Zhu Zhuqing

In the Star Dou Great Forest.

A young girl in a black dress was desperately running through the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Though her face was still youthful, her chest was already prominently developed, utterly unlike someone her age.

Perhaps from weaving through the forest, her clothes had become somewhat tattered.

Patches of jade-like, fair skin were exposed.

The girl panted heavily, her face filled with panic as several figures relentlessly pursued her from behind.

"Miss, stop running. You've already reached the Star Dou Great Forest. If we encounter a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast, none of us will escape."

"You only need to hand over the Law Enforcement Soul Tool, and we'll spare your life."

Zhu Zhuqing gritted her silver teeth and did not stop.

Given these people's brutality, if she truly handed over the Law Enforcement Soul Tool, death would be the only thing awaiting her.

The Law Enforcement Soul Tool was a creation of the Judgment Hall, a Soul Tool used by the Arbiter's enforcers to record criminals' evil deeds.

Although the Arbiter monitored Soul Masters across the entire continent, he never falsely accused anyone lightly. That was why the Law Enforcement Soul Tool had come into being.

Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing had not stopped, the people behind her began cursing loudly.

"Damn it, Boss, this little girl is really stubborn. She still won't stop. If we really run into a ten-thousand-year Soul Beast, we're finished. Shouldn't we just go back?"

"Go back and die? Do you think I don't want to go back?

"If this girl hands the Law Enforcement Soul Tool over to the Judgment Hall, then with the Judgment Hall's nature, we won't be able to escape even if we flee to the ends of the earth."

"No matter what happens today, we have to capture this girl. Otherwise, our lives are forfeit."

The leader among them shouted in response and accelerated once more. Another voice rose beside him.

"This Judgment Hall really is impossible to shake off. We only killed a few ordinary people. It's not like they were anyone important, yet they insist on discovering it and executing us on the spot. They really think they're something special."

"Isn't all this your fault? Killing ordinary people was one thing, but you actually let someone record it. You're good for nothing but ruining things."

"Besides, the Judgment Hall really is something special. Back when the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall fought, His Excellency the Arbiter directly stood above both forces and watched over them, all to prevent them from harming ordinary people."

"If even those two great powers were treated that way, let alone insignificant people like us. If we want to live, we have to capture that girl."

Everyone behind her accelerated. Their Soul Power was not weak, at least stronger than Zhu Zhuqing's.

If Zhu Zhuqing's Hell Spirit Cat martial soul had not been exceptionally suited to the Star Dou Great Forest's environment, she would have been captured long ago.

However, Zhu Zhuqing was clearly about to reach her limit. Her Soul Power was only in her twenties, and fleeing for so long had drained her enormously.

Now she panted heavily, her speed gradually slowing as her body felt increasingly heavy.

Noticing her slowing pace, the leader's voice rang out again from behind.

"Brothers, put some effort into it! This girl can't hold on much longer. Her speed has slowed. If we want to live, we have to catch her."

"Boss, this girl has a pretty face and a great body. Once we catch her, let the brothers have some fun with her."

"Of course, but I'm going first."

"You're the boss. You call the shots."

Lewd laughter came from the group.

When those words reached Zhu Zhuqing's ears, they felt utterly filthy. If it truly came to that, she would rather die.

But she really could not endure much longer. Her speed was even slower than before, and the Soul Power within her had already been squeezed to its limit.

It was as if she could hear the pounding of her own heartbeat.

"Brothers, split up and surround her. This girl can't run anymore."

Zhu Zhuqing could sense the people behind her gradually spreading out and encircling her.

But there was nothing she could do. The Soul Power in her body was utterly exhausted, and she crashed heavily to the ground.

The instant her body struck the ground, Zhu Zhuqing understood that she was truly finished.

Looking at the savage smiles on their faces, she closed her eyes and used her last shred of strength to pull out a dagger.

She did not point it at anyone else.

She pointed it at herself.

She chose suicide!

Just as the dagger stabbed toward her heart, a hand grabbed her.

Was I still too late? Was I going to be humiliated?

Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes in despair.

What she saw was not a face twisted in a savage grin, but an incomparably handsome face. What she heard was a casual voice.

"Isn't it a bit much for so many people to bully one little girl?"

This person was none other than Lin Mian, who had just left the Judgment Hall.

At his speed, it would not take much time at all to travel from the Judgment Hall to the Star Dou Great Forest.

In fact, he had arrived long ago and watched their performance from the shadows.

If Zhu Zhuqing had not been unable to hold on any longer, he had not intended to reveal himself yet.

The group stopped and looked at Lin Mian with hostile expressions.

"Kid, this isn't the time for you to play the hero and save the beauty. If you know what's good for you, get lost. We'll spare your life."

The reason they said this was naturally not because they had suddenly become merciful. Someone who could suddenly appear here with such confidence made them somewhat wary.

It would be troublesome if he truly was a formidable opponent.

"Spare my life? You're so kind. Unfortunately, I have no intention of sparing yours."

"Is the ground that comfortable? Why are you still lying there?" Lin Mian's slightly teasing voice sounded. That last sentence was directed at Zhu Zhuqing; he did not regard those people as worth his attention at all.

"Ah! Okay."

Zhu Zhuqing came back to her senses, and a blush crept across her fair, jade-like face.

"Brothers, we can't worry about anything else now. Use your Soul Skills and take this kid down."

The leader spoke, and those people surrounded them. An average of three or four Soul Rings appeared around each of them.

They moved swiftly. One Soul Skill after another emerged from their bodies, all aimed directly at Lin Mian.

"Watch out—" Zhu Zhuqing had not even finished speaking when everything ended.

In a single instant, those people all fell to the ground. Not a trace of life remained in their bodies, and even their Soul Skills dissipated into the air.

"Watch out for what? With those pathetic Soul Skills, they wouldn't even be enough to scratch an itch for me."

"And aren't you getting up yet? Is it really appropriate to keep holding my hand like this?"

Zhu Zhuqing had instinctively gripped Lin Mian's hand tightly just now.

Only after hearing Lin Mian's words did she realize it and let go.

After barely getting to her feet, she said, "Thank you for saving me. I will definitely repay you."

Zhu Zhuqing's face was somewhat pale, and her body was trembling. This was the aftereffect of overexerting her Soul Power.

"How do you plan to repay me? With yourself?"

Lin Mian looked at her with an appraising gaze. He was no longer young, yet he was teasing a little girl. Truly shameless.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him, her face turning red.

This man was so handsome and had saved her. Repaying him with herself was not impossible, but she already had a fiancé.

"I... I..."

"Become my disciple. Consider it repayment for saving your life."

Though the reward was not much, he was bored anyway. Playing around with a system task did not seem bad.