Shedding, Zhu Qing

Dugu Bo's expression shifted repeatedly.

He could not defeat either Chrysanthemum Douluo or Ghostly in a one-on-one fight.

Let alone when the two joined forces.

And there was that Two Extremes Stillness Domain, a technique even Tang Hao had to fear.

If a real fight broke out, he would surely die here today. To throw his life away for a girl whose value was not yet clearly defined was simply not worth it.

He gritted his teeth, finally raising his hand to toss the unconscious Zhu Zhuqing toward Yue Guan, cursing through clenched teeth.

"Fine, you win! This old man will remember this debt."

As his voice faded, the poisonous mist around him surged instantly. 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 Zhu Zhuqing steadily and sneered, "You say that every time, Old Poison. The debts you owe could fill Martial Soul Hall to the brim."

He and Ghostly exchanged a glance, both seeing satisfaction in the other's eyes.

Ignoring the chaotic battlefield behind them, the two took Zhu Zhuqing and transformed into streaks of light, flying rapidly toward Martial Soul City.

Gu Chensha pulled back his wandering thoughts, a flicker of cold realization passing through his eyes.

He had made the right choice at every step while on the verge of death.

The chain of contingencies he had laid out had clicked into place at the most critical nodes.

Had he miscalculated even a single step, neither he nor Zhu Zhuqing would have survived until now.

But this was far from over.

He spoke up.

"Zhuqing, go back and sit on the bed first."

Zhu Zhuqing obediently walked back to the bedside and sat down, though her eyes still held a lingering sense of unease.

She asked, "Senior, should I circulate my soul power now to recover?"

"I was at level 27 before, but after the sacrifice and depletion, I'm only at level 21. If they test my soul power later, will they see through the flaw?"

"No need."

Gu Chensha said with certainty, "This drop in soul power is actually our best protective charm."

He did not keep her in suspense and explained it clearly.

"The direction they would think of, the abnormality they would expect, is a surge in soul power."

"If you were to rush to level 30 now, that is what would truly make them suspicious."

"On the contrary, a drop in soul power will only lead them to attribute it to the Demon Spider Toxin I released earlier."

"Even your memory loss will logically be blamed on the toxin later on."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded as if she understood, then asked in a low voice.

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

"There are only two possibilities."

Gu Chensha chuckled, "Either they continue to lock you up here, or they invite you to join Martial Soul Hall."

Zhu Zhuqing's eyelashes trembled.

"Join Martial Soul Hall?"

"What else?"

Gu Chensha sneered.

"First, your foundation is clear. Breaking through to level 27 at such a young age makes you a ready-made talent compared to the mediocre orphans they pick up off the street; they have no reason to let you go."

"Second, keeping you under the nose of Martial Soul Hall is the only way to monitor you. Given their caution, how could they possibly let someone they specifically picked up from the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest just walk away?"

"Third, you are being hunted by your family and have nowhere to go. If they offer you a way out, they can trade it for your loyalty—it's a profitable deal with no risk, and they have no reason not to take it."

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent, her face showing a dilemma.

How could Gu Chensha not hear the conflict in her heart? He directly pierced through the thoughts she had hidden deepest.

"What? Still thinking about your original destination, Shrek Academy?"

"Or is it that you can't let go of that Dai Mubai?"

"Do you really think he can save you?"

Zhu Zhuqing's face turned pale, and she instinctively retorted.

"I didn't..."

"Didn't you?"

Gu Chensha's tone carried a hint of coldness.

"You fled from Star Luo and headed north all the way—wasn't that just to find him at Shrek?"

"You want to see if the person you're engaged to is worth your lifelong commitment, if he can help you escape the fate of the Zhu Family, am I right?"

Zhu Zhuqing's lips moved, but she eventually lowered her head, not arguing further.

"It's a pity, you're destined to be disappointed."

Gu Chensha said dismissively, "Shrek? It's just a broken academy hidden in a corner, a bunch of self-righteous old fogeys who can't give you anything."

"As for your fiancé, a coward who doesn't even dare to bear his own destiny and only hides outside to escape, do you expect him to protect you?"

He didn't say any more.

"Now, the choice is yours, choose. Do you want to join the Martial Soul Hall, or do you want to escape from here?"

"Whatever you choose, I will respect your decision."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her eyes.

Her mind was in chaos. On one side was the only escape route she had taken for half a year.

Even if the end of that road was a person who disappointed her more and more, a college she didn't understand at all.

But it was the only driftwood she could grasp in the past decade.

She was just an ordinary girl, how could she forget it just like that?

On the other side was the completely unfamiliar Martial Soul Hall, a choice that gave her a new life but also an unknown future.

And the person beside her, the only one who could give her confidence.

After struggling for a few minutes, she seemed to have an answer.

Zhu Zhuqing looked up, her gaze firming as she looked at the dark golden phantom in her sea of consciousness.

"I'll listen to senior. Whatever senior tells me to do, I'll do it."

"Heh heh, you say you're obedient, but you haven't changed the way you address me at all."

Gu Chensha chuckled and didn't dwell on it.

"Then agree to it for now, join the Martial Soul Hall."

"After all, the cultivation resources of the Martial Soul Hall combined are more than those of the Upper Three Sects. It would be a waste not to use them."

"Mhm."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded obediently.

But the next second, Gu Chensha suddenly spoke again.

"Now, take off your clothes."

Zhu Zhuqing was stunned at first, then her whole body froze.

Her mind buzzed, and she seemed not to have heard clearly, stammering a question.

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

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

Gu Chensha repeated.

Her mind instantly became a mess, and countless chaotic thoughts flooded her.

Why did senior suddenly tell her to take off her clothes?

What did he, what did he want to do?

He could share her five senses, could it be...

Even though she usually appeared cold and aloof, she couldn't maintain it now.

In the end, she was just a teenage girl. The thought of undressing in front of a stranger, and not knowing what he intended to do...

Instantly, her whole body felt hot.

Her pretty face flushed from her cheeks to the roots of her ears, and even her neck was tinged with a light red.

Her eyes darted around nervously, not daring to focus on sensing the figure in her sea of consciousness.

Even her words were stammered.

"Sen, senior... you, what exactly do you..."

"Oh? You just said a few seconds ago that you would listen to me completely."

Gu Chensha's tone turned cold, sounding somewhat displeased.

"What, are you going back on your word now?"