Tang San Arrives, and His First Words Put Him on the Wrong Side

"If you won't kneel, then stand firm."

Su Hang raised a hand and pressed down. Dark Purple Lightning spread across the wet mud, stopping just half a step in front of Zhu Zhuqing.

Torches flickered wildly along Broken Slope. The Zhu Family Guard didn't dare advance against the lightning lines. Their boots sank into the muddy water, and a sizzling sound rose as wisps of smoke curled up.

Commander Zhu's face was grim, but his right hand was secretly inching toward his sleeve.

He crushed a tiny smoke tube between his fingers.

Gray-red smoke rose through the treetops and quickly dispersed into the night.

Ning Chuan saw the smoke and immediately warned them in a low voice.

"Little friend Su, they're calling for reinforcements."

Ning Rongrong tightened her grip on the Seven Treasures Token, her expression turning cold.

"The Zhu Family really dares to drag this out. I'm right here, and they still want to bring in more people?"

Xiao Wu stood slightly in front of Zhu Zhuqing, tapping the ground lightly with her toe as she watched Commander Zhu's hand.

"He wants to wait until there are more of them, then surround all of us."

The bloodstain on Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder spread a little farther, but she gripped her dagger more firmly.

"I can walk."

Su Hang glanced at her and casually tossed her a Hemostatic Pill.

"Stay alive first. Then we can talk about whether you can walk."

Zhu Zhuqing caught the pill. After a brief pause, she put it in her mouth.

Seeing her take medicine from an outsider, Commander Zhu's expression darkened further.

"Second Miss, are you really going to let the Zhu Family lose face to this extent?"

Zhu Zhuqing raised her short dagger, her voice cold and hard.

"Don't tie the Zhu Family's reputation to me."

At her words, the Zhu Family Guard fell silent for a moment.

The torches crackled.

Suddenly, footsteps sounded from behind them on the forest path.

Tang San emerged from the shadows with a bundle on his back, mud staining his robe. Yu Xiaogang followed behind him, his face showing the weariness of a long journey.

Tang San first saw the Seven Treasures Guard, then Zhu Zhuqing by Broken Slope. His gaze lingered on her Nether Civet Martial Soul.

Yu Xiaogang was quicker to notice the Zhu Family Crest.

"The Star Luo Zhu Family?"

When Commander Zhu saw them, his eyes shifted, and he immediately softened his tone.

"Since you know the Zhu Family, this will be easy to settle. This young woman is the Zhu Family's Second Miss, Zhu Zhuqing. She is betrothed to the Star Luo Dai Family, but has now fled her family without permission. We have been ordered to bring her back."

Yu Xiaogang's expression changed slightly.

The Dai Family.

Dai Mubai.

Shrek.

The moment he connected those names, he realized the trouble had now reached Flender.

Tang San stepped closer, keeping his voice measured.

"Miss Zhu, a family betrothal involves a lot. Running away may not solve the problem. If you're going to Shrek, why not wait until you see Dai Mubai and explain everything to him face-to-face?"

Xiao Wu blew up at once.

"She's been chased all this way, and your first words are telling her not to run?"

Tang San stopped, frowning.

Xiao Wu had already moved beside Zhu Zhuqing, so angry that even her Rabbit Ear Accessory swayed.

"Tang San, can't you see she's hurt? Can't you see they've driven her to the edge of Broken Slope? You're already thinking about the betrothal—why not let her catch her breath first?"

Ning Rongrong stepped forward with a cold expression, the light of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda still hovering in her palm.

"Tang San, that mouth of yours is perfect for speaking up for rules, but not for people."

Tang San raised a hand to straighten his sleeve, trying to pull the situation back into familiar territory.

"I'm not taking the Zhu Family's side. It's just that escalating this conflict won't do anyone any good. Once we reach Shrek, all the people involved will be there, and Dai Mubai can explain himself too."

Zhu Zhuqing looked up at him.

Her face was pale, but her eyes were cold.

"If you were the one being hunted, would you go back first and hear them out?"

Tang San's fingers stopped at his cuff.

The woods fell quiet.

The Zhu Family Guard looked at one another, but no one spoke.

Yu Xiaogang immediately stepped forward to take the edge off Tang San's awkwardness.

"Tang San is only considering the bigger picture. Miss Zhu, you're injured, and the Seven Treasures have become involved. If you fight, the Star Luo Empire and Heaven Dou's sects will all be dragged into this."

Su Hang let out a quiet laugh.

It wasn't loud, but Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened.

Su Hang stepped on a burning branch and stamped it out, scattering sparks into the mud.

"So the so-called bigger picture means that people with no knife at their throats tell the hunted to calm down."

Ning Rongrong immediately nodded.

"That's exactly right."

Xiao Wu folded her arms and added,

"He's pretty good at pretending to be fair. Stand far away from the knife, and suddenly your words sound so steady."

Tang San's expression finally began to crack.

"Su Hang, you always like to take things too far. If Dai Mubai really did something wrong, he should answer for it face-to-face. There's no need to let the Zhu Family and the Seven Treasures fall out here."

Su Hang looked at him, his expression calm.

"You want her to see Dai Mubai? Ask her whether she's willing first."

Tang San turned his gaze to Zhu Zhuqing.

She didn't back down.

The night wind chilled the blood on her shoulder, but her dagger remained level in front of her.

"I'll go to Shrek, but not to return and accept the betrothal."

Commander Zhu seized the opening and immediately softened his tone.

"If Second Miss is going to Shrek, we can show Shrek some respect. As long as Second Miss comes back with us first, everything can be discussed."

Xiao Wu almost laughed in anger.

"And you can discuss what once she's back? Family punishment, or locking her up?"

Ning Rongrong smacked the Seven Treasures Token against her palm. It rang crisply.

"Commander Zhu, that line might fool a stone by the roadside, but it won't fool me."

Commander Zhu's face twitched, but he kept his eyes on Tang San.

"This young man speaks fairly. A betrothal is a serious matter. The Dai and Zhu Families both need to sit down and discuss it. If Second Miss goes with outsiders now, things will only get worse."

Tang San fell silent for a moment, but didn't immediately object.

That pause was enough.

The look Zhu Zhuqing gave Tang San turned completely cold.

"Now I know who'll try to persuade me back into my cage."

Tang San's hand tightened slightly.

Yu Xiaogang frowned and started to speak, but Su Hang raised a hand first.

The lightning suddenly spread half a circle farther out.

Commander Zhu's feet went numb. He staggered backward and nearly fell to his knees in the mud.

The Zhu Family Guard around him instinctively backed away.

"Commander!"

"There's something wrong with this lightning. Don't get close!"

"The Seven Treasures Guard is still behind them. If we charge, we'll pay for it!"

Commander Zhu's face turned livid. The beast fur on his right arm bristled, but the lightning lines held him in place.

Su Hang stood where he was, as if he'd merely moved a teacup.

"Stall for time, get Tang San on your side, then use Shrek as a stepping stone. Commander Zhu, you've got quite a lot on your plate."

Ning Rongrong's eyes lit up as she immediately understood.

"No wonder he softened up the moment Tang San mentioned the betrothal. He wanted to use Tang San's words to persuade Zhu Zhuqing to go back."

Xiao Wu turned to Tang San, her words even sharper than before.

"Did you hear that? You nearly became the Zhu Family's temporary spokesman—and for free."

Tang San's face went pale, but he quickly composed himself.

"I only wanted to reduce the conflict."

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her dagger by half an inch, but didn't put it away.

"Reduce my conflict, or their trouble?"

Tang San had no answer.

Far off beyond the woods, more torches began to approach.

Ning Chuan glanced up and put a hand on his sword hilt.

"Miss, the Zhu Family's reinforcements are here."

Ning Rongrong took a deep breath, and the light of the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda shone again.

"Then let them see whose side the Seven Treasures are on."

Su Hang turned aside, leaving Zhu Zhuqing a path.

"Choose now. Come with us, or listen to them talk."

Zhu Zhuqing stepped over the lightning line and stood with Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong.

She looked at the approaching torches, her voice cold and clear.

"I'm going with you."