Nana's Tenderness Weaves a Net, Zhuqing Goes with the Flow

"But sister must warn you first: recovering your memories means you will have to face everything from your past."

There seemed to be a genuine note of caution in Hu Liena's voice.

"Those past events contain more than just your family and your origins; there are things you might not want to remember."

"Once you know, you will never be able to return to this state of living—where you don't have to think about anything and can live your life in peace."

"So, Zhuqing, the choice is yours."

After a few seconds of silence, Zhu Zhuqing nodded firmly.

"I want to know. No matter what the past was like, I need to know."

Seeing this, Hu Liena nodded.

"You are a direct descendant of the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire. The Zhu Family is an affiliate of the Star Luo royal family, and for generations, they have intermarried with them."

"Your fiancé is the Second Prince of the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai."

"We discovered that two months ago, you fled the Zhu Family and were hunted the entire way. It is highly probable that the one behind it is your half-sister, Zhu Zhuyun."

"The inheritance rules of the Zhu Family are cruel; the loser is either imprisoned for life or killed outright. Your sister fears you threaten her position, which is why she has been hounding you to the death."

Zhu Zhuqing's face turned pale, bit by bit.

These were fears and pains carved into her very bones.

Even without needing to feign it, a layer of mist welled up in her eyes.

Still, she nodded, signaling for Hu Liena to continue.

"Afterward, driven to a dead end by the pursuit, you fled into the dangerous forbidden zones of the Star Dou Great Forest."

"When we found you a few days ago, you were covered in wounds and unconscious. You must have encountered a powerful spirit beast in the forest and suffered severe trauma, which caused your amnesia."

Hu Liena watched her pale complexion, reached out to gently pat the back of her hand, and spoke in a soothing tone.

"It's all in the past; you are safe now."

She paused, looking into Zhu Zhuqing's eyes with an incredibly earnest expression.

"Zhuqing, you cannot go back to the Star Luo Empire. Neither the Zhu Family nor the royal family will have a place for you."

"Martial Soul Hall is the most powerful force on the entire continent. Here, we have the best cultivation resources and the top-tier mentors; we can provide you with the safest sanctuary."

"We value a genius like you highly. As long as you are willing to stay and join Martial Soul Hall, we can give you whatever you desire."

"Whatever you have lost, we can help you take it back, piece by piece."

She looked at Zhu Zhuqing and asked softly, "Zhuqing, are you willing to stay here?"

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes and remained silent for a few seconds.

Seeing this, Hu Liena immediately pressed her advantage, her tone growing even more earnest.

"Don't worry, no one will bully you here."

"If you have any needs in the future, or if you run into any trouble, you can always come to me."

"Martial Soul Hall will protect you; this place is your home."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her head to look at Hu Liena, the confusion in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by a clear sense of determination.

She took a deep breath and spoke, word by word.

"I am willing."

A smile lit up Hu Liena's eyes instantly, and she squeezed her hand tightly.

"That's wonderful, Zhuqing. From now on, this is your home."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at her and whispered.

"Thank you, sister."

That evening, Hu Liena escorted her back to the small courtyard where she had been staying, gave a few instructions about resting well and promised to arrange a mentor for her the next day, before turning to leave.

The moment the courtyard gate closed, the docile smile on Zhu Zhuqing's face slowly faded.

She walked to the window and gazed out at the heavy night and the endless lights of Martial Soul City.

She spoke softly within her sea of consciousness, asking with a hint of trepidation.

"Teacher, is she still suspicious of me? Did I act out of place anywhere?"

"Your performance was good enough."

Gu Chensha's voice rang out in her sea of consciousness, carrying a cold, mocking smile.

"It is only natural for them to be suspicious."

"I actually admire Hu Liena; she first used your past to test your reaction, then slowly cast a long line to fish out the secrets you are hiding."

"She is truly worthy of being personally taught by Bibi Dong, the future Saintess of Martial Soul Hall."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly but said nothing more.

The sea of consciousness fell into silence.

Yet her expression was exceptionally grave.

There was a question that had been circling in her mind ever since the day she woke up.

For three whole days, she had pondered it repeatedly, yet she had always hesitated, not daring to speak.

Teacher...

What kind of existence was he, exactly?

She could not help but replay the words her Teacher had spoken over these past three days in her mind, over and over again.

"Shrek? It is nothing more than a broken academy hidden in some forgotten corner."

"That fiancé of yours is a coward who doesn't even dare to shoulder his own destiny."

"The cultivation resources of Martial Soul Hall, when added together, exceed the sum of the Upper Three Sects."

There were too many such remarks, far too many.

If her Teacher were a human soul master, Zhu Zhuqing might have been able to accept such knowledge.

But the problem was that this being she called "Teacher" was a soul beast that had lived for two hundred thousand years.

He was the "Demon Emperor," a name that made the entire continent tremble in fear.

He was the Demon Spider Emperor from the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest!

Shrek Academy was hidden in a remote corner of Suotuo City, isolated from information; how could a soul beast that spent its life in the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest know of it?

Dai Mubai's flight from the Star Luo royal family to hide in Suotuo City was something even few within the Star Luo royal family knew of; how could a soul beast be so clear about it?

Not to mention the comparison of resources between Martial Soul Hall and the Upper Three Sects—insider information that even ordinary soul masters on the continent might not grasp—where could her Teacher have learned of it?

Could he have interrogated soul masters who stumbled into the Star Dou Great Forest?

But that made no sense at all.

As a two-hundred-thousand-year existence standing at the pinnacle of soul beasts, he had no need to understand the intricate schemes of the human world.

Furthermore, if all hundred-thousand-year soul beasts were as meticulous as her Teacher, it would be impossible for humans to hunt any high-level soul beasts at all.

To put it more extremely, if they were all like him, soul beasts should be the ones ruling this continent today.

She had turned this question over and over in her heart for three days.

It was not that she did not trust him, but these contradictions were like a thin thorn, pricking at her heart.

Yet, even though her Teacher could read her inner thoughts, he had never offered a single word of explanation, allowing her to wallow in suspicion.

Even if he had given her a perfunctory answer, she might have felt a bit more at ease, but he had said nothing.

Was he waiting for her to ask of her own accord?

Or perhaps...

She took a deep breath, finally making up her mind, and spoke solemnly within her sea of consciousness.

"Teacher, I have a question I would like to ask you."

Zhu Zhuqing was never a fool.

Throughout her journey escaping from Star Luo, she had seen enough conspiracies and schemes to have long since learned to keep a part of her mind guarded.

It was just that between "trust" and "suspicion," she had chosen the former time and time again.

But this trust was not blind; when doubts accumulated to a certain point, she had to ask for clarity.