Flight and the Plan

Shen Lian raised an eyebrow at her dazed expression and gave her a look.

"What are you standing around for?"

Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing was still rooted to the spot, he sighed helplessly.

"Hurry up. It's not like I haven't held you before."

Those words instantly reminded Zhu Zhuqing of when Shen Lian had held her while she was unconscious, and her cheeks flushed bright red.

Biting her lower lip, she grumbled inwardly, How could that be the same? I was unconscious last time, but I'm awake now!

Yet when she met Shen Lian's somewhat urging gaze, it felt as though something had clogged her throat, and she could not bring herself to refuse.

She slowly shuffled over to Shen Lian's side, her hands unconsciously clutching the hem of her clothes as she did not dare raise her head.

Seeing this, Shen Lian simply wrapped a long arm around her and securely pulled her into his embrace.

Zhu Zhuqing cried out in surprise and instinctively looped her arms around his neck. Her nose filled with the faint mingled scent of gunpowder and fresh grass on Shen Lian.

The Vermilion Bird Wings suddenly beat, and a powerful current of air swept up yellow sand into the sky.

The two shot into the heavens like arrows released from a bow, with the wind howling past their ears.

Zhu Zhuqing squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in Shen Lian's chest, her heart pounding like a drum.

When she finally gathered the courage to open her eyes, she found that they were already above the clouds.

Below them lay rolling mountain ranges and boundless plains, everything appearing so tiny.

Meanwhile, the warmth radiating from Shen Lian's chest was clearly perceptible through their clothes, while his powerful arms held her firmly and protectively.

Zhu Zhuqing secretly looked up, only to meet Shen Lian's lowered gaze. The instant their eyes met, her face reddened even further. She hurriedly buried her head again, though an unfamiliar flutter inexplicably rose in her heart.

Seeing the shy Zhu Zhuqing in his arms, the smile at Shen Lian's lips grew more apparent.

Feeling her soft body and the faint, delicate fragrance of a young girl, an unusual feeling also stirred in his heart.

However, he quickly composed himself, his gaze turning resolute once more as he controlled the Vermilion Bird Wings and flew at full speed toward Star Luo City.

With Shen Lian's Vermilion Bird Wings, the two finally arrived outside Star Luo City after a day of travel.

Shen Lian withdrew the Vermilion Bird Wings and set down Zhu Zhuqing, whose face had turned red beyond recognition.

As the outline of Star Luo City gradually emerged in the dusk, Shen Lian controlled the Vermilion Bird Wings to hover above a dense forest on the outskirts.

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly trembled slightly in his arms. Only then did he notice that her silver hair had been blown by the wind against his jaw, making it itch a little.

"Do you have a plan?"

Shen Lian's voice fell amid the wind, but Zhu Zhuqing remained stiff, the tips of her ears red enough to seem as though they might drip blood.

Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the front of Shen Lian's robe, distorting the dragon-shaped totem embroidered in dark gold thread upon the black fabric.

"Hey?"

Shen Lian flicked her forehead with a bent finger. When Zhu Zhuqing raised her head in pain, his fingertips brushed her burning cheek before he continued.

"What are you spacing out for?"

Startled, the girl tried to struggle, but Shen Lian held her even tighter. The gusts stirred up by the Vermilion Bird Wings sent their robes fluttering, making them look like silhouettes suspended in the night sky.

"What did you just say? I didn't hear it clearly."

Zhu Zhuqing's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, and her eyes darted away, not daring to look at him.

Shen Lian raised his brows and deliberately leaned close to her ear.

"I said we're going to your home—to your father's study—to steal the Star Luo Empire's military deployment map. Do you have a plan?"

His warm breath brushed the side of her neck, making Zhu Zhuqing shudder violently. She nearly broke free from his embrace.

"My father is almost always in his study whenever he has nothing to do."

Zhu Zhuqing steadied herself and pointed toward the tallest manor in the city. Its upturned eaves and bracketed roofs resembled the fangs of some colossal beast in the dusk. Then she continued speaking to Shen Lian.

"If we want the deployment map, we first need to lure him out of the study."

Her fingertip brushed across Shen Lian's palm, drawing the layout of Zhu Mansion on the back of his hand. The ticklish sensation left by her nail made Shen Lian unconsciously tighten his arm.

"Then do you have a way?"

Shen Lian stared into her glistening almond-shaped eyes and noticed that when she mentioned "father," her eyelashes trembled almost imperceptibly.

In his memories, Zhu Zhuqing's father, the head of the Zhu Clan, had always tacitly allowed Zhu Zhuyun to bully his second daughter in the original story. Now that he was to be used as a pawn to lure someone away, what must the girl be feeling?

"I have an idea."

Zhu Zhuqing suddenly grabbed his wrist, her nails nearly digging into his flesh. Then she continued speaking to Shen Lian.

"When I return to Zhu Mansion later, I'll go provoke Zhu Zhuyun. It would be best if we end up fighting. The servants will definitely go ask Father to come out and settle things."

Her voice suddenly rose, carrying the ruthless determination of one prepared to stake everything. She continued.

"You can use that time to sneak into the study and steal the deployment map!"

Shen Lian silently looked at the hatred burning in her eyes, the humiliation and resentment that had built up over many years.

He recalled the black blood that had seeped from beneath Zhu Zhuqing's Nether Claws when she demonstrated them in Cloud-Breaking Town. Yet now, those hands were going to deliberately instigate conflict within her family.

The rule of the Star Luo Empire was that the strong devoured the weak, and the girl before him was tearing open a crack in that iron law in her own way.

"Fine."

Shen Lian could not think of any other method. After all, obtaining the Star Luo Empire's deployment map without exposing themselves was far too difficult. The Star Luo Empire was unlike the Heaven Dou Empire, whose imperial family did not even have a Soul Douluo; the Star Luo Emperor was a Title Douluo, and Zhu Zhuqing's father was also an eighty-ninth-rank Soul Douluo.

Shen Lian flicked her hand away, but when he saw the disappointment in her eyes, he suddenly caught her fingertips and spoke to Zhu Zhuqing.

"Just stall him. Don't get hurt. Otherwise, even if we get the deployment map, you'll still need to recover from your injuries before I can help you cultivate your Soul Power."

Then Shen Lian's scarlet Soul Power flowed through his fingertips and condensed into a Vermilion Bird Bracer around Zhu Zhuqing's wrist. He continued.

"This is a little trick caused by the special Soul Beast Spirit Ring I absorbed. If Zhu Zhuyun tries to kill you, use it. It contains the full power of my second soul skill's attack."

Zhu Zhuqing stared blankly at the flame patterns dancing across the bracer, then looked into Shen Lian's eyes, filled with unquestionable seriousness.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded at Shen Lian as well, indicating that she understood.

Night fell like ink, silently shrouding Star Luo City. The upturned eaves of Zhu Mansion resembled a dormant giant beast in the darkness, grim and imposing.

Before the gates of Zhu Mansion, two enormous red lanterns swayed in the wind, casting strange shadows.

Dressed in black, Zhu Zhuqing's silver hair streamed wildly in the wind. The flames of revenge burned in her eyes as she held her head high and strode resolutely through the gates of Zhu Mansion.

The gate guards widened their eyes in shock. They never could have imagined that the second young miss, who had once fled in such a bedraggled state while being hunted, would dare return so openly.