Secret Plotting

Meanwhile, the two people being discussed by the trio, Shangguan Li and Shaohua, were enjoying some leisurely time in a shop.

Shaohua said, "A'Li, we might run into that protagonist, Tang San, in a few days. Do you think he'll still remember you?"

Shangguan Li shook her head. "I'm not sure myself, but frankly, I'm hoping he doesn't."

Shaohua said, "I don't think it'll be that simple. Based on what you told me about how you met Tang San, I'd say your impression on him must be very deep."

Shangguan Li asked with a puzzled expression, "Why? I literally only met him a few times, so how could he remember me that clearly? Besides, I didn't screw him over, and I didn't mention any 'path to certain death' either." (She didn't screw him over openly, but she had secretly messed with him quite a bit.)

Shaohua wore an incredulous look as she said, "A'Li, while your intelligence is off the charts, your emotional intelligence is disastrous. Since Tang San took the initiative to get to know you back then, it means he took a fancy to you."

Shangguan Li's face darkened instantly. "No way, absolutely not."

Shaohua continued to fuel the fire. "What's impossible about it? He's not a little kid anymore; his soul is mature, and it's completely normal for him to like pretty girls."

Upon careful thought, Shangguan Li realized Tang San's attitude toward her had indeed been pretty good. Could what Shaohua said actually be true?

Shangguan Li said, "Then we'll just have to see during this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest. If he really does have a deep impression of me, I will definitely sever this sentiment. I certainly can't handle being liked by him."

"How about I pretend to be your boyfriend when the time comes? I can just use the Transformation Technique." Whether it was her imagination or not, Shangguan Li felt that the tone of Shaohua's voice sounded rather wretched, yet it also carried a trace of delight underneath.

Shangguan Li waved a hand dismissively. "If we confirm what you're saying is true, we can talk about it then. But right now, there's another matter to discuss."

Shaohua asked, "What matter?"

Shangguan Li said, "If we happen to run into Shrek during this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, another event might take place-namely, encountering the hundred-thousand-year soul beast, the Titan Giant Ape."

"I want to hunt down this Titan Giant Ape and acquire its soul bone for Zhu Zhuqing. When Zhu Zhuqing goes to the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City this time, she's bound to run into that Dai Mubai. Even after absorbing her third soul ring, Zhuqing will only be around level 33 at most, which still won't be enough to beat Dai Mubai. But if we add this 100,000-year soul bone to the mix, victory will be guaranteed." Shangguan Li quickly laid out her plan.

Shaohua shook her head. "That's not a bad idea, and a strength soul bone truly suits an agility attack category soul master like Zhu Zhuqing. Hunting it down so simply won't do, though. I have another idea."

Afterward, Shaohua intermittently explained her plan, and Shangguan Li's expression shifted from her initial frown to one of a spectator watching a good show.

"That's a good plan. Let's proceed with what you suggested." Shangguan Li ultimately agreed with Shaohua's scheme.

At the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, in the Heaven Dou Team dormitory.

Zhu Zhuqing said, "I trust my two masters and support all their decisions."

Dugu Yan smiled and said, "Since you've taken the two elder sisters as your masters, how about I tell you what it was like when I used to hang out with them when I was little?"

Hearing that they could learn more about Shangguan Li and Shaohua, both Zhu Zhuqing and Ye Lingling perked up.

Once Dugu Yan started talking, there was simply no stopping her. She rambled on for nearly two hours without finishing, never even mentioning things like soul spirits or cultivation realms. She only talked about trivial daily matters, yet those mundane details thoroughly exposed the habits and quirks of the two women.

Noticing that Dugu Yan was about to keep going, Ye Lingling glanced at Zhu Zhuqing and saw that she was listening with rapt attention. Since Ye Lingling no longer wanted to listen, she spoke up to put a stop to it. "Alright, Yanzi, stop talking about the two seniors. Let's talk about something else."

Dugu Yan suddenly wore a troubled expression, as if she didn't know how to phrase what was on her mind.

Zhu Zhuqing also noticed Dugu Yan's abnormality. "What is it, Sister Yan? If there's something to say, just spit it out."

"Your name is Zhu Zhuqing, and your surname is Zhu, which means you're from the Star Luo Zhu Family. So why did you come to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy? Why did you come to Heaven Dou City?"

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head instantly, and whether it was their imagination or not, the two girls felt the aura around Zhu Zhuqing turn freezing cold.

Just as Dugu Yan intended to say, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," Zhu Zhuqing let out a heavy sigh.

"I will tell you. I am indeed from the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire, and I also have a fiancé named Dai Mubai. Dai Mubai is the third prince of the Star Luo Empire. From the moment I took the position of his fiancée, my fate became bound to his."

"The succession race for the Star Luo Imperial Family is extremely brutal. They instigate a free-for-all among the princes, and only the victor can become the successor, while the losers are eradicated."

"I had no complaints about becoming his fiancée; whether he succeeded or failed, I wanted to face this destiny by his side. But one day, Dai Mubai ran away, leaving me all alone in the Star Luo Empire to face the pursuit of an older sister who is eight years my senior."

Hearing this, Dugu Yan became utterly furious. "This Dai Mubai is absolute trash! To actually abandon his fiancée and run away-do you have any idea what Dai Mubai went off to do after he fled?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded with a grave expression. "Dai Mubai believed he had escaped the clutches of the Star Luo Imperial Family, but his movements were entirely within the grasp of his older brother, Dai Weisi. And my older sister is the fiancée of that very same Dai Weisi, so I learned all about Dai Mubai's life in the Heaven Dou Empire from her."

Dugu Yan asked anxiously, "How is Dai Mubai doing?" In truth, if Dai Mubai had simply wanted to change his cultivation environment, his actions could still be forgiven. After all, some people were unsuited for cultivation in high-pressure environments, and relaxed cultivation could sometimes cause soul power to grow faster.

"At an academy in Suotuo City within the Heaven Dou Empire, he's actually indulging in debauchery. I didn't want to believe the information Zhu Zhuyun gave me, so when I decided to come to the Heaven Dou Empire, I went to Suotuo City first to find Dai Mubai, only to see that he was actually..." Zhu Zhuqing's tone was somewhat exasperated and grinding with hatred.

Even without Zhu Zhuqing finishing her sentence, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling understood. Ye Lingling said, "Our destination this time is the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City. We might just run into that fiancé of yours, and when we do, the two of us will help you teach him a lesson."

Zhu Zhuqing said, "Thank you, Sister Yan and Sister Lingling, but there's no need. I will sever my grievances with him myself. Although I couldn't beat him before, I've been learning under my masters now and have changed a lot."

"If I really run into him at the Great Soul Arena, I will definitely fight him to the death." When Zhu Zhuqing said this, it carried a desperate, do-or-die feel.

Dugu Yan said, "It's fine, Zhuqing. Even if you can't beat him right now, the two of us can help you out. Besides, didn't you just say that he's been indulging in debauchery while you've been training hard? The future you will definitely be stronger than him."

Ye Lingling also nodded. "That's right, Zhuqing. Don't push yourself too hard. It's not just the two of us; your two masters will definitely help you too, won't they?"

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This book has finally reached one hundred chapters, which is truly a cause for celebration.