Take It Off, Zhuqing

Dugu Bo's expression shifted again and again.

In a one-on-one fight, he couldn't defeat either of the two Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo.

And that was before accounting for the two of them joining forces.

Not to mention the Two Extremes Stillness Domain, which even Tang Hao had to be wary of.

If they really fought, he would die here today. Losing his life for a girl whose value wasn't even clear was simply not worth it.

He gritted his teeth, then finally raised his hand and flung the unconscious Zhuqing toward Yue Guan, cursing through clenched teeth.

"You win! I'll remember this debt, old man!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, the poisonous fog around him surged. Using the force of the recoil, he transformed into a streak of light and fled into the distance without looking back.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan caught Zhuqing steadily and sneered. "When have you ever said anything different? Old Poison, you owe so many debts you could fill Spirit Hall with them."

He exchanged a glance with Gui Mei, and both saw the satisfaction in the other's eyes.

They paid no attention to the battlefield descending into chaos behind them. Carrying Zhuqing, they transformed into two streaks of light and flew at top speed toward Spirit City.

Gu Chensha drew back his wandering thoughts, a cool understanding glinting in his eyes.

At death's door, he had made the right choice at every turn.

The layers of backup plans he'd laid had also landed precisely at the most critical points.

If even one step had gone wrong, neither he nor Zhuqing would have survived to this day.

But it was far from over.

He spoke.

"Zhuqing, go sit on the bed first."

Zhuqing obediently went back and sat on the edge of the bed, though some of her lingering unease remained in her eyes.

She asked, "Senior, should I circulate my Soul Power now to replenish it?"

"I was Level 27 before, but after the toll of the sacrifice, I was left at Level 21. When they test my Soul Power later, will they notice something's wrong?"

"No need."

Gu Chensha answered with certainty. "This drop in Soul Power is actually our best protection."

He didn't keep her guessing and immediately explained.

"The abnormality they would expect to see is a sudden surge in Soul Power."

"If you suddenly reached Level 30 now, that would really make them suspicious."

"On the other hand, they'll simply blame the drop in your Soul Power on the Demon Spider Toxin I released earlier."

"Even your memory loss will naturally be attributed to the toxin later."

Zhuqing nodded, seeming to understand. Then she asked in a quiet voice,

"Then... what will they do to me after they finish testing?"

"Only two possibilities."

Gu Chensha gave a soft laugh. "Either they'll keep you locked up here, or they'll invite you to join Spirit Hall."

Zhuqing's eyelashes trembled.

"Join Spirit Hall?"

"What else?"

Gu Chensha sneered.

"First, you've got the talent to back it up. You reached Level 27 at such a young age. Compared to the orphans they pick up off the streets, most of whom have mediocre aptitude, you're a promising talent right in front of them. They have no reason to let you go."

"Second, keeping you under Spirit Hall's watchful eye makes it easier to monitor you. Given how cautious they are, how could they let someone they deliberately picked up from the depths of Star Dou Great Forest leave whenever she wants?"

"Third, your family is hunting you and you've got nowhere to go. They offer you a way out, and in return, they win your loyalty. It's a sure-profit deal. They have no reason not to take it."

Zhuqing fell silent, her face showing how torn she was.

How could Gu Chensha fail to hear the turmoil in her heart? He went straight for the deepest secret she'd been hiding.

"What? Still thinking about the path you'd originally planned to take—the Shrek Academy?"

"Or can you still not let go of that Dai Mubai?"

"Do you think he can still save you?"

Zhuqing's face instantly paled. She denied it on instinct.

"I haven't..."

"You haven't?"

Gu Chensha's tone carried a hint of chill.

"You fled Star Luo and headed north all this way just to find him at Shrek, didn't you?"

"You wanted to see whether the man you were betrothed to was worth entrusting your life to, whether he could help you escape the fate of the Zhu Family. Am I wrong?"

Zhuqing's lips moved, but in the end she lowered her head and didn't argue.

"It's a shame you're bound to be disappointed."

Gu Chensha spoke with disdain. "Shrek? It's nothing but a shabby academy tucked away in some forgotten corner, full of old fogeys who fancy themselves above the world. They can't give you anything."

"And as for that fiancé of yours, he's a coward who doesn't even dare shoulder his own fate, only hiding away and running from it. Do you really think he can protect you?"

He said no more.

"Now the choice is yours. Choose. Do you want to join Spirit Hall, or escape from here?"

"Whatever you choose, I'll respect your decision."

Zhuqing lowered her eyes.

Her thoughts were in turmoil. On one side was the only way out she'd been pursuing for half a year.

Even if that road led to a man who disappointed her more and more, and an academy she knew nothing about.

Still, it was the only lifeline she'd had to cling to for the past decade and more.

She was only an ordinary girl, after all. How could she simply forget it all?

On the other side was the completely unfamiliar Spirit Hall, a choice that had given her a new life, but whose road ahead was uncertain.

And beside her was the one person who could give her confidence.

After struggling for several minutes, she seemed to reach an answer.

Zhuqing lifted her head and looked at the dark golden figure in her sea of consciousness. Her gaze grew firm.

"I'll listen to you, Senior. Whatever you tell me to do, I'll do it."

"Heh. You say all the right things, but you still haven't changed how you address me."

Gu Chensha chuckled softly and didn't dwell on it.

"Then, when the time comes, accept their offer and join Spirit Hall."

"After all, Spirit Hall's cultivation resources are worth more than the Upper Three Sects' combined. We might as well make use of them."

"Okay."

Zhuqing obediently nodded.

But in the next second, Gu Chensha suddenly spoke again.

"Now, take off your clothes."

Zhuqing froze for a moment, then her whole body went rigid.

Her mind went blank. As if she hadn't heard him correctly, she stammered out a question.

"...Huh? Senior, w-what did you say?"

"You heard me. I told you to take off your clothes."

Gu Chensha repeated himself.

Her mind instantly became a tangled mess as all sorts of wild thoughts rushed in.

Why was Senior suddenly telling her to take off her clothes?

Wh-what did he want to do?

He could share her five senses. Could it be that...

Though she usually carried herself with cool aloofness, even she couldn't hold it together now.

In the end, she was only a girl in her teens. Just thinking about stripping naked in front of a strange man, without knowing what he intended to do...

Her whole body immediately began to burn.

Her pretty face turned red in an instant, the flush spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears and down her neck.

Her eyes darted about in a panic. She didn't dare focus her awareness on the figure in her sea of consciousness.

Even her words came out in stammers.

"S-Senior... w-what exactly do you want...?"

"Oh? Just a few seconds ago, you said you'd do whatever I told you."

Gu Chensha's tone cooled slightly, making him sound somewhat displeased.

"What, are you taking it back already?"