't see Tang San's Hidden Weapon, so he announced the result as he saw it. After the match ended, Zhu Zhuqing dispelled her Martial Soul Possession and walked off the stage without a word.

"Phew..."

Tang San let out a long sigh and withdrew his Sleeve Arrow, his feelings complicated.

"Congratulations! Zhu Zhuqing, you're improving so quickly."

On the other side, just as Zhu Zhuqing stepped down from the stage, she ran into Feng Xinglie, who was applauding her.

"That fake retreat at the start, the footwork you used when you fought me, and your quick victory in just three moves. In less than half a day, you took every fighting method you'd encountered, distilled it perfectly, and made it your own. Your talent is truly frightening."

"Thank you. I only won because of your guidance."

Zhu Zhuqing seemed unusually shy. She reached up to brush the hair beside her ear, her eyes wandering as she spoke.

"Heh, I was only talking in theory. You were the one who put it to use. But... in my eyes, you didn't win that fight. At most, it was a draw."

"What?"

She'd been feeling delighted, but at his last words, Zhu Zhuqing turned to him in confusion. To her, it had been an indisputable victory. How could it possibly count as no more than a draw?

"Have you seen Tang San and Xiao Wu's two-person Soul Fighting match? They both used a weapon during the fight, one hidden in their sleeves that could fire iron arrows. When you appeared behind Tang San, that iron arrow was aimed at you, too. All he had to do was pull the trigger, and he could've shot right through your abdomen."

Zhu Zhuqing was shaken to her core.

Thinking back, it really had been strange. Tang San's hands had been empty, but he'd still reached behind himself and aimed at her. If what Feng Xinglie said was true, then...

It was still hard to believe. Not because she couldn't accept losing, but because Zhu Zhuqing couldn't imagine Tang San using such a dangerous weapon against her. As her thoughts tangled into a mess, Feng Xinglie stepped forward and gently patted her shoulder.

"Don't take it too hard. He didn't actually use it, did he? Just be more careful in future fights. Treat it as a lesson learned."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded, though she still couldn't quite accept it. She silently followed Feng Xinglie out of the Soul Fighting Arena. Outside, the other students who had finished their matches were gathered at the entrance. When she saw Tang San, she walked straight up to him and asked:

"Tang San, when you and Xiao Wu fought as a pair, you used a weapon hidden in your sleeve, right?"

"That's right."

Tang San nodded. The Tang Sect Hidden Weapons were his pride; there was no reason to hide it.

"And when you fought me, you were prepared to use one, too, weren't you?"

Tang San fell silent. Only afterward had he realized that using such a lethal Hidden Weapon against a fellow student might not have been appropriate. But his pride in the Tang Sect still made him nod.

"What? Xiao San, how could you use something like that against your own teammate!?"

Before Zhu Zhuqing could say anything, Dai Mubai exploded. He'd happened to see that Soul Fighting match and knew how powerful the Sleeve Arrow was. If he'd really injured his future wife, who would use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with him? He just hadn't expected that she wouldn't appreciate his eager defense of her.

"Enough with the act. Dai Mubai, if you really cared about me, you wouldn't have run away by yourself and left me at the Zhu Family to wait for death. And after you came to Shrek, you wouldn't have spent every day in bed with your twin companions, doing those filthy things!"

"Don't push me past my limit!"

Dai Mubai had never been known for his temper. He'd finally offered to help, only to have Zhu Zhuqing expose his past in front of his juniors. The anger that had been building for days could no longer be held back, and he roared at her:

"Bitch, what do you think you are, lecturing me? You know what the situation was like back then! If I hadn't run, how could I have survived!? If you're so capable, why didn't you stay in the imperial city? Why did you come all the way here? You're always batting your eyes at other men. You're nothing but a tool for our Martial Soul Fusion Skill. What gives you the right to shout at me!?"

His outburst left everyone stunned. For a long while, the only sound in the room was Dai Mubai's heavy breathing.

"You... really think of me that way?"

Tears welled in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.

"I bore the pressure from my older sister at home and fled here while people hunted me, all so I could prove myself alongside you and return with my head held high. And in the end... this is what you think of me?"

"No... that's not what I meant, Zhu Zhuqing, I..."

Once he'd vented and calmed down, Dai Mubai finally realized what he'd said. He stammered, trying to make things right. But Zhu Zhuqing bit down hard on her lip, her reddened eyes fixed on him in disgust, and retreated behind Feng Xinglie.

"Heh, so you're a spineless cur who abandoned his responsibilities and ran off here. You're useless yourself, and all you can do is yell at girls. What a joke!"

"What. Did. You. Say?"

Dai Mubai turned his head mechanically, one word at a time, and looked at Ning Rongrong.

"What? Was I wrong? In Suotuo City, who doesn't know about your romantic exploits, young master Dai? Put nicely, you're a ladies' man. Put bluntly, you're a total scumbag!"

Now that Ning Rongrong had let loose, she didn't care what anyone thought. She said whatever came to mind. As the next heir to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she'd naturally heard a little about the affairs of the Star Luo Imperial Family and the Zhu Family. One look at Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing's Martial Souls, followed by their relationship, and she'd figured out most of the story. Ning Rongrong wasn't stupid. She immediately took Zhu Zhuqing's side.